RPO Brand Illustrations

Last year I dedicated a lot of time in creating some brand illustrations for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) to use in their marketing communications. They have been one of my clients for several years now and they could not be a more appreciative organization to work for. These illustrations incorporated a color palate inspired by Maxfield Parrish, the accomplished American painter. One of his most famous works "The Lute Players" hangs in the Kodak Hall, at the Eastman Theatre in downtown Rochester New York. The original has since been moved to preserve it for future generations to enjoy. The Lute Players currently resides inside the Memorial Art Gallery, and a Kodak reproduction now hangs where the original once was. This campaign consists of the illustrations, posters, note cards, and the Bravo program covers. Many thanks to the four writers that helped craft the copy for this campaign... Matt Smythe, Matt Conn, Greg Shainman, and Angelo Juliano. The work was recognized at the 2010 RAF Addy Awards and thanks to AdHub.com can be seen online here.  This campaign also earned the RPO the distinction of becoming the 2010 Non-Profit Marketer of the Year.

Click the link here, and become a fan of the RPO on Facebook. Go see a performance or two this year. The economy is on it's way back, they are a cultural gem, and their performances are beyond measure.

Now, on to the work:

The Trombone.



The Trumpet.



The Bows.



The French Horn.



The Timpani.



The Clarinet.



The Piano.



The Upright Bass.



I'm planning to print, frame and sell these illustrations at some point, so if your interested let me know and I will certainly expedite that process.

West Side Story

Well, West Side Story is in full gear now. This is my biggest venture yet in theatrical set design, and artistic painting. The plans are very ambitious, and with out the help of many talented folks from the Webster Theatre Guild, including my beautiful wife Julie, they are becoming a reality. A big thanks to Mike Johnston, he's the WTG board president, the stage manager of the show, and the one entrusted to create what I have designed.
I will update this blog as the show draws near.



You know that scene in Fargo where they are placing Steve Buscemi in the wood chipper? Yeah that's what this weekend was like, but instead of Steve, it was Jokey Smurf.



The wire brush gave it all it had. R.I.P. my friend.



Painting in the cold storage facility is, um COLD. This is Maria's bedroom wall. Well, part of it.



This is an early photo of the flats for the Rumble. The final size is 40' long by 12' high.



Well the back wall is put up. All those weekends making the bricks are finally paying off. I can't wait to see it under the stage lights.

Does this brand make me look fat?

Well a new year brings new resolutions. That one time a year where we get on our soap box and say “I will exercise more,” “I will eat better,” or “I won’t engage in road rage behavior on I-590.” Whatever it is, let’s not forget the New Year is a good time to reacquaint ourselves with our brands we have been entrusted with. To maybe look upon the media plan with fresh eyes, or reconsider the concepts behind your next campaign. Are they solid, or are they overweight and in need of a diet?

So what’s your New Year’s Resolution for your brand?

RPO Symphony Showhouse Illustrations

A series of posters designed to commemorate the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) Symphony Showhouse. A RPO fundraiser featuring the work of leading area designers and the Ellwanger Estate, a home once belonging to George Ellwanger, the horticulturalist and visionary whose sprawling nursery earned Rochester its nickname: the Flower City. A series of custom illustrations for the posters were created to reflect unique characteristics of the 19^th century home. The Pipe Organ, the Landmark Society Gardens, the Carriage House, the Architecture of Fletcher Steele, the Historic Bird House, and the Ellwanger Estate itself.

These illustrations won an Addy, as well as NY District2 Gold. The posters are currently in the international 2010 Graphis Poster Design Annual. These illustrations also recieved Special Judges Recognition for illustration, at the 2009 RAF Addy Awards. Hey, that's the third straight year!

MC Lars at the Lilac Fest

Recording artist, MC Lars, played a free concert to open the 2009 Lilac Festival in Rochester, NY.

My illustration and poster is based on the album This Gigantic Robot Kills. And in this case... he kills a whole lot of lilacs.

Art directors are all pencil pushers

Or at least we all should be.

I always have a pencil and sketchbook handy. I find them comforting. Comforting in the sense that at a moments notice I can record the fresh observations and revelations that I am faced with on a daily basis. One habit I have gotten into is drawing planes. Whenever I am on a plane I draw my perspective from where I sit. No matter how bizarre, odd, large, or small the view. And with all the travel I did while living in Atlanta, I have amassed quite the collection. I feel very strongly that art directors still need to possess the ability to draw. Sounds funny doesn’t it? The age of the computers has made my muse all but extinct. An art director still needs to be able to convey an idea, a thought, or a concept with a few quick strokes of a pencil. One could rely on the computer to do the work, but those thoughts, or concepts have the tendency become sterile. So the question is... do you want your ideas fresh or sterile?

Below are some of the illustrations of planes:

Ingrid Michaelson Sings at the Lilac Fest

Recording artist, Ingrid Michaelson, played a free concert to close the 2008 Lilac Festival in Rochester, NY.

My illustration and poster was recognized at the 2009 RAF Addy Awards (but I think my autographed poster from Ingrid is way cooler).