Digital Painting

These paintings are a mix of personal and professional projects.  All are original and painted in Photoshop. I still use a pencil and paper when I am brainstorming, but my work is largely digital. I have experimented with AI tools, but as of yet, I am not using it for my work. The variety of styles and finishes in these examples are, for the most part, due to the needs of the client and the work the illustrations are associated with. I approach each new project as a designer--meaning I gather information about the intention of my client or collaborators, the subject, and the audience. Good art, especially commercial art must function as a communication tool at least as articulate as any spoken language. Every visual element from line texture, lighting, backgrounds, palette, expression, layout, etc is an opportunity to influence the experience of the viewer. The artist in me wants to express the moment in question, but the designer in me understands the need for an on-target, consistent, and appealing product. I work closely with my clients to use as much of their intentions to guide my decisions in the production of the artwork.

I don't want my illustrations to be dumb, or worse, confusing. I want to draw the viewer in. I want them to ask questions about what they see. We humans like to see a path in every image, a face in every texture, eyes in the dark. We seek story in any connection we imagine. My job is the guide the viewer's eye, telling a story with intention.