font junkie

GO RAVENS!

2012-01-22T06:50:00.001-08:00

TGA Logo Upgrade

2012-01-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

I reworked the type treatment on my TGA logo. The Genesis Agency is a great client and they welcomed the bolder font treatment.

Below is the old logo with the weaker type treatment.

Mando for Kids T-shirt

2011-05-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

Baltimore Slide Jam Flyer for AVE Skateshop

2011-05-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

New project for AVE.

2011-03-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new project for AVE. Skateboard Shop. Here are a few sneak peeks.

Biella Italy Crest

2010-09-04T14:27:00.001-07:00

A retro crest inspired by the Italian town of Biella.

DIGITAL DOODLES

2010-08-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

A few digital distractions that you thought you would dig...

Breaking out the black flair and doodling.

2010-06-17T15:23:00.001-07:00

I love to sketch on anything I can find. Having fun with Sophie & Nate...

Save The Raven: Part 2

2010-02-13T21:29:00.001-08:00

I placed the sketch into Adobe Illustrator CS3 and began adding line work. Next step will be to block in color and work on depth and detail.

Save The Raven: Part 1

2010-01-21T18:45:00.000-08:00

My friend Rick told me that the local authorities may outlaw biking at Loch Raven Resevoir. I thought this to be the perfect opportunity to make a dope t-shirt/poster design. Check back on the regular to see the design progress.

Here is the initial sketch and scan. Next is to place the scan into Adobe Illustrator to lay in the line work.

Let it Snow!

2010-01-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

Sophie & The Giant Turtles

2009-10-23T14:48:00.001-07:00

SoSo and I had some fun with a giant cardboard box. Took the sketches and did some compositing in Photoshop.

A New Logo for Medical Solutions

2009-10-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

I just wrapped up this new logo for Medical Solutions Professionals.

The full name of this firm is a mouthful but a new logo will help with consumption. MSP is primarily a b2b office and a new logo and letterhead will step up there marketing presence. My goal was to convey strength and security with the "M" design and give my client's clients a sense of trust when handing over there financial dealings to MSP.

It's real shame when you see a good firm not have the foresight to develop a great logo. The cliche is true, aren't they all? You never get a 2nd impression.

Get Lifted!

2009-10-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

Feelin kinda a low? Get inspired by flowers!

Annabel Lee Tavern gets a new hand rail

2009-06-20T22:52:00.000-07:00

Annabel Lee Tavern is a little tavern located a bit off the beaten path in the Canton area of Baltimore City...and they now have a new hand rail by local blacksmith Randy Slaysman of Slaysman Forge. The custom hand-crafted steel railing features a creepy tree right out of a Poe story.

The hand cap is custom forged cold rolled steel that has the appearance of a bygone era. My favorite feature is the blood red, scripty letter "A" that greets each patron. It grabs your attention and guides you up the stairs. The tavern has a fine reputation for food and now is the home to one the most interesting hand rails in East Baltimore.

Old Baltimore Studios

2009-06-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

I found these photo cards in a dank east Baltimore basement. Check out the scripted logos - a very nice hand style that is worth noting. I wonder if they're still around...Perkins on 311 E. Baltimore St. & Hueller Studio 160 South Broadway.

Part 2. New Bertha's Mussels Sign

2009-05-06T22:46:00.001-07:00

New Bertha's Mussels Sign

2009-04-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new sign for Bertha's Mussels in Fells Point. Here are 2 potential sketches. They are designed to be built with distressed wood and fatigued metal. Details will be carved in wood and cut from sheet steel. Color renderings will be uploaded soon...

Design A Soccer Jersey Contest

2009-03-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

Ever want to design a soccer jersey? Here's your chance. GK1 Soccer is holding a contest to design a goalkeeper jersey. Download the entry form below.

Get the Entry Form

"SOPHIE" Font

2009-03-18T00:19:00.000-07:00

SOPHIE is a new font inspired by my daughter. Perhaps I'll build the font if there is any interest.

Hand Cut Wood Stencil

2009-03-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

I made this for my daughter "SOPHIE". I sketched the letters on a piece of Ash wood and used a jigsaw and drill to cut them out. I'll be uploading the prints I made for her room soon. I actually like the stencil better than the prints...

Oh Pepsi, What A Billboard Campaign!

2009-03-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

Pepsi's new outdoor campaign has been showing up all over Baltimore - "Refresh Everything". The billboards have inspired words like "HOPE", "HOORAY" and "OH BOY" and the new circular Pepsi logo serves as a rebus for the "Os" in the words. There is a new billboard east of the spying "eye" of the old National Bohemian Brewery and I can't help but wonder - is this a coincidence? Oh Boy, What A Beer!

TBWA\CHIAT\DAY is responsible for Pepsi's new campaign "Refresh Everything". I wonder what this campaign would of been called if McCain won?

Did You Know Water Can Cut Steel?

2009-02-20T05:17:00.000-08:00

I created this grate design for Slaysman Forge. Randy's client wanted a custom grate for duct covers. Randy had the design cut by water jet because a plasma cutter could not hold all of this detail.

Using Adobe Illustrator, I drew vector elements similar to Randy's forged scrolls. I designed a symmetrical layout that melded with the clients classic decor. I also designed a "W" - the clients surname, that was integrated into the center of the piece.
The final file was converted into the CAD friendly .dxf format. The water jet cutter took the dxf file and fed it into their CNC machine. Randy finished up by "ramping" the edges and powder coating the cut pieces. The final grate is a custom hand-crafted heirloom that will last more than a few generations.

Christopher Bettig. Opening Reception at SCOOP NYC SOHO.

2009-02-10T11:56:00.000-08:00

Whatever You Love, You Are...so true Chris.

Check out The Mountain Label

Silent But Deadly Series. Post 2 of 2.

2009-02-05T00:14:00.000-08:00

Silent Night. SBD03.

Crime of Passion.SBD04.

Silent But Deadly Series. Post 1 of 2.

2009-01-31T23:01:00.000-08:00

I have decided to channel my urban angst into an art series called SILENT BUT DEADLY. The complete series of 4 will feature urban abstractions and obstacles that hinder healthy urban living.

Angel Dust. SBD01.

Loaded Gun. SBD02.

SK+27. A personal icon for Svetlana

2009-01-01T04:41:00.000-08:00

I created these icons for professional tennis player, Svetlana Kuznetsova. The vector icons were designed for cross-media use – from apparel to web, these graphics are adaptable. The images first began as sketches and were scanned. They were then digitized and colored in Adobe Illustrator. Once finished, Adobe Illustrator allows you to export the art in many file formats as well as save in the native vector .ai format.I met Svetlana during a Fila tennis photo-shoot. We got to talking and I found out she was very interested in design and down with hip-hop, graffiti and tattoo art. She also had a fondness for her birthdate - June 27th and wondered if it could be incorporated into a design. I thought, "what a great challenge!"

Here is a page from my sketchbook. For me all designs start with a pencil and sketchbook.

Digitizing Hand Lettering

2008-12-14T20:07:00.000-08:00

Digitizing hand lettering is a delicate balance between artist and designer. The example I want to share is my work on Ami James' signature sketch. I started by placing the original scan into Adobe Illustrator. Once placed the art is turned into a Template layer which makes digitizing an easier task.

My first step is to lay down vector lines while being mindful of Ami's creative intent and aesthetic. Very often, hand lettering is skewed and equal weight is not given to each letter.

As designer you need to be mindful of the artist while attempting to improve upon their hand lettering – smoothing the curves and creating pleasant proportions. Once the the lettering is complete inner details are added, then drop shadows, outlines and color.

The final vector art, much like a logo, is more flexible when creating marketing and advertising materials. The vector format, unlike a bitmap, is infinitely scalable and easily applied to all media.

Designing with Spot Channels

2008-11-15T00:19:00.000-08:00

Here is a t-shirt I designed for my friend Andrew of Bertha's Mussels in Fells Point. He wanted a t-shirt that connected his legendary bumper sticker with the memory of his dad's sweet VW bus from the 70s. I found a photo of a bus online and opened it in Adobe Photoshop. I made all the design and color edits in Photoshop and exported 3 spot channels in DCS2 format. The color plates were placed and positives were printed from Adobe Illustrator.

The DCS (Digital Color Separation) format is a version of the standard EPS format that lets you save spot color channels in Photoshop. Spot channels are not the same as the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) channels. Spot channels allow the designer to use the Pantone color space which is referred to as PMS colors. Basically, to understand the difference between CMYK and spot colors think of the color green. To create green in the CMYK color format you print the cyan and yellow equally thus blending together to make green. Spot colors rely on the purity of the chosen green represented in the swatch book and there is no need for blended channels (channels = color plates/separations)

The black channel from the original bus photo was converted to a spot channel. The same black channel was used to create a mid-tone color. Using "Levels" I isolated the mid-tone and converted it to a spot channel and set it to Pantone 130. To achieve the white high-light I used the original black channel, inverted and pushed the histogram in the levels palette to isolate the brightest part of the photo. This selection was converted to a spot channel and set to white.
What is really cool about exporting spot channels from photoshop is that the .eps file when placed into Illustrator or In Design bring the spot channels into the layout program. Once the spot channels are in the swatch palette you can then use those swatches in the layout to color vector art and be output on the same color separation.
Understanding Color Separations
Spot Channel Tutorial

Red Wing, Green Boot

2008-10-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

What does sustainability mean when discussing footwear? Recycled material? Earth-friendly production? I would consider another definition for sustainability - the Longevity or “life cycle” of the product. My idea of sustainable footwear is a pair that last forever or at least in my case 16 years and counting. I’m talking about my trusted, Red Wing “Linesman” boots. These steel toe “shit-kickers” have seen it all: mosh pits, metal forging, and over 6,000 days not all of which were spent pounding the pavement, sometimes, they just looked good with jeans.

So for me the idea of sustainability has been an experience with the Red Wing brand. Red Wing, who also own the legendary Vasque brand, are made in the USA and have been for over a century. By using the best materials and century old craftsmanship Red Wing has created product with an impressive life cycle. It’s important that materials be eco-friendly but another very important factor should be the life-cycle of the product. Consider how many boots of lesser quality would be bought and tossed over 18 years? This is not a very green solution.

Now we come to the price. Red Wing like Dr Marten are not cheap products, but make perfect sense if you consider them as an investment. And they deliver in quality and classic styling and if you’re lucky many years of sustainable butt kicking, pit moshing, metal bending….

See the new Red Wing “Lifestyle Heritage Collection”

And if you haven’t seen, J-Crew is offering 4 exclusive pairs of Red Wing boots this fall. Inspired by the rich Red Wing heritage, J-Crew is offering these timeless classics that wear well in the office or studio. View the collection here.

Related links,
http://www.redwingshoes.com/
http://www.vasque.com/
http://www.vibram.com/