Now considered vintage, these two books—The Ultimate Bug Book (1993) and The Ultimate Ocean Book (1995)—were published by Western Publishing Co. I painted the covers for both titles, while other artists and paper designers handled the interior artwork.
The lionfish painting now belongs to my brother, while the cicada cover recently found a new home through art agent Jane Frank of Wow-Art.
Western Publishing is no longer around, but it was a wonderful company to work with as a freelancer—thanks in no small part to the kind and talented art director, Remo Cosentino. Imagine being a bug artist and getting an assignment like this! My little illustrator’s heart sang the day I was asked to paint those covers.
For the Bug Book, the art direction was straightforward: create a striking single insect image with supporting elements for a wraparound cover. I pulled out my trusty platform microscope and one of my mounted cicadas, then set to work. Most people are familiar with the cicada’s dorsal (back) view, but not the underside—it’s surprisingly intricate and mechanical-looking.
The Ocean Book cover needed a different mood: more colorful and softer, fitting for a book about sea life. I aimed for a background that felt mysterious, but not too dark. For both paintings, I began with detailed drawings on heavy Arches paper, then airbrushed the background with a thin mixture of oil paint and alkyd resin (respirator firmly in place). This translucent layer allowed the drawing to remain visible. Once dry, I built up the underpainting and finishing layers—my usual painting process.
Did you grow up with one of these books on your shelf? I’d love to know if they were part of your childhood too.