Design and Evolution

Arctic Circle Flyover

2009-11-23T17:59:00.003-05:00

Flights from the eastern part of the USA to Asia often take a northern route over the Arctic Circle. I was able to get a good seat on this Boeing 777 flight, flying out on Halloween. Note the "sunrise" (on the Russian side of the Arctic Circle) in the final segment after a brief sunset.

Year On The Fly: China Part 2

2009-07-05T20:15:00.001-04:00

Our company is constantly working on, improvising and developing new product lines -- sometimes on the fly, and a last-minute product line idea by one of the sales people had me flying over to China again this past June. I rode six airplanes in the space of one week: Cleveland to Newark, Newark to Shanghai, Shanghai to Qing Dao (and back); Shanghai to Detroit and then back to Cleveland. I think I was en route more than I was actually working! Now they're talking about sending me back... more videos to come eventually. (Click on video to see full size.)

Hong Kong Toy Fair and China Factory Trip

2009-01-28T15:06:00.008-05:00

One of the perks of being a designer for my company is the opportunity to visit the Hong Kong Toy Fair and see global trade in action. The Toy Fair is a showcase for various manufacturers to display their wares and make business connections with buyers. After four days at the Toy Fair, we were then flown to mainland China to discuss forthcoming product designs with our manufacturers.

Hong Kong:

Shanghai:

Here's what a plush toy factory looks like:

Carlos Creek Wine Label Signing -- Nov. 28-29th, 2008

2009-01-28T14:52:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving weekend, I was invited to sign wine bottles for Carlos Creek Winery's unveiling of their latest "Minnesota Nice" wines, which I had done label illustrations for. The event took place in Alexandria, Minnesota. Many thanks to Tami Bredeson and family for their hospitality. Very good wines as well!

Here's The Scoop...

2008-10-20T17:23:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted in awhile, but now for an update: I've been hired full-time as a designer for Wild Republic. I design toys, educational products, illustrations and more. It's keeping me very busy and I can't post any new material now, but in time hopefully I'll be able to post some more art...

37 different animal species

2008-04-03T19:31:00.003-04:00

...that I can't show any drawings of because they're still in the production stages. But that's what I'm doing at the moment. Front and side views, plus two different poses for a select group.

"Look At My $#%& Eyes, You #$%!"

2008-02-09T18:23:00.000-05:00

Da man in da trunk: 24" plasticine sculpt for dimensional wall sign (for casting).

Client: Goodfellas Tattoo & Body Piercing, North Ridgeville, OH

4" Sculpt

2007-11-05T16:07:00.000-05:00

The beginning stages.

Dance, Dance, Dance

2007-09-04T05:30:00.001-04:00

A couple of the projects I was working on in July and August.

A ballet-dancing ghost for a forthcoming Halloween eGreeting.

"Carla's Talent Show", a children's reading guide published by Kaeden Books

Caricature Heads

2007-03-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

For some reason I didn't get finalized shots of Edwards and Obama. Maybe it was because the batteries in my camera were low. I'll post more pictures later on.

Teddy Kennedy was supposed to be blowing a trumpet according to the assignment. That's why he kind of looks like that.

Glass doll eyes are positioned in this stage.

Say cheese...

After the initial structure is baked, more clay is added in stages.

Hmmm... wonder who this will be...?

Here is a second group of heads in the beginning stages. I neglected to mention earlier that the material used in these assignments is polymer clay. This stage shows the underlying facial structure as it is built.

Bald Bill and his Beheaded Buddies

2007-03-06T01:13:00.000-05:00

Client likes the political sculpts and now wants even more. Looks like it's going to be busy with the candidates already on the campaign trail. I do other kinds of work besides this! Really!

Busy November

2006-12-05T05:16:00.000-05:00

A New Set of Political Sculpts...

2006-10-29T23:03:00.000-05:00

...in progress!

Cheney's Got A Gun

2006-04-08T21:13:00.000-04:00

This sculpt done in April was part of a series of five that I did in the space of about a week's time. I was rushed on the project so I wasn't entirely satisfied with how they turned out. I liked this one out of the five. Here he's about ready to go in the oven.

Here's how he appears on a greeting card. Image copyright AGC.