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Uncle Rebus
posted: July 20, 2010
An indication of a well assigned job is when it comes as naturally as breathing and is pure joy to work on. Pete Hausler from The Wall Street Journal called late Thursday last week with this rebus-like puzzle assignment that runs in today's paper. ...

I had roughs done and approved before he left for the day on Thursday. This is a bit looser than I normally do roughs, but I would be out of the studio the next day and wanted to try to get the go-ahead......
Details were done with my new Mont Blanc knock-off (a Mont Blanc cartridge fits nicely inside a Pilot G-2 at about .000459 the cost - cool!). I worked in my sketckbook and on various papers and vellum over a few days - without adversley affecting a weekend of serious fun and 4 rounds of golf with 15 buddies in the New Hampshire hills.
I scanned all the pieces and put it all together for a Monday deadline. You can read the story here. It is pretty interesting  - on 'How To Tame Your Nightmares'.
Thanks again, Pete!
(Title inspired by a Frank Zappa song with a similar name... remember Uncle Remus? Oh well.)
5 comments
Hal Mayforth July 21, 2010
A fun job. I'm really liking those loose fonts.
Scott Bakal July 21, 2010
Great stuff! And good luck with your lecture at UHart!
TBower July 21, 2010
Very nice, John. The jumbled type is a dynamic, lively break for the regimented newspaper page. Pete's casual way in crunch-time neutralizes the butterflies, and makes a potentially harried job a joy, as shown here. Also, your American Spectator cover is aces. I thought it might be a turn of the century artist at first, (hopefully that's a compliment) but it's snappiness quickly said Dykes.
John Dykes July 22, 2010
Thanks all - Tim - You are right about Pete! Always a pleasure... Glad you like the Spectator cover... I'll post here soon. And that is interesting about 'turn of the century artist' - That technique is real new for me - but somehow the brush and ink/line work does have an 'older' look -which I like (for now!)
Jim Paillot July 24, 2010
Hand lettering is the best. Nice piece, John.
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