Featured

Water treatment cycle poster

| randie.hov

I recently finished this movie theater-sized water treatment cycle poster for my employer’s booth at the “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” K-12 career expo. The poster educates young readers about the path water takes to reach our homes, schools, and businesses, and sparks conversations about engineering careers. I’m currently working at Hazen and Sawyer, an engineering firm that addresses water supply and water quality challenges.

This project scratched an itch for me by combining my interests in writing and illustration. I worked closely with Hazen engineers and recruiting specialists to refine their text and build the 24×36″ design. I drew each illustration individually before arranging the final poster layout in one massive Adobe Illustrator file. We were on a tight deadline but completed the project in time to print and frame it before the career expo.

The Water Treatment Cycle poster shows six large icons in a chronological circle, surrounding a young engineer with her arms crossed proudly in a high-vis vest and white Hazen helmet. The steps/icons are: Point of Use, Sewer System, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Water Source, Drinking Water Treatment Plant, and Drinking Water Delivery and Conveyance.
Engineers in the water industry help design, construct, operate, and maintain safe drinking water to protect the public and our environment.
A photo of my Water Treatment Cycle poster in use at the conference. A Hazen engineer is pointing at the poster and describing it to an interested student protege, an elementary-aged girl in a pink backpack.
Planting seeds of success. Hazen engineers used the poster to introduce and describe the importance of the water treatment cycle to future colleagues from K-12 schools.
The "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" logo on a banner with multiple flowing outlines of women moving across the banner.
If you have the expertise and time to volunteer, get involved with “Introduce a Girl to Engineering!”

senior chicken sponsorship

One dozen chicken eggs from Lemon House Farm. Shell colors include brown, mint green, olive green, and light tan.
| randie.hov

I thought this certificate from Lemon House Farm was too cute not to share. I drank too much at an axe throwing event and sponsored a senior chicken for my husband after seeing a late-night marketing email.

Flurffy is a 4-year-old Black Cochin hen. She is retired to the leisure coop at Lemon House Farm in Burtonsville, Maryland. Welcome to the family (symbolically), Flurffy.

I designed Lemon House Farm’s logo for owners Meredith and Guy in 2021. Meredith posts the most amazing pictures of the chickens and their multicolored eggs. If you are like me, you didn’t know that eggs come in colors other than white and brown. See cute chicken pics and browse the farm’s products on Instagram and Facebook.

Certificate with a photo of Flurffy and the text, "The Gift of Senior Chicken Sponsorship. 100% Maryland-grown and non-GMO feed for Flurffy for a year. Lemon House Farm is a no-kill farm and a rescue operation. Our birds remain part of the family for their entire natural lives. They retire to the "Leisure Coop" and free range pasture, and receive any needed veterinary care to ensure a happy and healthy life. Flurffy is a 4-year-old Black Cochin hen. She lives up to her name as the fluffiest, puffiest chicken in the whole flock. To: Marc From: Randie lemonhousefarm.com/sponsorasenior @lemonhousefarm"

Ocean Acidification and Aquaculture

| randie.hov

It has been a while since I blogged anything (I blame COVID). But, I swear I am going to start adding my infographics from NOAA Fisheries to the site.

Here is one that I finished recently, ‘Ocean Acidification and Aquaculture.’ It will be used in an upcoming report about the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on marine aquaculture.

“Ocean Acidification and Aquaculture,” a report infographic.

Spanish-English Insect Guide

| randie.hov

I am very pleased to share this Spanish-English insect guide that I collaborated on with Crossroads Community Food Network. Based in Takoma Park, Maryland, Crossroads strengthens our local food system by providing resources to those who grow, prepare, and eat fresh produce (i.e. all humans ever).

This bilingual guidebook provides important safety information about the management of pest insects, as well as an overview of beneficial insects. My favorite quality of this book is that it will help facilitate effective communication between English- and Spanish-speakers who work in agriculture. I love opening the lines of communication!

It was satisfying to learn in detail about the various pests and beneficial insects as I created the page layouts and illustrations. In the acknowledgments, you will see a gamut of talented people who contributed their agricultural expertise to this book. As an avid gardener, I was grateful for the chance to absorb their knowledge. The final product was printed in a practical fashion with a spiral binding and waterproof cover–it is meant to be out in the field with you!

Designing projects that have a positive social impact is very meaningful to me. I hope that this book will help strengthen working relationships and build inclusivity for farmers all over Maryland.

I want to thank Crossroads for hiring me to help create such a unique and worthwhile book. If you visit their weekly farmer’s market, be sure to pick up a copy.

Flip through the digital copy above, or download a PDF version.

Learn to Swing Dance in Takoma Park

swing-dance-social
| randie.hov

Brianna and Michael are excellent swing dancing instructors. My boyfriend and I look forward every week to our Intermediate class. I’m new to dancing, but last fall we enjoyed the Beginner class so much that we took it twice!

I designed this flyer and social media image to help promote their beginner and intermediate-level classes. They also do private lessons. You can get started by liking their Facebook page and checking out their class schedule with GottaSwing.

swing-dance-takoma-park
Flyer with cutaway contact information.

swing-dance-social
Social media promo image.

Legal Eagle Drawing

| randie.hov

My boyfriend’s mother asked if I could draw an eagle carrying a set of scales to promote a social gathering for legal professionals. I like it when people give me unique ideas for things I wouldn’t usually draw.

legal-eagle
Keep Calm and Carrion.

As a side note, I discovered that there is a white gel pen product that does not suck. This thing draws over Sharpie and colored pencil. I used it to add the eagle’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg collar. Here is your link to THE Uni-Ball UM 153 Signo Broad Point Gel Pen.

I’m not what they call a “professional reviewer.” But I am a professional artist who enjoys reviewing products. I receive no compensation other than the joy of sharing my favorite supplies.

Draw Like Keith Haring

keith-haring-stencils
| randie.hov

I recently hosted my very first Second Saturday workshop, Draw Like Keith Haring, at Art Enables in Washington, DC. Art Enables is a gallery and vocational arts program dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market, and earn income from their original artwork. Learn more about the workshop.

An art teacher friend of mine gave me the excellent idea of creating Keith Haring-style stencils for participants to trace. The simplicity and affordability of this activity make it perfect for artists of all ages and skill levels.

Getting Started
To create my stencils, I drew various arms, legs, heads, and torsos on brightly colored cardstock paper. For added variety, I made several Haring-style dog, cat, mouse, and person heads. After cutting out the many pieces, I used metal brads (from Amazon) to assemble my stencils. Each stencil was approximately 10″ tall after assembly.

keith-haring-stencils

Workshop Setup
I stocked each table at the workshop with the following:

  • Instructional PDF
  • White cardstock paper, 11×17″ or larger
  • Pencils
  • Erasers
  • Markers
  • Crayons
  • Optional: Ruler for drawing horizon lines
  • Optional: Glitter glue for outlining

Let’s Make Some Art
As guests arrived for the workshop, I showed each of them the instructional PDF and went over the process. Each participant followed these steps to create their own Keith Haring masterpiece:

  1. Choose one or more stencils.
  2. Arrange the stencils on the paper.
  3. Trace each stencil lightly in pencil.
  4. Outline the pencil drawing with a marker.
  5. Color, and enjoy!