Most creatives are familiar with the printed illustration annuals like Directory of Illustration and Workbook that get distributed to advertising agencies and publishers. These large books showcase the work of a comprehensive collection of illustrators trying to make an impression on potential art buyers. But at upwards of $2,500 per full-page ad, is it worth…
I’ve been interested in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) ever since I did some work at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Mesa, Arizona, where one of the programs was the development of the Predator drone. These pilotless aircraft are flown in dangerous reconnaissance and strike missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan while controlled remotely thousands of…
Unlike my father, who could not only fix a toaster but managed to construct an airplane in our garage, I’m not much of a handyman. For a technical illustrator who likes to draw mechanical subject matter, I’ve never been particularly excited about learning how to hang sheet rock or replace the rear struts on the…
This is another recent project for Discovery Channel. The popular “How Stuff Works” series required a set of three illustrations for their volume 2 DVD packaging. Among the subjects covered this time around were chocolate, whiskey, and games; very different but interesting subjects to render in 3D. As a technical illustrator, I’m usually drawing hard-surfaced,…
This is a visitors guide map I recently created for the Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston. What started out as a rather complex, 4-story building got simplified to include only the most necessary visitor locations, and I think the resulting image was the better for it. I opted to use a custom perspective view,…
One of the challenges with 3D software is generating a curved object, or bending existing geometry, as there are a variety of simple yet different approaches depending on the situation. I decided to create a short video that summarizes some different techniques for beginner and intermediate users of modo.
I’ve been considering upgrading my point & shoot camera recently to a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR). After experiencing poor results shooting in low-light conditions and trying in vain to capture my hyperactive children with the delayed shutter release, I was thinking that now was as good a time as any to get a decent camera.…
As a fan of shows like “Modern Marvels” and “Build it Bigger” I’ve always been fascinated with giant bridges, buildings, tunnels, and other man-made wonders. My absolute favorite engineering accomplishment is something on a smaller scale, it’s claim to fame being speed. Co-developed by the the British and French governments in the sixties, Concorde still…
This is a recent infographic I created showing the process of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, to accompany an online Q&A with Dr. Robert Earle of Analysis Group. Fracking is a well-stimulation process for extracting natural gas from shale deposits. Though the practice holds a lot of promise, it might also negatively impact the environment. Seismic…
Here’s an overview of the creative process that was involved with a recent project. The client requested a flow diagram detailing how they supply electricity and fuel to mining and manufacturing companies in Ghana.
