Redleg Annual (and Happy Opening Day!)

The last two years, I've illustrated the cover of an e-book called the Redleg Annual, which previewed in eloquent and entertaining fashion the Cincinnati Reds of 2013 and 2014.

For this year's zine, which is still available for purchase as any number of e-formats HERE (seriously, it's only $5...GO HERE!)... I did two interior illustrations instead and got to step into the weird and whimsical zone a little, and it was a ton of fun.  

For an article on Reds All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco (titled "Devin Goshdang Mesoraco") I was tasked with envisioning a Lovecraftian creature that could appropriately accompany an article containing lines like this:  

Devin Mesoraco is feared. By pitchers, sure, but also by children, beloved family pets, and young Victorian-era adventurers unjustly denied their inheritance. There is a rumbling of the earth and a black skein over the sun when Devin Mesoraco digs in. (words by Asher Kohn)

Hence:

This one's a bit experimental for me, because I used a larger variety of media than usual.  This one included gouache, Colourfix primer, pencil, permanent marker, and pastels.

And for an article introducing new Reds players, I got a little punny welcoming Mr. Marlon Byrd, because sometimes I just can't help myself:

Today is Opening Day for my Reds and most of the baseball world, so happy 2015 season to all you baseball fans out there, and happy lovely spring day to everyone else!

The Old Ballgame

Fine art prints available!

"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball."  
- Bill Veeck

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." - A. Bartlett Giametti

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game.  True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona."  -George F. Will

For any baseball fan, "Pitchers and Catchers Report Day," the dawn of spring training and thus a new season, is a veritable feast day. I've celebrated the last four years by creating an original baseball-themed illustration.  After highlighting the hitter last year, I thought I'd focus this year on the pitcher, for a few reasons:  (1)  they're the ones reporting to Arizona today, along with their battery mates, and (2) for the first time since I can remember, I'm excited for the Reds' pitching.  Seriously, you guys, I have a good feeling about this year.  Go Reds!

[Memory lane:  2008, 2009, 2010, 2011]

Happy spring!

Purchase a print of this illustration.
Purchase a t-shirt or mug of this illustration.

There may be a foot of snow outside my front door right now, but it's here-comes-the-sun beautiful in Goodyear, Arizona. Today marks the official start of spring training for my beloved Cincinnati Reds, and for the third year in a row (we can call it a tradition now, right?) I've commemorated this "pitchers and catchers report" day with an illustration.
[Memory lane: 2009, 2008]

"It's a great day for baseball. Let's play two." -Ernie Banks
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Edit: This week's Illustration Friday word is "propagate." I think this works with this illustration on a few levels. (1) It's about spring, a time for growth and new life and spreading sunshine--all propagations of one sort or another. (2) The Catholic Church uses the term "propagation of the faith," and we're all familiar with the word "propaganda." I'm nothing if not a baseball evangelist. :)

For Sale

Been busy this week and last working on three different projects. Hopefully I can share the finished one in the next few days. Stay tuned! In the meantime...














A few months ago I made several of my illustrations available as prints through ImageKind. I've added a few more pieces to the gallery since then. I've also seen one of these prints in person now-- it looks quite nice. To learn more or to buy a print, click here.

More recently, I've set up shop at Cafe Press to get some of my illustrations printed on things like aprons, magnets, canvas bags, stickers, and more. I ordered a few of these items myself (see photos) and am very happy with how they turned out. To learn more or to buy something pretty, click here.

If there's an illustration you'd like to have printed (on paper or something else!) that you don't see listed there, just leave me a comment or send me an email. That's very easy to remedy.

Prints for Sale!

I'm very excited to announce that several of my favorite illustrations are now available for purchase (at pretty reasonable prices, I think!) through Imagekind. Click the link below... to peruse, perchance to purchase.

If you see something on my website or on this blog that you'd like to see printed, let me know. Up next: printing on surfaces other than paper. Stay tuned!