2005 Year in Review

Havana Artist to Draw Morrison

One of David Alan Badger's drawings. This one of the round barn at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds.

“I was the kid in class who always doodled,” stated David Alan Badger about his love for drawing. Mr. Badger is at work designing a book with sketches and a narrative of each structure he draws, of Morrison, in honor of Morrison’s 150th birthday.

David Alan Badger was born and raised in Fulton, IL. He graduated from Fulton High School in 1967 and JUCO, an Eastern Iowa Community College. In 1979 he moved to Havana. For five years he resigned from drawing, trying to find something to sink his teeth into. His love for drawing was brought to life again in 1983 where he worked from the basement of his home.

A friend of Mr. Badger’s suggested he publish his drawings in a book. His first book was published in 1983 which was entitled Havana of Illinois. He later purchased a building in downtown Havana to accommodate his art studio and publishing business.

A 1989 fire in his building which engulfed the business with six hours of black smoke made him realize just how many drawings he had as he began making copies of each one and putting them into files. “I was creating an archive,” stated Badger.

David Alan has published over 25 books capturing the highlights of different communities. One of his accomplishments was a book of drawings of county court houses in Illinois. There are 102 counties in the state.

In 1987 he published a book of Morrison in which there were 34 entries. He will be adding 16 new drawings to this new book. Two books will be published; one will be an advertising publication, which will have five decades of history along with drawings of Morrison. Fifty years of Morrison history will also be included in the book with five writers researching a decade from 1955. Morrison Historical Society is helping with this part of the publication. Any business or person who sponsors will receive 50 of the Commemorative Booklets.

The other book will be a collection of 50 drawings and each picture he draws will also have a description of its history. The book will be a soft cover with each drawing having its own page on a soft touch imperial ivory page, drawn and scripted in black ink.

Badger will be promoting advertising for his book beginning the first part of this month. “I have the talent to draw but I also promote my work. I’m not a shy person and I like to meet people. I am really pleased to be working in Morrison and to be able to make new relationships.”

Mr. Badger now completes from four to six projects a year in different towns. “It is like a dart board. I take the state of Illinois and throw a dart at it to decide in which town my next project will be,” Badger stated.

Badger is also the publisher of The Illinois Review, which is a quarterly magazine that promotes tourism throughout Illinois. He features drawings in each issue and each paid ad has a drawing included in their ad. He has been publishing this magazine for 14 years.

Mr. Badger’s family includes his wife Rita, who is originally from Thomson. They have been married for 35 years. Rita is a special education teacher in Havana. He also has two daughters, Jessica who works with him in his studio and printing business which also includes a paint your own pottery art studio. Daughter, Katie is a singer, songwriter, developing her talents in Austin, TX. He also has two grandchildren.

by Dawn Zuidema, theCity1.com
March 4, 2005