Written by: Alex Green

Tobin Sprout, the wildly inventive painter/graphic designer/illustrator has just posted new work for sale on his official site.

Known in musical circles as a member of Guided By Voices, the Ohio-born Sprout’s visual designs have been seen from Budweiser ads to gallery shows to the covers of his solo albums. He also wrote and illustrated the 2009 s children’s book Elliot.

Now residing in Michigan, Sprout posted the following message on Social Media today:

Added some small paintings and a few new paintings www.tobinsprout.net. We have also added a pre tour show April 8th at the Old Art building in Leland, Mi Tickets available at oldartbuilding.com. It is a fundraiser for the Old Art Building. Hope to see you there.

According to their mission statement, “…the Leelanau Community Cultural Center is to promote cultural enrichment programs and events, to provide a gathering place for the community, and to ensure the preservation of the Old Art Building as a significant part of Leelanau history.”

As for the Old Art Building, the official site writes of its history: “With its white frame face, dark green trim, and classic small-pane windows, it could be an early 1900s school or meeting hall in any number of small rural villages throughout the country. But to the thousands of residents and long-time visitors who come back year after year, the Old Art Building is Leland – in much the same way that Fishtown is Leland. It’s a welcome home sign and a touchstone. Its wood floors and walls, the fieldstone fireplace, and the curved wooden stage all echo sounds of dramatic readings, dancers’ steps, clattering keys of an upright piano, and the long-ago voices of summer.”