Illustrators tell stories or re-create events by adeptly combining drawings, words and ideas. Their tools include pens, chalk, memory, perspective and flair.

Patrick Reynolds is an illustrious illustrator.

"I use the term writer/illustrator," said Reynolds. "I want to tell interesting stories in an amazing way, highlighted by some delightful drawings. On a scale of one to 10, I'm a 10 storyteller. I tell stories your history teacher has never heard of. I'll take history and illustrations, combine them and flush out a whole story."

Reynolds will bring his unique talent and style to the Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, for a "chalk talk" on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1:30 p.m. The audience should expect Reynolds to spin a number of engaging yarns, including ones about Milton Hershey and The Buckshot War.

The 30-minute presentation is free to attend.

"The tools I use depend on the medium," said Reynolds, an 83-year-old resident of Willow Street. "For most of my illustrations, I use pen and ink and a computer for coloring. But for the chalk talk I'm doing, I'll be using charcoal, because it's very dark and you can see it from the back of the room. The illustrations I draw will coincide with the stories I'm telling at the time. I promise an entertaining afternoon of amusing 'gee whiz' stories adapted from the localized historical comic strips that I've done over the past half century."

Reynolds continues to lead a most colorful life, both literally and figuratively.

Most of his productive career has been spent creating comic strips like Pennsylvania Profiles, Big Apple Almanac, Texas Lore and Flashbacks. His works have been printed in newspapers across the country, including The Washington Post.

Reynolds has also produced portraits, caricatures and hand-painted signs, and he's sold over 100,000 total copies of his 40 books.

"My subject matter is history, and my style is realistic and reminiscent of the old EC Comics and Classic Illustrated," said Reynolds. "My narrative style is influenced by Damon Runyon and O. Henry. I've always liked history. You get better as you go along in the style you want to do. I've lived through many critical historical events in my lifetime. I just know what I went through to do this kind of work."

Born in Pottsville, Reynolds graduated from Minersville High School and attended the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. Reynolds earned a Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University.

Reynolds served as an aerial reconnaissance officer in the United States army and flew over 300 missions in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He began illustrating in 1975 at the age of 34.

Reynolds retired his weekly Flashbacks feature for The Washington Post in December of 2022. "But I'm still illustrating," he said.

When asked how long he can continue doing it, he replied quickly, "until I die."

To register for Reynolds' illustration presentation, dial 717-626-2255 after Saturday, Feb. 3.

Copies of Reynolds' books will be available for purchase after the talk.