My Next Chapter: Bringing Utherworlds and Secret Places to Life

For more than two decades, I've had the honor of walking the halls of giants in the entertainment industry. My journey as an artist and creative director has been a privilege, allowing me to contribute to vast, beloved universes. But every artist knows there is a world within, a personal map of places and characters that wait patiently in sketchbooks and daydreams.

For me, those worlds have always been Utherworlds and Secret Places.

A recent career transition has given me the rare gift of perspective, and with it, a unique opportunity. It’s a chance to dedicate myself entirely to bringing my own creations to life in a way I've always dreamed of.

Today, I’m thrilled to officially announce the launch of Philip Straub Creative, an independent venture with a singular mission: to expand my original worlds into new and dynamic mediums. We’re beginning this journey with my two most cherished projects.

The first is Utherworlds, the dark fantasy saga I have been building for years. It’s a world forged in shadow and epic light, and I am finally bringing it to life in the way I’ve always envisioned: as a cinematic experience.

The second project is Secret Places and Meet the Imaginaries. This is a place of gentle magic and childlike wonder, a world that has already found a wonderful audience through prints and licensing. Drawing on my experience illustrating nearly 30 books for the legendary Mercer Mayer, I am now completing the Secret Places storybook and bringing its whimsical characters to life through animation.

This blog will be the home for this entire journey. You’ll get a front-row seat as I build these two very different universes—one epic, one enchanting—using a blend of traditional artistry and groundbreaking new tools.

This is the start of a new chapter for these worlds. I’m excited to build it and honored to share it with you.