Brophy nails the beautiful/creepy thread of isolation that weaves itself through so many elements of the Northwest. I had the pleasure of visiting his Portland studio before it burned down. 

I first saw Tom’s work inside Harpers a few years back while working as an AD for a magazine in Seattle. I bailed on that job before I had a chance to hire him as an illustrator but got to know him personally as a friend. His enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to his craft blows my mind, never once compromising his charm and demeanor for any of his success.

I'm always interested when artists use books in obscure or estoteric ways. I've never been one of those who thinks books are particularly sacred (unless individually there's some sort of historical or cultural component), so I'm all for mutilation towards some other goal. The complexity of this technique just blows my mind, it's a real testament to penetrative insight and patience.