How To Grow!

1969. Where did I see myself in 10 years after high school graduation? The goal was to do exactly what I am doing right now—and I've pulled it off. Well, the writing thing was a bit unexpected, but seriously dovetailed into everything fun that matters to me artistically.

Freelance illustration grabbed me around 1980. On a route to Los Angeles, CA, I made it as far as Kansas City, MO, and my first illustration jobs. From there, I actually wound my way back east to Yellow Springs, OH, where I kicked off all this freelance stuff in earnest. And from here I have lost count of all the clients I've scribbled with over the years (amongst them, folks like CTW, Scholastic, Recycled Paper Products, and Hallmark).

But I have always enjoyed dual passions—the doing and teaching of art. I have a BS in Art Education and an MA in Fine Arts (painting and drawing) from Indiana University of PA. I love to teach art, and I’ve worked with every age level from preschoolers to senior citizens. For the last 8 years I’ve taught at Edison Community College in Piqua, OH (where I am also Program and Staffing Coordinator for the Commercial Art department).

My writing is the direct offspring of my illustration career. I wouldn’t have predicted that I’d be a writer, but here I am—and it’s a great gig. Book 5, How To Grow As An Illustrator, was my second book for Allworth Press (it's older sib, book 3, was Starting Your Career As A Freelance Illustrator or Designer)

Exploring Illustration was book # 4 and published by Cengage (then Thomson/Delmar). My new book for Cengage, called Drawing Inspiration: Visual Artists At Work, is just out (more on that coming up).

I’ve also done two books for North Light (out of print), was a contributing editor at The Artist’s Magazine for many years, and have written for a variety of publications, including How Magazine, Step Inside Design, Computer Arts Projects (UK), and The Artist’s and Graphic Designer’s Market.

I was a featured presenter at DesignWorld, How’s annual conference in 2002. I was honored with a national teaching excellence award at the NISOD annual conference in 2004 (where I also presented), and a won a SOCHE Excellence in Teaching award in 2007. I was a nominee for OATYC Teacher of the Year in 2009. I spoke at ICON 4 in 2005 (and am now on the board of directors for ICON6).

Still in Yellow Springs after 25 years. Very happily married to the award-winning documentary filmmaker, Joanne Caputo—easily the most beautiful woman in any room. We are the awe-struck parents of Max (20), and Cooper (22).

I'm a lucky guy.