Not Quite Art Not Quite Science

Over the past several weeks I've been taking an animal drawing class at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. My instructor, Patricia J. Wynne, exuded an incredible enthusiasm for the museum. She seemed to have a story about every animal in the entire museum–and there are thousands. Now that the class is over, I'm reflecting on the drawings that I've made and what purpose they serve in the world. As a graphic designer, I'm compelled to see the work serve some use beyond aesthetic delight. My illustrations are not scientifically accurate and they're not quite art. They exist in an in-between zone of potentiality.

That rhythm,
needing to sway
cause I'm overwhelmed
trying to hold all ma' feelin' at bay.

Never Give In

The Greatest Packaging in The World

I recently purchased a package of rubber band launched helicopters and the first thing I noticed was how astonishingly odd the illustrations on the plastic packaging were. Unibrow bananas, woozy watermelons, photo realistic cherries, and gradients galore. If only I was smart enough to design something this boss.

Silk

Silk is the 6th ship in my concept ships coloring book series.

Art Date

I recently took a field trip to the American Museum of Natural History. After four visits in the past year, I'm still discovering entire sections of the museum I didn't previously know about. Here are some of my sketches from the day.

Caribou

 
Hunting Dog

Leopard

Black Rhino

Stygian

Stygian is the 5th ship in my concept ships coloring book series. I'm at the threshold of my skills here (which is right where you always want to be) so holler at me if something is looking weird.

Test Run Ben

I created this portrait a while ago of a former studio mate. The studio I was working at was designing a new website for the firm that shared the space and the idea of pixeling each crew member was being considered.

Spirit Mind

This diagram represents some of the channels we use
to communicate with ourselves and others.

Megalith

Megalith is the 4th ship in a series of spacecraft designs I have been working on. The ships will ultimately be released as an activity / coloring book. Stay tuned.

Reformation Conference

I was asked to design a poster for the Shiloh Presbyterian church's annual Reformation Conference in Raleigh North Carolina. The conference theme was "can we trust the Bible?" and the topics covered:
The Bible and evolutionary science
The Bible and the Quran
The Bible and sexuality

Circles

The Banks

My heart is hurting for the Outer Banks and the sunset over the trailers, back dunes, and scrub trees.

My heart is hurting for a stroll on that beach with mom and the brothers and even shouts of "DON'T THROW SAND!" Also, for the races on the beach that end only a few yards after they've begun.

I'm hurtin' for icecream on the porch in the twilight as it turns a little chilly from the setting sun and the frozen treat. I'm even hurting for Spongebob Squarepants and Shirley Temple movies on the tiny television.

That place is where nothing productive ever happens and nothing ever gets done. You eat too many sweets, and watch too much TV, and don't take a shower for days until your hair is salt stiff.

So long OBX. You've been a real pal and now tears are squeezing at the corner of my eyes thinking about you.

Cloud Cars

Rundlegrorf

Science, Evil, and the Environment

Anatomy of a parking lot

Concept Ships

Little World 2

Washed up

I don't know if the Almanac is going to make it. The barrier to production is almost too great in my mind. For now, you can peek into these little worlds.