All posts in Illustration

Analog Work in a Digital Age

Instructions from Ray

For quite some time I’ve known–and from time to time have worked with–a man named Ray, who is quite possibly one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met.  Not only does he have an encyclopedic knowledge of mechanical and industrial engineering, but he holds numerous patents, has a wonderful sense of humor and until recently, commuted back and forth from the Jersey Shore to Bethlehem, PA on a weekly basis (at what must be about the ripe old age of 90) to continue to do engineering work at Lehigh University.  This is a man who has devoted his life to problem solving and seemingly greets each day with the excitement of having another opportunity to design, to improve and to invent.  It’s quite remarkable, really.

The other thing you should know about Ray is that he doesn’t have e-mail or really use the computer.

This last point has, admittedly, caused me some frustration over the years, especially when we are working on projects together.  Although invention (and presumably, technological progress) is very much part of what makes him who he is, it seems to me that he longs for the days when phone calls and face-to-face conversations were how business got done.  I would bet that if I asked him, he would say there’s no replacement for real, live human interaction.  And that is part of what simultaneously confounds me and endears him to me.

So when he approached me about doing some design work for his latest invention, I knew that the process was going to have to work differently than it usually does for me.  It was going to be decidedly analog.

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Illustrate 2012: December

Illustrate 2012: December

My friend, Dan, will tell you that Wittchens love Christmas.  This is very true, and when I was working on ideas for December’s illustration, I came up with myriad Christmas-themed possibilities.  Because I love all things Christmas-related, I was having a hard time deciding between the concepts.  Luckily, procrastination helped me out again, and I found myself suddenly at the end of the month with the new year looming in less than 12 hours.  So instead of a Christmas theme, I decided to reflect a little on the turn of the year and specifically on the welcoming of the new year into your life when the clock strikes midnight.

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Illustrate 2012: November

Illustrate 2012: November

Earlier this month, I thought I was going to do something election-related.  But much like last month, since I didn’t get to doing the illustration until much later, it didn’t seem timely anymore to reference the election.  Over the last week, chickens seem to have been a bit of a recurring theme, as we had the opportunity to visit some friends last week who are raising chickens.  We visited these friends en route to the wedding of two other friends, and at the wedding, we learned that these friends are also raising chickens.  Their wedding cake toppers even featured the chickens.

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