Full Circle

I've posted to this blog pretty continuously for quite a while now, but with a deep sigh, I must take a leave of absence for an indeterminate time. I have a very intense deadline that will take 2 to 3 weeks, not to mention spending quality time with my daughter before she departs for university, and in what little spare time I have left, I will be developing new content for a new blog that I hope you'll enjoy—showcasing master illustrators, both contemporary and classic.

I am not abandoning this blog by any means. I'm greatly attached to it, and all the many cyber friends I've made through it. Check back in a few weeks, cuz I still have a ton'o'stuff that has inspired me over the years and could have some interest for you.

In the meantime, I'm coming full circle with this post, commemorating the impending retirement of Bud Plant, the image lovers friend for many years with his mail order art book business. Over the years, Bud's catalogue and on-line store has been the primary source for hundreds, maybe thousands of books of images that are scarce to find anywhere else. I've purchased many books from Bud that are key pieces in my library.

The Bud Plant catalogues themselves have been a tremendous source of inspiration. Even when there was no way to afford all the goodies that he offered, so many of them were imaged in full, bright, glorious color, arranged in eclectic, yet organized layouts that were worth collecting in their own right. There were many catalogues over the years, usually with quarterly updates and I'm posting here just a few of the front, back and inside covers.

Here's where it comes full circle: These catalogue covers and many more were the primary inspiration for me to photograph and scan my graphics collection and create eclectic and colorful compilations for digital archiving — and then ultimately to appear here on this blog, and in turn shared with so many of you around the world.

Here's to you Bud! All the best in your retirement. I wish I could afford to buy your store, but hey, I need that money to help put my daughter through college (but she gave me a gift certificate for your store for Father's Day that I need to finally redeem—so I'm heading over to your on-line catalogue now).

And for the rest of you, to use the words of Dr. Sidney Freedman of the M*A*S*H tv series:

Ladies and gentlemen,

please take my advice,

pull down your pants

and slide on the ice . . .