Portraits and illos

Back when glossy print mags were all the rage doing illos was a living. Mid-town art directors used to send bike messengers to my studio below 14th to pick up my sleek zippered portfolio- just to see if I was the right fit for a particular job. Imagine that.

On days when I’d lost my mind, I used to chase these gearless, brakeless, fearless bike messengers zipping through traffic. Seems insane now, but before cell phones, there was a flow, a communal rhythm, a pre-scripted energy field that would guide traffic on the synched light avenues. If one gave themselves over to trusting in these pathways/flows, and cut in and out of traffic as the openings presented themselves, a sense of order and safety would overcome all fears or apprehensions. I knew not to ride my bike on days when I wasn’t feeling the vibe.

Above: LEFT: SCARY BOTTLE NIGHT Poster for the annual Halloween party at Portland Wine Storage- owned and operated by my pal Joe Padulo. Above: RIGHT: A portrait of artist/activist/inspiration Dana Louis that was included in an auction for her project Gather:Make:Shelter