Aries (Doodles in Seconds series)

Mark Twain (Doodles in Seconds series)

The Revolt of the Whales Book Cover Design

I was approached this week by author Michael Rhodes to design his Audio Book cover for the book “The Revolt of the Whales”.

Here is a quick synopsis:

We glide through the surreal auditory world of the whales. Who are these strange, enormous beings? How will they respond to savage human aggression?
Sarah, a violinist, escapes a continent at war to join a research ship and rediscover her empathic connection to the whales. She also finds music, romance and terror. The ocean is a dangerous place. Sabotage, escalating battles with whaling ships and a brutal confinement hasten Sarah’s descent into chaos. When the cacophony becomes intolerable the ocean moans and roars like a gigantic monster waking from a troubled sleep.

He wanted my signature “sketchy, quick doodle style”. After meeting with him for about an hour hearing about the book, listening to how he pictures the cover (but just can’t draw it himself). I provided the below designs. He was very pleased with the 3rd Black background one. “You nailed. thank you.” was his words. Another happy customer.

 

Here is the final Audio Book Jacket.

Baby Acapulco’s Menu Design

Here is the new menu design for Baby Acapulco’s. Another step in the direction I have been taking them in a re-brand. I did all of the illustrations.  I am currently working on their new wordpress website and blog, it will look very similar.

Elvis Presley Hedcut Illustration

I’ve been trying to work on a technique to mimic as best as possible the illustration style you see on US currency, without being lazy and hoping photoshop will just invent a  filter. This was my first attempt, I hope to do a series and start to incorporate this style into my designs more this year. The major upside to this style is how it can easily be silk screened on to a mug or tee shirt, since its essentially line art, or can be converted easily to line art.

Texas Wildfires Benefit Show Poster

Poster design for Baby Acapulco restuarants, done in Adobe illustrator CS4

Booty’s Boutique Logo (Explicit)

Logo I designed for my friend Jen’s Etsy web store.

Max’s Restaurant Branding and Collateral

Taking a break today from the Kuddable Kakes designs.(see previous blogs).
Here is a logo and branding I did for Max’s Seafood restaurant in New Jersey.
The owner was adamant about using a mussel in the logo. This restaurant had been known for its mussels for decades. As a designer, when you design a logo you think “simplify the image into a graphic shape.” Well when you take this concept and apply it to a mussel, you get a black blob. So the conversation had me trying to explain why most seafood restaurants use a lobster, crab or fish in their logo. The client was not budging…wanted…NEEDED a mussel.

So below is what I came up with. It is actually one of my proudest moments as a designer. I even had the printer emboss the ridges of the mussel on the menu, it makes for a great effect. The process was 1. sketch out in pencil 2. redraw in Adobe Illustrator, finish in Adobe Photoshop.

It is also a prime example of why good logos cost money. Simply put, a good logo, done well, can be a money-maker for the client. This client puts this logo everywhere, commemorative mugs, shot glasses, tee-shirts etc. He has continued to make money on this logo long after he paid his branding bill to me. This logo next to any headline on a billboard IS a billboard or ad. It is that recognizable.

Grackle Austin, Texas Illustration

I am going to take a break today from the Branding and Food Marketing posts to post an illustration I did when I moved to Austin. The city inspired me. The process is simply sketch out rough idea, scan it, finish it in Adobe Illustrator and photoshop.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Adam Ant '77

Grackle - Austin, TX

Battle of the Planets

untitled

Broken Spoon

Broken Spoon Negative

Max's Seafood Cafe Logo

Shaolin 1

Shaolin 2

I won an American Graphic Design Award for The Art Conspiracy Illustration