“We think this is just what we all need at this time,” says BAYarts Artistic Director Karen Petkovic. “You cannot help but feel good when you look at the humor and the wonderful vibrant colors of George’s work.”

A professional illustrator for American Greetings for nearly 20 years, Kocar’s work has appeared in such publications as Esquire, The New York Times, Playboy and The Washington Post. His work is in many national private and corporate collections. Now retired, he works out of his Bay Village studio and is a prolific participant in local galleries and festivals and shops like BAYarts.

Kocar’s new book, “The Flying Banana: The Art of George Kocar,” is a collection of his body of work. (“The Flying Banana” is a reference to, literally, a flying banana, and a character he created early on as he developed his signature style.) The book is available in the BAYarts shop and gallery along with his popular paintings of cats and dogs.