A New Style

The latest comic in my series "Who Needs Art?" for Medium.com features the geometric abstractions of Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg - the two main figures of the Dutch art movement De Stijl. You can read the full comic here. Caution: may contain primary colors. 

Dada Day

While researching the history of modern art, I noticed some parallels between the early-20th-century Dada art movement and the reckless enthusiasm of childhood. My daughter is not yet old enough to recreate the art of Marcel Duchamp, but in the next few years this comic may become a reality.

This is the third comic in my series "Who Needs Art?" for Medium.com.

The Ghosts of Creativity

My Neighbor Magritte

Read the full comic in my series "Who Needs Art?" at Medium.com.

Self Portrait

This comic appeared as the second in my series "Who Needs Art?" for Medium.com.

Monday Morning

Remembering Futurism

Filippo Tommaso Marinetti was a man of inherited wealth, artistic vision, controversial political views, and a well-curled mustache. His “Futurist Manifesto” is an outlandish and entertaining document that would be difficult to parody. I’ve paraphrased parts of the manifesto in this comic while trying to stay true to the spirit of the original.

This comic appeared as the first in my series "Who Needs Art?" for Medium.com.

The Original Manuscripts

This is what books look like before they are sent to the publisher.

People of the Art Museum

I made an illustrated journal of a free day at the Denver Art Museum. It's the latest in my series "Who Needs Art?" for Medium.com. You can read the full version here. Disclaimer: I did not use a pen in the galleries - my original sketches were in pencil.

Sculptor vs. Painter

The latest comic in my series "Who Needs Art?" is verbal sparring match between two 20th-century Russian artists: Vladimir Tatlin, a Constructivist, and Kazimir Malevich, a Suprematist. You can read the full comic at Medium.com.

The Story Coaster

This drawing appears in the July 14 Sunday NY Times Book Review. Thanks to Book Review editor Pamela Paul! Also, thanks to my middle school English teacher, who taught me the wonderful word "dénouement."

You can order a poster at my shop.

Shakespeare in the Park

All words in this comic are courtesy of William Shakespeare.

You can order a poster of this and many other fine literary comics at my shop.

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!

American Art

The latest comic in my series "Who Needs Art" is up on Medium.com. It's a reflective stroll through a gallery of 20th-century American art.

In other exciting news, a few of my comics were selected to appear in the Best American Comics 2013! It's not available in stores until October, but you can see the cover (by the incomparable Kate Beaton) here.

Some other places you can find my work:
The Hic and Hoc Illustrated Journal of Humor, an outstanding collection of humor comics edited by Lauren Barnett and Nathan Bulmer.
Alternative Comics #4, featuring an equally star-studded lineup of cartoonists.
The "Nerds for Hire" podcast, where I discuss freelancing as a visual artist with hosts Non Wells and Mindy Holahan.

When You Are Gone

This comic began as an initial sketch to illustrate an essay about the future of books. The essay offered a somewhat bleak view of the literary world to come - a publishing market controlled by devices and e-reading platforms with a dwindling readership and fewer opportunities for authors. Unfortunately, the essay was cancelled. I decided to finish the comic anyway. Maybe nostalgia for the printed word is premature and misguided, but I'll always prefer books in their traditional form.

There are worlds...

You can order a poster at my shop.

Message to a Graduate

Rules for Freelancers

This is the second of a set of comics I drew for Red Lemon Club, a site with articles and resources for creative professionals started by illustrator Alex Mathers. The secret to success in any creative field includes a cape, a Holden Caulfied hat, and a small herd of trained elephants.

Day Jobs of the Poets

This comic is factual, but it requires a couple clarifications: Wallace Stevens was an executive at an insurance company, not your average insurance salesman. And there's no evidence that Emily Dickinson liked cats, but her sister Lavinia was cat-obsessed. So Emily must have been forced to cat-sit occasionally.

You can order a poster here.

A Cartoon for Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! Enjoy your supercontinental breakfast.