Graphic Classics: Edgar Allan Poe

Two spreads from Poe's "Hop-Frog, or, The Eight Chained Orangutans."  Click to enlarge:

This was a kinda nostalgic project for me.  The full circle, for those interested: Graphic Classics took a chance on this once-starving illustrator for their very first issue and my very first publishing job about 10 years ago, for the very same Poe story. Back then, Graphic Classics was in black & white, and I only produced a handful of spot illustrations rather than a full graphic novel.  How far we both have come... le sigh.

BOO!

Ghosts.  An interior illustration for Eva Ibbotson's "Ogre of Oglefort," due out August 18th, from Penguin. (pre-order!)

drawing monsters, part II

Cover image for THE WEEK:

drawing monsters, part I

I've been rather enjoying myself recently, as I've been asked to draw a lot of total jerks.

Here is one recent example:
 

Dorian Gray for Scope (a teen-focused magazine).  Detail:

Good times.

The Darkside Zodiac 2011 Wall Calendar

Now that the holiday season is officially upon us, it is time to start thinking about buying you and yours a wall calendar for next year.

The gist of the book this calendar was based on is that most astrological guides are far too kind to their subjects.  The Darkside is all about calling out the bad behaviors of the Zodiac, in a humorous (and, might I add, BEAUTIFULLY illustrated) way.  I had a blast working on this, and ever since the publisher sent me my copies, it has tended to come out at parties where we all have a good laugh (and occasional uncomfortable silence) about how close to home some of the descriptions hit.  A gift that keeps on giving, so...

Purchase here!

the power of myth!

Greek mythology: I just love it.  The fantastical creatures! The romance and heroism! The savage and bloody wrath of gods and mere mortals!  So you can imagine my excitement when Scholastic asked me to contribute to a classroom book on the subject.  Stories covered were King Midas, Prometheus & Pandora, and Oedipus & The Sphinx.

Of course, I would have loved to play up more of the sexual tension between the Sphinx and Oedipus, shown Prometheus in chains, having his liver torn out and eaten by an eagle, and drawn some really nasty demons coming out of Pandora's box, but, ya know, kids!  I had to keep it pretty clean.  Still, as jobs go, the funnest.

don't be a-skeered, he's just misunderstood

This was a sweet gig to land.  Penguin has asked me to do covers for some reprints of a few Eva Ibbotson novels.  If'n you are unfamiliar with her work, she is a British author of some witty and winsome fantasy tales for the young'uns.  This first cover is for a new book of hers called The Ogre Of Oglefort.

It's nice to get back to my roots and draw some good old-fashioned monsters again.

Update: Eva Ibbotson sadly passed away October 20th, making this her final novel.  She seemed a pretty awesome lady, as noted here, and I'm honored to be an illustrator to her fantastic writings.