I was born in Georgia, spent my summers in the mountains of North
Carolina, but  after living so many years in the North even my mother
thinks of me as a Midwesterner.

After earning a BFA from the University of Michigan, I began working as
an animator and within a few years co-founded Reelworks where we
created films for Sesame Street, Nova segments, and commercials. I’ve
long since left animation for the more congenial world of print, primarily
working as a freelance illustrator for children's publishers, advertising
art directors, designers and editorial clients.

Interests that naturally flow being an artist lead me to teaching, writing,
public speaking and consulting. 

Starting in 1986, I was a columnist producing a weekly full page of
writing and art in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Sunday Magazine.
As their Features illustrator for 10 years, I illustrated stories, articles,
and opinion pieces.

Harriet Kasak, an agent for children’s publishing, began representing me in 1994.
Many years and many books later, I'm still working children’s publishing with
Harriet’s successor, Mela Bolinao.

Early on I had a hunch that computers would be important to illustration. 
Many images on this site are examples of an on-going effort to
integrate traditional art with digital imaging technology.

In the 90s, the internet’s Paleolithic era, I wandered the sparsely populated
wilderness of cyberspace. My encounters there inspired me to create
"The Netizen’s Guide to Flame Warriors," a taxonomy of bad internet
behavior. Check it out at www.flamewarriors.com — you may recognize
some familiar personality types in the rogues gallery

Recently, I’ve concentrated on drawing and the pleasure of direct
observation in both my personal and professional assignments.