Logos for Rocky Mountain Tie and Timber

I was very excited to get to design a logo for a Boise company, Rocky Mountain Tie and Timber. They wanted something sort of old-timey, and this is what I came up with. Both the large and small shield are to go on the back and front of a company t-shirt. All of the art and text were done by hand in ink on Bristol. I'm looking forward to seeing how they look on cotton, screened by my pal Ken up in Idaho. If I can get my hands on one of the shirts, I'll put a picture up. 

Sunday Signs #2- Tiptoooooe through the Tulips with Meeeeee

Tonight's Sunday Sign pays tribute to one of my Father's favorite musicians, Tiny Tim (Just kidding, Dad). For anyone who hasn't, you should see the great terrifying effect to which this song was used in the trailer for the second Insidious movie. Main item I wanted to practice tonight was the use of serifs, which I hadn't really done before (at least not large serifs on a Roman alphabet). Not quite as difficult as I had imagined, but still not super easy. Hopefully next week, I'll have more time and will be able to do at least some drop shadows or something. DON'T MISS IT!

Sunday Sign Paintings #1- "L"s

During the last Winter Semester, I painted a head study every Sunday evening in an effort to improve my head painting skills. It was a marginally successful exercise, but it was fun and at least kept me busy doing nuts and bolts stuff, which is good for me. This semester, I want to increase my proficiency in an area I've been half-assedly pursuing since I was 15: sign painting. I've produced a number of hand-lettered things in the 10 years that have passed since I first got my hands on 1shot (though I didn't get my first lettering quills until I was 18, having initially purchased the 1shot in Jr. High in my zeal to become the next VonDutch), but while many of them have had admirable qualities, I've never quite accomplished a sign that didn't have at least one or two glaring flaws (not the human errors and organic imperfections that make sign painting worthwhile, mind you, but mistakes that hurt the overall presentation). I hope to remedy that this semester by doing something I've never really done as a sign painter: practice. With no exception I can think of, every sign I've ever painted (or leather jacket, or flask, helmet, what have you) has been a piece that I've created as a finished work, for sale or display. I've never spent any real time creating signs I could just letter, then toss, stuff no one would really have to see (I'm aware of the irony of posting these practice pieces on the internet). So, this Sunday, it begins.

This week's theme: the letter "L". As I am left handed (which presents a whole slew of issues), I letter from right to left, so my hand doesn't smear the paint. This means the "L" in "LIKE", was the last one I painted. The 3 "E"'s in the sign provided the same practice I was looking for. Not quite there yet, but I figured out some things I wanted to, which was good. Tune in next week for more SIGNAGE!

Come to Big Twin this Weekend and I'll paint stuff for you!

Alright, everybody, it's down to the wire: in just 3 short days, I'll be in Boise to paint your helmets and jackets at Big Twin Motorcycles' Vintage MC show. The helmets and flask you see here are all commissions (sorry, you can't have them) that other smart folks requested that I do. Wanna look as cool as them while tearing down the road or reflecting on your bad decisions with a stainless steel best buddy (preferably not as the same time)? Don't miss your chance to see it happen live and in person! I'll have one or two helmets, some MC related prints and other odds and ends for sale at the show, but I'll have my paints at the ready to customize your gear, be it your gas tank, leathers, lid or leotard.  

Howard Egan Illustration for Sunstone

Here's the second illustration I've done for Sunstone, this one for a piece about Howard Egan, a Utah pioneer who did some crazy stuff (you'll have to read the article to get the whole story). Though I believe the print version of the issue in which this illustration appears is currently available, it's not online yet. I'll post a link when it shows up. 

Big Twin Biltwell Helmet!

My buddy Jake just got a 76 Airhead, so he wanted a helmet to go with it. Big Twin is a BMW motorcycle shop in Boise that's been around for a very long time, and it's where Jake works. The helmet is a new Biltwell Novelty lid, all the paint is 1shot. You folks up in Boise can see the helmet in person on the 17th at Big Twin's yearly vintage bike show. I'll be there with custom painted helmets and motorcycle prints for sale, as well as my paints to letter or pinstripe your bike, helmet, leathers or whatever else you want custom colors on. Come visit me two Saturdays from now, and see all the great bikes from around the valley (trust me, there will be good stuff there. My 450 might even make an appearance!) 

Latest Illo: Sunstone Magazine

Here's an illustration that I did for the most recent issue of Sunstone Magazine. Check out the online version of the article (with the illustration) here: https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/the-widening-tent/ All of the line work (what you see in the black and white version) is ink and brush, all the color was done in photoshop.