When I saw the iPad, I knew I needed it to draw on. I draw incessantly on the corner of every piece of paper, on meeting notes, place mats and any other blank space. I decided the iPad would replace all of those doodles spread throughout my life.

Even though the iPad is not nearly as sophisticated as drawing on a Wacom tablet, I have found the process to be easy to adjust to, fun and rewarding. The drawing programs, primarily Brushes, Layers, Sketchbook Pro and ArtistsTouch, all have various features that the others don’t. I find myself exporting the pictures in various stages from one app to another as I use different functions. The programs all include various Photoshop-like features and I am reasonably satisfied with the feature sets of each application.

If I could wish for one more thing it would be selection tools in Brushes.

Oh, and a better stylus from Pogo and mouse support for the iPad.

Attached are some drawings done on the iPad.

There’s a jack for that.

In the fall of 2008, “Vector Graphics and Illustration: A Master Class in Digital Image-making” was published by Rotovision. I co-wrote the book with Steven Withrow and it is available through Amazon and other book outlets.

The premise of the book was simply to demonstrate the difference between vectors and bitmaps, and point out the advantages of using vectors to relatively new users of graphics software. Where the “master class” part of the title came from I never understood. I always cringe when I read the title. I know most of my colleagues would immediately recognize that this book is not a “master class” at all. Having said that, I am also positive the book can have a great deal of value to anyone new to using programs like Illustrator and Photoshop. Students that I have now (more about that later), or students from my past at DCAD.

The book is organized in a way that every spread is a self-contained “lesson” demonstrating a very specific skill that the user will need to master or, later in the book, simply showing the effects of filters or combinations of techniques.

Steven interviewed many fantastic illustrators from all over the world, showcasing some terrific work. The breadth and depth continues to amaze me as an illustrator whose world tended to revolve around New York City and The Society of Illustrators. A world that is now woefully narrow.

Steven’s interviews with them are enlightening and entertaining and the diversity they represent is astounding when you consider that there was no budget to pay these people. Everyone who appears does so as a professional courtesy. Others that didn’t appear, and should have, we were unable to include because they wanted (and rightly so) to be compensated for their contributions. This is not unusual, but it was frustrating. As a matter of fact, the entire process was frustrating for all parties and I did not help the situation as I tended to express my frustration quite clearly. In retrospect, I am proud of the book (despite many failings that I know it has) and am in the process of doing others.

For anyone interested in pursuing writing in this market, approach it with one very definite reality in mind: you will spend many, many more hours working on it than you will ever be compensated for.

Check out Steven Withrow’s other books “Secrets of Digital Animation,” “Illustrating Children’s Picture Books” and “Character Design for Graphic Novels,” among others, and his blog “Crackles of Speech.”

I have successfully ported the design to a new server and am currently working on adapting a new theme from Woothemes to suit my needs and aesthetic. As I finish the technical details of the new design, I am going to update more consistently and get up some news that I think is important.

A couple of weeks late (remember the relationship between late and never?), I wanted to comment briefly on the New York Comic Con at the Javitz Center. I went on Friday (we all know cons are always Friday, Saturday and Sunday – no matter the dates) to miss the crowds and touch base with old friends and art dealers. Ran into Rich Faber and John Gallagher of “Buzzboy” fame. Two of the nicest guys you would want to meet. Pick up a copy Buzzboy for your kids or the kid at heart and visit the website. I have a project that has occupied parts of my sketchbook for some time and I hope to get the guys interested in it.

Visit Rich’s site and check out his character RoboyRed and read his touching and poignant blog.

The convention was fun, I attended with my friend, colleague and benefactor George Fernandez (an amazing and gifted educator, painter and illustrator) and then we headed straight over to the Society of Illustrators Annual Show. On Saturday, I went with my 22 year old daughter (a great treat). She stood in line to meet a young actor from a current popular TV show. At this very moment (blogging is an “in the moment” experience isn’t it?) I can’t remember the name of the show or the actor. She was extremely happy and excited, so nothing else matters, really, does it?

A good time was had by all.

Anyway, for today, just a brief note. I have joined “www.hireanillustrator.com“, and you can see my work there as well.