diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1ae2c7d..7f04b87 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ Python development tools for MODFLOW 6.
 
 ## Use cases
 
-This is a small toolkit for developing MODFLOW 6, FloPy, and related projects. It includes standalone utilities and optional [Pytest](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest) extensions.
+This is a small toolkit for developing MODFLOW 6, FloPy, and related projects. It includes standalone utilities and optional [Pytest](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest) and [Matplotlib](https://matplotlib.org/stable/) extensions.
 
-The former include a very minimal GitHub API client for retrieving release information and downloading assets, a `ZipFile` subclass that [preserves file permissions](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39296101/python-zipfile-removes-execute-permissions-from-binaries) (workaround for [Python #15795](https://bugs.python.org/issue15795)), and other release/distribution-related tools.
+Utilities include:
+
+* a minimal GitHub API client for retrieving release information and downloading assets
+* a `ZipFile` subclass that [preserves file permissions](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39296101/python-zipfile-removes-execute-permissions-from-binaries) (workaround for [Python #15795](https://bugs.python.org/issue15795))
+* other release/distribution-related tools
 
 Pytest features include:
 
@@ -46,6 +50,8 @@ Pytest features include:
   - `MODFLOW-USGS/modflow6-testmodels`
   - `MODFLOW-USGS/modflow6-largetestmodels`
 
+Matplotlib styles are provided in the `modflow_devtools.figspecs` module.
+
 ## Requirements
 
 Python3.8+, dependency-free, but pairs well with `pytest` and select plugins, e.g.
diff --git a/autotest/test_figspec.py b/autotest/test_figspec.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3337582
--- /dev/null
+++ b/autotest/test_figspec.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from modflow_devtools.figspec import USGSFigure
+
+
+def test_usgs_figure():
+    fig = USGSFigure()
diff --git a/autotest/test_latex.py b/autotest/test_latex.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/docs/md/figspec.md b/docs/md/figspec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/docs/md/latex.md b/docs/md/latex.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/modflow_devtools/figspec.py b/modflow_devtools/figspec.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..913ae0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modflow_devtools/figspec.py
@@ -0,0 +1,560 @@
+import numpy as np
+
+from modflow_devtools.imports import import_optional_dependency
+
+mpl = import_optional_dependency("matplotlib")
+import sys
+
+import numpy as np
+
+
+class USGSFigure:
+    def __init__(
+        self, figure_type="map", family="Arial Narrow", verbose=False
+    ):
+        """Create a USGSFigure object
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        figure_type : str
+            figure type ("map", "graph")
+        family : str
+            font family name (default is Arial Narrow)
+        verbose : bool
+            boolean that define if debug information should be written
+        """
+        # initialize members
+        self.family = None
+        self.figure_type = None
+        self.verbose = verbose
+        self.family = self._set_fontfamily(family)
+        self.figure_type = self._validate_figure_type(figure_type)
+
+    def graph_legend(self, ax=None, handles=None, labels=None, **kwargs):
+        """Add a USGS-style legend to a matplotlib axis object
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ax : axis object
+            matplotlib axis object (default is None)
+        handles : list
+            list of legend handles
+        labels : list
+            list of labels for legend handles
+        kwargs : kwargs
+            matplotlib legend kwargs
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        leg : object
+            matplotlib legend object
+
+        """
+        if ax is None:
+            ax = mpl.pyplot.gca()
+
+        font = self._set_fontspec(bold=True, italic=False)
+        if handles is None or labels is None:
+            handles, labels = ax.get_legend_handles_labels()
+        leg = ax.legend(handles, labels, prop=font, **kwargs)
+
+        # add title to legend
+        if "title" in kwargs:
+            title = kwargs.pop("title")
+        else:
+            title = None
+        leg = self.graph_legend_title(leg, title=title)
+        return leg
+
+    def graph_legend_title(self, leg, title=None):
+        """Set the legend title for a matplotlib legend object
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        leg : legend object
+            matplotlib legend object
+        title : str
+            title for legend
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        leg : object
+            matplotlib legend object
+
+        """
+        if title is None:
+            title = "EXPLANATION"
+        elif title.lower() == "none":
+            title = None
+        font = self._set_fontspec(bold=True, italic=False)
+        leg.set_title(title, prop=font)
+        return leg
+
+    def heading(
+        self, ax=None, letter=None, heading=None, x=0.00, y=1.01, idx=None
+    ):
+        """Add a USGS-style heading to a matplotlib axis object
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ax : axis object
+            matplotlib axis object (default is None)
+        letter : str
+            string that defines the subplot (A, B, C, etc.)
+        heading : str
+            text string
+        x : float
+            location of the heading in the x-direction in normalized plot dimensions
+            ranging from 0 to 1 (default is 0.00)
+        y : float
+            location of the heading in the y-direction in normalized plot dimensions
+            ranging from 0 to 1 (default is 1.01)
+        idx : int
+            index for programatically generating the heading letter when letter
+            is None and idx is not None. idx = 0 will generate A (default is None)
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        text : object
+            matplotlib text object
+
+        """
+        if ax is None:
+            ax = mpl.pyplot.gca()
+
+        if letter is None and idx is not None:
+            letter = chr(ord("A") + idx)
+
+        text = None
+        if letter is not None:
+            font = self._set_fontspec(bold=True, italic=True)
+            if heading is None:
+                letter = letter.replace(".", "")
+            else:
+                letter = letter.rstrip()
+                if letter[-1] != ".":
+                    letter += "."
+                letter += " "
+            ax.text(
+                x,
+                y,
+                letter,
+                va="bottom",
+                ha="left",
+                fontdict=font,
+                transform=ax.transAxes,
+            )
+            bbox = ax.get_window_extent().transformed(
+                mpl.pyplot.gcf().dpi_scale_trans.inverted()
+            )
+            width = bbox.width * 25.4  # inches to mm
+            x += len(letter) * 1.0 / width
+        if heading is not None:
+            font = self._set_fontspec(bold=True, italic=False)
+            text = ax.text(
+                x,
+                y,
+                heading,
+                va="bottom",
+                ha="left",
+                fontdict=font,
+                transform=ax.transAxes,
+            )
+        return text
+
+    def add_text(
+        self,
+        ax=None,
+        text="",
+        x=0.0,
+        y=0.0,
+        transform=True,
+        bold=True,
+        italic=True,
+        fontsize=9,
+        ha="left",
+        va="bottom",
+        **kwargs,
+    ):
+        """Add USGS-style text to a axis object
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ax : axis object
+            matplotlib axis object (default is None)
+        text : str
+            text string
+        x : float
+            x-location of text string (default is 0.)
+        y : float
+            y-location of text string (default is 0.)
+        transform : bool
+            boolean that determines if a transformed (True) or data (False) coordinate
+            system is used to define the (x, y) location of the text string
+            (default is True)
+        bold : bool
+            boolean indicating if bold font (default is True)
+        italic : bool
+            boolean indicating if italic font (default is True)
+        fontsize : int
+            font size (default is 9 points)
+        ha : str
+            matplotlib horizontal alignment keyword (default is left)
+        va : str
+            matplotlib vertical alignment keyword (default is bottom)
+        kwargs : dict
+            dictionary with valid matplotlib text object keywords
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        text_obj : object
+            matplotlib text object
+
+        """
+        if ax is None:
+            ax = mpl.pyplot.gca()
+
+        if transform:
+            transform = ax.transAxes
+        else:
+            transform = ax.transData
+
+        font = self._set_fontspec(bold=bold, italic=italic, fontsize=fontsize)
+
+        text_obj = ax.text(
+            x,
+            y,
+            text,
+            va=va,
+            ha=ha,
+            fontdict=font,
+            transform=transform,
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+        return text_obj
+
+    def add_annotation(
+        self,
+        ax=None,
+        text="",
+        xy=None,
+        xytext=None,
+        bold=True,
+        italic=True,
+        fontsize=9,
+        ha="left",
+        va="bottom",
+        **kwargs,
+    ):
+        """Add an annotation to a axis object
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ax : axis object
+            matplotlib axis object (default is None)
+        text : str
+            text string
+        xy : tuple
+            tuple with the location of the annotation (default is None)
+        xytext : tuple
+            tuple with the location of the text
+        bold : bool
+            boolean indicating if bold font (default is True)
+        italic : bool
+            boolean indicating if italic font (default is True)
+        fontsize : int
+            font size (default is 9 points)
+        ha : str
+            matplotlib horizontal alignment keyword (default is left)
+        va : str
+            matplotlib vertical alignment keyword (default is bottom)
+        kwargs : dict
+            dictionary with valid matplotlib annotation object keywords
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        ann_obj : object
+            matplotlib annotation object
+
+        """
+        if ax is None:
+            ax = mpl.pyplot.gca()
+
+        if xy is None:
+            xy = (0.0, 0.0)
+
+        if xytext is None:
+            xytext = (0.0, 0.0)
+
+        font = self._set_fontspec(bold=bold, italic=italic, fontsize=fontsize)
+
+        # add font information to kwargs
+        if kwargs is None:
+            kwargs = font
+        else:
+            for key, value in font.items():
+                kwargs[key] = value
+
+        # create annotation
+        ann_obj = ax.annotate(text, xy, xytext, va=va, ha=ha, **kwargs)
+
+        return ann_obj
+
+    def remove_edge_ticks(self, ax=None):
+        """Remove unnecessary ticks on the edges of the plot
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ax : axis object
+            matplotlib axis object (default is None)
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        ax : axis object
+            matplotlib axis object
+
+        """
+        if ax is None:
+            ax = mpl.pyplot.gca()
+
+        # update tick objects
+        mpl.pyplot.draw()
+
+        # get min and max value and ticks
+        ymin, ymax = ax.get_ylim()
+
+        # check for condition where y-axis values are reversed
+        if ymax < ymin:
+            y = ymin
+            ymin = ymax
+            ymax = y
+        yticks = ax.get_yticks()
+
+        if self.verbose:
+            print("y-axis: ", ymin, ymax)
+            print(yticks)
+
+        # remove edge ticks on y-axis
+        ticks = ax.yaxis.majorTicks
+        for iloc in [0, -1]:
+            if np.allclose(float(yticks[iloc]), ymin):
+                ticks[iloc].tick1line.set_visible = False
+                ticks[iloc].tick2line.set_visible = False
+            if np.allclose(float(yticks[iloc]), ymax):
+                ticks[iloc].tick1line.set_visible = False
+                ticks[iloc].tick2line.set_visible = False
+
+        # get min and max value and ticks
+        xmin, xmax = ax.get_xlim()
+
+        # check for condition where x-axis values are reversed
+        if xmax < xmin:
+            x = xmin
+            xmin = xmax
+            xmax = x
+
+        xticks = ax.get_xticks()
+        if self.verbose:
+            print("x-axis: ", xmin, xmax)
+            print(xticks)
+
+        # remove edge ticks on y-axis
+        ticks = ax.xaxis.majorTicks
+        for iloc in [0, -1]:
+            if np.allclose(float(xticks[iloc]), xmin):
+                ticks[iloc].tick1line.set_visible = False
+                ticks[iloc].tick2line.set_visible = False
+            if np.allclose(float(xticks[iloc]), xmax):
+                ticks[iloc].tick1line.set_visible = False
+                ticks[iloc].tick2line.set_visible = False
+
+        return ax
+
+    # private methods
+
+    def _validate_figure_type(self, figure_type):
+        """Set figure type after validation of specified figure type
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        figure_type : str
+            figure type ("map", "graph")
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        figure_type : str
+            validated figure_type
+
+        """
+        # validate figure type
+        valid_types = ("map", "graph")
+        if figure_type not in valid_types:
+            errmsg = "invalid figure_type specified ({}) ".format(
+                figure_type
+            ) + "valid types are '{}'.".format(", ".join(valid_types))
+            raise ValueError(errmsg)
+
+        # set figure_type
+        if figure_type == "map":
+            self._set_map_specifications()
+        elif figure_type == "graph":
+            self._set_map_specifications()
+
+        return figure_type
+
+    def _set_graph_specifications(self):
+        """Set matplotlib rcparams to USGS-style specifications for graphs
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+
+        """
+        rc_dict = {
+            "font.family": self.family,
+            "font.size": 7,
+            "axes.labelsize": 9,
+            "axes.titlesize": 9,
+            "axes.linewidth": 0.5,
+            "xtick.labelsize": 8,
+            "xtick.top": True,
+            "xtick.bottom": True,
+            "xtick.major.size": 7.2,
+            "xtick.minor.size": 3.6,
+            "xtick.major.width": 0.5,
+            "xtick.minor.width": 0.5,
+            "xtick.direction": "in",
+            "ytick.labelsize": 8,
+            "ytick.left": True,
+            "ytick.right": True,
+            "ytick.major.size": 7.2,
+            "ytick.minor.size": 3.6,
+            "ytick.major.width": 0.5,
+            "ytick.minor.width": 0.5,
+            "ytick.direction": "in",
+            "pdf.fonttype": 42,
+            "savefig.dpi": 300,
+            "savefig.transparent": True,
+            "legend.fontsize": 9,
+            "legend.frameon": False,
+            "legend.markerscale": 1.0,
+        }
+        mpl.rcParams.update(rc_dict)
+
+    def _set_map_specifications(self):
+        """Set matplotlib rcparams to USGS-style specifications for maps
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+
+        """
+        rc_dict = {
+            "font.family": self.family,
+            "font.size": 7,
+            "axes.labelsize": 9,
+            "axes.titlesize": 9,
+            "axes.linewidth": 0.5,
+            "xtick.labelsize": 7,
+            "xtick.top": True,
+            "xtick.bottom": True,
+            "xtick.major.size": 7.2,
+            "xtick.minor.size": 3.6,
+            "xtick.major.width": 0.5,
+            "xtick.minor.width": 0.5,
+            "xtick.direction": "in",
+            "ytick.labelsize": 7,
+            "ytick.left": True,
+            "ytick.right": True,
+            "ytick.major.size": 7.2,
+            "ytick.minor.size": 3.6,
+            "ytick.major.width": 0.5,
+            "ytick.minor.width": 0.5,
+            "ytick.direction": "in",
+            "pdf.fonttype": 42,
+            "savefig.dpi": 300,
+            "savefig.transparent": True,
+            "legend.fontsize": 9,
+            "legend.frameon": False,
+            "legend.markerscale": 1.0,
+        }
+        mpl.rcParams.update(rc_dict)
+
+    def _set_fontspec(
+        family="Arial Narrow",
+        bold=True,
+        italic=True,
+        fontsize=9,
+        verbose=False,
+    ):
+        """Create fontspec dictionary for matplotlib pyplot objects
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        bold : bool
+            boolean indicating if font is bold (default is True)
+        italic : bool
+            boolean indicating if font is italic (default is True)
+        fontsize : int
+            font size (default is 9 point)
+
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+
+        """
+        univers = "Univers" in family
+
+        if bold:
+            weight = "bold"
+            if univers:
+                family = "Univers 67"
+        else:
+            weight = "normal"
+            if univers:
+                family = "Univers 57"
+
+        if italic:
+            if univers:
+                family += " Condensed Oblique"
+                style = "oblique"
+            else:
+                style = "italic"
+        else:
+            if univers:
+                family += " Condensed"
+            style = "normal"
+
+        # define fontspec dictionary
+        fontspec = {
+            "family": family,
+            "size": fontsize,
+            "weight": weight,
+            "style": style,
+        }
+
+        if verbose:
+            sys.stdout.write("font specifications:\n ")
+            for key, value in fontspec.items():
+                sys.stdout.write(f"{key}={value} ")
+            sys.stdout.write("\n")
+
+        return fontspec
+
+    def _set_fontfamily(self, family):
+        """Set font family to Liberation Sans Narrow on linux if default Arial Narrow
+        is being used
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        family : str
+            font family name (default is Arial Narrow)
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        family : str
+            font family name
+
+        """
+        if sys.platform.lower() in ("linux",):
+            if family == "Arial Narrow":
+                family = "Liberation Sans Narrow"
+        return family
diff --git a/modflow_devtools/latex.py b/modflow_devtools/latex.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8639f59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modflow_devtools/latex.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+import os
+
+
+def build_table(caption, fpth, arr, headings=None, col_widths=None):
+    if headings is None:
+        headings = arr.dtype.names
+    ncols = len(arr.dtype.names)
+    if not fpth.endswith(".tex"):
+        fpth += ".tex"
+    label = "tab:{}".format(os.path.basename(fpth).replace(".tex", ""))
+
+    line = get_header(caption, label, headings, col_widths=col_widths)
+
+    for idx in range(arr.shape[0]):
+        if idx % 2 != 0:
+            line += "\t\t\\rowcolor{Gray}\n"
+        line += "\t\t"
+        for jdx, name in enumerate(arr.dtype.names):
+            line += f"{arr[name][idx]}"
+            if jdx < ncols - 1:
+                line += " & "
+        line += " \\\\\n"
+
+    # footer
+    line += get_footer()
+
+    f = open(fpth, "w")
+    f.write(line)
+    f.close()
+
+    return
+
+
+def get_header(
+    caption, label, headings, col_widths=None, center=True, firsthead=False
+):
+    ncol = len(headings)
+    if col_widths is None:
+        dx = 0.8 / float(ncol)
+        col_widths = [dx for idx in range(ncol)]
+    if center:
+        align = "p"
+    else:
+        align = "p"
+
+    header = "\\small\n"
+    header += "\\begin{longtable}[!htbp]{\n"
+    for col_width in col_widths:
+        header += (
+            38 * " "
+            + f"{align}"
+            + f"{{{col_width}\\linewidth-2\\arraycolsep}}\n"
+        )
+    header += 38 * " " + "}\n"
+    header += f"\t\\caption{{{caption}}} \\label{{{label}}} \\\\\n\n"
+
+    if firsthead:
+        header += "\t\\hline \\hline\n"
+        header += "\t\\rowcolor{Gray}\n"
+        header += "\t"
+        for idx, s in enumerate(headings):
+            header += f"\\textbf{{{s}}}"
+            if idx < len(headings) - 1:
+                header += " & "
+        header += "  \\\\\n"
+        header += "\t\\hline\n"
+        header += "\t\\endfirsthead\n\n"
+
+    header += "\t\\hline \\hline\n"
+    header += "\t\\rowcolor{Gray}\n"
+    header += "\t"
+    for idx, s in enumerate(headings):
+        header += f"\\textbf{{{s}}}"
+        if idx < len(headings) - 1:
+            header += " & "
+    header += "  \\\\\n"
+    header += "\t\\hline\n"
+    header += "\t\\endhead\n\n"
+
+    return header
+
+
+def get_footer():
+    return "\t\\hline \\hline\n\\end{longtable}\n\\normalsize\n\n"
+
+
+def exp_format(v):
+    s = f"{v:.2e}"
+    s = s.replace("e-0", "e-")
+    s = s.replace("e+0", "e+")
+    # s = s.replace("e", " \\times 10^{") + "}$"
+    return s
+
+
+def float_format(v, fmt="{:.2f}"):
+    return fmt.format(v)
+
+
+def int_format(v):
+    return f"{v:d}"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4d2a701..fe49f7e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ lint = [
     "isort",
     "pylint"
 ]
+optional = [
+    "matplotlib",
+    "pytest",
+]
 test = [
     "modflow-devtools[lint]",
     "coverage",