I don’t do this often as I usually leave my blog free of anything other than my illustration related news but I felt compelled by recent events to post something a little more personal. I found out yesterday that a dear friend took his own life earlier in the morning. He was a father, a son, a husband, a mentor and a beloved friend. Out of respect I will not give names or details beyond this but feel it necessary to comment on this tragic event in my own way.
I feel a great void in my soul as he was a huge figure in my life. My words only marginalize the pain his family must be going through right now and my heart aches for them. Never have I been so closely stricken by this type of tragedy. I don’t understand this and that’s the most frightening thing of all. Death is a natural part of life, but when something is ripped from you prematurely its effect is that of something so destructive to the human psyche one never truly recovers from it.
The helplessness of it all is something that I’ll never shake. So many “what ifs” litter my thoughts. I have only the fondest memories of our times together and will cherish that final hug I received the last time I saw him. I have so much more to say but words escape me at the moment.
Don’t wait to tell those you hold close that you love them. Let people know that they have made a difference in your life. I know anyone who has given me encouragement over the years to follow my dreams through the various means of contact has made my life meaningful. We don’t find meaning within ourselves but through the imprints we leave on others. Say you love them, and often.

New York Moon!

Zack Sultan contacted me about doing some work for NYmoon. He needed interpretations of excerpts from stories about the desert. I chose a piece by T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and The Travels of Marco Polo translated by Hugh Murray. Though they had to be black and white the art direction was that of the perfect situation for an illustrator. Do what you do best and have fun. I wanted to hold to my storytelling roots and not get too experimental with these and I'm happy with how they turned out.

I'm sickIsn't this supposed to be summer? I get sick maybe twice a year but this summer thing is a new frontier for me. Bleh! It's not bad, just uncomfortable. Strange really.

Yep!There I go again, sketching at the best coffee producer in the world. It's become a staple of my dietary needs. Blue Bottle is by far the best coffee I have ever had. Subtle notes of "holy crap this is awesome", and hints of "oh dear lord", make this producer tops in my opinion. Stop by and try some next time you're in Hayes Valley or around the Mint Plaza, and also at tons of great Farmers markets around the Bay Area. Cheers all!

Inside City Limits:

Be sure to watch Inside City Limits next week on Comcast channel 11 to see interviews of Frank Lin and me. It airs in San Francisco July 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th, then bay area wide on the 12^th. Comcast Channel 11 in the City, wed 9pm, thurs 8pm, fri and sat at 6:30 pm. I'm sure it'll be a grand ol' time.

Airplane Sketches:

I did these while in transit on a quick trip I did to Kentucky for my friend's wedding. I felt kind of like these ladies by the end of it all. Twenty-one or so hours of traveling over the weekend and over five thousand miles travelled. I did meet some great people on the trip and get to see a sort of extended family at the wedding. The wedding was beautiful and it was nice to be back in familiar territory in the south. The planes were fine and I was lucky with my seating as well. Thanks to the cute family of five, Thadius, and Michele for making my flying experience complete without a dull momment. In all, a great trip despite the lethargy.