View from the Zoo

I don’t smoke but I do like cigar boxes, labels and Ritzenhoff ashtrays. The challenge for me was to come up with an animal character that expressed masculinity, elegance and not be too cute. The black bear is native to our Canadian forests (I tried a fox as well) and dressing him up in a tuxedo gives him that classy look.  The golden cigar (yup, it is printed in gold) makes the image rich and luxurious. This is a second ashtray design that I did that has been produced by Ritzenhoff, the first one being a Churchill-like smoking bulldog. You don’t smoke either? Well, this makes a great tray for pocket change and keys.

The graphic design at the lower right was another idea that I had submitted at the same time as the bear.

My first illustration in Japan has just been published – the cover of the annual Auto Camp Guide of Japan. It was a great opportunity for me to work on a new pattern of tents and trees that can be seen in the background. I quite enjoy the commercial quality of the Japanese characters on the cover. Below is one of the crazier sketches that I proposed.

Ulrike Kittel fell in love with my raccoons and asked me to illustrate her banner that was hung up during the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt bicycle race in Frankfurt, Germany. Ulrike is an artist that makes quilted baby blankets and her work can be seen on her website.

I just received my copy of the 2010 3×3 Illustration Directory and there is my Christmas tree on page 246 at the head of the whimsical section. With over 300 illustrations, this directory is special. It is curated like a show by the one and only Charles Hively, publisher of the wonderful 3×3 magazine of contemporary illustration and is by invitation only. Each illustration is carefully displayed to create a harmonious continuity throughout the book. There are lots of animals, too. Great work, Charles!