Monday, January 23, 2012

Dino Xmas

This one's a little late, but still. Here's a custom Christmas card I designed for a couple of friends who are getting married later this year.

They had their engagement photos taken in front of the statue of Dippy in front of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The building in the background is the Cathedral of Learning, which is located just across the street, so I included it to lend a little more of that neighborhood flair.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Correspondence

Here's something a little different. Way back when I was in junior high, my class was assigned to write a letter (this was pre-email, of course) to someone we admired, asking them to recommend a favorite book. I picked my favorite cartoonist, "Sam and Max" creator (now Pixar employee) Steve Purcell, who I wrote care of his comic-book publisher, Comico. I guess I also asked when his next book was coming out? Anyway, I was thrilled when he wrote back! Here's his letter, on the best Xeroxed stationery I've ever seen:


It says:

Dear Pat,

Thanks for choosing me as someone who's opinion you respect. As far as a book that has changed me, I'd have to say "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck. Since reading it, Steinbeck has been my favorite writer. I appreciate his believable characters and beautiful descriptions of nature and real comfortable sense of humor (all the qualities completely absent from my work!) It was the first book that ever made me feel something emotionally and after I read it I sought out Steinbeck's other books. When I think back on when I was thirteen, I think I might have found Grapes of Wrath kind of thick and ominous but I probably would have appreciated some of his other totally swell books--Cannery Row, Tortilla Flat, Of Mice And Men, and lots more. Anyway, have fun!

Steve Purcell

PS: Maybe a new Sam & Max book in 1990. Also three page story in Critters 50


That response meant a ton to me and it opened my eyes to the fact that you could actually communicate with a lot of big-time professionals if you just took the time to reach out. I spent the next few years writing a lot of letters to cartoonists and authors and saved all their responses in a little folder.

Also, I took his advice and read Steinbeck, who remains one of my favorite authors to this day. Thanks for everything, Steve!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Cowgirl

Would you buy a print of this?

Friday, January 6, 2012

Label

I created a little mailing label to use for my 2012 correspondence. If you buy something from me this year, or just merit a letter for any other reason, you may get to see it in person!


I've got lots more goodies and stuff planned for the next couple months, so be sure to stay tuned!