It's funny to say, but I get this question all the time. One would think that a picture is worth a thousand words. But maybe some people are just curious? So with the chance of sounding vain...

I've performed many tasks through out my life, so I'll stick with the ones that are pertinent to graphic arts. A little over 25 years ago I graduated from university with a B.F.A. [ Bachelor of Fine Arts] (I also have a BA in sociology and computer science), started my first job in the industry as a stripper and graphic artist for a small printing company which lasted about 5 or 6 months. After going from job to job for a few years I finally entered the advertising industry as a professional photographer. This lasted about 5 years. Sometime around 1985 we were hit by the first recession and advertising money seemed to dry up. Somewhat concerned by this occurance I decided to try something new-ish and entered the publishing industry as a Production Co-ordinator or mini-publisher for a large New York-ish publisher.

While my function and title changed, I must stress that I continued to enjoy a career in the visual arts field where I continued to use my visual skills as well as my management abilities. During this period I also taught photography, visual design/compositon, and computer programming at a local college part-time (lasting 10 years). While maintaining a constant connection with the Toronto Art Scene, I delved in sculpture and continued with my first love... oil painting on LARGE canvases.

Around 1990 I discovered CGI and computers. I used a DOS based program called POV RAY to create computer generated scenes that totally amazed me. Why here was a medium that could create in mere hours, something that took me days or months to accomplish with a paint brush! . Well I was hooked!

I have literally tried every CGI program out there; keeping what works best for me. I also use photographs and a combination of oil paintings, ink drawings and sketches to create the atmosphere and  characterizations needed for a particular cover. As incorreclty believed, I don't use just one source, but like to mix various sources... creating layers upon layers to give a specific feel... then melding them into what appears to be one source. I'm in fact going back to my fine arts training and layering various mediums. I use Photoshop almost exclusively for my "post-production" work.

In the future I see my style shifting more towards a more "painterly" style. I'm also intrigued by the comic book and graphic novel images that are currently being produced and can see myself using more hand drawn sketches in combination with Photoshop. Incidentally, a lot of the effects you see in my covers are hand drawn with Photoshop. The randomness of nature is something that computers are still not able to fully express in my opinion.

When I'm not doing any of the above you can usually find me on my motorcycle, making paper airplanes for my 4 year old son, practicing Iaido, admiring my collection of 600 year old Japanese swords, playing guitar (rock and blues), wood carving or just slumped on the sofa watching (and re-watching) one of my many Science Fiction DVDs (food for thought I like to think).

I hope that you've read the above and pictured me with touch in cheek. I'm trying to paint a picture of my experience, while at the same time putting your worries to rest. But I must admit that I'm a closed person and won't devulge the true nature of the beast.

But this all boils down to one statement as intoned by Meredith Grey ... "Pick me, Pick me!"

 

Artists that influence me (a few):