Projects like the ones shown here have been opportunities to try new techniques, gain skills, and make the world a little happier place. When I play, good things happen! I started painting pictures of chickens for fun, these birds opened a lot of doors for me.
The main goal of the contest was to get contestants to create artwork to help San Marcos residents and Texas State students understand that anything going into storm drains can find its way into the San Marcos River.
I investigated the natural habitat, only to discover the seldom mentioned San Marcos Salamander (The Texas Blind Salamander tends to steal the spotlight). I followed my hunch that this very local resident could be an excellent representative for river-related education.
Of more than 60 designs, my artwork was selected for the storm drain covers for the City of San Marcos. Another contestant, Mabel Lopez had created a decorative border of river inspired motifs for her design, the judges requested that we add her border around my design.
The final cover design was cast in steel for use around San Marcos. Texas State University reviewed entries and also selected the design for the campus. These covers will be part of San Marcos for the next 40 or 50 years.
To create a catering van wrap for a Dallas area restaurant, using one of my chicken paintings.
Working with the vendor I created examples for the client to view how the van might look wrapped in a giant rendition of my watercolor chicken painting.
A colorful catering van that catches eyes in the Dallas area. Other projects followed this one, also using my chicken paintings.
See more catering vans and billboard
To create an iconic image to promote an Austin event, inviting attendees to visit backyard chicken coops as well as an information packed tour headquarters with vendors and experts.
Having a thing for drawing chickens was a good start. I experimented with various mediums and designs to develop the character of the tour’s top bird.
A combination of feathers painted with ink and digitized, and feathers created in Adobe Illustrator came together to create a graphical event mascot to crow about!
To develop an iOS app offering an engaging and informative chicken breed reference.
I teamed up with a chicken expert Michelle Hernandez to learn about her vision for the app. My love of painting and drawing chickens and working in usability made us a great team. We put our heads together to iterate ideas and organize content. We were lucky to have her iOS developer husband make our ideas a reality.
A one of a kind illustrated chicken breed reference app—it was in the top 200!
To create an annual greeting to reach out to the people I care about.
These projects always are hand-drawn and painted, maybe carved blocks that I print; only small finishing touches are allowed in the digital realm.
Cheery greetings are mailed to friends and family for a human connection, people have told me that they keep them hung up in their spaces.