Tuesday, October 7, 2014

New Biz for Liz


Starting a new business can be scary and exciting at the same time. I must say, Elizabeth was very excited about this logo I designed. It seemed to fit her needs perfectly. After seeing a few excellent submissions from other designers around the world, I was humbled to be chosen winner. Perhaps there is some validity in providing the client what they want while not necessarily creating a ground-breaking design. 

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Getting a rush out of Speed Painters


There are some gifted artists who do these "graphic, commercial illustrations." There's a formula for it. There's a lot of practice. But these painters usually do them upside down, making it difficult for an audience to guess the subject. Just rotate and amaze. This artist knew what he wanted to do months before arriving, I would guess. The beret helps.

I think Leroy Neiman would have cringed at the speed. A lot of these speeder's end results remind me of some Neiman commercial illustrations. A minimalist approach to light and shadow. Maybe it's the rush today to be famous or be noticed. I can hear it, "I paid a grand for THAT one. And it only took the artist two minutes."

Michelangelo would be inconsolable if he were alive. A flood of tears and hair pulling.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Web Banner Design


My recent web banner design was chosen best among numerous entries. A rather simple, but engaging design, with stylized pen nib and upward swooshes as main design elements. The typography compliments and contrasts each font.

Chevrolet Bowtie Charade


When did Chevy (or the press) start calling their emblem a "bowtie?" Sure sounds like something decided upon in marketing meeting in the 1970s. The idea that you can wash your 4-door Chevy Biscayne, leave your rural home and arrive at a State Dinner with no disapproving looks from the valet. At least arrive in an Impala! You really have to stretch the imagination (apologies to minimalist designers) to consider this a bowtie. Admittedly, it's closer to a bowtie than emblems for any other manufacturer, but the knot is too big, for one. And the left & right ends are slanted, for another. Nevermind the fact that it was not referred to it as a "bowtie" in 1914 (the image above). If people want to believe this emblem to be a bowtie, it's time for a slight redesign of this shape. Stop the charade.