First copy of Born to Draw Comics has arrived!

Almost 4 years on from my initial idea for a Charles Schulz picture book biography we now have finished books!

It has thick uncoated paper, illustrated endpapers, beautiful embossed cover type and a neat stamped black and white cartoon under the jacket. Henry Holt/Christy Ottaviano Books do such beautiful works of art!

Dreams do come true. It's officially released on September 17th. 

Preorder you copy here https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250173737

Born to Draw Comics, book cover reveal!

Excited to share the cover for my upcoming picture book biography on Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. The book is published by Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt Books/Macmillan and will be released on September 19th, 2019! I am very excited! Four years in the making and a true labor of love. You can preorder it here- https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250173737

Picture book bio on Steven Spielberg sold to Henry Holt Books For Young Readers!!!

I am thrilled to report a picture book idea I had back in early 2018 on filmmaker Steven Spielberg was recently bought by the wonderful publisher/editor, Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt/Macmillan!!! 

This will be my second book for Henry Holt following the Charles Schulz biography released this September 2019.

Here is the recent announcement in Publishers Weekly.

Work has begun with a publishing date set for 2021!

Picture book bio on Charles Schulz sold to Henry Holt Books For Young Readers!!!

                                   

I am thrilled to report a picture book idea I had back in late 2015 on cartoonist Charles Schulz of "Peanuts" fame was recently bought by the wonderful publisher/editor, Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt/Macmillan!!! 

After 16 years in this business this is truly a dream job and a deeply personal one to me.

Here is the recent announcement in Publishers Weekly and some new character sketches. I also just traveled to Schulz's hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota and spent several days researching his old neighborhoods. 

Work has begun in earnest with a publishing date of 2019!

Scholastic Storyworks magazine project

I recently completed a painting for the March/April 2017 issue of Scholastic's Storyworks magazine. It's a charming story about a brother and sister who find pirate treasure on the North Carolina coast. Illustrating for the fine Storyworks magazine is always a pleasure and I enjoyed seeing my work used as a double page spread for them for the first time!

A childhood love of cartoons

As a young child I learned to draw better by copying my favorite characters from such popular comics of the day like "Peanuts" by Charles Schulz and "Garfield" by Jim Davis. I have since learned after reading a biography on Schulz that he was also inspired by the comics of his childhood back in the 1920's and 30's.

Luckily my parents kept a lot of my old drawings. The drawing below of Charlie Brown and Snoopy was done when I was around 10 years old in the early 1980's.

Currently I am being considered for a dream project for a wonderful editor and NYC publisher that involves this subject matter. I found a story idea I was excited about and asked a talented and successful writer friend for help, who then wrote an inspiring story for children. Now it's out of our hands and that's also all I can say! I'm sharing this drawing, now over 30 years old in order to send out positive vibes. I will share more later if it's good news!

Boys' Life magazine article

I am happy to share the news that two of my paintings appear in the December 2016 issue of Boys' Life Magazine. 

I was hired to illustrate a story called "True Friends" about the aftermath of the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and its effect on the friendship of two boys in California, one being of Japanese descent. This Wednesday December 7th happens to be the 75 anniversary of this historic day.

It was an honor and a first time working for this long standing magazine, one that Norman Rockwell's illustrations appeared in many years ago. I hope you enjoy the paintings!