Recent Projects Roundup: Earth, Wind, and HOT FIYA!
October 26, 2008

EARTH: ROCK MONSTERS LLC

Final logo design : Rock Monsters LLC

Thanks in part to my design work for Austin Men's Soccer Association (see here), I've gained access to a new group of clientele. Namely, those that play futbol with me. One of my most recent clients I ran across via this avenue was a company soon to be called Rock Monsters. They are just starting up and needed some branding work to help them launch and, thankfully, they called upon yours truly. And it ended up being quite a fun project.

In our exploratory discussions they made it clear they wanted to feature a ROCK MONSTER in the design. No abstract symbol or simple abbreviation. They wanted a monster to represent them. I like that. Any project that allows me to dip back into my pantheon of comic book drawing lore is a victory in this here book.

I enlisted the help of my brother, Jaret Harrison, who's a very talented character artist. The original conceptual sketches focused on an actual rock monster.. We just kept going back to Golems from D&D, etc.

Some of the first example sketches.

Here is the original sketch used in the logo design finalized for the first round of demos. Mouse over to see the sketch "logomatized!":

While this Rock Monster was decidedly "cool as hell" (my review), the client informed me that they were going for something more mechancial. "Think Transformers" they told me. I spent four to five years of my life thinking of nothing BUT...and dinosaurs. It helped that the client took it upon themselves to provide an exemplary doodling as well.

Once that decision was made the "RM" stylings fell into place right along with them. This way they don't habe to be completely tied to the, uh, rock crusher robot thingy. We now had a logo born and some auxillary branding we could use. All of a sudden, thanks to excellent client feedback and a proven track record for obsessing over monstrous robots, we had ourselves a finalized logo design and very satisfied client. High fives all around.

Client-provided sketch

The Golem my brother and I grew so attached to ended up making a deserved public appearance once the Fatback Circus September 20th show got picked up by the folks at Livestrong. We had to revamp the original poster and the spotlight shone brightly on our new friend. He was even featured on the Livestrong Myspace the day of the event.

....................................

WIND: SIERRA RENEWABLES

Final logo design: Sierra Renewables

The palette for this, in the eyes of my client, was already set based on industry they were in: "Green" branding = muted greens and blues. And, from a conceptual standpoint, I felt compelled to try the same ol' imagery customary for this sort of thing: the Earth with tangly arrows and the whatnot. But they mentioned in one email correspondence that they wanted to incorporate a windmill that they used as a symbol:
Examples from round 1 of demos:

Turns out they wanted a modern windmill, and understandably so. They said they wanted to focus on the message of progress through clean energy and advertising they do it with archaic wind technology would go a long way to disconnect those two qualities for the public. But I sure liked the visual. So, I updated the windmills right along with the concept:

Examples from round 2 of demos:

Overall this was one of the more smoothly running projects in recent memory. From concept to delivery was around three weeks, which is nice. It also happens to be a company involved in a concept of which I feel is very positive for our environment and economy. Details like that add to the payoff.

I think the final product in this project was somewhat askew from my usual creations as well. This client liked the sleek, simple look and I feel I lean toward a more be-detailed final product (por ejemplo, bottom right in the previous example which was my favorite option). So that's some nice perspective.

Also, I now feel entitled to an Al Gore high five if I ever happen upon him, which is pretty sweet.

The Fatback Circus/DtI Team-Up Gets Steamy, Earthy
August 19, 2008

As mentioned previously, our little design project here has teamed up with Fatback Circus, a funk/rock/do-their-own-thang based right here in our beloved Austin, to create some new promotional materials; which usually means fun print projects. A welcome chance to climb out of the corporate confines of logo design and stretch my proverbial limbs a little bit.

When they pitched the idea, they said they wanted something "green" on account of the hippie ambiance of the venue (Project Imagine here in Austin) as well as in honor of the return of one of their members from battling health issues.

While both of these reasons are right in line with the "renewal" connotation of the "green" movement, I got fixated on man-eating plants. Go fig. See below for the final poster design for September 20, 2008 Fatback show:

The main plant was drawn by pen in one of my sketchbooks and then scanned and imported into Illustrator. From there I went about the usual drawing-to-vector steps of outlining the main lines and filling in the in-between with values and texture. Below I've provided the original sketch next to the final piece so you can contrast and compare.

Mouse over the image below to see the final product next to the original sketch:

Not only did I keep returning to the man-eating plant motif in the preliminary stages of this "green" project, I was also certain I wanted the mouth of this plant to be exaggerated and full of teeth. I wanted this plant to have real personality.

I originally tried drawing out the points of each tooth but the line detail was too much, too busy. I decided to let subtle gradients and negative space do the illustrative work for me knowing viewers' eyes would naturally fill in the blanks. The result is a simultaneously mischievous and satisfied snarl full of personality pulled off with very little grunt work.

Along with personality, I tried to inject some subtle movement into this static piece to give it a little extra oompf. For example, adding dirt flying around the plant's earthy exit hole gives the feeling it's just snatched the ill-fated guitarist as it rose out of the ground (fig. 1 below). Or, adding the string of blood dripping from its bottom lips swaying as it recoils from its catch (fig. 2 below). Or finally, in the top right hand corner of the poster, what could be the sun also acts as the "action burst" from the plant ripping the guitar away from the victim, a la the old Batman TV program (fig. 3 below).

I was really happy with the outcome of this piece and I'm looking forward to it being spread around the greater Austin metroplex. Expect to see more from this partnership Fatback and I have forged which will include shirts designs AND an upcoming poster for their October show with Presidents of the United States of America. No joke. Until then...

Wishing You and Yours a Very Happy Furth
July 4, 2008
Well, today is the anniversary of our nation's independence. And where I come from (aka: the modern mating grounds for slack-jawed, hackneyed southern drawl) they wish you a happy furth because they can't help but pronounce it that way. Hence me fleeing. Just like our brave settlers of yore except with less hats with huge buckles on them.

I hope you're all out celebrating with your friends and families; both or whichever you prefer. As a nation we're a bit in the midst of an exciting time throughout the social landscape and I think there's a real sense of communal hope for the integrity of our country wrapped in the culmination of the fall election. Which means there's cause for more intense celebration on this, our 232nd trip around the sun since giving England the (official) finger.

So, just like the above quilt, chosen because it is so obviously patriotic that it impregnates Betsy Ross retroactively on a daily basis, we must step our patriotic game up a notch. A big "thanks" is owed to Wild Orchid Quilts for displaying their patriotism in such a visceral format. Did you notice even George Washington himself approves? Those folks have some serious quilt clout (try that ten times fast...seriously).

Perhaps no one embodies the dedication to celebration that this year's Indendence Day requires better than Wisonsin resident Aaron Maurice, who was so taken with patriotism that he adorned himself in the gravy most representative of this holiday and tried to instill his passion in others:

I like to think he's whistling either "She's a Grand Ol' Flag" or "American Woman" but I've yet to find an article that gives his setlist. But we still have enough to go on to know that Mr. Maurice, just like our forefathers, set the bar pretty high. It's our American duty to carry on their enduring examples.

Happy fourth, everyone.

P.S. My good friend Brent Dixon pointed out that today also happens to be Indenpendent's Day. Whatever could he mean? Check it out.

DtI Experiments in Ways to Pile San Antonians Into Venues
June 23, 2008

...Results pending.

Fatback Circus is playing in San Antonio on Friday night. The gentleman above requests your presence.

Expect more from the DtI-meets-Fatback collaboration. Think Voltron.

DrinkingtheInk Gets Its Sea Legs
May 24, 2008

The DtI camp just wrapped up the re-branding of one of Lake Travis' hot spot marinas and the above is the resulting design. They approached Lone Star Media about a website and identity update, something they admitted they had been in need of for quite a while. My thanks to Volente and Lone Star Media for calling upon my services.

Volente originally approached other designers for their revamping and, based on samples they provided, I'd say they received them from Ocean Pacific or Hobie's creative teams circa 1984. The one on the left below I would totally wear on a pink Hobie shirt in light blue font. Seriously.

No offense to the artist who developed these, it's just they're no good for contemporary logo design. They are good for going out and being totally rad. Perhaps there's some solace in that.

Originally, I differed with Volente on which demo of my smorgasbord I initially delivered them they should go with. Along with a less-nurtured version of the final design above (for which there was a glaring, glaring error...see below) I turned in the following which I felt was the strongest candidate:



I can see the bottom V design on the right chest of polo shirts and on the hats of the crewman. And I think the top oval examples would make killer outdoor signs and work well in print and on web. I thought it looked great in a number of other color schemes as well:

I think Volente passed on this design because they perhaps come as off too "resorty." They wanted something that more represented a full-service marina instead of a vacation spot.

This was an auxillary exploratory (redundant?) design I did during the second round of logo demos I showed Volente. Does something about this look funny to you though?

As the client embarrasingly pointed out...that ship looks like it's sinking, which I didn't realize as I was working on it because I knew what it was supposed to look like. I can't think of a worse example to turn in. Most transportation-based companies don't like to flaunt their possible dangers. Although airline logos would increase in interest ten-fold if they did.

Volente was totally right. If you lean in close right over it on your monitor you can hear their little screams. Oh well, all's well that ends well. We were, thankfully, able to correct this and that's where the boat on the final design was berthed. Good eye, folks at Volente. Good eye.

So closes what I feel was a successful logo development for a now-satisfied customer. And ultimately, I think the client picked the best version to fit their needs. I just had my own 'druthers from an artistic perspective but I would love to see this identity design put to good use. Anyone want to start a resort who's name begins with a V? I'll cut you a deal...

As soon as Volente has their completed website up I'll post the link right hereish. Until then, it's time to give back to the community.

Reality Television: the Softest-core Porn
May 02, 2008

While patrolling the depths of satellite television recently (consisting mostly of travel/cooking shows, futbol, and Japanese people putting themselves in harm's way while dressed in the cartoon version of whatever their actual profession's garb would be) I came across two gems:

Gems not in terms of amazing caliber of quality within the writing/production of these two reality shows. Gems as in the development teams at CMT and Animal Planet must be having the most boring rounds of work critiques since Hitler showed his refrigerator-door fodder off to his comrades. And someone needs to make fun of it.

Both of these programs are Top Chef-style, reality/contest shows the likes of which cable programming overfloweth with these days; CMT's being a talent show style search for Country Music's next great, you guess it, duet. Groomer is Top Chef meets Best in Show as pet groomers compete to become ultimate whatever-you-want-to-call-thems.

Wow. Can You Doooo-et. Get it? Grooooomer Has It. Get it? Yes, CMT and Animal Planet, we get it: you guys have a very small pun budget. I would also go on to deduce that both of these names were submitted by creatives who just "had to turn five names in by 5:30 pm" on the directive of a superior.

Perhaps I'm not looking at this correctly. Perhaps this is what their viewership responds to. Perhaps CMT (in the MTV, VH1 ilk), peddlers of other classy trash such as My Big Fat Redneck Wedding and programming that is generally what I assume to be Larry the Cable Guy's inner monologue, are just delivering the goods to their base, as requested. Perhaps Animal Planet (in the Discovery Channel ilk) is trying to shake their contituents out of their glaucoma fog with an old-fashioned knee-knocker. Or maybe they didn't budget enough time for anything beyond Brainstorm Session #2.

Kudos to Bravo for not trying to force the puns with their programming naming practices (however, Work Out is probably worthy of some scorn as well). With their reality/competition shows they have created a very solid formula. They make a straight forward product and deliver it as such instead of trying to bolster the content of the show and lure more viewers thanks to a real zinger in the title. Besides, if I had to pick between Bravo, CMT, and Animal Planet audiences as to which would most enjoy subtle wordplay, it would be Bravo's. You guys keep trying to "smart up" your viewers though.

Sure this is minutia. But, as a man who really appreciates and participates in name conceptualization, this kind of "I'll take the easiest pun ya' got" creative direction makes my blood curdle. It's like their creative department is the equivalent of the "confidence-friendly" youth leagues where everyone gets a trophy! The names indicate the puns came before the show idea itself. You know where else that happens? Porn. This is mainstream media we're talking about here. How about a little effort?




DrinkingtheInk, Internet Finally Mend Fences
April 20, 2008

Wow, finally back online. I haven't given my studio proper online presence in a good two years. Thanks to the almighty Word of Mouth for keeping me employed during those long months that I for some reason ignored the necessities of a successful modern business model.

So, here we are, ready to inform the world about all events DrinkingtheInk in nature. Which has been quite a bit these days, what with work for Maroon Weekly, Lonestar Beatdown, Mac Blake, Lone Star Media and McCall Fighting School (among some other danglers floating around).

So I will be chronicalling my adventures and work here, along with some site upgrades quite possibly, and maybe another bell here and a whistle there. But always sure to provide candy for your oculars. So now that me and the internet have some sexual tension back in our relationship to spice things up, you can look to hear a lot more from the DtI camp in the future. And all it took was a little effort on Internet's part...

How could I say no?

DrinkingtheInk Launches Another Round of the Beatdown
April 18, 2008

On Friday, May 2nd, the fifth iteration of the Lonestar Beatdown will kickoff at 7pm at Shenanigans in Huntsville, TX. This is very exciting for me personally because I have been developing graphics for the Beatdown since it's first launch in 2006. I birthed the logo type then and since it has garnered so much attention that the guy who did some printing for me at Fed ExKinkos (needs a "/" ?) claimed he had "seen it before" and he "thought it was cool." He was probably thinking of some motocross event he attended in Beaumont with a similar name but I'll take it for what it's worth: the early hints of my followers' eventual ascension to power where they then adorn me the King of Small-Potato-Design-Studio Land.

We were talking about ultimate fighting in Huntsville, I think...

The final poster design for round 5 is featured below:

This is another event brought to you by the fine people at Legacy Media whose owner, Mick Maynard, has made a name for himself around the Brazos Valley (and snaking into Walker County with LB5) bringing the kind of entertainment to the college mecca that has not been introduced successfully: Ultimate Cage Fighting and the MMA market. Obviously, this being numero cinco AND this round expanding outside the greater B/CS metroplex (Texas. Ave.) are sure signs of Mick tapping the right vein in the college market.

The original setting for LB5 (brevity, people!) was supposed to be the Walker County Fairgrounds. Below is the original poster for that setting (and pre-sponsor-barf insertion (no offense sponsors, THANK YOU!!)).

I actually liked the idea of having the event at the <southern drawl> Walker County Fairgrounds </southern drawl> more than Shenanigans because it just oozes Texas. And, as I crudely point out above, I just love the composition of the ferris wheel in the bottom left corner. It makes my eyes happy and it gives the event, and this the poster, a fairgroundy feel. But the ferris wheel loses all relevance when the event is moved to a place named after either hitting people with brooms or late-night tickle games.

But, alas, events get moved and sponsors want to give money and special guests get added who are sponsored by law firms for some reason and designs have to adapt to represent what they are in the end actually promoting and so goes the designer's life.

So, if you're in Huntsville on May 2nd. Check it out. For more work of mine from the Lonestar Beatdown historical catalog, more examples are available on the work page.

Fourth Installment of Austin Cult Comic by Mac Blake Dons DtI Cover
April 17, 2008

If you attended the University of Texas at Austin from 2002-2005, chances are you've heard of Bill & Erik. Mac Blake's chronicles of the snarky-yet-lovable squirrell and his Spawn-esque-mask-wearer-meets-Mega Man cohort graced the pages of the UT student rag, the Daily Texan, for three years and even found their way into bound collections that Blake peddled to his fellow class-goers. And they sold. He had a damn near underground movement on his hands.

Which finds us at his newest release (his 4th in the series I believe), Gary Gets His Shot at the Title, about a determined kangaroo and his no-holds barred rise to boxing prominence (or DOES he?). Long story short, Mac asked me to provide the cover art, featured below, which I gladly accepted already being a fan of his work:


I really liked getting to do comic art. It was quite a challenge because I tend to want to over-detail work. Which is exactly what I did with the first round of demos for the Gary cover.

Demo numero uno:

As you can see, I was trying to give Gary some texture by giving his body some depth and highlighting the form of his (admittedly more Don King-esque) trunks. Mac shot that idea down and with good reason. He wanted the cover to more represent the art inside. I think the final version made the entire book more cohesive. You win this time, Blake.

To get a copy of Gary Gets a Shot at the Title, go to them Mascot Wedding boys' site >> HERE . Or the true stars of the series' website, Bill & Erik >> HERE . I'm trying to get a list from Mac of the venues in and around the beautiful Austin, TX that are carrying it. I'll send out an update as soon as I have that.

Mac Blake (pictured actual size) not only masterminds Bill & Erik's hijiinx, his work stretches into film with Master Pancake Theater and on the air through his Mascot Wedding podcast. Be on the lookout for projects he's involved in. That cat's got class.

DrinkingtheInk Helps Bring MudBugs to Aggieland
April 16, 2008

And the Aggies rejoiced and it was so ...

I got contracted in February to design an event poster for an upcoming Crawfish Festival to be held on Northgate the last weekend in March. I've done quite a bit of event promotion in the Bryan/College Station area. This event is to be put on by Maroon Weekly , the local non-university affiliated student rag, whose owner, Mick Maynard, has done an excellent job of bringing real student-oriented entertainment events to College Station (see Lonestar Beatdown , aforementioned student rag) by using the many arms of his Legacy Media flagship, and this broo-ha-ha should prove no different. Word is they're even shedding enough penny to bring in some legitimate musical acts. Hopefully that doesn't mean another College Station appearance by Sister Hazel (thanks for shit, Northgate Music Festival 2007!).

I liked this job because I got to have fun with some roots of mine, being that I'm from Loo-zee-anner. I've always loved the visual ambiance of Acadiana thanks in large part to the artistic leavings of the French. If you live in College Station you should be seeing these start to show up on board around town, in print, and being advertised on local radio. I'll hopefully be playing the spoils system by having my band show up as well (update: my band was NOT invited).

Anyway, here's for your eyeballs: