Neon Stamp Artist

The Los Angeles Daily News reports artist Michael Flechtner, 59, shown here, has created the U.S. Postal Service's first "neon" stamp design.

Staff Writer Kevin Modesti pens, "The idea of the first-ever 'neon postage stamp' had raised questions when it was proposed in 2009 by U.S. Postal Service art director Phil Jordan."

Phil is quoted as saying, ""Most neon is huge, and stamps are so small. The mechanics would be a monumental challenge. Not everyone thought we could pull it off."

Ken goes on to say, "He took only a week to produce a 34-by-44-inch array of tubing spelling out "CELEBRATE!" against a background of pyrotechnics and balloons. Then he drove the piece in his '57 Chevy to Washington D.C. There it was lit with neon gas and digitally photographed."

The result is a "forever" stamp that will be issued March 25.

According to a related article that appears on the USPS website Beyond The Perf,  Phil came up with the idea for his stamp design while watching a fireworks display.

“I felt that fireworks, with all their color, light, and motion was the embodiment of a celebration,” he's quoted as saying,“Since neon is all about color and light, it was the perfect design for the medium.”

To read the entire article, click here.