Art by Shroon
My career began in music publishing, where at one moment I might be designing for the band Slayer, and the next, working on a project with “Weird Al” Yankovic, Julie Andrews, John Denver, or Metallica. I also designed the magazine, Guitar for the Practicing Musician, which was a blast because our target audience was a 14-year-old—mostly boys—and that energy was contagious. I still relate to designing for that age group; maybe because, in some ways, I’ve never stopped being 14 in my soul.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the design career I’ve had. The wide variety of projects I’ve worked on has kept my imagination constantly active. I’ve always had a vivid imagination, but my work required me to sharpen it—often coming up with concepts on the spot, in a room full of people. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of times I would sit and sketch ideas to help visualize concepts. Those moments were some of the most fun, surrounded by brilliant, creative minds from both the editorial and music worlds.
With so many years in publishing under my belt, I find that I am always trying to tell a story in my artistic work blending nature and imagination—poppies growing through pumpkins, birds perched on florals, seahorses wrapped in blossoms. Flowers hold magic for me. Whether my subjects are an octopus, mermaid, bird, or even the Headless Horseman, I surround them with florals so that my illustrations hold the wonder of a garden..
I like to focus on the details, with vintage-style line work. I get completely lost in the details when I draw. Time disappears. I can’t hear anything—I’m at total peace. The pen is a magical tool for me. Working with a pen forces you to build each piece strategically: tiny marks layered over tiny marks, gradually creating depth and contrast.
I often revisit an area 10 or 15 times, layering colors from Bic pens, gel pens, colored Pilots, or alcohol inks. The process is meditative—the sound of the pen scratching across paper, watching the image slowly come to life—it’s like being in a dream state.
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The vintage look comes naturally from this methodical process. Pen and ink have been used for centuries, and their natural irregularities give my work a handcrafted, nostalgic feel. In a world saturated with digital and AI-generated imagery, I love that pen and ink bring back a sense of authenticity and timelessness.
