September 19, 2008

I recently finished a new illustration for a story that exists, well, only in my head.

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June 13, 2008

I have contracted with POD (Print on Demand) Gallery to produce and sell archival inkjet prints of some illustrations from Monkey and the Engineer.
Check out the POD Gallery website.

June 12, 2008

I've been doing a lot of illustrations for a nutrition website for kids. Here are a couple of foodstuffs from the project.

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June 10, 2008

Well, so much for updating this section every week or so! Anyway, the illustration to the right was commissioned for an Earth Day newsletter that featured an interview with a sea cucumber. OK, so they don't really have eyes, or talk into microphones ...

February 26, 2008

I illustrated an article for the Feb. 7-13 Time Out Chicago "dating" issue. The essay was about a cowboy who had love on his mind but still didn't get a second date.

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January 12, 2008

Monkey and the Engineer has gotten great user reviews on amazon.com! And I promise that none of them are really from my mom! Click here for more reviews. Here's a sampling:

"When I first got "Monkey and the Engineer" my two girls (4 and 8) couldn't wait to hear/read the book, because the cover and illustrations were so full and rich. What I loved about the book was that it was based on lyrics from Jesse Fuller's song. Bringing the book together with the actual song (link to which is found in the book) really made the book an experience and not just a story. As for the girls' points of view, I'll let them tell you in their own words..."

"The song, I think it was cool because I liked the pictures. The music sounded great. My favorite part was seeing the picture of the engineer with one eye big and one eye little."
-Maya (4 years old).

January 11, 2008

David Gans, Bay Area musician, author (of the definitive book about the Grateful Dead, Playing in the Band), and radio show host, recently mentioned Monkey and the Engineer on his blog and on his "Grateful Dead Hour" radio show (Jan. 2nd '08 show).

Here's a quote from his blog:
"I just got a copy of a new kids’ book based on 'Monkey and the Engineer,' with illustrations by David Opie. There’s biography of Fuller in the back of the book, along with the sheet music so you can play the song yourself.

The drawings are charming and warm. My wife, a kindergarten teacher and a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art, approves of this book as both a teacher and an artist."

photo by Tom Faleshock from http://www.dgans.com/
pressroom/

January 10, 2008

You can hear a great version of "Monkey and the Engineer" sung by none other than Jesse Fuller, the writer himself, at the book's official website. There's some great harmonica playing and commentary.
http://redpsych.podbean.com/

January 2, 2008

When I was in my hometown of Staunton, VA, I got a little press from the local newspaper (article by staff writer Brad Zinn).
Click here for the link to the story.

photo by Mike Tripp/The News Leader
copyright © 2007

January 1, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!