I’m not sure if killer is the right adjective.
Others that came to mind: awesome, sweet, and kickass.

Hand-forged by this excellent fella named Geoffrey.

We Think the World of Birds
commission for Cornell Lab of Ornithology    2005
( Final piece + initial sketch with cut paper and acrylic )

I Predict the Weather
gouache on board
for Look Magazine    January 1955
( Final layout + initial gouache painting )

The Fables: Jonah and the Whale
Silkscreen    ca. 1950

( Be sure to roll over or tap the images above. )

I’m one of many enamored with the work of Charley Harper.
He’s firmly on my list of heroes and influencers.
I was thrilled that Todd Oldham worked with Charley on the huge and awesome monograph.

But a big part of my adoration and understanding was missing a crucial piece:
His approach to making.

I’m glad that Aaron Cowan (DAAP Galleries director) and Charley Harper Studio filled in
a good chunk of this process with the exhibition:

“Charley Harper: A Birds Eye View”

It was phenomenal.

His talent becomes even more evident when you see his sketches with cut paper
or the brush strokes of his work in gouache.

Even as a child, his graphic style and sense of composition and type were bang on.

As someone who likes to pull ink across the screen, a part of me wanted to see the steps between
finished paintings and subsequent prints, but I cannot rightly complain because the exhibit was
so concentrated with deft goodness.

The show completed last week, but I hope interest grows and this body of work gets shown again.

Evolution of Idea to Print:
We Think the World of Birds
commission for Cornell Lab of Ornithology    2005

Acrylic and cut paper sketch

Notepad sketches

Use Water for Health
Age 8

World War II Era

A series of paintings during Charley & Edie’s honeymoon    1947

My Grandmother
oil on canvas    1947

A Landscape on Cloudy Venus
gouache on board
Giant Golden Book of Biology    1961

From the Giant Golden Book of Biology   1961

(Amazingly awesome) Detail

Secretary Bird with Black Mamba
gouache on board
The Animal Kingdom   1968

Detail from the Secretary Bird…

What I particularly enjoy above is how Harper sharpens lines, adds hints and enhances contrast.

Tools including french curves and compasses.

Rocket Belt, Mechanical Horse, and Automatically Controlled Car
gouache on board
Cover, Panorama Magazine   1970

Links for this entry:

• The University of Cincinnati’s Dorothy W. and C. Lawson Reed Jr. Gallery
• Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life book by Todd Oldham (Amazon)
• Charley Harper Studio
• More photos of this exhibit on Drew’s blog Kitsche Café

Two shots from the phone at the eXile Bar in Columbus with the inaugural performance of Hairplane!
As they’ve been described: “Hairplane! is a tongue-in-cheek lounge act similar to Richard Cheese or
Nouvelle Vague, with a Morphine flavor.” I think that sums it up nicely.

Dag they were good.

After the whirlwind trip to Brooklyn, I took it easy with the camera when I got back home.
This snapshot is from my phone as I stood in line at Putz’s Creamy Whip with my mom.
Man that place is good.

My copy of 15 Uses for Newsprint has been living in this envelope for too long,
an envelope made all the more awesome by the drawing by Zachariah O’Hora on the outside.

This admission is a mental reminder that I have a host of thank you notes
and whatnot to write and deliver to the post office.

A lime, a glass, and a nice cursive L.
Not in view: the alley where this image came from that was filled with type and photography lovers.
Had a kick ass time on the Found Type Photowalk even though I forgot sunscreen.

Sat a row behind Bobulate and marveled at her curls.

Finally, I visited Terry’s Turf Club for what is very possibly my favorite burger. (Dare I say ever?)
The ambiance was warm from the neon and jovial moods of patrons and staff.
The beer selection was sublime.
And the burger was Delicious.

In my determination to only post images taken from the day, in order, I find myself stubbornly behind.
Fret not. That car wreck was more of an inconvenience than anything major.
There will be documentation of it soon enough.

For now, I present my favorite camera strap I’ve ever owned.
Sure, there might be more functional ones, but this one makes me (and almost everyone else) smile.
It’s made by these folks called Souldier.
(and yes, I mentioned it in our gift guide at the studio, but I never got around to putting this image in that post)

Zachary Lieberman (right) gives a talk at a Creative Morning at the SVA in Manhattan.
I’ve so much to say about his inspiring slice of time, I could go on and on and on.
And I will!
But I refuse to let this album get bogged down with my slow, long-form posting.
These are snapshots. I hope to try and capture extended impressions in the journal when I catch up.

The weather has been so nice all summer, I feel ashamed that I haven’t been using my bike.
I remedied the broken handlebars and flat tires yesterday, and hooked up the rack to the car for extra measure.
Dan got the fever after a few loops around the block and bought himself a sweet ride today.
To celebrate we went down to the path by the Little Miami River and did a little 9 mile back and forth.
Man we waited too long. Pouring over maps now and making plans to do this more often.

Now this, this is how they made signs in the good ol’ days.

With motion and sound, as I test out HD recording…

My favorite thing to photograph at the studio lately? Kelley Deal’s scarves.

I think the appropriate graphic design response involves the words: kick ass, and awesome.
Made by Alexander Bohn.