version #2 of hand drawn lettering always tastes better

Been super busy as of late but had time off over Christmas break. Merry Christmas to all (by the way) and hope all is going well. This idea, though silly, never seems to be far from my mind. I can't shake it. And when I can't shake it, I doodle it. The many doodles have lead to this.

I look everywhere for well-used vintage book covers. The color and level of abuse are usually the deciding factors when found. They work well for what I have visioned for the final products of certain ideas. All of the color was printed using Styrofoam sheets and then scanning in. I do not use Photoshop Actions or pre-packaged apps to get my weathering.

Happy New Year as well.

tarpon sign for pine island, florida... i love old barn wood

I have been unable to confirm or deny my neighbor's claim that the boards I have used on my tarpon signs are old silo boards. Either way, they are relatively light weight and awesome. The roughness can't be faked. They are just plain OLD! At 1 3/4 inches thick, they can stand alone and command attention. The boards don't need some rectangular or oval base to show off their dimension. 

I am running low on the boards and once these last few are gone, I believe I may never find anything like them again. This is why I have taken great care on the shape of the tarpon and placement of all the blemishes. I did multiple experiments on my scraps to achieve the right balance of color to natural wood. I also ran the boards horizontally to achieve more of a true sign look that one might find fifty or sixty years ago when driving through old Matlacha and Pine Island.

I previously did a large wooden tarpon out of the same material for my brother's large wall space, Capt. Gregg McKee of WildFly Charters. 

My hope is that this can find a home in the terrific spot of Pine Island, Fl. With nearby islands like Sanibel and it's amazing beaches close by, Pine Island struggles to get recognized by some visitors to S.W. Florida as an awesome place to vacation and/or live year round.

At 73" wide and 28" high, it would look great in a living room or large entrance way. Poolside might be cool as well. I don't plan on shipping it, but I will be trucking it to Florida next summer along with some painted furniture by my wife Ashley.

She has a new blog as well: ashcan works. Check it out!!!!

another barn wood buffalo bills sign

A few weeks after I posted a Buffalo Bills sign designed for a family that has been so good to ours, I was contacted shortly after posting it to see if that sign was for sale. It was a teacher out of Rochester, NY, who was interested in the sign and if she could not have that one, would I build one. I told this very nice lady that I would check my supply of barn boards and give her a quote if I had the material. I had the material. Once we agreed on a price, I got to work.

I have probably typed this before, but I am always amazed how awesome weathered and aged wood looks. It is an honor to upcycle these barn boards that experienced/survived countless sunny days and winter storms to get to them to their current glory. I do my best not to waste any pieces but must make artistic choices when considering where to cut as the knots and blemishes add to the appeal. This does result in some fine pieces becoming too small to fit into any design ideas I currently have in mind. 






The dimensional set up really shows off the boards. This design has zero relief carving. It was purposely simple in order to make the wood the center of attention once the viewer has mentally travelled past the fact that they are looking at the Buffalo Bills logo made out of wood. 



It is always my hope (I guess the hope of anyone who makes stuff and sells it to others) that those individuals that buy what I make continue to enjoy it long after that initial newness wears off. 

44" wide x 30" high

i'm not bitter but i sure have soured

This idea has been on the cork board for about half a year. I drew several attempts that left me feeling flat about the whole affair. I knew I liked the wording but couldn't get a visual that didn't totally stink. I put it on Society6 last evening.

I wanted it to look like a lousy piece of candy....the kind you would have to read first and not just trust the coloring/design and gobble it down. Other than that, I haven't much to say.

later.... 

slow and steady loses the sprint black and white version

by the way, i did a blk & wht version as well.....

i'm suffering from lifelag

latest item up on society6...

hours clicking by at an alarming rate....not enough time to do it all.

the honesty policy... the best one

I have spent a considerable amount of my recent free time attempting to build an identity on society6, an online artist community that offers up prints, framed prints, tees, pillows, phone cases and laptop covers of your work. I am attempting to only submit things that define my current state of design preference. I say "design" because I feel strongly that design isn't "Art" with a capital A. Design is an artistic process but with motives different than Art. My work for this blog and society6 has all been based on my design opinions...not true Art. 

Live a Life of Learning has been a pet project for the last two years. This design of the honesty policy is the latest in the ongoing series. Being a teacher and all has me considering what kids need to see and hear that will get them through this crazy world...

It took about five to six versions on the lettering style for "BEST". I went with a skinnier and italicized version of what is on money. I scanned in the back of an old photograph to give it that weathered/worn look. It became a royal pain with all the changes it saw before completion.

coffee...winners drink it!

I doodled this running to-go coffee the other night. I liked it enough to push it into this design for my society6 site. Not sure where it all came from. Doodles are like that some times...

only love beats milk illustration

This is my latest project for society6. It was inspired by the blk & wht photo at the bottom of the post. I've written about it previously. I love retro styled design and this was kind of the underlying theme as I was creating sketches. I changed eye positions about 15 times. The hand raising idea came to me when my mind wandered toward boxing the other evening. I really like the whole look and especially the color choices (something I usually dread). "Simplify" was also an overriding theme throughout. Remove waste!!!

Enjoyed the entire process on this one. What makes it even more enjoyable was the fact that several other ideas came to me during the initial brainstorming phase. We'll see how they turn out. Sure do miss this gem below...

new batch of prints are ready

These designs have been lounging on my computer for some time now. I occasionally update/upgrade them. I think these three should be tweaked no more! I am definitely over analyzing my work at this point. Building a quality online identity and being sure an artwork is ready before your name is on it has been a constant theme in my head lately. 

 

The Live a Life of Learning theme will continue. Being a teacher has me constantly solving problems with young minds and finding creative ways to inspire their efforts. Any prints I make available in this vein with have it incorporated into the design. We'll see what the masses think. Head on over to society6.com/angrystrongo and check it out.

society6 and self promotion

I have waited some time before finding the time and location to begin to sell prints and other items that have my designs. A woman emailed me in hopes of finding a print of my Catcher in the Rye design.Someone who had seen it floating around cyberspace. I told her that her email would be the kick-in-the-pants that I needed to get this ball rolling! Well...I'm rolling.

I did some research concerning the proper places to promote myself. I am still limited in time and money. Etsy came to mind (and about three other locations). I settled on society6. They have amazing talent on their site and I must admit it is all a bit intimidating. I keep telling myself that I just putting it out there...no harm there!

I will begin with these four designs...they will all be rated g. They will be a mix of humor, straight-up typography, education and many with the "Live a Life of Learning" tag I have been working on....we'll see how it goes.

 

You can find out what's cooking in the upper right corner of this blog...just click and POW!

 

thanks all