<< This digital painting was hand-painted over the
sketch below — which I drew in December of 2020.

Later, it occurred to me as I was
reading two books I have on Norman Rockwell
— that his earliest works often featured characters
from the early American era — and obviously
that influence showed up in this piece.

I'd also just been studying the excellent
illustrations by Uruguayan comic book artist
Zalozabal — and found his work quite inspiring
and referenced his style for the explosion.