Here’s this week’s cover for The Economist on the issue of Obama’s first year in office.

I am now back in the blogging saddle after a long delay (some caused by technical difficulties with my website). I am delighted to be back as I have some very exciting projects to share.

First, I am delighted to announce the publication of the first ever fully illustrated wall calendar for The Economist.  This was a herculean effort that took the entire summer to complete.  The calendar features full page illustrations written and drawn by me. Those interested in purchasing calendar(s) can go to my online bookstore.  Let me know what you think!

I am always delighted to be invited to draw the cover for The Economist.  Over the years I have lost count of how many covers I have actually published for the magazine… but the number is over 100. Above is this week’s magazine equipped with my artwork!

I was commissione to draw the cover for this week’s edition of The Economist.  I sketched countless versions of the grim reaper in the preliminary stages in a variety of poses. I enclose a few samples of the pencil drawings as well as the finished artwork (above)…

I was searching through an old thumb drive and found this digital version of a cover I drew for The Economist 11 years ago.  It was during the early discussions of a stock market “Bubble”.  Fed chairman Alan Greenspan was talking about “Irrational exhuberance” in the stock market (and no one was listening).

I had completely forgotten about this cover… it is always interested to see old work… like re-discovering an old friend.

The Swiss magazine Der Weltwoche asked me to produce a cover for this week’s edition featuring President Barack Obama and England Prime Minister Gordon Brown.  You can see the results above.

I have had the great honor to be the Artist-in-Residence at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) since 2006. My experience has been enriching and extraordinary. I have worked along side talented and generous colleagues and with energetic and engaged students. Now my rewarding experience has been captured in words by writer and editor Richard Byrne. The inaugural UMBC magazine profiled me in their recent cover story.  You can read it here: UMBC story

My students describe me a demanding creative force. I guess that is a charge I will not deny… as I am very demanding of myself!  

I had the privilege to draw the cover for this week’s edition of The Economist. The cartoon involves caricatures of European leaders Angela Merkel of Germany, Nicholas Sarkozy of France, and Gordon Brown of Great Britain. The cartoon did develop quickly during the 24 hours that I had to create the piece… particularly the waiter on the left.  

My first attempt in the pencil sketch had a fellow that was not instantly recognisable as a waiter. My second attempt (on the color art below) created a better waiter but he was perhaps too large and had the potential to distract from the main characters.  

You can see at the top of the post the final artwork with a diminished waiter-like character inhabiting the scene.

When a new President hits the scene, it is fun to watch the evolution of the Commander-in-Chief’s caricature. Artists and impressionists struggle to define and refine the essence of the President’s personality in a neat little package.  This process for me never stops during the reign of a prominent politician. I endeavor to continually develop my caricatures.

This week while visiting London, I had the good fortune to draw the cover for this week’s edition of The Economist which featured President Obama.

The artwork was quite large as you can see in the first image above but my rendition of Obama was quite small within the artwork. This required a very simple rendering of the President.  I am pleased with the final result.  I feel that I am getting better at capturing his face… though I don’t think I have it mastered by any stretch.

I drew this for a Swiss weekly called Weltwoche. When I draw characters, I sometimes watch and listen to video and audio of the person while drawing to emerse myself in their personality.  I am already getting a little tired of hearing Sarah Palin’s voice. If she get’s into the Vice President’s chair I think Tina Fey and I will have plenty of material to tap.