Rain Or Shine (1988)

Actually, I did no poster in 1988. But so many people asked about the missing year that in 1993 I finally produced this “retroactive” edition. It depicts the thrilling home-stretch action — and challenging weather — of the famous Travers Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse. I just love the colors and shapes and clusters of shapes that umbrellas create. I love how the wetness intensifies the colors and separates a throng of thousands into little intimate groups — in just minutes. This poster as well as the 1993 Travers poster was printed on a special waterless printing press using 300-line screens. Extraordinary for the time. Ordinarily, water or alcohol is used on a printing press to make the ink stick where you want it and stay away from where you don’t. With waterless printing, no fluids are used — it is the temperature of the ink that controls the process. It’s hard to do. But, done well, waterless printing produces wonderfully rich, intense colors, fine detail, and remarkable durability.