Fat-Bot

A few weeks back the theme for 'Illustration Friday' was 'Robot'. At that time I didn't have the time to create one from scratch. This weeks theme is 'Fat'. Well when I started sketching out an idea out popped a robot image. I liked it. Seemed appropriate with the current climate regarding oil prices such.

Spotted

My Illustration Friday illo.

(Be sure to click on the image to see the full view.)

Knight Media Project

Knight Media Center teaches and equips the next generation of journalists in all areas of media. TV, Radio, Internet, Newspaper, Periodicals etc. The 'Freedom of Speech' illustration below is 1 of 4 illustrations I did for a collateral piece being produced. The pattern shown below will be used on the inside front and back cover as a tonal pattern. The front will use an 'Old Media' theme and the back will use a 'New Media' theme.

This project had a tight turn around. Basically I had two days to complete 4 illustrations and 2 patterns. All the while getting ready to re-locate my studio and tie up all loose ends. It's been a bit nuts lately.


FREEDOM OF SPEECH
I have to admit I must have drawn the talons about 5 or 6 different ways. None of them looked right even when I double checked with photo reference I had. I settled on this approach because my good buddy Paul Howalt told me this is how they should be. So if you don't like them, then blame it on Paul it's his fault! :-P



MEDIA PATTERN
Creating these made me realize how far news reporting has come. Letter press to RSS.

I don't give a hoot!

This illustration I did just because I thought 'Owls' looked cool. So I guess it was inspired by the 'Discovery Channel'?

Hoodlum Teaser

Cropped "Hoodlum" Editorial Illustration.

I love clients that give me complete creative freedom. The opportunity to explore and create in a direction that is fresh and new even though it wasn't what they had originally requested. Such is the case with this editorial illustration.

To read more about this project and view the un-cropped version of the above illustration visit my primary site.

Don't be a Tooler

"Stylized Portrait Illustration" for MacUser Magazine UK.

I ♥ Design
I'm thankful for what I get to do for a living. I really enjoy it, and I have a lot of fun creating and working with my clients and other design firms. I have nothing to complain about in terms of my day to day job, I love.

That said, I've always been one to speak my mind be it good or bad and I'd like to think I'm fair more times than not. Over the last several months I've been thinking through a lot of issues related to the state of our industry in respect to both design and illustration and the end result is this post.

It's a good mix of hard truth, seasoned with just enough sarcasm to hopefully make it fun to read while staying informative. But I'm sure some with disagree with my assessment and that's what comments are for.

Preamble
I a designer of the United States, in order to form a more perfect creative process, establish drawing, insure design tranquility, provide excellent art, promote conceptual welfare, and secure the blessings of creative liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this blog post for the designers of the United States of America.

Design Needs Drawing
MacUser Magazine UK approached me about writing a tutorial for their publication that utilized the same creative methods I used to create my Billy Mays artwork. I was excited to do this because I'm a diehard MAC user myself and this type of project is just fun to work on so I said "Sure."

Before I got started the editor asked "Is there a way to replace the drawing part of the tutorial with some form of computer method instead?" He suggested the possibility of auto-tracing part of the photo. And there's the rub.

A seemingly nonchalant decision to purposely divorce drawing from the design process.

"Sure, no problem I'll remove drawing from my process. And what the hell, while I'm at it I'll remove breathing from my living process too! Because after all that makes about as much sense."

The dumbing down of creativity is a serious pet peeve for me. Those who want to bake it down so it's not too demanding of the individual and caters to the lowest common creative denominator are just facilitating pablum sucking design noobs who think the computer is the wellspring of their creativity.

"You can lead a designer to a computer, but you can't make them draw."

The Dynamic Duo!

Ebony and Ivory, Analog and Digital
The fundamental problem with so many tutorials (creative processes) online today is they are merely geared for what I would call a "Tooler." Someone who doesn't necessarily want to improve their drawing skills, but thinks if they learn the latest software version, or some new pull-down menu effect, or run a filter in a certain way, or mimic some other type of convoluted Fibernachesque computer process they'll be able to skirt having to actually draw something.

Maybe it's just fear of failure? I'm sure that is part of it to some degree but any creative process that avoids risk is at best a flawed one. Approaching a creative solution from the mindset of "Playing it Safe" is just nothing more than choosing mere expediency. Too many designers look for the easy way out when it comes to a creative process and that is problematic to their creative growth. Instead of bolstering a core skill like drawing they pursue a path of least creative resistance and the end result is a Tooler.

I told the editor "Sorry but my process is both analog and digital. One is not independent of the other. I think that is a good thing to show." Nothing I do is fully digital, nor is it fully analog, I'm constantly going back and forth through out the creative process.

The editor eventually agreed to let me keep it the way I wanted (I wouldn't have done it otherwise) and I proceeded. Compared to my tutorials at IllustrationClass.com this one was going to be an abridged version that had to fit on a two page spread in the magazine.


Creativity via tools equals "iSuck."

The Dispensation of Toolers
Early in my career (pre-computer) people would ask me what I did for a living and I'd say "I'm a graphic designer." and the usual response was something like "You get paid to draw? I can't draw a stick figure...." and they'd proceed to admire, recognize and clearly associate my core skill and craft with what I did for a living.

But now (post-computer) when I tell people what I do the normal response tends to be something like this "That's cool. I have a computer too. I printed some ink jet business cards for..." and they proceed to associate what they do on a hack PC in their spare time using Microsoft Paint, prefab templates, Comic Sans font, and clip-art with what I do as a professional for a living. Gone is the appreciation or even recognition of a skill or craft I possess to do my job. For the most part they don't view themselves as lacking any core ability because the computer in their mind has replaced the skill and craft they once associated with my ability.

Our industry is now inundated with Toolers, who reinforce this poor public perception for what we do. They don't take skill and craft seriously and in essence one could argue they are glorified amateurs who just know more about the software than the general public. Mom and Pop see what they produce and say to themselves "Hey, I can do that too." And thus the Tooler dispensation was born.

Compound this new dispensation with the fact so many designers whore themselves via sites like www.Crowdspring.com, and art schools are flooding the landscape with software savvy, marketing clueless, concept weak, drawing inept students at the tune of about 16,000 every six months (Stats from 2001) and you see the not so pretty big picture that is the future of the design industry.

As for me and my creative convictions I refuse to celebrate mediocrity. But I digress.

How to Recognize a Zombie Designer
When ever I look at design there are "5" specific attributes I look for when I critique it.

1. Is there a core concept?
Great designers should be great thinkers.

2. Is the style appropriate?
It's commercial art, not fine art.

3. Is the art well executed and precise?
Quality craftsmanship is a must.

4. Is it unique?
Don't be a drop in the sea of marginal prefab design.

5. Is it inspiring?
Does it contain a clever visual twist or metaphor?

How these attributes break down for me.

Great Design
Contains all five attributes but is very rare.

Good Design
Must contain 1, 2 and 3. Most often 4 too.

Marginal Design
Only contains two attributes, fails the rest.

Bad Design
Most manage to avoid all five attributes.

I realize not all clients need high-concept solutions so that much isn't ironclad in my critique, it needs to be balanced appropriately for each client and I go over all of that here.

A Tooler however dwells in the realm of "Marginally Bad" and only enters "Good" by accident or by deriving or copying another persons work. Because of this modus operandi and the current trend with prefab design methods, our industry has legions of zombie designers that choose to feed off the corpse of incurious creativity.


Know your Tooler: Computer, check. Turtleneck, check. Thick framed glasses, check. Flawed creative process, check.

The Creative Industrial Complex
Toolers are more than willing to do work for sweat shop pay grade sites like Crowdspring.com, iStockPhoto.com or logoworks.com? Their actions facilitate a growing problem being pimped by multi-national corporations like Getty and HP, who wish to turn the design industry into a mere fast-food commodity revenue stream, or as I like to call it "The Creative Industrial Complex." Makes me wonder if HP's new logo was done by their own logoworks.com for a mere $299, or if a big agency did it for a lot more? Either way it's still a piece of crap.

Mark my words, it's just a matter of time before you see a "LogoMaker" or "InstaLogo" kiosk in Office Depot stores that allows Joe Consumer to design their own logo or business cards etc. Think about it, they have the computer end covered being HP and the design side would be facilitated by the Toolers. So this business model is possible because of designers willing to create the low grade content this type of system depends and thrives on.

And to further complicate the matter and confuse the general publics perception of what we do you have so-called industry leaders like Paula Scher creating prefab design templates for the owners of Logoworks.com.

Which brings up the obvious question "Would Paula design a logo for $299?"

Toolers are to these sites, what a moth is to a bug zapper. But to see talented designers cater to this problematic formula albeit sincere, are sincerely wrong.


Fast Food Design.

McDesigners
Big agencies like Pentagram, Landor, Wieden Kennedy, Leo Burnett and others for the most part don't care about these issues, they think it's below them. They're too busy working for million dollar multi-national clients like HP. But the vast majority of the design being done in our industry isn't by big agencies for multi-national corporations, it's being done by boutique firms and designers like you and me creating for small business owners.

So Toolers whoring their design through sites like Crowdspring.com, iStockPhoto.com and Logoworks.com effects everyone including the big agencies whether they want to admit it or not.

Most of the major design publications have avoided any in depth and honest debate on this topic. Sure there have been a few sidebar articles but never once has any publication done a full-blown expose on this topic. And no surprise, just look at thier advertising and you'll see why. It caters to Toolers. At least the AIGA has attempted to address it in a general sense but they never bother to get too specific and name names, that is what blogging is for I guess?

The fast food design generation is here. So, would you like fries with that design? How about super-sizing your logo perhaps?

Toolers are creative comrades.

Creative Communism
As I thought about what the editor had asked me to do, I started to think to myself "This isn't like you're drawing from thin air? You're just drawing from reference, so why try to short cut it by auto-tracing? It'll just look like crap and you'll never get it to be as well thought out or precise as you do from drawing it. Besides what they liked wasn't created by avoiding drawing."

It's like someone enjoying a wonderful meal at a nice restaurant, appreciating the eloquent cuisine of a gifted chef and asking for the recipe. The chef writes it down and they look at it and ask him to replace ingredients because it'll be too hard for them to cook. Of course this is an absurd request and if granted it certainly won't taste like what they enjoyed to begin with. It's not just the change in ingredients, it's also the lack of skill and craft involved in cooking those ingredients. (All analogies fail at some point, but you get my drift)

Creativity is all about exploring. If you don't fail, that means you're not trying hard enough. Some however seem to think a process shouldn't involve any risk? When sharing a process like my tutorial there is a mindset that thinks it should enable everyone to do it via some method that doesn't require any learned skill, just the knowledge of what to click next. I'd call that creative communism, red art if you will.

"If you view my tutorial and you determine that you can't do the drawing part too well, than the tutorial has taught you something. You need to improve on your drawing skills. That is what growing as a designer is all about."

Download "Stylized Portrait Illustration" PDF below.

Anyone Can Improve Their Drawing
I think drawing is very important as a designer. Whether or not you ever want to be a full-blown illustrator or not isn't the point. Improving your drawing skills will make you a better designer period the end. You'll be able to take the intangible idea in your head and flesh it out on paper, it's that simple.

In the following video Milton Glaser discusses the importance of drawing.

MILTON GLASER DRAWS & LECTURES from C. Coy on Vimeo.

When I spoke at the HOW Design Conference in Boston (I've updated my presentation since HOW) I made the following statement concerning the creative process:

"Our industry may be digitally driven but ideas are still best developed in analog form."

That'll never change no matter how advanced our technology gets. So step away from your computer, grab a pencil (It's that yellow thing not tethered to a keyboard), start drawing, stop whining, take some creative risks and see where it leads you.

In other words "Don't be a Tooler!"

Download Tutorial PDF
"Stylized Portrait Illustration" PDF Tutorial
IllustrationClass.com Tutorial Post

PS: If you'd like me to present my step by step creative process presentation called "Illustrative Design" at your design event, AIGA group, AdFed group, Design School or program just contact me and we'll talk. (See top right side bar)

Unethical Corporate Weasels

Cookie Jar Illustration. (Click image to view larger)

If you've taken a look at your favorite magazine of late I bet you'll notice it's substantially thinner than in previous issues. Ad revenue is down, it's a reflection of the economic problems our nation is facing at the moment.

That said magazines still need illustration thankfully and "Oil and Gas Investor" magazine hired me to illustrate for an article dealing with some of the same ethical problems that caused the financial mess were in now.

You know, greedy corporate weasels stealing money. The context of this illustration was in regards to investing, specifically in oil futures. Most of these crimes are white collar and it happens on paper. So I decided to play off the old "hand in the cookie jar" metaphor.

I don't do a whole lot of editorial illustration these days but I still think they're fun to work on.

Editorial Illustration

'Risk Assessment' for Gas & Oil Investor Magazine (Click for larger view)

In the late 90's and early...uh...0's? (I just realized I have no clue what to reference the first ten years of the twenty first century?) Anyway, I use to do a lot of editorial illustration but over the last six years my niche has changed and most of my illustration is within a design context and frankly I prefer that.

Even though I enjoy doing illustrative design I still do editorial projects when they come my way. I've been doing editorial illustration for one of my clients since 1999 and every few months they send me an article and have me read it then conceptualize an editorial illustration to go along with it. The articles aren't what I'd call page turners since they deal mostly with the minutia of Gas & Oil investing, so trying to pull out a clever concept I can visually capitalize on can be somewhat painful.

This illustration is the end result of my most recent editorial work.

PS: My wife isn't a creative type and I'll admit some of my work just pushes her comfort zone style wise. She likes much of it but would never want it to hang in her living room. I had shown her the above illustration mid-way through and all she said was "His nose is too long. Nobody has a nose that long." I just laughed and my oldest daughter who was in my studio at the time chimed in with "Mom it's not suppose to be real." I seconded my daughters comment with a proud nod of agreement and my wife exited my studio saying "Too big." LOL

Tweens

'Happy Tweens and Sad Tweens'

Earlier this year the Associated Press (AP) put me on retainer to do illustration for them. This was my first assignment. An article about a study on 'Tweens' and what makes them happy and sad. I've done newspaper illustration before for the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and The Oregonian in the past but this one could potentially appear in nearly all of them since it's being distributed by the AP.

Illustrative Design Session.

Nervous in front of 900+ people.

My extensive one hour session from the HOW Design Conference is now online. It will walk you through the entire creative process for creating inspiring and effective "Illustrative Design" solutions.


A screen grab from my session presentation.

Have you ever thought of a unique concept, but then wasn’t sure you could pull it off because it required a good amount of illustrative work and frankly speaking that intimidated you? Or your budget was such that you couldn’t hire it out either? So, instead you just pursued another design direction?


Quick reference sheet included in download.

Well, fear no more my fellow creatives! This session will walk you through systematic illustrative design methods you’ll be able to integrate into your own creative process. In the end you’ll be better equipped to pursue those design ideas that require an illustrative touch far more effectively, thus expanding your overall creative potential and skill set as a graphic designer.

For more information and to download the "Illustrative Design Session" or other helpful step by step tutorials click here.

Included in this download: The entire “Illustrative Design” session from the HOW Design Conference, Exhaustive notes regarding each step of the process, Quick reference sheet to help you remember each step, MP3 audio file of entire session so you can listen while you go through it yourself and Instructions on how to use everything on a MAC or PC.

Alien Biker Skull

'Alien Biker Skull Art - Click to view larger image.'

After I posted my BMX skull art I received a few emails in regards to my opinion as it relates to the 'Top Ten Favorite Themes' of illustrators. (And designers for that matter)

One of the people to contact me was the editor of 'Computer Arts Magazine' out of the UK. He enjoyed what I had to say and invited me to write an opinion piece for their magazine on the subject. Which I am currently working on and once published will post it here. In the mean time I was inspired to create a new piece of art that could be used with the article in the magazine.

I started off wanting to do an alien skull or what I'd imagine your garden variety alien grey would have under their dermis that is. After working out a sketch I decided to add some horns at the last minute. Yeah I know aliens never have horns, but then again how do you know that? Ever been abducted by them? And whose to say Spielberg is correct in his portrayal. After all maybe bikers in other solar systems grow horns so they look more intimidating then the normal greys?

Or better yet maybe the aliens have now integrated their dna with cows since they've been abducting and messing with those too? In any regard the artistic prerogative wins out and thus horns were added so stop whining.

If you'd like to download a pdf file of this design so you can print it out and hang it up click here.

Talking v.1.0

No cable, no presentation, just talking.

Last week I flew out to speak at a local design group. I had put together an extensive presentation, fine tuned my images, practiced running through it multiple times to get my timing down and polished several lame jokes. In other words I was loaded for bear.

Problem is I forgot to bring my mini-dv cable and the AV specialists were all PC acolytes so nothing they had would allow me to hook up my laptop to the video projector. I was dead in the water. No images, no clever dissolves or visual cues to captivate the audience while I droned on.

Panic slowly started to sink in as I thought to myself

"I am an artist with out art to show."

I decided to wing it. Slowly leaning forward towards the podiums mic I said

"Well I unfortunately don't have any visuals to show you, but if you'd like I'd be happy to do a Q&A with you."

Thankfully I had brought several freebies to give away and holding them up I continued.

"The best questions get prizes."

The facade of confidence was intact, but inside my stomach churned as I waited for the inevitable train wreck to occur.

Someone raised their hand and before I knew it the next thirty minutes flew by and it was done. Technology took a back seat and mere talking carried the day and to my surprise people actually enjoyed it.

I am a huge geek and love technology, but this situation reminded me once again that person to person conversation will always trump it. Being able to talk to another person and share stories, share struggles, share success, share failures together is what life is all about.

And the best thing about talking is you'll never have to upgrade your mouth. Something software companies could learn from.

Imperial Rip-Off!

Imperial Toy, LLC ripped off my "Tribal Tattoo Face" artwork.

UPDATE: 8/8/08

Weasels Defeated! After four months Imperial Toys, LLC has paid for using my art illegally.

UPDATE: 4/23/08

Times up! Received a response from Imperial weasels and true to character they are acting like weasels. I also found out that these weasels are reading my blog and don't like being called weasels apparently? They even insisted I remove this information immediately accusing me of slander?. Apparently this breed of weasel has a dominant irony gene?

UPDATE: 4/23/08

Well the Imperial weasels are still at it. They've told me since last week that the company president and their legal team are reviewing this matter. Reviewing what? My 13 year old daughter understands you can't steal and expect not to get in trouble for it, but these weasels seem to think if they stall I'll just forget about it and go away? Nice try chief, not going to happen.

They promised to contact me by today to resolve this and so far I haven't heard a peep. No response to an email asking for resolution either.

Well they have about 35 minutes and then off it goes to my lawyer and they'll quickly realize that it's going to cost them a whole lot more then my reasonable invoice to cover the usage of my art in their product line.


UPDATE: 4/22/08

Sent off an email again to Imperial Weasels stating if I didn't hear from them today I'd be turning this matter over to my copyright attorney. I then followed that email up with a phone call and the following conversation took place with one of their legal people.

Imperial weasel says "We were not even aware of your artwork."

I try not to laugh and respond "Someone on your end was aware of it because it appeared in your product line."

They said I'd hear from their president by today. Not holding my breath.


Imperial Weasels

It's been a while since someone tried to use my artwork without paying for it. Most of the time it's been individuals caught doing it but a few times it's been corporations who got their hands caught in the proverbial cookie jar and I've had to legally go after them.

It's happened so many times now that I know the copyright laws pretty well and have a good relationship with a copyright lawyer as well who can back me up if a company gets cranky and doesn't respond to reasonable requests when I catch them.

So hopefully Imperial Toy, LLC won't be weasels and will deal with me honestly?


My original artwork that was lifted and used in Imperials product line.

I guess what bugs me almost more than a company thinking they can use my art for free is the fact they simply don't hire me to create it for them in the first place? In all honesty it would be far cheaper to just hire me to create some original art for their line instead of them borrowing my art illegally and risk getting caught?

I suppose this is the down side of showcasing art online and if it wasn't for the watchful eyes of fellow design and illustration friends I'd never know about most of the infringements. Thankfully they take the time to notify me and alert me of the artistic violation and then I get to spend a day dealing with it instead of working which is what happened today.


The offender: Imperial Toy, LLC.

So we'll see how Imperial Toy, LLC responds to my letter to their lawyer and the usage invoice I included. I'll post what happens in a follow up once I know more.

Animal Metaphors & Rabbit Trails

Multi-Tasking Octopus. Click to view larger image.

Even though I don't do a lot of editorial illustration I do enjoy the challenge when it presents itself. These illustrations were for Fortune Small Business magazine. The challenge with editorial is gleaning a creative and clever idea to illustrate after reading the article which sometimes can be very dry and boring. Thankfully in this case it was actually a very interesting topic.

My original pencil sketches included the pig concept below and because they liked that one so much they then asked me to create two other animal based metaphors so that each of the three illustrations would work more as a set. The octopus shown above was chosen to represent a company that did everything themselves rather then outsourcing and because of that their quality control was better and their production was far more efficient.

Rabbit Trail 1: When I was coloring this art I originally had green instead of purple. My oldest daughter came into my studio while I was working on it and said "Dad the octopus should be purple." I kind of shrugged her off and then looked up some information on octopuses and discovered they change color so I decided to just keep it green.

The next day after sending off the comp the art director asks "Can you change the octopus to purple?" DOH! Suffice it to say my daughter enjoyed hearing that bit of news. I reminded her she has my genes so that obviously was responsible for her opinion. LOL


Croc Loving Pig. Click to view larger image.

The next part of the article was about companies finding a unique niche for business by piggybacking on trends. The specific trend discussed was Crocs. Obviously the terminology in the article pinpointed the direction I should take.

Rabbit Trail 2: The art director asked me to add some type into two of the spots so the art above shows that as well. The type is part of an on going hand lettering project I've been working on for three years now. Eventually I'll produce a font called "Nincompoop" based on these letter forms.


Flying in Formation. Click to view larger image.

The gist of the last article needing an illustration was about a company who brought order out of chaos in the high tech parts market and profited greatly from their business solution. Prior to the animal metaphors I had a guy putting a puzzle together and on that puzzle was a dollar sign. But since they wanted animal metaphors that wouldn't work now. Some of the new concepts I proposed were "Getting your ducks in a row, with each duck carrying a part" and "A bird who takes random parts and builds an ordered nest from them." Neither of these ideas floated the art directors boat.

Instead the art director requested butterflies that form a dollar sign.

((( insert cricket sound )))

Yeah, I am scratching my head still on that one myself. Don't get me wrong I like the way it came out and think it looks cool, I am just not in sync with the underline concept. It's a bit detached where as the other two make sense right away. Hey 2 for 3 is great in baseball, so I can live with that creative batting average.

Rabbit Trail 3: BTW, these illustrations show how you can use the textures found in my texture book.

If any of you do figure out the butterfly idea could you please email me? ;-)

Relax it's only work!

AP Assignment Illustration.

The thing I enjoy the most about illustrating for the Associated Press is the challenging timelines I am faced with. I get a story a day or so before the art is due and have to come up with a clever and fun visual that will capture the tone of the article and work well with it when distributed across their network to newspapers nationwide.

This specific illustration was for a small article about yoga-like stress reducing tips for the work environment.

Dithered Shading

'247 - Breaking Out a New Style'

I had a magazine assignment come in that was a super quick turnaround. The theme they wanted for this spot illustration was pretty generic too so I decided to handle my detailing with shading and using a dithered method. I was surprised how much fun it was so I've decided to try this again on another upcoming assignment.


'Dithered Tiff Image used for shading.'

All the shading in this art was done using three different sized dither tiffs like the one shown above. I just colored them and masked them into place. I purposely kept my art simplified using basic shapes since the deadline was so tight. This along with shading using the dither made the project go much faster.

I'll have a tutorial on this method of shading posted at 'IllustrationClass.com' soon.

Analog & Digital

'Cross Fertilizing Ideas' - Click to View Larger Image.

I've been illustrating for a publication called 'Gas & Oil Investor' for about seven years now. I get the articles sent to me and then wade through a massive amount of information I frankly don't have a clue about and try to isolate something I can then play off of conceptually. This time around is was the wording in the article that said 'Cross Fertilization of Shared Ideas'. That put an image in my mind and I jumped on it.

For this project I wanted to use some of the textures that will be part of my texture book due out in June. I also wanted to to handle this project a in a little different method style wise as well so I illustrated the core artwork manually with a pen and paper then scanned it in and started painting in textures and detailing etc.


'Detail on Textures' - Click to View Larger Image.

As you can see from the detail shots above you can create a very rich texture effect by layering multiple textures and playing around with layer effects in Photoshop.

I'll be posting a tutorial on this artwork at IllustrationClass.com soon and that will include a layered PSD file so you can wade through it and see how I set it all up.