Sunday, December 16, 2012

Christmas cards from Paper Moon Graphics



Paper Moon Graphics was a Los Angeles based greetings card and stationary company started in 1977.  What set them apart from other companies was their creative use of several young airbrush artists who had made LA the center of a bright and breezy illustrative style. 
     During the seventies and into the eighties their airbrush work was everywhere.  You couldn’t pick up a consumer magazine without seeing an airbrush illustration used for an editorial article.  These Paper Moon Christmas cards (6.75 by 4.6 inches) were published between 1977 and 1981 and show off the talents of the following artists: Terry Lamb, Dave McMacken, Dave Willardson, Roger Bergendorff, Pam Wall, Alan Hashimoto, Pat Bailey, Jim Evans, Don Ivan Punchatz, Peter Palombi, Julie Peterson, Denis Mukai, Bob Rodriguez, Kim Whitesides, Deborah Ross. 
     Though they are not that old I think they have a lovely period feel that contemporary digital work doesn’t really capture.












All illustrations copyright Paper Moon Graphics.

12 comments:

  1. I am so glad to see your article. I miss having these to send at the holidays. I have several other provacative Paper Moon Christmas cards not featured here I would love to share.

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  2. I would be happy to add them if you can send reasonable scans or PDFs.

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  3. I work for Paper Moon for many years. I remember all of these cards. I remember seeing them hot off the press. I love seeing these images!
    Joyce L. San Diego, Ca

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  4. I collected Paper Moon Graphics cards around 1980-1981. I used to put them on the wall and had a huge wall covered with them. They were my favorite cards of all time.

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    1. I have been trying to find one particular card featuring a Surfing Santa wearing palm tree sunglasses. I would love to have this even if it is not a perfect copy. Can anyone help?
      Gilbert, Dumbarton, Scotland

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    2. Is this the card you are looking for ?? https://www.ebay.com/itm/150-ASSORTED-GREETING-CARDS-W-ENVELOPES-PAPER-MOON-MARCEL-SCHURMAN-BIRTHDAY-LOVE/332765827886?hash=item4d7a63932e:g:~sEAAOSwkXRbZzpb

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  5. i have always adored Paper Moon cards--the lustrous colors and tongue-in-cheek images. i miss them. is there any chance of them making a return?

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  6. PM have had a website for a couple of years at least but it never changes so it doesn't seem as if they will be coming back, least in a physical paper form, maybe in a digital format though.

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  7. miss that creativity..bring it back!

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  8. Glad to find this. I started collecting rather recently even though I grew up with them and found a couple originals actually. So if anyone is looking for the ORIGINAL works. Contact me. They probably won't last....They are amazing. I was lucky to find them.

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  9. I’m just learning about the company because my nana gave me a gift bag set that was made by paper moon I wanted to look into it since the packaging said 1987 on it. It’s still in its package and in great shape I can’t bring myself to open it I’m unsure of what to do it’s really cute but it’s going to sit in my closet. It’s just going to hurt to open

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  10. It seems a shame not to open it to enjoy the contents.

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