Black ink on white paper. To me, that is true graphic design. Color is another quality that can be added, of course, but is wholly unnecessary. The art is in the line. The quality of the line is what gives the image its unique signature, its life. Thick and thin, lines and space, field and ground, all are interactions created between black ink on white paper.

The pen and ink style of drawing is my favorite. It requires complete concentration and trust between artist and medium. No erasing, therefore, no mistakes. The touch of the pen scratching across the paper fibers is almost electric. I never really know what I will create, only what I thought I wanted to draw when I began. The end result is never quite the picture in my head. Somewhere in the act of creating, the drawing and the pen and the ink and the paper take control—they guide me, and together we make a picture.

In this arena I also get to play with humor. Although some of my line art is serious pen and ink work, I often create images to elicit a smile. I like attention-grabbing designs, ones you can’t quite forget but want to look at again—and smile again.

I use line art designs for cards, letterhead, logos, and advertising. Because we are flooded with computerized images in fantastic colors sporting elaborate texts and layouts, the use of simple line-art designs stands out as remarkably interesting. What I have discovered is that in designing advertising copy, a black and white line-art picture with a small splash of color is unbelievably dramatic. Don’t think so? Check out the Chinese Dragon or Sunshine Mouse. Can you imagine receiving a 9 x 12 white envelope in your usual stack of mail with one of these pictures on it and NOT OPENING IT UP? That’s the idea! Curiosity: a plague and a fascination for both cats and humans.

Remember, IN THE BEGINNING, it was all line-art!