Summer Daze
The inspiration behind the artwork
The oak tree in my rural Wisconsin backyard was the center of my childhood.
Its branches spread low and wide, perfect for climbing and even better for lingering. It could hold all my neighborhood friends at once, each of us tucked into our own comfortable corner. On summer days, we’d scramble up, settle in against the trunk, and stay there for hours.
Sometimes we told stories. More often, we just sat there, swaying gently in the breeze and watching the day unfold. That tree was a magical place. It was a safe zone in tag, a shady escape on hot, muggy afternoons, a perch for games, laughter, and long stretches of doing absolutely nothing.
In the words of the immortal Calvin & Hobbes: the days were packed.
This summer, I wanted to capture that feeling for all of McCall.
I figured the best way to do that was to commission an illustrator to create a special cover and postcard for anyone who picks up the issue. I teamed up with Odessa Kaufman of Boise-based Chalk & Cloud Murals, and the resulting design is pure McCall, filled with that same sense of ease, adventure, and summer magic I remember from childhood.
Look closely and you’ll spot Bear Basin, viewed from the backside near the corrals. There’s a woman walking her dog, someone coming back from a ride on the Rim Trail, and even smokejumpers practicing their landings in the meadow.
It feels like McCall. It feels like summer. And I hope it feels like what we all could use a little more of right now: good vibes and peace.
That was the goal, and I think Odessa absolutely nailed it.
If you want to order copies of this postcard or prints of the cover, visit www.mccalllife.com.
