Featured Artist: Peter Hoey

My Background:I've been drawing more or less continuosly from birth [39 years ago]. The illustrations in encyclopedias and text books fascinated me from a very young age. Atomic strutural models and the Van Allen Belt were two favorites. The crisp line work and flat colors of those illustrations made a lasting impression on me. I attended art school and after graduation began working at a series of daily newspapers across the United States. The tight deadlines of newspapers forced me to think clearly and draw quickly. Having to go throught the editorial chain of command made me appreciate the multiple points of view that comprise a newsroom. Those were valuable lessons. After 10 years, I left newspapers and began a new career as freelance illustrator. Along with my sister Maria, we operate Pacific Coin-Op Studio in San Francisco. Coin-Op produces drawings for a wide range of magazines, newspapers, books and advertising.

My Technique:I begin my illustrations by quickly sketching out a number of ideas on tracing paper. By laying tranparent sheet over sheet, I'll produce tight versions of the original ideas. The final sketches are then scanned and e-mailed to the client. The selected sketch is placed in the background of the drawing program [Macromedia Freehand] and used as a template for the finished drawing. Line work is done first, then initial coloring, followed by final shading and color blends. Sometimes the drawing is exported to Photoshop for additional work. The finished art is e-mailed to the client.

My Involvement in the Guild: I have been a member of the Guild for one year. I help out with the luncheon and outreach committees, and provide pithy remarks at Guild functions. .

My Favorite Client story: My favorite clients spark a collaboration between artist, writer, designer and editor. I find the group effort to be the most elusive, and the most satisfying.

All artwork © 2002 Peter Hoey. Not to be used without permission.