I’ve been asked on numerous occasions over the past 27 years what gear do I wield in regard to computer gear for my design, motion, and VFX projects. After years of answering that question, I’m going to distill it down to this: I have specific gear for specific tasks, and I don’t pick sides anymore between Mac and Windows. Both have pluses and minuses. Also nothing beats a solid foundation of art and design studies. My time in Savannah and Athens were times well spent from 1991–1995. Plus both cities were rather quaint and quirky.
My focus at Savannah College of Art & Design was Foundation consisting of 2D Design, 3D Design, Color Theory, Drawing 1 & 2, Figure Drawing, Advanced Figure Drawing, Intro to Graphic Design, and Computer Art. At University of Georgia I applied and was accepted into the highly competitive School of Graphic Design. While in Athens I studied graphic design and was introduced to my mentor Bonnie Ramsey at Georgia Museum of Art. Our first project together, “ShOut!,” sealed our fate.
During my internship with The Publications and Public Relations Department I was responsible for designing posters, banners, and exhibition checklists. Bonnie and I were kindred spirits from day one. We collaborated for 19 years. I was fortunate to also meet Lamar Dodd in his home studio while he was cataloging his works. I designed a poster celebrating his daughter’s paintings and was invited over for a visit.
I surround myself with influences. I’m a solid believer in wielding osmosis.
Coursework at UGA included Layout, Technical Rendering, Illustration, Typography, Advanced Typography, Conceptual Design, and Portfolio. My Typography professor, Ron Arnholm, was taught by Paul Rand while he was working on his Masters at Yale. I was drawn to similar minimalist design including my own logotype that I still use today. I saw it in my mind and within ten minutes worked it out for the most part. When Professor Arnholm saw my logotype solution he commented “oh, that will last a long time.” That comment cemented my love for letterforms that started back when I was 11 playing around with fonts in PrintShop Deluxe on my Commodore 64.
Earlier this year I wrote an article about the legacy of ligatures. I coined the term “Yin & Yang” when referring to my own logotype as it features positive and negative space visual interactions. Back in high school I studied AP Art my senior year. I chose stencils as my focus which certainly influenced not only my logotype, but also my career as a broadcast designer since stencils plays a key role in animation, compositing, and visual effects.
Getting back to what some of my tools consist of now. I still have two overflowing tackle boxes filled with analog tools from Design markers and watercolors to many an X-ACTO blade. Below is a brief rundown of some of my gear.
A humble internship led to 19 years of collaboration with Bonnie at GMOA.
Gear Notes
1) First off, I don’t start with the computers, I start with a napkin, a scrap of paper, a Post-It or two, and a pen (no pencils allowed)
2) I sketch and make notes for awhile then grab my loupe and take a closer look; then I pull back ten feet and give it the squint test
3) I continue honing this newest creation, giving it time to breathe and naturally take shape
4) 2022 Dell XPS named “Vader,” Windows 11 Pro, Intel i9 12,900K, 64GB RAM, NVidia 3090 GPU, 2 x 2TB SSDs, 6TB USB Backup Drive, 4K Dell display, Wacom tablet, MX Keys Keyboard and MX Master 3 Mouse, Adobe CC, Maxon One, Affinity Suite, Blender, Unreal, and BlackMagic Design Da Vinci Resolve
5) Mid-2010 iMac 27 inch named “Yoda,” macOS Sierra, macOS High Sierra, and Mac OS X Snow Leopard, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 2 x 3TB USB Drives, 8TB USB Backup Drive, Adobe CC 2019, C4D R23
6) 2009 15 inch MacBook Pro named “Obi-Wan,” Mac OS X Snow Leopard, 8GB RAM, SanDisk for backups
7) 2024 14 inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro named “Rogue One,” macOS Sonoma, 18GB RAM, SanDisk for backups; Affinity Suite, Blender, and Da Vinci Resolve
8) 2020 5K iMac 27 inch named “Skywalker,” macOS Sonoma, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 2 x 3TB USB Drives, 8TB USB Backup Drive, Adobe CC, Maxon One, Blender, and Da Vinci Resolve
I’m also a collector of sorts. I’m not much of a reader, never have been because my mind wanders. However, everything I’ve ever experienced or seen with my own two eyes I remember in vivid detail. My cultural influences range from graphic and game design to films, screenplays, comics, role playing games, trading cards, magazines, and action figures. Beginning at the age of 9 I began collecting Road&Track, Car & Driver, and MotorTrend. I also was quite fond of Surfing and TransWorld Skateboarding magazines. In college I gathered quite a pile of Communication Arts mags.
Below are two shots from a recent photo shoot in my home studio while taking a visual inventory of my influences. I’ve been a collector for my entire life. My most prized possession is my Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Illustrated Screenplay. My Dad gifted it to me when I was 9.
A PEEK INTO MY COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS COVERING FIFTY YEARS OF CURIOSITY AND LOVE FOR FILMMAKING, STORYTELLING, AND ARTISTRY.
“Professor of Archeology, expert on the occult, and how does one say it...obtainer of rare antiquities.”
— Major Eaton addressing Indiana Jones in the lecture hall, Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan. Story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. Produced by Frank Marshall.