View from the Zoo

The beer mug I did for their Seidelbier line shows a bar scene in the woods. The raccoon seems to be a tad worried sitting there between the two larger animals. One of the aspects of Ritzenhoff that I particularly appreciate is the possibility of using gold and silver in the designs. I try to use those colors whenever I can – in this case the color of the beer and the crowns – because they give a luxurious quality to my cartoon inspired animal characters. I think it is a bit like pop art, elevating the everyday to another level.

I am really proud of these new beer glasses that Ritzenhoff produced for their Spring 2008 offering.

The penguin series, comprised of the beer flute, schnapps glass and their respective coasters, came about as a desire to revisit the birds that I had previously drawn for a milk glass in 2004. For me penguins always wear those bow ties and, consequently, are always partying or at least trying to despite the cold. On both of these glasses one of the penguins is attempting to trade a fish for a glass of beer or schnapps. Or is the fish an hors d’oeuvre? On the flute the fish is transparent, taking on the color of the beer when the glass is full and losing it as the glass empties.

Did you see this series of photos in National Geographic’s March issue, accompanying a feature called «Inside Animal Minds»? Photographer Vince Musi captured the essence of each animal’s character with his close up portraits – they seemed almost human. My favorites: disinterested Momo, the marmoset and JB, the mysterious octopus. See them all at www.ngm.com

Admittedly there is a heartwarming dog in the photo that surely influenced more than one voter, including me if I had voted. It is an original way to recuperate those old stylish suitcases. (Kirsten’s creative petbed at www.hersheyismybaby.etsy.com , 100$).