"The {Sketch}book" vol. 01!!

"The {Sketch}book" is the first volume of a new series of books showcasing all of my favorite sketchbook pages. This first volume is a rather large compilation of 114 pages from multiple sketchbooks I've kept over the past nine years. I included the cover and 7 interior spreads, above, as examples.

I spent the last 2 months compiling images and designing the book in my free time, and am really happy with the results. Originally, I started creating the book as an addition to my larger portfolio of commissioned jobs and gallery work that gets shown around by my agents. But I realized that I could offer it up for sale, as well, to whomever would be interested.

For more info on purchasing a copy please click here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/626123

If interested, I highly recommend getting the hardcover version, but there is also a cheaper softcover version available. Both options are 8" x 10", 114 pages, on Premium Paper. Keep in mind that these books will likely be a pretty limited run as they were not mass-produced for book stores. Each book ordered is professionally printed and bound on-demand, and shipped within about 8 days. Please email with any other questions: timtomkinson@mac.com

Aquafina - Kelly Award

I found out recently that the Aquafina ads I worked on for BBDO a while back received a Kelly Award for best Insert/Outsert. I'll admit, I had never heard of the Kelly Awards before.. but it's still pretty cool. You can take a look at the award page here: http://www.kellyawardsgallery.org/index.html#/Gallery/Winners/Aquafina/ If you click on 'Judges Comments' you can hear them talk a little about why they picked it.

There's a good chance you didn't see the actual insert out in mags (but possibly the regular print ad..). It was actually pretty cool. The single Aquafina bottle on the front of the insert was printed on "seed paper" and then glued down onto the ads. The paper literally had seeds embedded in it, so you could actually pull it off and grow a plant and/or flowers out of it. Hence, their headline of "Water Brings Things to Life".

The bottles and all of the type were hand-drawn with pen and colored with watercolor. I guess I figured a water-based color solution was the most relevant, given the subject matter. Ok, now I'm thirsty... bye

Men's Journal - Chuck Yeager & Jon Voight

Here are my two most recent portraits for Men's Journal. The Chuck Yeager piece was in the last issue (January), which may still be on stands. Shaquille O'Neal is out next. Each of these portraits are appearing on the very last page of the mags, in the "Exit Interview". I especially liked Chuck's answer to the question Who's the toughest guy you know?: "In my profession, it'd be the guy who kills you."

Men's Journal - Tim Robbins

This one is in the current November issue of Men's Journal. I'm back to doing monthly portraits now, after a 2-month hiatus. I've already done portraits of Jon Voight and Chuck Yeager for the Dec. & Jan. issues, which I will post after they hit stands.

Tim Robbins = Tall

Men's Journal - Dennis Hopper

I did this one back in May, for the August issue of Men's Journal. They asked me to do portraits for the September and October issues as well, but I unfortunately had to decline because of this Key Bank campaign. I've had to say no to all other jobs that have come up since June, too. I haven't even had time to update this blog since last month! I'll be wrapping up the Key Bank job in the next couple weeks, after which I'll be able to post more updates, and take more jobs (oh, and leave my studio!). I have been squeezing in my monthly Spirit Magazine portraits, though, since I had already agreed to do them back in April. More posts soon (hopefully)..

Rolling Stone Illustration

I did this portrait of REM 2 weeks ago for Rolling Stone Magazine, which is out now in their April issue (Chris Rock is on the cover). It's for the Reviews page to go along with the review of their new album "Accelerate", which is supposedly "one of their best records ever". I'm not really able to agree (or disagree) with that since the preview CD they sent me was watermarked and wouldn't work for anyone but the Art Director. I did manage to listen to a couple songs on their website, though. Based on their faster, more energetic songs, and the title of the album, I decided to reference this new speed and acceleration with the motion lines. Those lines were actually sorta fun to draw. I didn't have a t-square though, so I improvised one with a ruler and a piece of cardboard!

Skiing Magazine spot illustration

This was the last Marmot spot for the '08 season. Out now in February issues. More again in July..