MICHAEL TONN

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Special projects

PINBOX 3000: Neon Wizard and House of Shadows

I recently completed two new additions for PinBox 3000.  Neon Wizard and House of Shadows are cardboard pinball machines that are as fun to build as they are to play.  Illustrating pinball machines is a bit like climbing the Mount Everest of illustration in that it not only requires thinking in three dimensions but simultaneously considering game mechanics and motion all while working in the confines of a theme. Neon Wizard was inspired by eighties retro aesthetics and familiar eightbit video game tropes. House of Shadows was influenced by classic spooky themes and children's classics like Goose Bumps and Scooby Doo. Graphic Design by Raychel Severance Learn more by following the link below.
︎︎︎PinBox3000

Skateboard Project with Mountain Local Boards and BETA Technologies

I teamed up with Max from Mountain Local Snowbaords, a local artisan skateboard and snowboard crafter to create a couple of flight worthy decks commissioned by BETA technologies, one of the countreas leading aviation tech firms. Click the links below to watch WCAX’s story on the project and get a better look at the finished products.
︎︎︎Mountain Local Snowboards 
︎︎︎WCAX Channel 3 Mountain Local         Story


The Most Costly Journey

Presented by Vermont Folk Life Center and the Open Door Clinic this comic series documents the stories of migrant farm workers living in Vermont. The book was recently selected by the Vermont Humanities as the Vermont Reads Book of the year. I was one of a dozen or so comic artists selected to contribute work to the book.  After interviewing a migrant farm worker I turned her story into a six page comic. It tells the tail of a heart breaking choice between family or opportunity. Check out the links below to learn more.︎︎︎ Vermont Reads
Vermont Public radio
SevenDays
Click the images below to purchase a copy.︎︎


Choose Your Own Adventure:
Return of the Ninja

I had the honor of illustrating the pages of a reboot of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure title Return of the Ninja. This book series was one of my favorites growing up and I still love it today.  Check out my illustrations by clicking the image below or purchase the book by clicking ︎︎︎HERE 

Day Tripping with Guster’s
Ryan Miller

Check out my contribution to the SEVEN DAYS comic issue. I teamed up with journalist Sally Pollock and Guster’s Ryan Miller for a fun filled romp through Vermont’s magical NorthEast Kingdom to bring readers an exciting bit of comic journalism.
Click the image below to see the full comic at Seven Days.com︎︎


On Safari with Ryan Miller at Robbie’s Wildlife Refuge

We’re back at it! Ryan and I are once again on assignment for Vermont’s SEVEN DAYS newspaper to explore one of Vermont’s most notorious dive bars; Robbie’s Wildlife Refuge.
Click the image below to see the full comic at Seven Days.com︎︎


Interview with Creativepool

Check out my interview with Creativepool.
︎︎︎



VPR Cafe: food ethics
listen here︎︎︎

clients

VICE
Black Diamond
PinBox3000
Choose Your Own Adventure
Kids VT
Hartford Children’s Museum
BETA
Seven Days News Paper
Mountain Local Snowboards
The Design Solution
British Asian Trust
Deutsche Bank 
Brooklyn Vegan
World’s Fair Pictures
Salt Lake Magazine
One Vessel
Kick-it.org 
NNA Tapes
VPR
Maupin House Press 
Chelsea Green Publishing 
Vermont Folk Life
Open Door Clinic 
The Big Dig 
Palmer Sports
Muddy Waters
Radiobean
Old Spokes Home


me

I have been illustrating professionally since 2012. Largely self taught, I draw inspiration from a variety of sources including comics, skateboards and classic illustrators such as Kay Nieslen and Arthur Rackham.  I am comfortable working in a variety of modalities and providing work for editorial, stroybook, commercial, comic and graphic applications.   



︎ michaelolivertonn@gmail
︎ Instagram