Lars Leetaru

Construction Efforts

2012-02-10T12:14:00.000-05:00

Why does it take ten years to build a sidewalk? For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine.

George Remus's Grave

2012-01-12T18:43:00.002-05:00

George Remus was a famous Cincinnati bootlegger during Prohibition. His wife had him buried in Falmouth, Kentucky, so I depicted him as surprised and a little conflicted about his final resting place. Appearing in the Dr. Know column of Cincinnati Magazine.

Reconnecting The Dots

2012-01-09T17:39:00.003-05:00

For Strategy & Business Magazine

Wall Street Journal Weekend Investor

2012-01-06T19:23:00.000-05:00

A cover illustration about the upcoming year as it applies to investing and taxes. The billboard spaces are for the art director's copy about tax deadlines.

California Laws

2011-12-31T10:16:00.000-05:00

A piece about laws passed in California in 2011. They include ordering wine online, a ban on shark fin soup, and a law against selling dogs on a sidewalk. For the Los Angeles Times.

Nike Missile Site on Campus

2011-10-17T11:32:00.000-04:00

This is for Cincinnati Magazine's Dr. Know column. A reader asked why there was a Nike missile site built near Miami University of Ohio in the 1950s. Those were simpler times, and I tried tried to reflect that era in the illustration.

A Clean Sweep With All The Trimmings

2011-10-03T17:35:00.000-04:00

This is an illustration for Tor.com. The story is about hitmen from outer space who pursue a "doll" in 1920s New York City. The story was written by James Alan Gardner and art directed by Irene Gallo.

Susie

2011-08-21T13:48:00.000-04:00

A sketch of my cat on a Sunday morning.

Contagious Divorce

2011-08-12T16:44:00.001-04:00

Studies suggesting that divorce could be contagious are under serious critical fire. For the New York Times Health section. Peter Morance was the fantastic art director.

Roebling Suspension Bridge

2011-08-04T17:56:00.025-04:00

Who pays for the electricity to light up the Roebling Suspension Bridge – Ohio or Kentucky? The question was asked by a grumpy taxpayer. For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati magazine.

I've been longing for the opportunity to draw this beautiful landmark bridge. It was designed by John A. Roebling, who went on to design the Brooklyn Bridge.

Interesting yet sad sidenote on Roebling:

In 1867 Roebling started design work on what is now called the Brooklyn Bridge, spanning the East River in New York. One day in 1869 he was standing at the edge of a dock, working on fixing the location where the bridge would be built, when his foot was crushed by an arriving ferry. His injured toes were amputated. He refused further medical treatment and wanted to cure his foot by "water therapy" (continuous pouring of water over the wound). His condition deteriorated. He succumbed to tetanus 24 days after the accident.

Remembrances of Empty Subways of Weekends Past

2011-07-15T19:42:00.002-04:00

For the New York Times City Room. Readers wrote in about their fond and not-so-fond memories of riding the empty weekend subway of the late 70's and early 80's. This is the first time I've attempted graffiti in watercolor.

Managing The Aftershock

2011-07-10T16:53:00.000-04:00

This is for an article in Strategy & Business magazine about leading a business in the aftermath of a worldwide financial disaster.

Hidden Minnesota

2011-07-01T17:45:00.000-04:00

This was for a special feature called Hidden Minnesota in Minnesota Magazine. It's a travel section about places to go and things to do in the state.
The characters depict different areas and their local specialties: beer drinking, Norwegian folk dancing, etc., All things I enjoy. I've included some sketches as well. Kirsten Mortensen was the Art Director and she made it a lot of fun.

Broetry

2011-06-19T10:03:00.007-04:00

July 5th is the big release date for a book of poetry that I had the pleasure to illustrate: Broetry, Poetry for Dudes by Brian McGackin. It gave me a chance to illustrate such poems as "O Captain! My Captain America!" and "My Friends Who Don't Have Student Loans". It even has a poem with stormtroopers. And although I didn't illustrate "Cleaning Off My George Foreman Grill", I wish I had, because it's surprisingly poignant.

The art director was the fantastic Doogie Horner at Quirk books.

Hamilton!

2011-06-10T20:04:00.000-04:00

The city of Hamilton, Ohio was renamed Hamilton! in the 1980's. What happened to the exclamation point?
For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati magazine.

Racehorse and Choir Audition

2011-05-05T15:42:00.000-04:00

The Racehorse is for an article entitled "New and Unproved" for Plansponsor magazine and the choir audition piece is for the Dr. Know column of Cincinnati magazine.

Some Recent Sketches

2011-03-16T21:37:00.001-04:00

These were done at the Philadelphia Art Museum, below I-95 in Philadelphia, and the figure studies were done at my desk.

When Self-Knowledge Is Only the Beginning

2011-01-17T22:25:00.001-05:00

Self-understanding doesn't necessarily lead to happiness. For The New York Times Science section.

Shifting Focus

2011-01-16T22:38:00.001-05:00

For Plansponsor magazine. Art directed by SooJin Buzelli.

Natural Disasters In Dictatorships

2011-01-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

A natural disaster will kill many more people in a non-democratic society than in a democratic one. Appearing in New York University's alumni magazine.

Worst Christmas Gift Ever

2010-12-24T18:35:00.001-05:00

For the New York Times City Room section. Happy Holidays!

Mail Order Homes

2010-12-04T20:44:00.000-05:00

Did Sears sell a lot of mail order homes in the Cincinnati area? For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine.

How Did Cincinnati Lose U.S. Playing Cards?

2010-10-25T15:13:00.000-04:00

One of Cincinnati's most famous products moves to Kentucky. Appearing in the November issue of Cincinnati magazine for the Dr. Know column.

Android Karenina

2010-10-08T22:59:00.001-04:00

Another cover for the Ben Winters series from Quirk publishing. It's a nice opportunity to have fun with my oil paints and to make that android as sexy as possible (with a dash of propriety, of course). Doogie Horner was the fantastic art director.

College Football Countdown

2010-09-28T12:00:00.001-04:00

A sampling of spot illustrations for the Top 25 college football countdown for the Los Angeles Times.

Cake Eater

2010-09-28T11:27:00.000-04:00

Apparently that is a mildly insulting term used for a "posh boy" in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. It's always a pleasure to draw a dandy. Appearing in Cincinnati Magazine.

Cincinnati Reds Fan

2010-08-22T22:23:00.001-04:00

Why do Reds fans get depressed when the team loses while Cubs fans simply order another beer? For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine.

Copper

2010-08-17T14:34:00.002-04:00

"End of an Era?" for Planadvisor Magazine.

Why Don't Opera Companies Perform More Wagner?

2010-07-09T12:43:00.002-04:00

Apparently because it's very strenuous. Performing his work night after night would take a heavy toll. I've been waiting for an opportunity to draw a singing Valkyrie for years. This is for the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine.

Figure Drawings

2010-07-09T12:25:00.001-04:00

It feels good to draw from the model, something I haven't done for a while. I like to balance out my conceptual and character illustrations with drawings from real life, even though there tend to be fewer vikings and seamonsters in the real world. I'm fortunate that there's a nearby life drawing session in Northern Liberties every week. It really keeps me observant.

Sketches From The Philadelphia Museum of Art

2010-06-30T11:34:00.000-04:00

I did these sketches on Sunday from the south asian collection.

Museum Sketches from U. Penn

2010-06-26T20:59:00.007-04:00

I love to draw in museums. Today I packed my sketchbook and took a trip to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. They were closing when I began to hit my stride, so I'll have to make a trip back.

Figure Sketches

2010-06-25T13:50:00.000-04:00

Here are some figure sketches I do in my free time.

Hero Complex

2010-06-25T13:22:00.001-04:00

Some selected sketches for the Hero Complex blog for the LA Times.

Sketches Of My Neighborhood

2010-06-08T17:19:00.001-04:00

Here are a couple sketches of my neighborhood. That's the Ben Franklin Bridge as seen from Penn Treaty Park. The other is the view from my front window.

Sketches of Thailand

2010-05-27T21:10:00.006-04:00

Mae Hong Son

Bangkok, National Museum. Brahma

Pornography Drives Technological Innovation

2010-05-27T20:39:00.002-04:00

For Euroman Magazine in Denmark

Sri Lanka

2010-05-08T01:03:00.004-04:00

These pictures were from a recent trip to Sri Lanka. It's not a very big island, but it has a huge range of different landscapes with a lot to see. It's a very beautiful and friendly country.

View from the top of Sigiria fortress/palace

Dambulla

Buddha statue in Dambulla cave

Buddha's feet

Tea plantation trail in Ragalla

Why was the Riverbend pavilion built on a flood plain?

2010-05-07T23:56:00.000-04:00

For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine.

24 Frames

2010-04-25T19:40:00.000-04:00

For the LA Times Arts and Culture Blog 24 Frames

Mensa Dance Party

2010-04-11T22:53:00.000-04:00

For Rhode Island Monthly magazine

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus

2010-04-03T18:11:00.003-04:00

For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine.

Q: "Cincinnati was named after the Roman emperor Cincinnatus, correct? What was so remarkable about him that he got a city named in his honor?"

A: "Now, the Society of the Cincinnati was indeed named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, so you get some points there. But L.Q. Cincinnatus was not an emperor, he was a dictator, which in pre-Mussolini Italy was an OK thing to be. He was dictator because the Roman Senate was not up to the job of repelling the barbarian menace of the day and needed someone who could actually make decisions to do the heavy lifting, not unlike the way Cincinnati City Council habitually calls in corporate tough guys to handle tasks that are beyond their very, very modest capabilities. Cincinnatus got the dictator call twice, and both times, after cleaning up the senatorial mess, went famously back to plow his little suburban farm rather than hang onto the dictatorship. This is most unusual in any epoch, so it is not surprising that he was held up as a paragon of civic virtue by generations of Romans and Roman admirers. The American revolutionary officers liked to think that they were spiritual descendants of L.Q., although where the financially embarrassed Cincinnatus actually did his own plowing the American officers had enslaved Africans and indentured Irishmen to bust the sod. But you get the point.

There is a charmingly dorky statue of the dictator down by the river near the Serpentine Wall. It has not done a lot for local civic virtue, but one can always hope."

ink study for car and figure

2010-03-27T15:54:00.001-04:00

Some studies for ink on paper technique

Self-Defeating Behavior

2010-03-22T12:51:00.001-04:00

This is for the New York Times Science section about the psychology of self-defeating behavior.

Hero Complex and Pop & Hiss

2010-03-11T14:35:00.002-05:00

Two icons for the Los Angeles Times Arts and Culture blogs.

Who exactly are the Rosie Reds? Can a thirtysomething guy join?

2010-02-25T16:04:00.001-05:00

For the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine. The art director called the illustration "saucy", which was the nicest compliment I could imagine.

Today's Children, Tethered to Electronic Devices

2010-02-25T15:59:00.001-05:00

For the New York Times Letters to The Editor Section

What Happened to German Cuisine in Cincinnati?

2010-02-25T15:53:00.001-05:00

Some sketches for the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine

Another Character Sketch

2010-02-22T17:13:00.000-05:00

Two Character Sketches

2010-02-17T15:26:00.001-05:00

Culture Monster and Ministry of Gossip

2010-01-15T17:19:00.000-05:00

Two icons for the Los Angeles Times Arts and Culture Blogs

The Financial Crisis One Year Later

2010-01-07T12:58:00.001-05:00

For Euroman Magazine in Denmark

What Happened To The Playboy Club?

2009-12-28T15:17:00.004-05:00

This is for the Dr. Know column of Cincinnati magazine. The questioner wanted to know details about the now-defunct Playboy Club and what happened to it.

Answer: "It quietly closed in 1983, by which time its never-large membership had begun to qualify for Social Security."

Accountable to History

2009-12-18T14:55:00.000-05:00

For Strategy & Business magazine...

Culture Monster

2009-12-13T20:11:00.001-05:00

Sketches for the Culture Monster blog for the Los Angeles Times website.

What Is Your Risk Appetite?

2009-12-13T20:07:00.001-05:00

Some rough sketches for an article about risk appetite for Strategy & Business magazine.

Sketches

2009-12-02T22:14:00.000-05:00

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

2009-11-16T00:04:00.010-05:00

This is a bit different from my usual work. The art director, Doogie Horner, is a super-nice guy and had seen some of the oil paintings that I do in my personal time. He was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to do this book cover. I enjoy costume dramas, classical painting techniques, and monsters, so this was a rare opportunity indeed.

I heartily recommend Doogie's blog. He is hilarious and freakishly multi-talented.

KFC in Japan on Christmas Eve

2009-10-29T11:31:00.003-04:00

This was for the Dr. Know column of Cincinnati Magazine. "I’ve read that in Japan it’s traditional to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas. How did the commonwealth’s most famous fast food achieve such a distinction?"

Apparently the advertising folks figured it was easier to dispense with the cultural backstory of the Colonel and his "vaudeville plantation owner drag" and just go with his resemblance to Santa in order to sell chicken.

Prost!

2009-10-11T12:33:00.006-04:00

"Why does Oktoberfest start in September?"

Here are some rough concept sketches and the final illustration for the Dr. Know column in Cincinnati Magazine. I never pass up an opportunity to draw lederhosen.

Farming and sexy reporting

2009-10-10T23:35:00.001-04:00

Leg Immolation

2009-10-10T23:01:00.000-04:00

"What am I going to do with this sketch of a man cooking a sausage over his leg?"

That's the sort of question I've often asked myself. Now I have an informal venue to share some of my work that wouldn't otherwise have an outlet.

Thanks for looking,

Lars