First Impressions
The award-winning illustrator talks his art background, style, and recent projects
Where did you grow up and how has this influenced your art? I grew up in a small farm valley town in upstate New York near the Berkshire mountain area. I did not grow up on a farm, but surrounded by them in an 1813 brick Federal house, which my parents bought when I was around seven.
The house was large, impressive and held infinite mysteries to me and my younger brother. There were hidden passages, cupboards, a 1960s era single-occupant elevator, and a terrifying 19th century basement. The house is on dozens of acres, leaving so much to explore. There was a huge, old safe that had fallen through the floor into the basement, totally empty, the door open and incredibly heavy, but
