Barry Blitt
web site

Known as the "quiet Half-Tone", Barry Blitt has been contributing illustrations to a variety of publications for what seems like years. His cartoons [if that's what you call them] have appeared in Entertainment Weekly since the early '90s, and his tiny portraits of varying likeness show up constantly in the New York Observer.

As well, Mr. Blitt's covers and drawings grace the pages of the New Yorker [perhaps "grace" is too strong a word] with some frequency. He is currently working on a children's book, and several other doomed projects.

A frustrated piano player since his angry boyhood in Quebec, he has recently been taking weekly lessons from an increasingly agitated and embittered jazz teacher.

Joe Ciardiello
web site

For over 25 years Joe's illustrations have appeared in most major publications, as well as in ad campaigns for American Express, ESPN and on a series of CD covers for Capitol Records. Among his awards are two silver medals from the Society of Illustrators. A graduate of Parsons, he has been featured in a number of art journals including CA Magazine. In 1999 he had a one man show at the Society of Illustrators. A New York City native, Joe recently re-located to the pastoral Delaware River Valley in Western New Jersey. When not interrupted by illustration assignments, he loves playing the drums.

Richard A. Goldberg
web site

I began drawing at the age of four. My primary artistic influences during my formative years were Mad Magazine and The New Yorker. In grammar school I was always the class artist (with a specialty of drawing nude women; my work was much in demand!). At the University of Connecticut, after taking a great design/art class (taught by the current dean of Cooper Union, Robert Rindler) I rediscovered drawing and switched my major from oceanography to graphic design. Initially I had to keep this switch from my folks because I knew that I would not be able to answer their inevitable question, 'How are you going to make a living as an Artist?' I had to 'fes up when I brought my portfolio home and they saw nudes but no nudibranchs. By this time though, I discovered illustration and finally knew how I was going to make a living. For the past 24 years, I haven't looked back. Well, once I looked back, but I'll never do that again.

Hal Mayforth
web site

Humorous Illustrator Hal Mayforth was born and raised in Vermont. He was lucky to have graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in Fine Art because he spent most of his 4 years playing rock and roll in bars. He started his illustration career in Boston after a succession of flakey drummers made pursuing a career in music unrealistic. Hal has been the recipient of many awards and honors, among them being named Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 1993 and a swimming award at Camp Abnaki in the early '60's. In addition to drawing little guys with big eyes and big noses for money, he is also serious about drawing in his sketchbooks every morning and fashioning those drawings into really cool paintings. He continues to play guitar each day and weekly with his band, The Jupiter Kings .His illustration clients include: Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Outside, Sports Illustrated, Coke, Pepsi, IBM, HBO, Chase, and Bell Atlantic.

Robert Saunders
web site

A former printmaker and professional musician for seven years in Italy, Rob was frequently told to go into music instead of art by his printmaking professor. But he stuck with the art and over the years has worked with hundreds of clients including The Atlantic, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, and many Fortune 500 firms. His work has appeared in CA, Print, The Art Directors Club, and Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles. Besides teaching illustration at Massachusetts College of Art, he served in the Graphic Artist Guild for years on the Executive Committee and Contracts Committee, and in the Boston Chapter as acting President and editor/designer of its newsletter. He has a daughter, Olivia, and lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he plays in various jazz ensembles.

Michael Sloan
web site

Michael Sloan spent several years working as a printmaker in Europe before moving to NYC in 1989. His first illustration assignment was with the Op-Ed page at the New York Times; he has been illustrating ever since. In 2002, his work was recognized by American Illustration 21, and the Communication Arts Illustration Annual (for which he received an Award of Excellence).

While living in NYC, Michael played bass in bands for many years. He now lives with his family in Connecticut, where he writes and records songs in his home recording studio. Michael has issued five CD's of original material so far.

James Steinberg
web site

James began his career over 20 years ago in Boston, where he met a group of illustrators who remain his pals today. Since those humble beginnings, lugging huge portfolios down Beacon and Boylston streets,James has done a variety of illustration assignments for clients in the editorial, corporate, and publishing markets. (Client list goes here). His work has often appeared in the Print Regional, CA, Society of Illustrators and American Illustration annuals.

Ten years ago, James had an overwhelming urge to pick up asaxophone. Since those humble beginnings, and after much frustration, he now plays regularly with a small jazz combo and a large ensemble. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with his family.