Robinson Crusoe

A recent commission from the New York Times. I always really enjoy tackling classic illustration subjects, especially the action-adventure variety. Below is another pirate-themed piece for the Sunday Book Review.

Art Direction: Nicholas Blechman

Zadie Smith Fiction

This week, the drawing below accompanied Zadie Smith's new fiction, "Permission to enter" in the New Yorker. As a fan of hers, this was a joy to work on.

The final art as it was printed.

One of many alternate concept sketches.

Art Direction: Chris Curry

Spots and Metaphors

Some recent small spot illustrations:

Celiac disease, pot smoking, and sleeping pill addiction from an "ask the doctor" feature in New York Magazine. Art Direction: Rami Moghadam.

‘63 Buick Riviera for Men's Health. Art Direction: Thomas O'Quinn.

The Shark King Goes Back to press!

News of a second printing comes on the heels of more great reviews including this one from Tom Spurgeon, the comics reporter. I have always found Tom's writing to be particularly sharp, so I was very flattered by his close reading of the Shark King. Tom also discussed the book on the Inkstuds podcast with a group of critics last month. Thanks for the attention guys!

Me and a young shark fan at last month's signing.

Story Time!

Brooklyn's Greenlight Bookstore is kindly hosting a reading for the Shark King. Bring the kids!

Saturday, June 23

11:00 AM

686 Fulton Street

Brooklyn, New York 11217

TOON Books presents another great graphic novel for the youngest readers with R. Kikuo Johnson's The Shark King! From the islands of Hawaii comes the electrifying tale of Nanaue, who has to balance his yearning for Dad's guidance with his desire for Mom's nurture. Award-winning cartoonist R. Kikuo Johnson transports young readers to the lush, tropical shores of his native Hawaii. Kikuo will read from his book and draw on our big easel too, and afterward he'll show kids how to draw their own sharks!

"The Proxy Marriage"

I recently had the pleasure of working on an illustration to accompany a lovely short fiction by Maile Meloy in the New Yorker.

The editor, Chris Curry, sent me the layout above and suggested a dyptic with two separate scenes.

I typically sketch until I have two or three decent concepts or until the sun is rising and I can't keep my eyes open. The three sketches above begun as very loose pencil sketches which I scanned and further developed in photoshop with a wacom tablet. After submitting these concepts, Chris suggested trying an eight-panel composition...

Sketch approved! One minor tweak to the first panel...

I usually do a quick digital color study before I jump into the final.

At this point, I turn the black lines of my color sketch faint yellow and print out the sketch on a tabloid sized piece of bristol board. The yellow ink, barley visible in the photo above, serves as my "pencils." I still use traditional media for inking: real brushes, nibs, and India ink. As you can see above, a fair amount of editing takes place during this stage as well.

Next, the color gets added back in digitally, and, presto.

Print Magazine

Illustration for a Print article about graphic designers who self-publish. Special thanks to Stephen Savage whose incisive metaphorical illustrations inspired this one (I draw the comparison at my own peril!).

Art Direction: Ben King

Honolulu Star Advertiser

I recently chatted with Gary Chun at the Honolulu Star Advertiser about the Shark King. Nothing like hometown love. Thanks Gary!

More Shark King Press.

Time Magazine

Feature illustration based on the classic "Charles Atlas" comic book ad.

Art Direction: Chrissy Dunleavy

Officially Released

Today is the release date for the Shark King. I couldn't be happier with the way the printing and production turned out. Reviews have started rolling in, including a starred review from Booklist.

New Yorker "Spots"

Regular readers of the New Yorker will be familiar with the weekly "spots:" a series of small, usually black and white illustrations scattered throughout the text of the entire issue. This has always been one of my favorite features of the magazine, so I was honored to when editor Françoise Mouly asked me to take a stab at it. She suggested the theme of hoodies in memory of Trayvon Martin.