As a kid, I was doing cartoons for fun and my dad told me I should take them to the local paper, I was like eight years old. I gathered all my drawings together and made an appointment with the art director of the Red Deer Advocate. When the guy looked over my work, I was sure I was going to get a job, instead I got a life lesson on how to deal with rejection. The stage was set.

The stuff I promote through my Rep–Three in a box, in my own words is graphic realism. I use models for accuracy but I like graphic colour and bold lines instead of a painterly approach.


The usual–brainstorming on cheap paper. I try to solve the problem in short sessions, I find it's more efficient if I throw anything that comes to mind down quickly without over-thinking too much, and then leave it for awhile, and come back to it. I'll expand on the ideas and compositions when I'm fresh and not being influenced by the ideas I like at first.

I like using word associations (word play too) and think about image associations too. I try juxtapositions, like changing the context of the subject ( a TV could be used for other things than watching), incongruity–taking the subject out of it's scale or time or place. I play with the physical attributes of anything involved (would a gun made out of candy on a stick say anything?), and I toy with the absurd just to expand the possibilities beyond what my preconceived notions are.

When I've got three ideas/compositions that I think will answer the clients project, it's off to get references, my neighbours hate that part, "OK stand like this, pretend you're holding a pistol".

Brain, pencils, paper, Illustrator, Photoshop–stir well.


I'm convinced that the well is dry in about half an hour, my career is over (dad was right! I should have gone into Real Estate). At that point I go do something else, even if it's just fifteen minutes. That's usually enough to stop the voices, err, refresh my mind. 


To do a piece that stirs someone, emotionally or intellectually. That and to get paid in thirty days.


I listen to CJSW, the local university station almost always, it's really eclectic–going from trance to pop, to African tribal music in a day. I strictly avoid zydeco music, I hear it causes cancer (although I have no proof).


Don't ever fall in love with: an idea, your work, or yourself. Have a skin so thick, elephants envy you. Things change dramatically in this industry, enjoy yourself, cuz today you may be at the bottom or the top, tomorrow anything can happen. Oh yeah, and never take advice from strangers.