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I talked to him briefly after the meeting and mentioned that I had just completed a little graphics game program for the TRS-80 called Android Nim. He was somewhat interested, but not too much so, I thought. I gave him a preview copy, anyway. He called the next day and was very excited. He loved the game and asked if he could sell it through the magazine. I happily agreed. That was the start of a few years of working together. An ambition of mine for years had been to draw (or paint) the cover art for a science fiction magazine. When the opportunity came to do some covers and illustrations for 80-US, I jumped at the chance. When I was in junior high school, I wanted to become a cartoonist for the likes of Disney. But then high school got me going in math and science and that became my dominant interest. At this point, I've only been able to locate the artwork shown below. There is more which I will add when I find it from among the many boxes still unpacked from my move from Tacoma to Spokane a few years ago. And, by the way, notice that it became a tradition to include an Android theme somewhere on every cover in honor of the boost that Andy Android gave to 80-US. All artwork shown: ©1979-80 Leo Christopherson and 80-US Magazine (Note: I sign all my art work .037 which is my first name upside down.) |
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This charming letter/poem about Android Nim was sent as a letter to the editor and was published in the Sep/Oct 1979 issue. Mike and I both liked it so much that I drew it up into a full page artwork. |
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This drawing was done to illustrate an article by Mike Schmidt called, "The Great 80-US CHESS Tournament." It appeared in the Nov/Dec 1979 issue. Mike S. was a chess enthusiast and the article compared two popular TRS-80 chess programs. |
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This was my first cover. It illustrated an article by Dr. G. B. Livingston of Tacoma, WA. The article was titled, "Which Brain," and dealt with the right/left brain idea. The article also provided a TRS-80 program listing that allowed the reader to identify their own brain type. |
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The July/Aug 1979 issue was my second cover drawing. The cover illustrates a review of a program called, "Win 21." The program was being sold by Dr. Thorp, Discovery Bay Software, Port Townsend, WA. The program was a tutorial for winning at Blackjack. |
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This third cover I drew for the Sept/Oct 1979 issue is one of my two top favorites. The cover shows a birthday cake with one candle representing 80-US's first year in publication. The reason I like it so much is because of the Android background I drew. It was inspired by the drawings of MC Escher. |
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This Nov/Dec 1979 cover is my other top favorite. It illustrates an article about variable orifice shock absorbers for the landing gear of an aircraft. The article and listed program was suggested by Albert C. Saurwein of High Technology Products and Engineering, Kent, WA. |
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This cover for the Jan/Feb 1980 issue illustrates an article by Roy Groth, Brookline, MA, titled, "Model Rocket Performance and Design." The article included a large program listing that would aid in the design of model rockets. |
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This cover went along with a game program listing in the July/Aug 1980 issue. The TRS-80 game by Rudolf M. Salinger of Midland, MI, was called, "Ranger." The volcano in the background represents the eruption of Mt. St. Helens which occured in May of 1980. |
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This Sept/Oct 1980 cover illustrated a review for a TRS-80 game called, "NFL-PIX for 1980-1981." The game was authored by James Talley and sold as a 16K file on tape or diskette for $19.95 through 80-US magazine. |
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