Illustrator Dave Stolte studied Studio Art at California State University Long Beach, then spent twenty-five years in the world of design doing other people’s work before finding his own voice. (Sometimes these things take a while.) Drawing on a history of physical mixed-media collage and useless Post-It doodles, his images are created using a library of paper textures, found ephemera, and photography, then digitally composed under his original pencil sketches. The inclusion of “evidence of the hand” is central to his work – torn edges, smudges, mistakes, unfinished parts – all these combine with a warm, playful, and hopeful message to bring a welcoming energy to his illustrations. His work bridges the worlds of digital and traditional media, blurring the lines between them while offering unity and wit. Portfolio at davestolte.com