Anchors & Inspirations: A Studio Tour
My studio isn’t just where I make illustrations—it's where stories, memories, and small acts of creativity all come together. Located in Eugene, Oregon, it’s my retreat, my laboratory, and my archive. I built this space for work, but it’s become much more: a reflection of passion, resilience, and playful spirit.
Whimsy & Workflow
The desk gets the business end of things. Dual monitors and a digital drawing tablet keep me tethered to the world of Clip Studio Paint, my go-to tool for commissions and personal projects. Next to the monitor, a shelf of Batman: The Animated Series Funko Pops always draws my eye. BTAS is my touchstone for storytelling and atmosphere—the reason I gravitate towards Batman as a character, and the reason I chase clever design in my own work.
My digital art workstation with monitor, drawing tablet, and art print inspiration.
Tools for Every Medium
Creativity comes in bursts at both the computer and the drawing table. There, sketchbooks and pencils compete for my attention. Overhead, a magnifier lamp pushes me to study the details—color tests, unfinished linework, and spontaneous attempts at something new. Nearby, colored pencils and pens spill across the desk, reminders that experimentation is a constant companion.
My drafting table with colored pencils, sketches, and lamp for drawing.
Art, Music, & Escape
Music offers escape and inspiration. A lineup of guitars waits near the window—not for performance, but for the joy of playing, improvising, and building creative muscle outside the illustration sphere. Sometimes rhythm solves problems that lines and colors cannot.
My rack of a ridiculous amount of guitars and banjo in the studio music corner, near art books and drawing pad by the window.
Mementos & Connection
The walls are lined with work by legends and with personal pieces heavy with meaning. The Big Trouble In Little China poster (by Drew Struzan) is a daily reminder of visual storytelling’s power—Struzan stands among my artistic heroes, alongside Al Williamson, Leonardo da Vinci, and Robert McGinnis. Prints from Adam Hughes and Brian Stelfreeze add to the legacy; each interaction with these masters has fueled my confidence and direction.
"Big Trouble In Little China" movie poster illustrated by Drew Struzan, daily inspiration.
Indiana Jones illustration print signed by Adam Hughes, a prized studio memento.
Black Panther art print by Brian Stelfreeze—signed at Rose City Comic Con, this piece reminds me of the power of dynamic storytelling and artistic mentorship.
On a lighter note, my own tongue-in-cheek space explorer print doubled as a get-well card from friends during chemotherapy. Its border, filled with encouragement, is a personal favorite—a testament to how art and the support of others often serve as anchors in uncertain times.
"Space Explorer" by Micah Champion—a humorous self-portrait turned get-well card, signed by friends and family during my recovery from chemotherapy.
Sketches of my daughter hang near family photographs, reinforcing the tie between art and life. Each keeps me grounded—reminding me of what matters long after the workday fades.
Ron Swanson’s Pyramid of Greatness poster from Parks and Recreation displayed above a pencil portrait I sketched of my daughter—a mix of pop culture humor and personal meaning in my art studio.
Living Room of Ideas
Bookshelves overflow: comics, instructional art books, illustration portfolios, and music amps line the cubes, their content finding its way into my practice in unexpected ways. There’s a satisfying sense of organized chaos and a persistent hum of possibility.
Studio bookshelf with project binders, comics, and music amps for creative inspiration.
Why This Studio Works
Every workspace tells its own story. Mine mixes art supplies, instruments, mementos, and icons, building a living archive of influences and experiences. Whether I’m tackling a client illustration, sketching for fun, strumming out a melody, or drawing strength from my personal history, this studio feels like home.
Thanks for joining me inside my studio’s corners—not just where I make illustrations, but where I find inspiration, connection, and the freedom to create.
