"Publish or Perish" Those words rang in my head when I graduated from Art Center in Pasadena, California in 1985. I was bound and determined to get my paintings published so my work would be validated and recognized. Upon graduating from Art Center I was apprehensive of the difficult task of finding clients, getting published and starting an illustration business entirely on my own straight out of art school.

This is me in my studio in 1992 with my faithful companion Prince. Prince loved to sit on my shoulder and make sure everything was going as planned. Here I am starting the layout of the Land of Xeen map. Visible on the easel is an earlier map used as reference and the new map being blocked in with colors. I was very content working the hours away on this project in my studio.