Latest Rough takes shape

Here's the latest version. I like the personification of Miami as the Ibis as its more interactive with Marco. Since that's to be the focus, the hurricane itself becomes a secondary background.

Note, I placed a few areas where the headline and some brief copy could go. These are always things to take in to account, composition-wise, as you don't want the art to impede the info and vice versa.

The first step is always the roughest

Yep, here we go. Traveling to Miami for the first time ever obviously gives us no history to reflect on, no vengeful expectations nor “remember what happened last time” motivation to draw upon. So instead I’ll draw upon the match-up being what it is — an away game with as much of a hostile environment the Hurricane faithful can muster against a first-time opponent.


So how does this boil down visually? Well, my first idea was our beloved Marco driving across a map of Florida partially covered by a Hurricane. (Above)

After doing the classic ‘showdown’ theme or proverbial ‘boxing standoff’ composition so many times, I really try to avoid the straight-up expected look.


As I started looking elsewhere, I began researching the Miami Hurricane’s mascot Sebastian the Ibis. It’s cool to find out information I otherwise wouldn’t have come across. Such as the Ibis being native of the Everglades. The Ibis is also the last bird to leave before a hurricane and the first to return after. I’ll often scour the Web to find reference and found several: The Ibis as nature’s creature, the Ibis as university sideline-roaming mascot, and as a mascot knick-knack. The sideline version looks more like a duck. I would want mine to look more like nature’s version — for the simple reason folks may look at the finish illustration and say “The Miami Ducks?” I am currently looking to incorporate my original hurricane idea with the Ibis critter and see what happens.

As I mentioned before, the idea is the most important aspect — not necessarily the toughest part of the process. The idea needs to be visually accurate and logical. And although suggestions are welcome, I rarely use someone else's idea.

Stay tuned …

Hoping to "draw" a crowd

Hey folks, news illustrator Thomas Marsh of the Herald-Dispatch here.

I’ve created hundreds of illustrations over the past seventeen years for every facet of the newspaper. During that time I’ve had many people suggest I teach a class on news illustration. Well, time constraints being what they are, and my desire to spend as much time with my family as I can, the idea seemed impractical. But now that we’re in an internet-driven age, I’ve got an opportunity to share my craft in a more fluid and convenient manner.

This forum will be the place I introduce ideas, post cryptic rough sketches and ideas and re-works on some of the illustration projects I work on. I’ll share with you my thought process and at times explain visual pitfalls that I will invariably come across and how to avoid them. I may also offer general tips on illustration. Our good fortune is that football season is just around the corner. For me that means, things are going to get busy with Herd Gameday cover illustrations. The fall has always been my favorite times of year and I love football -- so I’m already chompin’ at the bit.

I am often asked how long it takes for me to do a particular piece. My answer always includes the amount of time I take to come up with the idea.

After all, the idea is nearly everything. I say nearly cause, yeah, sure you have to do the execution well -- but a beautifully rendered bad idea serves no one. The second thing I do is compose the idea, or rough out how it will look on the page, keeping in mind the finish size, amount of space and almost certain headline with copyblock. Though I rarely use someone else’s ideas, suggestions are enjoyed. But invariably I have several ideas going in the early on.

So as the new Herd season kicks off, I’m inviting you to share in the creative process. See how we take each weeks challenge on the gridiron, and turn it into a fun illustration.