I am almost done with all the illustrations for my 2027 Oregon Calendar. I started working on the cover last week. I wanted to create a cover that included the Steel Bridge. It's my favorite bridge in Portland. I also wanted to include evergreen trees and roses. Both things that represent the Pacific Northwest as well as Portland, with the roses. I know that this calendar is based more on Oregon as a state, but Portland is my home, and it's where I find most of my inspiration for this calendar.
I did a similar image for my Trail Blazers poster in 2018. That poster was also featured on the cover of the New York Times Sports page! I was so excited when that happened. I never in a million years would have thought that my art would ever be in the New York Times. I still have the original and would love to frame it along with the newspaper article.
I'll probably finish up the cover for the calendar this week, and start scanning the other illustrations shortly after. Then I have to fit them into the calendar pages, and edit the dates. These calendars are so labor intensive! They take me months to make. I know how much everyone loves them, and once they're all done, I feel a lot of pride. I imagine, it's how a lot of writers feel after completing a book.