When I saw this book sitting on my co-worker’s desk, I was immediately drawn to the art style and limited palette of flourescent colors. Further inspection revealed that: A) it was a rambling story about the brothers who invented day-glo inks and B) he was the illustrator. Apparently, after being sidetracked early on by an unfortunate ketchup accident, everything came together for Bob and Joe Switzer sometime in the late 1930s or early 1940s with a billboard selling oranges that were so bright “they looked like they were on fire from a mile away”. These days the Day-Glo® company has a website where you can buy day-glo ink jet cartridges, but it is really not a very compelling site design since day-glo colors don’t translate well on screen. The photos of book also don’t fully capture its day-glo-awesomeness either, which is why I recommend you check it out in person. I still don’t fully understand the science, flourescence, light reflection, black lights, but I love the idea that there are still colors out there waiting to be discovered. When I think about it I can’t help but start combining swatches in my mind to try to think up new colors, but no luck so far. Go and buy it
Tony will get some royalties!

© Julia Rothman 2007