So, in spite of popular opinion, I am not actually dead.
I understand that I haven't really posted here since 2007, and that you DO NOT do that online these days, and I would like to sincerely apologize to those of you who legitimately worried about me.
To try to explain something complicated simply: we'll just go with the simple fact that during my senior year at RISD, I underwent a rather large "course correction," during which I changed my major focus from concept or fantasy illustration to academic and informative illustration (with a focus on natural history) and museum art fabrication. This was precipitated by the rather nasty experience of my father's relapse with cancer, subsequent bone marrow transplant and difficult recovery. I spent my senior year with my nose to the grindstone (making a specific targeted portfolio), and withdrawing from many parts of my life before that.
Since then my work has been so different that I've been unsure whether or not it had a place among my previous more whimsical works (or on deviantart at all), and my new focus absorbed my full attention to the point that I simply walked away from online self-promotion in favor of joining a team and making real, physical work.
I am now a principle artist working for a museum art production company here in Minneapolis, Minnesota--
Blue Rhino Studio. We produce artwork for museums, zoos, aquariums, visitor/nature/history and cultural centers around the country. I'm part of a small (but mighty!) team of talented people, who I enjoy working with every day (for the most part). The sculptures, dioramas, models, displays, exhibits etc that we produce are usually a product of the team as a whole, so much so, that I have a hard time finding parts that I feel the right to claim individual responsibility for, and thus have not posted much of my current work anywhere online (although I consistently work 40-50 hours/week).
I'm considering posting some things to deviantart again, as I have some personal projects (crafts, sketches, random stuff) that I am doing on the side that I think could belong here. If you get a chance to check out the studio's page or some of these other links, I'd be interested in getting feedback as to whether this type of collaborative work could/should be posted to deviantart (with company watermarks/explanations of my part), or if it just belongs on the company site.
I am also thinking of posting to tumblr, twitter, or possibly blogspot with current studio work, and I will post that info once I get my ducks in a row.
For now, you can find more information and my professional work:
.....as well as in museums, zoos, and visitor centers across the country.
So thanks, Shoomlah.