Europa Jane

Get ready to be impressed by not only my creative direction skills but my incredibly thoughtful gift-giving. A close friend was struggling to finish writing his first novel. Other friends who had completed and published books of their own, often shared their stories of how it felt to hold the completed project in their hands. I thought that if my friend could perhaps hold his own book, even unfinished, that he might find his way through writing his final chapters.

I began by reading the book over and over, collecting his own descriptions of his main character, Europa Jane. Europa Jane went from existing only in my friend's imagination to a digitally illustrated art piece.

I contracted an illustrator, a graphic designer, and worked with a local printer in Santa Fe, New Mexico to give my friend what he describes as a "once in a lifetime" gift. The project took over a year to see to fruition, but it was worth it to see my friend's face as they unwrapped something made uniquely for them. Tears were shed.