There’s a thing about making a portfolio where you feel yourself being put into a smaller box than you’d like. Sure, I want to put my most relevant work first and foremost, but behind those projects is a more complete, well-rounded, creative individual.
Take a moment to look through some of my other creative pursuits, both personal and professional. You never know when you’ll have the need for some video editing, illustration, copy writing, etc... and it’s great to have someone in the room who will raise their hand and say, “Sure, I can do that!”
Whether I’m honing my skills as an armchair critic, or teaching myself to use the cameras, mics, and lights in the equipment closet, I’ve always found something compelling about the medium of film. I've been fortunate to have the oppotunity to film and edit a few projects in the past, some of which you can check out below.
While I would not describe myself as an animator, I do have the flexibility to apply my illustration and motion graphics skills to produce some compelling results. The snippets below were part of an animated prologue for an independent film.
Far from the sepia tones of those animated snippets, have a look at these images from a children’s book I illustrated for my nephews.
The artwork is first drawn by hand in pencil, then scanned and inked with a pen tablet.
Presently there are two entries in the “Captain Anbesa” saga, with another expected to arrive under a Christmas Tree near you this December.
Many general design principles also apply to illustration projects. Choosing a sensible color scheme, composing images with a sense of proportion, and adhering to the rule of thirds can all help ensure pleasing images.
I have been drawing since I could hold a pencil. Painting never really hooked me until I learned to do it on a computer. The presence of an "undo" button is a very welcome addition to what is otherwise a permanent medium.
I often paint things from games, books, or movies, but I try to inject my own original twists and interpretations.
Whether I am assisting with copy on the job, or simply working on a short story for pleasure, I've always enjoyed writing. Hopefully the content throughout my portfolio has convinced you I'm pretty good at slinging words, but if you'd like something with a little more flavor, have a look at these excerpts from short stories that I've written.
SAMPLE 1
Louise stared absently into the fire. The cigarette in her hand glowed lazily beneath a quarter inch of ash. The sun had set over an hour ago, and a cold breeze stirred the flames before her. Fall was settling over the town of Casper in earnest now. She liked this season. Each year, it was like nature found a way to let go of the ups and downs of summer, and begin the slow process of rebuilding itself. There was something cathartic there; nevermind that everything had to die off first.
“That’s what I’m saying!” Tucker exclaimed from across the firepit, where he sat reclined against a stack of bricks. “Someone over at E.P. has a righteous sense of irony.” He chuckled to himself and continued, “If I were to found a company on the premise of saving the environment, I’d do it in a logging town that wasn’t already 15 years past its prime. It’s like, congratulations wizards, mother nature already beat you to it.”
Louise was only half listening. Tucker was known to carry on once he got going. At 19, he was the oldest member of their little group. With this advanced age came many opinions on a variety of topics, none of which encompassed his own future, or making something of himself beyond barely graduating High School.
“I don’t know Tucks,” responded Lucy, the cherubic, pigtailed middle schooler who sat next to Louise. “The lumber industry is still here… it’s just not as big as it used to be. Not since the trees stopped growing.”
Tucker shrugged expansively. “No trees, no lumber industry, no point to this whole environmental conservation thing. Tell me I’m wrong, Fudge.” He seemed satisfied he had made his point.
Lucy cocked her head thoughtfully. She had earned the unfortunate nickname “Fudge” from her affinity for snacks, and the waistline that resulted from it. Rather surprisingly for an adolescent girl, she took the name in stride, perhaps even taking pride in it. While she was solidly seven years younger than Tucker, they had nevertheless formed a sort of unlikely partnership, predicated on the fact that neither one really expected the other to change who they were. That, and they had grown up next door to each other.
SAMPLE 2
With great care, Dr. Peters closed the front door silently behind him. Internally, he was debating whether or not to call out and ask the darkness, “is someone there?” For now, he opted against it, and gingerly made his way to the house’s rear entrance, which he found was also locked. There were no signs of forced entry around any of the first floor windows either. They were sealed up tight.
Relaxing slightly, but certainly confused, Emitt proceeded cautiously up the stairs to the second floor of the house. While a bit concerned, he had to admit to himself that a feeling of childlike adventure was worming its way into his mind. The only other person with keys to his home was his mother, who lived hundreds of miles away, so what could the light in the attic be?
At the top of the stairs, Peters considered the light switch for a moment. Flipping it on might give away his presence to an intruder, which was something he was not sure he was ready to do. Indeed, he admitted to himself, he was also not ready to startle a stranger unexpectedly, as that could quickly become unpleasant for all involved.
Without resolving this debate, he turned down the hall. He approached the overhead door which led to the attic, and regarded it for several seconds. When lowered, a folding ladder allowed one to climb up into the roof of the house. There was no sign of the light he had seen peeking around the edges, but that may have simply been the result of a tight seal. He took hold of the pull-string which opened the contraption, and with his pulse quickening, he pulled.
The springs that held the door up groaned loudly, cutting through the dark, silent air. They finally settled into place with a sigh, punctuated by a few stray wooden creaks. Whatever illusion Peters had of stealthily investigating the situation had collapsed, however he did not dwell long on having given up his position, because there was indeed a pale green light faintly visible in the room above. He unfolded the ladder, and after staring at it for several seconds, put his foot on the first rung.
Did I mention that I also enjoy making music, game design, brewing beer, kayaking, skiing, science fiction, cats, board games, and philosophy? Remember, the people you choose to work with are exactly that - people.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me a little. I’d love to hear from you soon.
- Dan