Stuck in Jail

Sometimes I feel trapped. Like a bird in a cage, I am made to depend on the benevolence of my keeper. Other times I'm like a bird in an open cage, refusing to leave the safety of a familiar space. Fear, frustration and loneliness are never far from the mind.

I have also been aware of the ugly statistics regarding the prison industrial complex. This is an important part of the economy for many communities around the world. It is often a merciless machine in which the innocent can get caught in the blink of an eye. Jail is for the bad guy—whether guilty or not.

These three illustrations capture the essence of these ideas. I would appreciate your feedback. You can download watermark-free versions from Stockfuel.

A New Sea Creature

Even though the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico well has been capped, the consequences of the world's demand for cheap oil and petroleum products hasn't been capped. In fact it appears that we aren't in the least bit aware of how accidents like these will only continue unabated if conservation and long-term sustainable planning are not made a priority over consumption and economic growth.

So I was inspired to create this illustration. It seems we have created a new sea creature: The oil barrel. We mine oil. We package it. We abuse it. Whether in its crude form, refined as fuel or as a plastic bottle, we have littered the oceans with it. The creatures who make the ocean their home must now live with it.

Can we sympathize with them and reconsider the oil culture? Can we see deeply enough into their plight and see the effects it has on our health and societies? I will do all in my power to put this belief into practice. What about you?

Our First Sale on Dreamstime

© Photographer: Theblackrhino | Agency: Dreamstime.com

I'm very grateful to the first person to purchase one of my illustrations through Dreamstime.

This particular image was inspired by the poisoning of the oceans through our demands for fossil fuels. I am so passionate about this subject that I sold my car a few years ago. My family and I rely on bikes, public transit and feet.

Like most of my illustrations, it started as a sketch, inked, scanned and traced in Illustrator. From there I colored it in. The drilling platform was added from scratch upon recommendation of my daughter.

Hoping I can keep those kinds of sales going  up to a few times per day!