A few years ago a close friend and colleague approached me with the opportunity to illustrate a book of short stories that he had written. Mario, the author and friend, is one of the most ambitious and impressive people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. If he proposes a project it WILL come to fruition…so looking for a new challenge, I accepted gratefully.

The challenge I set out for myself was to illustrate the book entirely with linoleum block prints. I have always loved the look and feeling that they convey and here was my chance to create a series.

I had never known Mario as a creative writer aside from a few creative briefs that he’d prepared for me, but I’m very happy I got to know this side of him. The stories are varied and thought-provoking, and each story offered me a multitude of ways to handle the illustration, and in this illustrator’s opinion that is a success.

I was given 100% creative freedom to interpret and visualize the stories which is how you’d want every assignment to be. Challenging sure, but this is what I love to do.

If you’d like to read the book it has just been published and is available on Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble and other online vendors.

Here are a few of my favorite illustrations from the series.