I occasionally put out a newsletter with project updates, sale times, and more. You can find the most recent for free download through my @Patreon.

6.0 in Willits just now. No aftershocks in Stockton. The soils around here absorb the movement too much normally.

Independent scholar life in the Central Valley involves getting laughed at by nonprofit boards for wanting to be paid a living wage. Then they decide to use AI for a rather similar idea. 🫠 Just sayin' this keeps up and I'm going to get every tweaker in 50 miles on y'all's data centers.

The life scene on this book's cover is my very first commission cover for a client. I also did a few interior scenes. This title will release in August.

Looks like the Valley heat is here in force today. Its supposed to be 103 or so [40 for my Celsius using friends]. Indoor activities it is. I have a grant application to work on, job applications to work on, and art to prep for upcoming events. The machine is full of Historic Stockton pins now.

Just got accepted for the Makerspace that will be during the SHA conference. I genuinely can't wait to show the Stockton volume off. And my fancy visual essay should be well out by then. Now to figure out how I will afford to get to Austin.

This week I shift from the on-call schedule of subbing to whatever schedule my chaos-goblin brain comes up with to accommodate. Am I still up at 4:30a? Yes. However, now I get to do other things that involve more thought. Its really hard to do writing and art production tasks when you're on call.

Commission sale time for digital motif renders. #IMC2026 attendees- do you still need illustrations for your presentation and/or poster? I'm an archaeological illustrator and don't use AI. $50 USD per digital render. I take PayPal and can promise I'm fast #MedievalSky #SkyStorians #SciArt

My area is particularly bad about this view as its supported by some of the local museums. I have all sorts of very salty thoughts about the pay to participate model that gets promoted around both art and public history in this state and country.

Behold! My first cover done for another researcher is up on the @archumanities.bsky.social website! I did some interior scenes as well. This guy is a life scene of TS 380 from a cemetary in Italy. #MedievalSky #SkyStorians #SciArt www.arc-humanities.org/978180270359...

Commission sale time for digital motif renders. #IMC2026 attendees- do you still need illustrations for your presentation and/or poster? I'm an archaeological illustrator and don't use AI. $50 USD per digital render. I take PayPal and can promise I'm fast #MedievalSky #SkyStorians #SciArt

My edits are officially submitted for my visual essay and reflection piece. My very kind reviewers both said its understandable, accessible, and stunning. Boom! Coloring book slinging archaeologist can do peer review journals too, even if its a bit of a slower timeline as an independent scholar.

Took a second look at my reviewers' comments. They are still really lovely and I didn't dream it. Way to go visual essay! Way to go nice reviewers!

My #worldbeeday post comes from the stack of motifs that will become the next five volumes of the Viking Coloring Book when I can find a publisher for the whole kit and caboodle.

Its graduation season. I graduated in absentia more than a decade now but I never got the chance to wear the claret and blue robes. I'll never be able to afford them now that I am back in California. When I was supposed to walk I didn't even watch the webcast- most of my cohort had graduated prior.

Its a weekday which means I'm on call for subbing. Its down to the last couple of weeks of hands down the worst year in this work since I began in 2015. Its depressing so here is a photo of my opinionated rabbit looking out the window.

#medieval friends and neighbors guess who has peer reviews from the journal reviewers for that visual essay that are actually really great and supportive. I got some extra polish because, well, I've basically been out of this level of game for 12 years. I make my own game with the coloring books.

One of the balcony views from my event yesterday. The view looks down on the lobby of the Fox Theater in Stockton, California. Medieval decorated columns are on both sides. They are concrete mimicking carved stone with a lattice of gold ribbons. On the floor upside down is a mosaic.

Good morning friends and neighbors! I had a poke through my hard drive and found the scan of the fishing for the world serpent scene I did before it sold. There is a lot of metallic highlights around this one that didn't scan well.

Some of last weeks glasses test at Big Trees State Park. Normally I use these when I ride around town on my bike since I don't have a go-pro. It was raining during much of the full walk and I was a bit concerned about getting a drop smack on it though.

Another K'zoo I couldn't afford. *Sad medievalist face here* BUT as each year goes by more illustrations I've done for others' publications are in the book rooms for me. That's worth the early mornings I get up to be able coordinate around my on-call schedule.

Hey #archaeology and #publichistorian friends I'm looking for a writing accountability buddy for today. I've been trying to do more academic writing this year. I kinda reminded an editor that having author publication fees no matter what literally would gate keep me out of the conversation.

Timeline cleanse from my reference photo walk on Monday. North Grove Trail, Big Trees State Park.

I am trying to make a writing deadline. Focused, typing, biscuits next to me, all of it. Some bunny is being a jerk and has thumping directly under my chair exactly 3 minutes after I get to work everything I get to work for the past hour. Bunny tax included.

This is excellent news and means people like me will be able to quit offering trade of illustration services to cover fees. Not this publisher, obviously, but I did just that with another major publisher this month alone.

I made a giant scratcher ticket for my booth next weekend as a break from line work. I might still put some lettering around the edge, I haven't decided yet.

@aidanosullivan.bsky.social Would you happen to know anyone working on medieval assaying? I'm working on a commission currently and want to make certain I understand the process enough to do the sequence properly.

Hey #archaeology and #arthistory friends I'm working on a local illustrated map at the moment. I was wondering if I have anyone working on WW2 material amongst my extended network. I'd like to make this one hit particularly hard because *dumpster fire times*.

Today is the last work day my subbing permit is valid. I can't afford to replace it. I've only been booked 3 days out of the last 3 months. I have worked for 2 companies this year and it's the worst yet. Last couple of years I was booked out a couple of months in advance.

I never apply for any of those "opportunities". Not only can I not afford it but also it takes time from doing the visual work that actually does pay. Even bartering art for research pdfs pays me better.

✏️ #TBT to the research and sketching that goes into each page of my illustrations. ✨ Bringing history to life through art is a rewarding challenge. This week's focus: revisiting my osteology notebook from undergrad. #HistoricalArt #CreativeProcess #ThrowbackThursday

San Joaquin County Educators! Is your class learning about birds and local environments this Spring? You can sign up for your FREE class set of posters through the link in my bio. @sanjoaquinaudubon

Many of the videos on my YouTube are ASMR. This green paint was a recycling effort. youtu.be/2khxU3tTjdY

Get a copy of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book when you are at @inseasonmarketandnursery! #historicstockton, #Coloringbook, #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

Thank you to all my amazing Patrons for supporting my work! Your enthusiasm inspires me to keep creating. Let's celebrate you with a shoutout! #archaeologicalillustration, #independentscholar, #patreon

I have a YouTube channel where I post process videos from some of my projects. This dragonfly and lilypad motif ended up on an accoustic bass guitar. youtu.be/5qOQetzAHRA

What's your favorite historical landmark in the Central Valley? Tell us in the comments! #California #LocalHistory

🎨 #TBT to a page from my historical coloring book series! 🖍️ Want to see more? Follow me for weekly #TBT posts and updates on my ongoing projects. #ColoringBookDesign #History #ThrowbackThursday

Many thanks to @sanjoaquinaudubon for funding my first new project of 2026- a local birding poster to help teach in class and at events! #sciart #archaeologicalillustrator

Supporters of my Patreon have a calendar page download every month. They are always released a few days early. Get yours today! #archaeologicalillustration, #independentscholar, #patreon, #coloringbook

TONIGHT FROM 5-10PM! Come see the Grinch, Santa and I at the Christmas Market at the Fair! #localartist #coloringbook #stockton

New video posted on my YouTube! youtu.be/W06-rwiq3Fs

I've taken up engraving recently. Here is my octopus practice bottle. It's hard to photo.

There are currently more than 80 designs available through my Redbubble shop. This is the most recently added. www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/1766... #redbubble, #stickers, #horse

This sketch is one I thought would just be for my annual Lunar New Year Page. I think I might toss it onto my Redbubble later. #redbubble #horse #archaeologicalillustration #coloringpage

Get a copy of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book when you are at @inseasonmarketandnursery this holiday season! [Or order some from my website- that works too!] #downtownstockton, #visitstockton, #historicstockton, #Coloringbook, #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

This #smallbusiness Saturday make sure to get a copy of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book when you are at @inseasonmarketandnursery! [Or order some from my website- that works too!] #downtownstockton, #visitstockton, #historicstockton, #Coloringbook, #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

I recently upgraded my phone and came across this pic I took from York's medieval walls while I was in grad school. That's York Minster in the background.

#tbt to March of this year at Stockton's Business Chamber Mixer. All five of the original paintings created to accompany volume 1 of the Historic Stockton Coloring Book Project. They have all since sold, the last of them being at this year's #FeastattheFox #archaeologicalillustration, #localartist

Are you part of a non-profit organization looking for new ways to connect to your local community? I can help you create projects that do just that. #communityoutreach #publichistory #archaeologicalillustrator