Why are these kids so darn happy? Have they been sharing the nitrous oxide balloon with their clown friend? Of course not. They are happy because this gorgeous piece of art by Pete Hawley, along with many more of his feverishly giddy original illustartions for the Merrill Publishing company, were saved from the incinerator, thanks to the diligent efforts of Jean Woodcock.
The full story appears in print edition of Illustration Magazine #22 (thanks for the subscription, David!).
Leif Peng has a couple of excerpts and more of Hawley's work on his blog.
Pete Hawley and the Merrill Company
