Meet the Artist
In October 2010 I launched a humble but successful Kickstarter campaign.
Since then I have traveled to many cities and drawn many places.
Originally, I started drawing Portland scenes to be made into greeting cards, postcards, calendars and coloring books. Eventually, I had sketched over 200 landmarks and neighborhood places and decided I needed a new way to showcase these illustrations. I thought of playing cards because they easily showcase 54 images (jokers too) and lend themselves to being tangible and accessible art, both in touch and price.
My drawings celebrate history and place in an old-fashioned spirit that is influenced by the Renaissance etchings of Albrecht Durer and Andreas Mantegna. William Morris, Howard Pyle, and the Arts and Crafts Movement, including the Pre-Raphaelites, have inspired my sense of design.
By drawing on-site, I become a participant of each location. An average sketch takes an hour and I usually pin down the initial sketch within a few tries. However, sometimes I abandon the location, defeated, maybe to return later.
Once I have the initial sketch, I return to my studio to embellish and crosshatch the details using my Great-Aunt Ethel’s 1910 ink pen. When the images are ready I send them to my local printer in downtown Portland. The cards are set with a suit and number border template that was originally drawn by hand. The cards are digitally printed and UV coated; they have rounded corners and are shrink wrapped in a customized die-cut box that opens like a book.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is really not about playing cards. It’s about Art. Even if you don’t play them, you can still hold them in your hands and shuffle the deck. They can be arranged, displayed or framed in different ways that honor your favorite places.
You can see more of my past work (abstract, comic book drawings, portraits, and live painting performance at : travelsinart.wordpress.com
Press
Desert Sun June 2022:
How an artist from Oregon found Palm Springs was in the (playing) cards
Daily Astorian : October 2021
Playing card illustrator finds artistic niche on North Coast
Urban Art Network, August 2016 Playing Cards of the World
Aurora Sentinel, June 2014 Colorado Icons On Deck
Portland Monthly Magazine, August 2011 Playing with a Full Deck of Portland Places
Portland Tribune, February 2012
Willamette Week, September 2012 Different Art Thursdays
My Art History
Born: August 1978
Education:
1996-2000: The Evergreen State College {B.A. in Art}Olympia,WA
1996: Graphic Cat Design School; Portland, OR
1996: Oregon School of Arts and Crafts {Photography}
1994: Pacific Northwest College of Art {Digital Imaging}
1993-1996: Arts and Communications High School, Portland, OR
2010 – Present
Illustrated Playing Cards: artist-owned and operated, full-time.
Related Experience
2013: City Designer of the Year Award, Portland, OR
2012: Exhibition of 52 drawings: Architectural Heritage Center, Portland, OR
2009: Art Installer/Security Specialist at Museum of Glass; Tacoma, WA
2009: Technical Illustrator /Archaeologist; Skagway, AK
2007: Art Mime Performance at Seattle Art Museum
2005: Art Instructor; Art 4 Life After School Program, Portland OR
2004: Mapmaking and Technical Illustration/Archaeology Field Technician; Oregon, Washington, Idaho
2002: Technical Illustrator/ Archaeology/Backcountry Survey; Skagway,AK
2001: Archaeological Survey; Bandelier, NM
2010 in Portland, Oregon
November: Cup and Saucer Café, Mashtun Pub,Onda Gallery,Cinema 21
October: Caffe D’Arte, Bare Bones Café, Slabtown Bar
September: Caffe D‘Arte
August: Downtown Library Store & Townshend’s Alberta Teahouse
July: Local Discoveries on Alberta Street
May : June: Enterbeing on Alberta Street
2010 in Tacoma, Washington
March: Swiss Pub, Metro Coffee, & Enoteca Wine Bar
January and February: Speakeasy Co-Op
January: Group show at Jazzbones with Artifakt
Portland Exhibitions
2009
April: Enterbeing Community Center & The Fuel Cafe
March: Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center & MilePost 5
February: Studio 1627
2008/2009
New Year’s Eve: Beloved Presents Jai Ganesh;
Portland
July: Urban Arts Festival; Tacoma
2007
Pike Place Market; Seattle
November: Enterbeing Community Center; Father + Son
May: Village Building Convergence; Portland
2006
October:
Enterbeing Community Center & Jack Of All Trades Gallery
August: MetaPoiesis: EcoDesign and Visionary Art
May: Alberta Art Hop Festival & Village Building Convergence
April: The Peaceful Soul Yoga Studio
February: Pala Lounge & Group Art Show at Collage Art Supply
November: Father and Son at the Silverton Art Gallery
2005
September: The CenterRing Community Center
August: Enterbeing Community Center & The Tin Shed Cafe
July: Concrete the Studio
June: Portland Coffee House & Alberta Public House
May: Tiny’s Cafe, Squeeze the Bar, & the Cricket Cafe
April: Tribe Theater & Ford’s Cafe
March: The Fuel Cafe
February: Concordia Coffee House & The Star E Rose Cafe
January: La Dolce Vita Cafe & Do! Hair Salon
2004
December: The Cup and Saucer Cafe & Bella Faccia Pizzeria
October: The Environmental Art Symposium at Lewis & Clark College
Tacoma Exhibitions
2004
May-December: RampART Co-Op Artist Gallery
June-August:Panamonica’s Gallery and Restaurant
June: Shakabrah Restaurant
May: The Rosewood Cafe
April: Caffe Vita (Olympia)
2003
August: Embellish Salon and Gallery du Jour
July: The Swiss Pub
May: Shakabrah Restaurant
Live Art Performance
2009:
February Last Thursday
Street Performances All Over Portland
2008:
Alberta Street Fair; Portland OR
Urban Art Festival Fundraiser; Tacoma, WA
Hell’s Kitchen Club; Tacoma, WA
Seattle Art Museum
Pike Place Market; Seattle, WA
The Last Supper Club; Seattle, WA
2007:
First Night: New Year’s Eve; Tacoma, WA
Kulture Lab Event; Tacoma, WA
Enterbeing Community Center; Portland, OR
Alberta Art Hop; Portland, OR
2006:
MetaPoeisis Art and Music Festival; Portland, OR
SOAK!! Oregon Burning Man Regional Gathering
STRUT! with Kaosmosis at the Wonder; Portland, OR
Village Building Convergence with City Repair; Portland, OR
Alberta Art Hop!!; Portland, OR
Pala Lounge; Portland, OR
Fez Ballroom; Portland, OR
Corazon D’Amour with Kaosmosis at the Wonder; Portland
Many, Many Last Thursdays
2005:
Alberta Art Hop
Concrete the Studio and Gallery; Portland
Tribe Theater and Gallery; Portland
Fuel Cafe; Portland
2004
(in Tacoma, Washington)
September: Proctor Arts Fest
August: RampART Co-Op Art Walk Night
July: Art On the Ave
2003
November: Shakabrah Restaurant
October: Karpeles Manuscript Museum
2003: Big Show City at Capitol Theater; Olympia, WA
2002: Group Show; Skagway, AK
2001: Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center, NM
1999: Otto’s Bagels; Olympia, WA
1998: Butoh Dance Festival Reception Installation; Olympia, WA
1997: The Evergreen State College Library Gallery; Olympia, WA
1996: Father and Son at the Justice Center; Portland, OR
Collections
2010: Portland Art Museum Library Archives
2010: Washington State Historical Society, Children’s Museum of Tacoma
2003: A Tribute to Rachel Corrie; Last Word
Books, Olympia, WA
1994: Self-Portrait in Chalk and Computer; PNCA, Portland, OR