Canned Air
In April 2024 I’d recently discovered the work of the late prolific Vermont illustrator and cartoonist Skip Morrow, who died in 2019. His art drew me in immediately.
Beneath a bright, playful style, his work could be deceptively profound, sometimes silly or dark, often satirical, but always
exploring the maze of human experience.
For my 46th birthday, I planned a trip to Wilmington, VT, to visit his Art of Humor Gallery, run by Skip’s wife Laraine (the property was sold in Sept. 2024).
Walking among Skip’s life work, seeing thousands of pieces framed on the walls and in flat files, I’d never felt more connected to an artist. I know how much my work embodies the inside of my head and how I see the world.
Seeing Skip’s work, it felt like I got to know him a bit. I bought as many prints and originals as I could justify, wanting to keep a small part of him.
In addition to his bestselling cartoon books, I learned Skip spent over 20 years writing and illustrating more than 1,500 cards greeting cards for the international brand, Recycled Paper Greetings.
That night I was overcome with emotion. I felt a cosmic connection, like I’d barely missed a great friend and mentor. But seeing the beautiful gallery and quirky property he built served as a compass for what’s possible if I keep working hard and sharpening my voice.
Three days later, out of nowhere, I got an email from the same company Skip had worked for, Recycled Paper Greetings, now owned by American Greetings. They wanted to license some of my work.
I asked Laraine if she’d pulled strings, which she hadn’t. We agreed it must’ve been Skip orchestrating some kind of funny trouble from somewhere out there.
After a year in production, my first two cards with Recycled Paper Greetings hit shelves nationwide last month, and I had to send a misty-eyed thanks to Skip, my friend and mentor.