Embrace Creativity

Heard someone say this recently and it struck a chord with me — so I sketched it out so that I would remember it. Drawn with my favorite BIC 4-color Retractable Ballpoint. 

Bequia Threadworks Brand Identity Design

Bequia Threadworks is a nonprofit sewing enterprise that empowers and trains the women of Bequia as artisan seamstresses. Working to spark economic transformation for Bequian families, the clothing line and identity are affirmation of the island’s craftsman history.

Teal was chosen for the logo color, inspired by the water in the Caribbean. A custom monoline script was created to reinforce authenticity and craftsmanship. Custom buttons with the B letterform were made to be used on the clothing line.

 

 

Bonjour 2020

Les Flat Out Strangers Logo Design

Had a lot of fun creating this original, custom logotype for one of the coolest bands in Columbia, SC. Django Reinhardt's mustache inspired the flourishes surrounding the descender of the G. Hot Jazz lives on.

Never Ride Stock

I heard James Victore say this and loved the phrase. Basically, he's saying to be original, be unique and don't use stuff out of the box — make it yours! Decided to create this quick little composition, inspired by Victore. Graphite, ink, acrylic paint on chipboard.

Sasquatch is Real (at least in my sketchbook)

Quick pen and ink sketch of “Sasquatch”

H is for Holiday

Carpenter Bee // illustration study

Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)

Trump and Clinton

“No one has ever doubted that truth and politics are on rather bad terms with each other.”

– Hannah Arendt

Deadlines Looming / Looming Deadlines

 

It’s 7:30 pm. I'm at work. Deadline quickly approaching. I'm running out of steam, so I made this little illustration.

Michael Bloomberg

Fungi Photos

Beauty can be found in unexpected places, even in the form of something (mostly) unappreciated. I was fascinated with the variety of color, texture and contrast against the background. I am not sure of any of the varieties or species.

Art Studio/Small cabin sketch

Sketch #1: Idea for my small cabin/studio down in the woods. Reclaimed tin roof and wood. Would be 8' x 8' studio with a 8' x 8' deck. This is a fairly conservative design — I may try something more unique with some found materials.

Type Seen: Vintage Radiant logotype and symbol

Custom Lettering

Rough sketch / inked lettering study for an Annual Report cover.

Hi-fidelity Stereophonic Design

When I visit my local Goodwill, I usually head straight to the vinyl records section. I just gotta know what obscure album might be there or if today is the day I find that one album I’ve always been looking for. I’m also on the lookout for great design. Every once in a while I come across a cover design so strong, that it just stops me in my tracks. That’s how I discovered my first Command Records album.

Command produced records in the late ’50s to mid-’60s and were produced and engineered by Enoch Light, a pioneer in stereo recordings during a time when AM (monaural) radio was the standard. Many of the covers were designed by well-known artists/designers like Josef Albers and Paul Bacon. Josef Albers! These abstract, minimalist covers stood apart from the typical covers of the time and beautifully captured the essence of the music through expressive design and well-crafted compositions. The covers gave the listener an idea of what to expect — a crisp, modern, stereo sound that’s harmonious, but with a sense of playfulness. Most of the Command Records covers incorporated classic design principles brilliantly: balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis and unity in a modern style that still looks fresh today.

What a great example of form and content working well together. Stereophonic design, indeed.

Trouble

Rough sketch — studio at work

Rough sketch of a busy morning in the WECO. Prismacolor and red Sharpie.

Disorders of Typography Poster

While waiting in the examination room at my eye doctor, I noticed the archetypal medical poster on the wall depicting normal and abnormal conditions of the eye, complete with cutaway illustrations of eyeballs and eyeball parts, with precise labeling and detailed information. This inspired me to create my own poster — but for type-geeks and non-type-geeks alike.