Barron Storey

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Barron Storey is an incredible illustrator.  His work is so layered and textural and complex, with original typefaces as well.  He is also one of the most brilliantly interesting people I've ever met.  Saw him lecture at the Society of Illustrators in NYC when I worked there, in summer of 2009.  If you ever get the chance to hear him speak, GO!  He is one of those people who could talk for 24 hours straight and ALWAYS be interesting.  (I believe he teaches at one of the art schools in San Francisco, CA.)  He also exudes the most incredible energy.  You really see it when he talks, his passion for his work and his life are just so great.  You can FEEL it.  The exhibit at the Society was entirely filled with his journals/sketchbooks.  You could have easily spent a week in the gallery and not have seen everything!

Best quote from the lecture, about "deadlines" as an illustrator:

"DEADLINE: If you hit this line you're dead."

At the Society of Illustrators.

Some of his journals.

It was as full a house as it ever could have been.

My introduction to his work was from the 11th book from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series "Endless Nights."  He illustrates the story about the character "Despair."  Although he began his career as an illustrator for National Geographic, motorcycle and car magazines, the giant painting of the South American rainforest in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, even the original "Lord of the Flies" book cover, his work branches into comics more and more.  Keep an eye out for his work.

Despair, from "Endless Nights"

"Lord of the Flies"