New Book Project

This is an image for a book project I'm currently working on and unless you just arrived on this planet you already know what the book is. I wanted to make an image that would bring a slight twist on this classic tale and I thought playing with the scale of the troll might make my piece more unique. Can you tell if I painted this traditionally or digitally?

I've always been puzzled when musicians re-make a well-known song yet fail to put their own artistry into the performance. I hope I can give this book freshness so that both adults and children can appreciate it.

Part of my process has always been to work from a warm tone over the entire surface - and then I add tone to the shadow areas.


I combined two sketches because I was having a hard time drawing the Troll where I wanted him in one sketch. I used photoshop to get it right...and the painting was also done in photoshop. - Brushes that never run out of paint! Undo! Copy Paste! Endless Adjustments! Speed! No Shipping Costs!

I'm Un-Represented Again

I’m now a free agent and in a position to negotiate my own contracts with my clients. It was a good ride with Shannon Associates but due to creative differences we have now parted ways. It was great to work with that company and we did many wonderful projects together. I’m now on my own again and embracing the freedom this affords me. If you have a project that you think might be a good match for me please call or email me direct – 801-368-7568.

Well I've been busy at night working on this painting trying to gain more control with photoshop and I'm happy with the results on this one. I'm still experimenting with the texture but I think in most parts of the painting it's working out. If you have my book The Frog with the Big Mouth you might recognize the little froggy in the lower right. I've always been jealous of digital painters for the ability to rip themselves off - now I get to do it!

This piece was a "just for fun" painting but now I feel I'm ready to send out digital art to my clients. So if you're a client and don't mind working with a new digital guy I'd love to chat. I love the ability it gives me to work on details and erase unwanted paint and the control over color and value are undeniable.

I.F. Wilderness

Did this one a way back when - for an ad agency.

Las Vegas CTA trip

It's never a good idea to send Wayne and I to Las Vegas. We went once before and it's the reason wayne is listed in the Guiness book of world records under human appendage modifications.

We walked around.

The California Teachers Association chose one of my books - Armadilly Chili for their Read Across America book for 2010 and 2011. What an incredible honor! They will bring me out two or three times this year and next year to sign my book at their conferences. It's was so fun to hang out with their committee members in Vegas.

We learned that the famous Faberge egg company just went out of business 3 weeks ago (don't know if this is true but the dealer made sure we knew that there is now a supply and demand issue) It would have been a good idea for us to have been rich before this trip.

I don't think he wanted his picture taken.

I.F. Confined

Here's a quick and dirty for IF - Just foolin with photo's and paint - I think more time thrown at it could produce something cool.

Loving Photoshop!

I have a new secret love affair and I'm pretty sure my wife will be down with it...until I spend too much time her. Her name is Photoshop and she's so cute! The way she responds to gentle clicking - her color - and those deep dark shadows! Her pixels drive me wild!

I wish I could take the credit but I must send a shout out to Jed Henry who wet nursed me through the process. Oh there were a few choice words at first - a tear here and there but in the end I'm so happy with the process he helped me with. Thanks Jed!

This was an old sketch I dug out to fool around with - he was originally sketched for a Rosa's restaurant painting I did 6 or 7 years ago. El Senior Monteban - quite dapper and oozing with confidence.