An Advent Calendar Cover

Was it not just yesterday that I took down the family Christmas tree? No, really; it was yesterday. Some of you must feel the same way. Where has the year gone? Like those of you who work in retail or fashion or interior design, for example—buying for holidays months in advance–we must invoke some holiday joy in 80-degree fall weather.

Planning for the Evansville Living holiday issue is different each year. We know readers appreciate local holiday stories, and we strive to freshly depict Evansville’s new and old seasonal celebrations. Some years, we have produced the holiday feature a full year in advance. Last year, a special white Christmas cake was created and baked for the cover. For 2022, we commissioned original art for the cover. Creative Director Laura Mathis explains:

In our planning meeting for the holiday issue, we decided on an Advent calendar theme. When I did an internet search for “Advent calendar magazine cover,” the first thing that appeared was the New Yorker cover from Dec. 16, 1961. I loved the way it encapsulated the city during the holidays with a nod to the 25 days found on an Advent calendar.

Armed with our inspiration, I sought an illustrator who could capture the essence of the holidays here in Evansville. I found the right match in Richmond, Virginia-based illustrator Laura Marr. I knew her cheerful and free-flowing style would bring the spirit of the season onto our cover art and illustrations in the feature.

Working with Ms. Marr was a wonderful collaboration of sending sketches and mockups back and forth until we achieved the look we wanted. We selected the Reitz Home Museum as the backdrop for our “calendar” and filled in the rest with fun and Evansville-unique things to do this year. Twenty-five things, to be exact.