My claim to fame – I’m claiming it.

Have you seen these trucks driving around Seattle for the last 12 years or so? So have I. This has gone on long enough, it’s time to redeem what must surely be my most ubiquitous piece of work: The Charlie’s Produce truck of happy fruits. I don’t claim to have invented the idea of a truck full of amicable produce. The original logo idea and a previous version of the artwork have existed for many years (see green truck image at left). However, sometime between 1999 and 2001, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to re-render the image. I don’t recall who’s decision is was to proceed with ink and watercolor. That was pretty much the medium of choice at the studio where I worked, so it’s likely we never even questioned it. I was still in the art department at Central Washington University, working after classes under the employ of Record Printing & Design. I loved that job. I produced more watercolor fruit, berries, pies, biscuits, cookies and grapes for the specialty food and wine packaging industries than I care to recall. Looking back, that was quite a gig and I’m very thankful for it. Besides being ridiculously fun, it was very educational and I remember it very fondly.

So now, about 12 years later, I keep seeing these trucks (and some packaged salads from time to time) with that old watercolor painting on them. It was a long time ago, I was just a student. No doubt I would do it quite differently today, but I don’t care. I’m calling this one in. This must surely be my claim to fame. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing them around town as much as I have. And I hope we continue to see them a bit longer. Happy travels, fruits. See you on the road!