Dispatches — 2012
Word from the studio — openings, works underway, and the small good days at Yonder.
December 30, 2012
Gruß vom Krampus
Gruß vom Krampus
December 16, 2012
Walking the sidewalk in fresh snow
A lone figure walks a snow-covered sidewalk beneath trees bent white with fresh snow.
December 5, 2012
#playingthebuilding
playingthebuilding
November 17, 2012
A first state proof on my copper plate etching.
A first state proof on my copper plate etching. Still much more work. Still untitled. printmaking
November 17, 2012
Ferns and fog under tall conifers
Fog filters through a stand of massive conifers above an understory thick with ferns.
November 17, 2012
Driftwood beach under gathering clouds
Weathered driftwood litters a sandy beach as heavy blue clouds gather over the water.
November 13, 2012
Split-rail fence along a hillside trail
A weathered split-rail fence follows a gravel trail along a hillside of red autumn leaves.
November 5, 2012
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir
November 3, 2012
Granite cliffs above a forested valley
Sheer granite walls drop into a forested valley beneath a streaked turquoise sky.
October 31, 2012
Storm sweeping a mountain lake
Rain drags from dark clouds onto the mountains across a wide lake edged with rounded boulders.
October 22, 2012
Low sun over tallgrass and bluffs
A low sun hangs over dry tallgrass, bare trees, and a line of wooded bluffs.
October 22, 2012
Wells Creek watershed is a worthy visit on a warm October twilight.
Wells Creek watershed is a worthy visit on a warm October twilight.
October 19, 2012
Diner counter tiled with old trading cards
A long diner counter surfaced with old trading cards runs toward the grill under a row of food prints.
October 8, 2012
St. Odile's tower against storm clouds
The brick bell tower of St. Odile church rises past its rose window into a broken storm sky.
October 7, 2012
Primary colors on old playground steel
Close detail of playground equipment painted red, yellow, and blue, with bent steel rails casting hard shadows.
October 4, 2012
Autumn marsh opening onto a lake
A marsh meadow gone rust-red opens onto still water ringed by pines under a moody sky.
October 3, 2012
Fall colors mirrored on a quiet lake
Early fall color reflects on a still lake beyond a sandy beach pocked with footprints.
October 3, 2012
Shaggy double sunflowers in full sun
A stand of shaggy double sunflowers crowds the frame against a deep blue sky.
October 2, 2012
Thin waterfall threading a rocky gorge
A thin waterfall threads down dark rock into a gorge littered with fallen birch trunks.
October 2, 2012
Boardwalk crossing an autumn bog
A wooden boardwalk winds across a russet bog meadow toward a treeline in full fall color.
October 2, 2012
Rusted iron door stamped Duluth, Minn.
A rusted cast-iron door embossed "Kelley-How-Thomson, Duluth, Minn." on old machinery.
October 1, 2012
A man and his #cider press.
A man and his cider press.
October 1, 2012
Sunflower against a deep blue sky
A heavy-headed sunflower nods on its stalk against a cloudless blue sky.
September 24, 2012
Carved serpent lamp cradling an Edison bulb
A wooden lamp carved and burned into a scaled serpent holds a glowing Edison bulb in its open jaws.
September 22, 2012
Hare and snake wallpaper above a red bench
Leaping hares, coiled snakes, butterflies, and briar vines patterned across turquoise wallpaper above a red bench.
September 22, 2012
Working on some #type
Working on some type
September 19, 2012
Collage detail with hexagons and a seedling
Detail of a mixed-media piece on stained wood: colored hexagons, black teardrops, and a cut engraving of a sprouting seedling.
September 16, 2012
#natgeo collection
natgeo collection
September 9, 2012
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right A B
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right A B
September 8, 2012
#Forevertron
Forevertron
September 8, 2012
The Forevertron sculpture garden at sundown
Scrap-metal sculptures of Dr. Evermor's Forevertron catching the last light near North Freedom, Wisconsin.
September 8, 2012
Rusted Seagrave fire truck in the sun
Sunlight flares over the rusted grille of an old Seagrave fire truck parked in the brush, bell still hanging by its headlight.
September 8, 2012
Holiday Motel sign, sorry, no vacancy
The midcentury Holiday Motel sign in yellow and orange, with "Sorry" scripted above "Vacancy" and a letterboard below.
September 7, 2012
Vertical neon motel sign at night
A vertical MOTEL sign glows green beside its bulb-studded arrow in the dark.
September 5, 2012
Fenced lane curving into the trees
A narrow paved lane follows a line of old fence posts along a pasture and curves into the woods.
September 5, 2012
Water spilling from an old mill wheel
Water pours through the moss-grown wheel of a weathered gristmill fed by a wooden flume.
September 4, 2012
The Pink Motel's neon fairy sign
A vintage neon sign for the Pink Motel glows with a wand-waving fairy, promising cable TV and a pool.
September 4, 2012
#Sequoyah
Sequoyah
September 4, 2012
What's up there at the end of that path?
What's up there at the end of that path?
September 3, 2012
Small cascade over mossy stones
A creek tumbles over moss-covered stones beneath rhododendron in a sunlit wood.
September 2, 2012
My home in the #smokies for a few days.
My home in the smokies for a few days.
September 2, 2012
Very cool #spider #web
Very cool spider web
September 1, 2012
Stone monument atop a grassy hill
A tall stone monument stands at the crest of a broad grassy hill under deep blue sky.
September 1, 2012
The #whiligigs of Acid Park
The whiligigs of Acid Park
August 28, 2012
Black-and-white spiral lighthouse
A lighthouse painted in a black-and-white spiral rises from its brick-and-stone base against a blue sky.
August 28, 2012
Tallest #lighthouse in the United States.
Tallest lighthouse in the United States. Quite a view from up there.
August 27, 2012
Footprints across a dune field
Footprints scatter across low dunes topped with sea oats as storm clouds move through overhead.
August 27, 2012
Tent pitched in the dunes
A dome tent sits in a sandy hollow between grassy dunes under a bright sky.
August 27, 2012
View from my campsite.
View from my campsite.
August 26, 2012
#clay #kilns
clay kilns
August 26, 2012
Storm clouds over a mountain valley
Dark clouds break over a long view of forested ridges receding into a hazy valley.
August 26, 2012
Lone cow on a hillside pasture
A single cow grazes a brushy hillside pasture between a red shed and a leaning gray outbuilding.
August 25, 2012
A wonderful little campground listening to hooting owls at night.
A wonderful little campground listening to hooting owls at night.
August 25, 2012
Weathered barn on a shaded hillside
A weathered board-sided barn with a red metal roof sits on a green slope under old trees.
August 25, 2012
Tabby at a door hung with horseshoes
A tabby cat slips past a weathered wooden door studded with rusted horseshoes.
August 24, 2012
Sunset over a late-summer field
The sun drops toward a treeline at the far edge of a darkening late-summer field.
August 24, 2012
Rail line curving beneath a wooded bluff
Railroad tracks curve past a small settlement toward a limestone bluff rising out of the trees.
August 24, 2012
Tracks running into a natural rock tunnel
A rail line disappears into a tunnel cut through the base of a massive rock face hung with green.
August 24, 2012
The Dickeyville Grotto, encrusted with stone and shell
A shrine at the Dickeyville Grotto, its surfaces encrusted with stone, shell, and glass.
August 23, 2012
Great Bear Mound behind its trail sign
A trail sign for Great Bear Mound stands before a low grassy effigy mound at the edge of the woods.
August 23, 2012
River bend from a bluff-top overlook
A wide river winding past wooded bluffs, seen from an overlook high above the valley.
August 23, 2012
#redbreast
redbreast
August 22, 2012
#lycopersicum
lycopersicum
August 19, 2012
Storm clouds over the strip at dusk
Deep blue storm clouds filling the sky above a strip of lit-up roadside signs at dusk.
August 18, 2012
Honeycomb of amber glass tiles
A honeycomb pattern of hexagonal glass tiles glowing in shades of amber, gold, and cream.
August 18, 2012
Arched stained glass in blue and violet
An arched stained glass window with blue octagon panes woven together by a violet lattice.
August 18, 2012
Skee-Ball rings up close
The scoring rings of a Skee-Ball machine, numbered 20 through 50, glowing orange.
August 14, 2012
Green keys of a Smith-Corona typewriter
A close-up of the round green keys of a vintage Smith-Corona typewriter.
August 14, 2012
Looking up a caged rooftop ladder
The view up a steel safety-caged ladder, its hoops framing a circle of sky at the top.
August 12, 2012
Round bales loaded on a hay wagon
Five round hay bales stacked on a flatbed wagon in front of a barn roof, under a mottled gray sky.
August 12, 2012
Band of red grass under a heavy sky
A prairie meadow with a rust-red band of tall grass running along the tree line beneath dark clouds.
August 10, 2012
#Kombucha ready for fermenting.
Kombucha ready for fermenting. Thanks to kameelyon for the scoby.
August 10, 2012
#wunderkammer
wunderkammer
August 6, 2012
Creek rushing blue under the trees
Fast water blurring over rocks in a shaded creek, with a stone wall on the far bank.
August 5, 2012
A silo
A silo
August 4, 2012
Giant wooden cattails against a green shed
A cluster of oversized red-painted wooden cattail sculptures standing on tall stalks in front of a green outbuilding.
August 4, 2012
Love this tiny wood window.
Love this tiny wood window.
August 4, 2012
Some big moody clouds on this day.
Some big moody clouds on this day. Driving East.
August 2, 2012
Thunderhead towering over the streetlights
A massive cumulus cloud climbing into a teal sky, dwarfing the streetlights below.
July 29, 2012
Zipps Liquors sign against the clouds
The vintage Zipps Liquors sign, a red arrow stacked with blue letter panels, against a cloudy sky.
July 29, 2012
White barn behind a field of wildflowers
Yellow wildflowers in the foreground of a meadow, with a peeling white barn and farm buildings under an evening sky.
July 26, 2012
Skeleton of a leaf against the sky
A lace-like decayed leaf held up to the light, worn down to its veins.
July 22, 2012
#beirut
beirut
July 22, 2012
Finally in season
Finally in season
July 21, 2012
Two jars of homemade jam
Two mason jars of deep red jam glowing in the light, fresh from canning.
July 21, 2012
Pesto and tapenade in old canning jars
Three bail-top canning jars lined up on a shelf, two filled with green pesto and one with a dark olive spread.
July 19, 2012
Painted star and wheat on brick
A hand-painted sign on whitewashed brick, green wheat sprigs radiating from a dark star at its center.
July 18, 2012
VW emblem on a gold bus
The round white VW emblem on the gold front panel of a vintage Volkswagen bus, air vents above.
July 17, 2012
Summer squash and chicken on the grill
A charcoal grill crowded with herbed chicken, zucchini, yellow squash, and rings of red onion.
July 16, 2012
Sunlit meadow against a stormy sky
Tall meadow grass glowing gold in front of a dark tree line and a gray sky.
July 16, 2012
Upright bass resting on a lit stage
An upright bass lying on its side on a stage washed in pink and blue light, bow tucked under the strings.
July 16, 2012
Monarch resting on goldenrod
A monarch butterfly with wings spread wide, feeding on yellow goldenrod blooms.
July 16, 2012
One of the best salads I've ever ate given to me by the nice folks at…
One of the best salads I've ever ate given to me by the nice folks at Natural Farms.
July 15, 2012
An old passenger train still rides these rails through old timber…
An old passenger train still rides these rails through old timber logging country.
July 14, 2012
Kayaking the Apostle Islands sea caves
Paddling a kayak through a sandstone sea cave in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.
July 12, 2012
Yellow roadside stand under a storm sky
A shuttered yellow roadside stand on a gravel lot, dark storm clouds rolling in overhead.
July 10, 2012
Fish house with the open sign out
The gable end of a white fish house with hand-painted lettering, a scalloped red roofline, and a "Yes we're open" sign in the door.
July 10, 2012
Nautical rope
Nautical rope
July 9, 2012
Fifty foot high cowboy.
Fifty foot high cowboy.
July 8, 2012
Neon sign at the Delta Diner
The neon Delta Diner sign in red and blue script above the stainless roofline of a classic diner.
July 7, 2012
Weathered farmhouse at the edge of the pines
An old two-story farmhouse with weathered siding and dark windows, standing alone against a wall of pines at dusk.
July 7, 2012
Summer thunderhead over a green field
A towering white cumulus cloud building over a flat green field and a distant tree line.
July 1, 2012
Carousel horse with candy-striped poles
The painted head of a white carousel-style ride horse among red-and-yellow striped poles.
June 30, 2012
Funnel Ball against a blue sky
Looking straight up at a playground Funnel Ball game, its colorful chutes silhouetted against the sky.
June 29, 2012
Cheese plate on a painted patio table
A plate of sliced green apple, grapes, blue cheese, strawberries, and baguette on a brightly striped outdoor table.
June 29, 2012
Wine corks lined up on a shelf
A row of stamped wine corks standing on a wooden shelf, a Côtes du Rhône cork in sharp focus.
June 23, 2012
A wall of old license plates
Rows of old license plates from Minnesota, Colorado, Maine, Iowa, and beyond pinned to an orange wall.
June 22, 2012
Seed head backlit by the sun
A large downy seed head, goatsbeard-sized, glowing with backlight against a blue sky.
June 22, 2012
Chrome VW badge on a blue Beetle
A close-up of the chrome VW emblem on the bright blue hood of a vintage Volkswagen.
June 21, 2012
Looking up the trunk of an old tree
Looking straight up the deeply furrowed bark of a big tree, sunlight flaring through the branches.
June 17, 2012
Watching Minnehaha Falls from the gorge edge
Looking down from the gorge edge as Minnehaha Falls pours over its limestone ledge in Minneapolis.
June 17, 2012
Minnehaha Falls pouring into the green gorge
Minnehaha Falls in full early-summer flow, dropping into the green gorge below.
June 17, 2012
Kodak Duaflex camera up close
A close-up of the lens and faceplate of a vintage Kodak Duaflex camera, its Kodet lens catching a faint reflection.
June 17, 2012
Creek rapids below a stone bridge
Water rushing over rocks in a creek, with a stone arch bridge in the background.
June 15, 2012
Weathered lettering on an old sign
A close-up of peeling painted letters spelling IDEA on a weathered red sign.
June 10, 2012
#nspk
nspk
June 10, 2012
#nspk
nspk
June 10, 2012
Yarn rain
Yarn rain
June 9, 2012
Northwest Graphic Supply Co. sign
The vertical Northwest Graphic Supply Co. sign rising over a brick building against a clear sky.
June 9, 2012
Wonder delivery truck in afternoon light
A vintage Wonder delivery truck parked along a sunny street, its red, yellow, and black balloon logo catching the light.
June 8, 2012
A taped glyph against the trees
An angular glyph laid out in white tape over a backdrop of branches and water.
June 7, 2012
Bacon Night at the Triple Rock
The green Bacon Night sign outside the Triple Rock Social Club — Wednesdays, 9 to 11.
June 5, 2012
A run of fresh block prints
A row of freshly pulled black-ink block prints lined up across the table.
June 5, 2012
Paper ornaments under the awning
Small painted paper ornaments hanging on wires beneath a dark storefront overhang.
June 3, 2012
VW badge on orange paint
The chrome VW badge on the weathered orange body of an old Volkswagen.
June 3, 2012
Algae and stone at the shoreline
Algae-slicked rock shelves at the water's edge, gold and green over dark water.
June 3, 2012
The Magician, up close
A close look at the Magician tarot card — red robe, raised arm, cup and pentacle on the table.
June 3, 2012
Burgers and onion rings on the grill
Burger patties and onion rings over the coals of a charcoal grill.
June 2, 2012
Mustang badge on a blue grille
The running-horse badge in the grille of an old blue Ford Mustang.
June 2, 2012
Turquoise Pontiac, letter by letter
Chrome letters across the turquoise tail of an old Pontiac, Minnesota plate below.
June 2, 2012
Behind the wheel of a vintage car
The steering wheel and round gauges of a vintage car, seen from the back seat.
June 2, 2012
#gnarly #wood and #roots
gnarly wood and roots
June 1, 2012
Standing on the swing
A boy standing on a chain swing in the corner of a wooden play structure, lit from behind.
May 30, 2012
Red doors with iron strap hinges
A pair of red plank doors with black iron strap hinges, framed in pale brick.
May 30, 2012
Gerrrrtie
Gerrrrtie
May 29, 2012
Looking up the excavator arm
Looking up the mud-worn boom of an excavator, hydraulic lines looping toward the cab.
May 28, 2012
#foundtype
foundtype
May 28, 2012
Pointed window in pale brick
A pointed-arch leaded window set into the pale brick wall of a church.
May 28, 2012
Old Style sign at Moe's Corner
A vintage Old Style beer sign for Moe's Corner tavern, hanging against trees and a flag down the street.
May 28, 2012
Letter A decal on red steel
A circled letter A decal on the scratched red panel of an old machine.
May 28, 2012
Basketballs, sneakers, and bare feet
Basketballs, worn sneakers, and two pairs of feet in flip-flops gathered on the floor.
May 28, 2012
#mack #truck
mack truck
May 27, 2012
Exploring the culvert tunnel
Kids poking around a concrete culvert tunnel, daylight and green showing through the far end.
May 27, 2012
At the old split-rail fence
A boy in a blue shirt wading through tall grass toward an old split-rail fence.
May 26, 2012
A boy in a field of young grain
A boy standing waist-deep in a field of young grain, tree line hazy behind him.
May 25, 2012
Inking a mustachioed skull
A pen-and-ink drawing in progress: a skull with a great twisted mustache.
May 24, 2012
Crossing the stone footbridge
Two hikers crossing a stone footbridge over a creek, stairs climbing into the woods beyond.
May 24, 2012
At the top of a small waterfall
A hiker pausing on the rock ledge above a small waterfall, deep in spring green.
May 24, 2012
Gauges on an old tractor dash
Temperature, fuel, and oil pressure gauges on the worn red dash of an old tractor.
May 23, 2012
Rusted disc harrow in the grass
The rusted blades of a disc harrow resting in the grass, dried earth still caked to the steel.
May 20, 2012
Weathered Ford script on a tractor
The Ford script on an old tractor hood, its paint weathered down to texture.
May 20, 2012
The wood shed
The wood shed
May 18, 2012
Faded sign painting on old brick
The remains of a hand-painted "NO PARKING" sign fading into a brick wall.
May 18, 2012
Footbridge shadows at dusk
A pedestrian bridge at dusk, its trusses throwing long crisscross shadows down the wooden deck.
May 17, 2012
An old Schlitz tin, up close
A close look at a vintage Schlitz tin, its printed figures and music staff worn soft with age.
May 16, 2012
Ceramic poodles under the desk lamp
A pair of vintage ceramic poodles joined by a little chain, posed under a red desk lamp.
May 13, 2012
Cat through the fisheye lens
A long-haired cat seen through a fisheye lens, in black and white.
May 11, 2012
Hand lettering on graph paper
Letterform sketches in ink on graph paper, MPLS worked out stroke by stroke.
May 6, 2012
Minneapolis, stamped in iron
A close look at a Minneapolis manhole cover, letters and studs worn smooth underfoot.
May 5, 2012
Gosling at the water's edge
A downy gosling tucked into the grass at the edge of the water.
May 5, 2012
Good sign. Not-so-good food.
Good sign. Not-so-good food.
May 5, 2012
Mimosa of the day at Wise Acres
Mimosa of the day at Wise Acres
April 30, 2012
An idea for a #woodcut #relief #print
An idea for a woodcut relief print
April 28, 2012
A pint at the bar
A glass of beer on a coaster, the bar warm and busy behind it.
April 28, 2012
Conversation around the table
Friends leaning in around a table over coffee, caught mid-conversation in black and white.
April 28, 2012
#printing #press
printing press
April 27, 2012
Letter A silkscreen on a patched wall
An old silkscreen frame with a bold letter A, hung on a wall of patched drywall.
April 27, 2012
Robot tea infuser in a foamy mug
A robot-shaped tea infuser resting in the foam of a glazed mug.
April 27, 2012
Wireframe sketches on the desk
Page after page of hand-drawn wireframes on the desk, a globe standing in the background.
April 27, 2012
Taking in a wall of bright paintings
A grid of small, vividly colored paintings on a gallery wall, with two visitors looking on from the edge of the light.
April 27, 2012
Sketching website wireframes by hand
Hand-drawn website wireframes spread across the desk, pen and notebook at the ready.
April 27, 2012
Storms a brewing.
Storms a brewing.
April 15, 2012
Amber light swirling in glass
A close look into a glass, amber light swirling against the dark.
April 12, 2012
Morning coffee at the desk
Morning coffee on the desk at the Fantasy Flight Games Event Center.
April 11, 2012
Letterpress printing legupstudio
Letterpress printing legupstudio