Artist in Residence at Tumamoc Hill
This past spring, I was invited to be the artist in residence at Tumamoc Hill, “Hill of the Horned Lizard”, a Sonoran Desert preserve owned by the University of Arizona. I bought a sketchbook and dedicated it only to drawing on this hill. This is an open ended project, but in return for use of an …
Milk for your muscles
When Cytosport, maker of Muscle Milk® protein bars, decided to launch a new series of bars with a new package design, they tried photography first. But to represent their product in the most delicious way possible, they needed a blend of realism and fantasy. That was a job for illustration. It had to look as …
Desert Terroir
Or is that Desert Terror? I didn’t know what a terroirwas either, until I illustrated this book of food history and stories by Gary Paul Nabhan last winter. Desert Terroir will be published by The University of Texas Press in 2012. Cover design featuring Paul Mirocha painting. This story… well you’re just going to have to …
Bat Questions
Do you have questions about bats? If not, you will after reading this new book by Rose Hauk, published by Western National Parks Association, illustrated by Paul Mirocha. Basic bat anatomy: so you know how to ask a good question. I have made a lot of scientific illustrations and I’m always looking for a new …
Extreme Makeover for Drucker Labs
Click image to enlarge Drucker labs use a lot of high-tech science to produce their organic nutritional supplements. But laboratory glassware is just not appealing to the customer thinking about what’s for dinner. They had the science down, now for the organic part. To begin the redesign of their branding, Drucker started with the …
Plant Folklore broadside set resurrected
Singing Down Roots: Plant Folklore of the Sonoran Desertis a set of limited edition broadsides originally commissioned by the Arizona Humanities Council as part of a traveling exhibit on desert plants as characters in oral traditions of Southwestern Indian Tribes. Originally published in 1991, there are but a handful of these posters left.All are 22 …
Turmeric: The Restaurant
© Paul Mirocha This turmeric plant illustration is apparently so attractive that people regularly steal it and I have to write them about usage rights, etc. There is good reason for the popularity of this plant. It’s beautiful and delicious. Turmeric, a relative of the ginger plant, is the basic ingredient to curry sauce and gives it …
Flavors of the Border
Sabores Sin Fronteras/Flavors without Borders is a series of bilingual, multi-cultural events, sponsored by the Southwest Center at the University of Arizona in Tucson. It’s aim is to educate and celebrate local foods of the Southwest, unimpeded by local political issues and surveyors markers. Even US border patrol agents can’t resist a good carne asada …
Tango for Leo
This is more of a personal note, but it’s what I’ve been working on recently. On May 5, my son, Leonardo was born. Four days later my wife, Christina Robinson, while still in the hospital, had a serious hemorrhagic stroke that sent her into the ICU for 10 days. It was in her right brain, …
Pollinator Posters
Pollinators are beautiful, cool, and important–and they are stressed out.Even if you don’t know exactly what a pollinator is, you need this poster. Pollinators are IN for interior decor. The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign and Co-evolution Institute have been using my Pollinators painting in their campaign to raise awareness among humans about these essential and beautiful beasts. Yes, pollinators are …
