A sketch I did for an SCBWI-Michigan illustration seminar in which I was a participant. Prior to the event, we were given samples of text from published books. It was our job to come up with a different interpretation of the material. The editor who ran the workshop (sorry, forgot his name) was excellent in leading the crit of the work. Was a great day and, as usual, I was very happy to participate in this wonderful SCBWI weekend. Pencil, 2011.

America, with 5% of the world’s population, has 25% of the world’s prisoners.

A cover sketch for "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", a graphic novel written and illus.d by me, publ.d by Disney/Hyperion, 2014. We've passed on this one too. While I think this image- Koji and his mom Adeline entering the concentration camp in San Bruno, Ca. for the first time- is an important moment in the narrative, it doesn't carry the visual impact of a cover. What do you think?  Pencil, 2013.

3 cover concept sketches which will not be used for "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", a graphic novel written and illus.d by me, publ.d by Disney/Hyperion, 2014. Here are 3 of the 7 sketches I sent along to my editor which we've canned. The chosen image is closer to the surreal dream sequences in the book. As soon as I get off of Facebook I'll get back to working on it! Pencil, 2013.

This is Ken Ozawa. Ken is a character in "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", a graphic novel written & illus.d by me, publ.d by Disney/Hyperion, 2014. Ken was an excellent baseball player- a star pitcher for the YMCA team in his San Francisco neighborhood. In 1942, 4 months after the Japanese Imperial navy attacked Pearl Harbor, Ken and his family (grandmother, 2 grandfathers, mother and father, younger sister and baby brother) were removed from their home and incarcerated in the Alameda Downs temporary Internment Camp. Alameda Downs was a converted horse racing track. Ken and his family lived in a horse stall for four months until they were transferred to the Agua Dulce Internment camp in the desert of eastern California. Pencil, 2011.

Final art for an article in "Cricket" magazine. The young man wasn't too proud to wear the frightening hat- knitted for him with love by his Nana- to school. Water color, gouache, 2006.

Final art for page 23 of "You're On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt" by Judith St. George and illustrated by me, publ.d by Phylomel/Penguin&Putnam. Did you know that little Teddy had acute asthma? Teddy's mom and dad took him to some of the most respected doctors of the time. They prescribed drinking coffee and smoking cigars as a cure for asthma. I know, sounds crazy but it's true.  Teddy did improve over time. Not sure if it was the coffee or cigars. ;) Water color, gouache, 2003.

Line work has been applied to final art of page 87 (with my trusty Winsor/Newton series 7 #000 brush) of "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", a graphic novel written and illus.d by me, publ.d by Hyperion/Disney. Now it's time to re-enforce highlights and shadows, do a little more rendering and see what I can do to make the image pop a little. This is my favorite part of the process. This is Koji. He is Japanese/Irish American and along with his Irish American mom and 112,000 other Japanese Americans, has been imprisoned in an American internment camp during WWII. Pencil, gouache, water color, 2013.

Color washes have been applied to final art of page 87 of "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", written and illus.d by me, publ.d by Hyperion/Disney. Now it's time to re-enforce the line work with my trusty Winsor/Newton series 7 #000 brush. Color used in these washes are cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and raw umber. This is Koji. He is Japanese/Irish American and along with his Irish American mom and 112,000 other Japanese Americans, has been imprisoned in an American internment camp during WWII. Pencil, water color, 2013.

A sketch portrait of one of my College for Creative Studies Students. The drawing was made back in 2000 while riding on a bus. I'd organized a trip to the Brandywine Valley, Pa. where there is what I consider to be the Mecca of Illustration- the Brandywine River Museum. The museum holds a fantastic collection of many of America's most note worthy illustrators from the 19th and 20th century. We rented a bus and about 30 students and teachers piled in and trucked it all the way from Detroit to Brandywine, about a 9 hour sojourn. I had a great time. I think they did too. Pencil, 2000.

Sketch used for the sale of the manuscript for "A Taste of Colored Water", written and illus.d by me, publ.d by Simon&Schuster. This was the original mood I was aiming for when I first came up with the book's concept. Eventually we decided that the story itself was a tough read and that it'd make the experience more accessible if the art wasn't so heavy. I still dig this art but am happy with the visual direction which the book eventually took. Pencil, gouache, 2007.

Thumbnail sketch for an article in Lawyer's Weekly magazine. The article covered a few moves made at the time by the Supreme Court in which the Court passed along responsibility to the States. Pencil, 2009.

I was looking through some old sketches and found the drawing I did of my son Gabriel for his birth announcement. Now, he was probably about 6 months old when I did this drawing so, yes, you're right, the birth announcement was late. Thanks for reminding me. ;) I do like his Jack Nicholson hair styling though! Pen&Ink, 1992. 

Final art from "Because I Could Not Stop My Bike", written by Karen Jo Shapiro, illus.d by me, publ.d by Charlesbridge. This is a picture book of poetry for kids. This poem is about a 9 year old who, just as she's about to go roller blading with her dad, finds her first pair of roller blades in the back of her sock drawer. Water color, gouache, 2003.

Intermediate sketch for an article on the proliferation of phone marketing during the mid-1990's for the Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition. The WSJ was a real newspaper back then and this issue was meant for high schoolers. Not sure why potatoes were the chosen item for the illustration but I do think these are some sexy chips! Pencil, 1996.

Underlying sketch for the cover of "Mad Bunnies On Parade", a spiffy graphic novel filled with madcap hi-jinks! Written and illus.d by me, yet to be publ.d. Pencil, 2009.

Once per year, the rabbits become consumed with Burrito Lust. Tens of thousands of bunnies mob the streets, searching for that elusive perfect burrito. Sketch for a graphic novel I wrote called "Mad Bunnies On Parade!". Pencil, 2009.

Underlying sketch for the cover to a graphic novel based on the childhood of Malidome Some. Written by Malidome and me and illustrated by me. This cover shows an image of a Kontomblé. Kontomblé are the faerie folk of Malidome's culture. 3 year old Malidome had a life changing experience when he bumped into this fellow as he was chasing a rabbit through the brush one morning. Pencil, 2006.