Here we are at the end of 2016. Let me tell you a little about what I’ve done this year.

Ember Falls, the much anticipated sequel to the Green Ember, released. I did the cover and interiors for that project. Below are a few.

I love these books. They’re tremendous fun to work on, and they’re excellent stories. Check out https://sdsmith.net/ for updates and additional information about the world of the Green Ember.

I did a cover and some interiors for Crossroads In Gallilee the next book in the Choose Your Journey Series from Journeyforth. Below is a sampling.

I completed a project for Biblical Visuals International called Depths of Grace about John Newton, who wrote the song Amazing Grace. There were a number of illustrations (like 40?). Here are 6.

I did an illustration for Cobblestone magazine’s October Alexander Hamilton issue. It’s a good looking magazine, and if you’re interested in American History for children, check it out.

I also wrote some articles for StoryWarren. One is about Boy’s Reading. The other concerns George Washington’s soap.

This year also brought a few events. I attended the Great Homeschool Convention in Marchwith my friend Sam Smith and his brother Josiah. I also got to speak at a school in Greenville, one in Landrum, and had a few homeschool events at my house. I further spoke at a gathering in West Virginia and exhibited at this year’s Maker’s Market here in town. I was also interviewed by domestic theologian Allison Burr’s lovely children on the Melody, Mystery and Mayhem podcast.

During the day I work at BJUPress illustrating textbooks. Here is some of the work I’ve been doing at my day job.

These are concepts for British Literature.

This year I worked largely on Elementary Reading. Here are a few illustrations from Ben Carson’s story.

Below are a few from John Henry Races the Steam Engine.

This is a story about a houseboat caught in a flood.

And here are some from a selection of A Cricket in Times Square.

I also did various pieces for other books.

In addition to my textbook work and freelance, I taught a Digital Illustration class this fall at Furman University.

These are samples for the class assignments. One is a generic cel shading, the other is a lighting demonstration, and the third was a coloring assignment for the non-existent brand Jane Austen Boots.

I also did a painting for the faculty show.

All in all a pretty full year. Looking forward to seeing what’s around the corner in 2017.

Bonus: Here are two pictures of my growing girls.