"This is a well-printed book, which opens up some interesting possibilities for design. I've done everything from just the right solid colors to a watercolor look (Dragon, right).

"I came up with all the coloring design, special patterns and textures and the typeography here, except for King of the Road heading, which was drawn beautifully by Jorge Calamato. Notice how empty looking the splash pages, above left and below right, would be without the dramatic cloud effects.

"I'm really like the dragon's word balloons and typeface, right, grungy but readable.

"If I know comics will bleed off the edges, I often work outside the panels to enhance the mood, like the water background for Fountain of Youth, upper right. The bright greens around the magical fountain are in direct contrast to the greyed out colors at the railway station in beginning of the story.

"Under the Bridge, above, has a magical glow to the sunset bridge golds, too, that transitions nicely into purple when the characters go underground with a troll. King of the Road, below, has four pages that use that sunset for drama, even though the characters are colored fairly straightforwardly.

"I enjoy using patterns and textures to enhance the artwork, but I work hard not to overpower the drawings. It's my job to accentuate what's already been done in art and story."