5 things I'm into lately
some fun lil recommendations
1. This cute pencil mug by Sarah Duyer
I’m obsessed with the work of Sarah Duyer, a bay area based ceramic artist. After coveting it for like two years, I finally bought this pencil mug and it’s my new favorite mug. It feels so nice in my hands and is simply adorable. Bonus if your initials, like mine, are HB.
2. Getting The Onion in print
As we spiral into fascism, it feels more & more important to preserve free speech where we can. I feel like The Onion is a hilarious & important part of the resistance, and provides much needed giggles around the kitchen table every month. I loooved Sam Sanders’ recent interview with The Onion’s CEO Ben Collins. They talk about the unlikely success of their print newspaper, The Onion’s role in fighting the Trump administration, and so much more. It actually made me feel some hope, which is rare these days!
3. Using Ecosia
Ecosia is a web browser and search engine that uses its ad revenue to plant trees. Every search helps fund reforestation projects around the world. I switched a few weeks ago and it has been pretty seamless!
4. Poking around Richard Scarry’s website
Did you know Richard Scarry’s son Huck runs his estate and there’s an incredible website you can go poke around? I specifically really love the artwork page where you can see some of his rough sketches and read about his process! (I have no idea what frosted acetate is but I ordered some and am going to try it.) Also the about the author page is amazing. I can’t believe he really wore that hat!
5. ’s Drawing Links
I’m a huge sucker for autobiographical comics. I love a quiet glimpse of an artist’s daily life. I am fascinated by what happens when a cartoonist is committed to the project long-term (see: John Porcellino, Vanessa Davis, Julie Doucet, James Kochalka) – the accumulation of work becomes so profound, telling a subtle life story over a large span of time.
On Substack, the only newsletter I read religiously is Edith Zimmerman’s Drawing Links. I love the scribbly hand-drawnness, Edith’s sincerity, sweet glimpses into her family life and finding her path as an artist. (She published her first New Yorker cartoon a little while back!) When I get Drawing Links in my email, I don’t hesitate to open it. However fried my nervous system, whatever’s going on in the world, I know I can count on Edith’s comics to be calming, grounding and sweet.
Thanks for being here, more hand-written stuff next week!
❤️ Hal
Links:
The incredibly talented
is on Substack, go subscribe!You can find my prints, gifts etc. over at Buy Olympia.
Something good to do: Adopt an NPR station.
Love the Richard Scarry website. As I was looking around it I remembered that this summer at a toy store I found wonderful Richard Scarry temporary tattoos and I had the passing thought that maybe I could find more on the website. To my surprise there is no Shop attached to the site at all, just lots of free printable games, greeting cards and vehicles you can print out and colour. How absolutely delightful.
THE MUG RULES