I drew this image for the ads, posters, and programs for a production of “The Odd Couple” in Mason, my hometown in Michigan when I was 15 years old. By then, I had been studying commercial art techniques and printing for years (honestly, from age nine). I’d always been good at art, and my Grandfather on my Mother’s side was a rather good painter and sketch artist and encouraged me. I was pretty happy about my drawing ability. But when I saw those "Odd Couple" ads in the local paper, and the posters in windows all over Mid-Michigan with my artwork, I was thrilled way beyond "pretty happy." And I got very serious about putting together a professional portfolio and getting some work.
And I did. Local printers started calling for designs. A local vocational school was designing and printing textbooklets for schools all over the U.S. They hired me right after seeing my portfolio. A design service called “The Blue Pencil” opened in town, servicing all Mid-Michigan with graphic design and artwork, and I became one of their busiest freelance artists. I did every kind of art for local businesses, ad agencies, and publications. Heck, even General Motors used my work in a brochure. And a small comic book company (Power Comics) started in Lansing, and hired me. I was doing every kind of illustration and design you can think of, although I'd never set foot in an actual art school or university art program. I learned from books, mostly. And by doing. That was the 70s and early 80s. I continued doing freelance illustration and graphic design, but also found myself doing set design, storyboards, murals, museum displays, becoming an art director at two small ad agencies, an illustrator for a Gannett daily newspaper, art director for a weekly arts and entertainment newspaper, and much more. Below are some examples of my work, in a slideshow. Contains contact info as well. Below that, a link to some storyboard samples. |