Detail of an illustration from a forthcoming book, mentioned earlier. I often like the details more than the complete illustrations. And it usually isn’t until I play around with the photos of the final illustrations on the computer that I see the potential, tight cropped compositions. But alas, there needs to be room for type. And illustrations as full double page spreads, more often than not, end up having to be weirdly composed around an odd void… That and my brain sabotages my urge to simplify. Stupid brain.

I feel like I’ve just surfaced after a long, 2+ year dive in the Depths of Work – a dark and sometimes frightening place that looks an awful lot like the inside of my studio. I’ve still got a few more things to finish up before I head off on some new and exciting directions, but for now I’ve got time to catch up on a Bit of Life – a bright but sometimes frightening place that looks doesn’t look an awful lot like the inside of my studio. I’m making time over the next couple of days to visit with family and friends who have been horribly neglected. To start if all off, I had lunch with a long lost high school friend today, which was lovely.

As much as my schedule has been hectic to the point that the mere thought of the tasks ahead were enough to make me want to curl up under my desk and not come out, relaxing is almost more terrifying. I just don’t know what to do with myself. If I’m home, I try to work. If I’m out wandering around outside I feel like I should be home, working. I’ve forgone almost two straight years of weekends, worked through holidays (Christmases included) and told my family that I’ll visit next month when I have time – with next month turning into the month after that and the month after that until half the year has flown by. And yet now, for the 3 days I’ve given myself off, I’m going to have to do everything in my power not to climb out of my skin.

I can’t do this cold turkey. I’m taking my laptop with me.

….