The Davis Art Center is a remarkable community fixture, and I wish every city and town could have access to a facility just like it. Each year, the holiday sale is the highlight of the arts community calendar of events: hundreds of local, skilled artisans apply to showcase their handcrafted wares, and an elite group of around seventy are selected. People turn up in droves from miles around—it’s a high-profile affair. For 2013, I was tasked with creating an identifiable image to adorn posters, fliers, mailers, web graphics, and more communications materials for the show. In my conversations with the art center staff, we decided to highlight the quirky, young vibe that is being associated today with locally-sourced and handmade gift items, (or what pop culture might call the “Portlandia” factor). So, I created this fun image that reflects the holiday season in Northern California—what we lack in snow, we make up for in seasonally-appropriate flora and fauna. It was a big hit with artists and onlookers alike, and I enjoyed providing work for a great organization that means so much in my community. 