What Happens After the Great Operas?

Illustrations for "Liberating the Librettos" by Anthony Tommasini, for the 11/10 NY Times. Bonus fact: Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" helped inspire Weezer's "Pinkerton," my go-to warm-up album for high school track meets. 

Reading Is Dangerous

I drew this comic to illustrate the essay "Clunkers" by James McWilliams in the July 7 NY Times Sunday Book Review. The article is a hilarious musing on books as projectiles, and probably the most fun piece I've had the chance to illustrate. Thanks to ADs Rex Bonomelli and Nicholas Blechman for the gig!

Sunday Dialogue Illustration

After spending a couple days on the beaches of New England, I had the opportunity to illustrate the Sunday Dialogue for the New York Times Sunday Review. The topic was the (unfairly?) maligned baby boomer generation. I shamelessly included images from my seaside sketchbook: a sailboat, rocky coastline, and an aggressive seagull. 

Economic Signaling Illustration

I had the privilege to illustrate this week's It's the Economy column for the New York Times Magazine. Adam Davidson's article described consumer signaling, messages sent by companies to suggest the superior quality of their product. This assignment gave me the chance to brainstorm a wide range of products for discerning individuals and conquer my fear of drawing cars. 

Also: two of my recent literary comics, Behind Every Great Novelist and The Book of the Future, are now available to purchase as prints at my poster shop.

Behind Every Great Novelist

This illustration appears in the New York Times Book Review alongside a review by Christopher Benfey of John Sutherland's "Lives of the Novelists." Sutherland's book profiles a long list of notable writers and the personal events that may or may not have influenced their creative output. I tried to distill the typical experience of a literary icon into nine small panels. I'm certain that many of our great writers have worked in a coal mine and owned a small poodle. 

Riff Illustration

I made this small illustration for the Riff column in this week's NY Times Magazine! The topic was the decision to not award a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction this year. I hewed closely (perhaps too closely) to the minimalist style set by Tom Gauld, who regularly draws for the column.

Mapping the Economy

I illustrated this week's "It's the Economy" column for The New York Times Magazine, appearing on newsstands this Sunday. The subject was London's recent dominance over New York as the center of global finance. You can read the full article by Adam Davidson here. Like every good mapmaker, I made sure to include a tapir and a minotaur.

Kansas City Skyline

Graduation Card

A card for the unemployed graduates of 2009, with words by Kayla. I can see the Hallmark headquarters from the library windows of the dental school, and all the employees look insanely jealous.

Graduation Illustration