The non-anonymous History

The anonymouse Productions and Marty the Mouse were created in 1992 by Eldon Mitchell as his private commercial art business. Focusing on traditional illustration, product art, pen and ink portraits, logos, advertising layout, and graphic design he touted 30 years of experience. I added my computer skills and talents to the mouse’s work in 1995 adding digital work for fliers, announcements, and various printouts. While both of us did produce some work under the anonymouse banner during the next few years it was a modicum of work mostly consisting of passion or personal interest.

In the early 2000s due to health issues, the elder mouse handed over the anonymouse productions non-business – business over to me completely. A middle-aged man at the time wafting in his own concerns and work I promptly disregarded the importance of what was given to me and lost the pertinent paperwork.

Then Sunday, November 11th, 2018 Eldon lost the then love and rock of his life, Francine. It was shortly after 10:00 am when I instinctively answered his call on my way to my “lunch”. He didn’t know what to do so I promptly left work, managed to pick up my own wife, and proceeded to his side. At 11:10 I watch my Father receive the news that would shatter his life.

What proceeded after that was 321 days of nearly daily visits with my Father, consoling and maintaining what was left of him. During this time Father and Son bonded once more through the raw emotion of sorrow and the ever so scarce laughter. Until finally on Friday, September 27th, 2019 I said my final goodbye to him for the night. Though there was no response I quietly told him that he could go and I would take care of things. Hours later he died in his sleep in his own bed at home as he had always wanted.

In the months after, as I “took care of things” I also became reacquainted with the legacy of anonymouse productions. So, it only seemed fitting that I revive the non-business of anonymouse and share the lifelong work of my father and my own digital work.

So much for being anonymous’e’ right?