I Have Many Passions
These passions find their way as themes into my art. As a native of Colorado, these include ideas of the romantic west, history, the great outdoors, baseball, and the innocence of childhood. My illustrations are characterized by a joyful sense of nostalgia and of a time gone by.
My other great passion is teaching. I currently teach at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and have published instructional books on drawing, illustration, and picture making. My book about learning how to draw folds and drapery is available on Amazon.com.
Living and Creating with a Disability
Part of my story includes the fact that I am a two-time liver transplant survivor and daily battle the ravages of a debilitating auto-immune disorder I've had from birth. Throughout my life, I've had hundreds of hospital stays, multiple surgeries. I must take several different medications and endure a multitude of procedures. I fight through it all and I do not let my condition stop me from creating images and telling stories that inspire.
I document my struggle through pictures, as it helps me deal with some of the physical discomfort, and provides me an abstract way of depicting my feelings when words are insufficient. You can follow this story through my blog or on my Instagram account: @hummelillustration.
The Things I've Done
It sounds so nefarious, but real quick, a brief rundown of my experience:
Whether working for large publishers or small, I have illustrated multiple children's books, including picture books and young adult novels
I was the official illustrator for the Centennial Institute for many years. This allowed me to meet some pretty high profile dignitaries and to create their caricatures.
My 3D chalk art used to be a staple before my auto-immune forced me to retire. But you can still enjoy some of my classics!
My cartoons have appeared in multiple newspapers, magazines, and even in a legal brief distributed at the United States Supreme Court!
Below is a client list, but the most up-to-date listing is on my LinkedIn profile.
Clients include: Filter Press, Breckenridge Arts, Jeffco Students First, Centennial Institute, Columbia University, Bedford/St. Martin's Press, Westbow Press, Law Offices of Brenda Speer, Faith Bible Chapel, ZOE Ministries, Carnegie Mellon University, Adams State University, Colorado State University, Denison University, Colorado University Hospital, Pearson Education, Creative Impressions, Independence Institute, Backbone America, Professional Community Management Systems, Whistle Away Crime, Adventures Galore, Embassy Suites Downtown Denver, Tehama, IZOD G, Henry Gill/Frontier Airlines, Colorado Rural Electric, PriMedia, Pauline Books and Media, Friends of Astor House Museum, Renton's International Stationery, Cook Communications, Pathway Seminars, Golden Historic Society, Boettcher Mansion, The Denver Post.
Bro, What Does the Bee Mean?
You may have noticed a running theme in my artwork and my branding, that of a bumblebee and similar motifs, such as the honeycomb. Frequently I will hide bees in my illustrations, adding extra "easter eggs" for people to look for. Hummel literally translates from the German word bumblebee. The family name provides a very powerful connection to an insect that already has wonderful meanings.
And Check Out My Writing
As a storyteller, and somewhat of a logophile, I published my first young adult novel last year. This is an edge of your seat, fast paced, time traveling adventure story that takes place in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Interactive illustrations combined with 188 pages of fiction that will inspire the imaginations of your middle school reader.