Harts Pass No. 401

Summer started last week, but I was busy celebrating that 400th strip. For that matter, with highs today really just barely reaching 70 degrees, the swimming hole will be slightly more appealing in another week or two. Not a huge fan of the "hot" part of summer... so I'm good. Enjoy!

Harts Pass No. 400!!!!!!

Our 8th year anniversary here from the lofty heights at Harts Pass Comics. Progress is hard, but our wolverines keep giving it a go. Onwards and upwards. GRRR!

Harts Pass No. 399

Happy graduation class of 2018!!!!

Harts Pass No. 397 & 398

And still behind on my online posts! A little rush to catch up on other things at the end of the track season. I should be back into a more normal rhythm and flow next week.

Harts Pass No. 395 & 396

A little behind on the uploads from last week. NOT because of imminent flooding, but there have been a lot of happenings in the studio and beyond.

And this week's strip basically sums the goings on of the greater world. Things like clean energy, higher cafe standards, regulations to protect worker's rights or to prevent stupid things from happening with the banking industry... some things are just better for everyone. I mean seriously! Except of course for those very few who stand to make a lot of many from continued pillaging and abuse. Anyway, the river's up.

Until next week!

Harts Pass No. 394

WSDOT reports that the North Cascades Highway will open on Friday -- just in time for the 49er's Day Weekend here in Winthrop, WA. Always an important boon to the start of summer tourism, this open stretch of scenic highway through the heart of the north cascades is also a popular bike route -- especially in the week or so period of time when its just almost  done but not quite open to cars. The wolverines and other non-cycling members of the animal kingdom must also take a least a passing fancy to these pre-car days of open road. Enjoy! 

PS Headline news in the Seattle Times today: Breeding Wolverine Heralds Comeback in Washington's Cascades. A quick story about the first documented breeding female south of 1-90. Coming soon as a topic of interest to Harts Pass Comics :)

Harts Pass No. 393

May 2nd truly was #greatamericangrumpoutday - and it turns out that it was actually #takeababytolunchday #truffleday #tunaday #brotherandsisterday #scurvyawarenessday AND #playyourukeleleday as well. Who knew? #ukelele #wolverine #procreateapp #comics

Harts Pass No. 392

A haiku for spring -- and a public service announcement about the benefits of sunscreen to boot!

Harts Pass No. 391

Late to posting last week's comic... You can certainly appreciate this on the ground level as a fan of #collectivenouns — but it will resonate even a little more with a greater knowledge of #okanogan #okanogancountyhigh schools and #highschool #sportsObviously, I coach the #mountainlions :)

Harts Pass No. 390

Our little Kit is growing up. It’s totally great. And amazing, and fun, and presenting us with new and different parenting hurdles just like it should be... but I think she’ll stay forever read-a-story-in-your-lap-sized in the funny pages :)

Harts Pass No. 389

Spring is nice, but I feel like it IS a bit of a mixed bag. For those of us that love skiing, it's warm and sunny and thrilling in its own way when we can ski just a wee bit longer into the "shoulder season." At the same time however, it is spring after all, and the skiing can just as easily suck eggs. On the other side of the equation - for those winter haters that are desperate for sun and warm - spring is enticingly fickle. It feels warm and alluring... but it can just as equally suck eggs. And thusly, the "discontent." 

From the idea development department, "Now is the winter of our discontent" is the opening line from Shakespeare's Richard III (1592), and it actually translates with a little more context into something like: the time of unhappiness in past.  So I guess, but saying that spring is a season of discontent and dashed expectations, I'm probably using it incorrectly. Alas, so it goes. Interpret as you see fit!

Harts Pass No. 388

The first week of spring -- and the snow is slowly but surely starting to peel back from warmer patches of dirt and the occasional rock or bitter brush poking through. Still below freezing over night, so we'll hold on to a solid morning crust and a remaining 4-6 inches for at least another week or two!

Harts Pass No. 387

A beautiful sunrise here in the north cascades on Tuesday morning. It's still looking a LOT like winter, but time outside is getting warmer and a "shimmer" is starting to shine in that late afternoon sun. Onward and upward!

Harts Pass No. 386

As the comic says, a heartfelt 'thank you' to Congressman Newhouse for his endorsement of the Methow Headwater's Campaign and its tireless work to protect both the local and statewide watersheds. Official approval is now in the hands of the Department of the Interior and the Deparment of Agriculture, but the supportive letter from Newhouse and the ongoing work of many people has this effort headed in a good direction #toospecialtomine #protectthemethow #nomazamamine

Harts Pass No. 385

Click the comic to read the fine print, but amazingly enough the first experiments with photovoltaic energy conversion were taking place in 1839!!! Solar electricity and the wild west. Totally simpatico.

Harts Pass No. 384

Coaching track in north central Washington... we'll be really luck if we see our track by April 1st!

Harts Pass No. 383

A little early on the Harts Pass post this week, but happy winter olympic Valentine's Day!

Harts Pass No. 382

Groundhogs and marmots. Pretty much the same thing. And they probably taste very similar!

Hourly Comic Day 2018

Thursday, February 1st was my novice attempt at the annual Hourly Comic Day. Happy with the way I was headed... but also needed to throw in the towel after lunch :) Next year I'll clear out the schedule to accommodate a little extra drawing, but it was fun while it lasted!

On the drawing table...

In the final throws of two recent illustration projects - two board books for Little Bigfoot (Sasquatch) Books - and I'm excited to share just a peek at some of the art :)

IF I WERE A BEAR, and IF I WERE A BIRD both publish this fall. BEAR is pretty much done and BIRD will be next week. Then off and running on something new!