This will be the second year I worked on the Supercub.org Backcountry fly-in. The attached graphic will be used for the poster and raffle tickets. Let me know how it can be improved. Dave
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
For those of you who don't know Dave, he's from LODI - yup, that Lodi. He was awesome while we were there and has been fantastic about posting pictures of the finished murals, etc.
Any help we can give him would be greatly appreciated by those of us who experienced the kindness and generosity of the town of Lodi firsthand.
Thanks!
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
I'm not at the studio computer, but this is one I worked on for a local brewery. My suggestion is to increase the size of the background illustration, place the aircraft inside the scenery with the left wing protruding out and to the left of the scene. Increase the size of the aircraft to utilize one third of the area. This also leaves more space to state your copy a bit bolder. Would also help if the aircraft illustration perspective was going up and to the left. Dunno if this one is going to work, but its the only copy on this computer.
Lang Creek Brewery is the only MicroBrewery in the country with its own airfield and collection of vintage aircraft. The one illustrated is a 1930's vintage sumthinerother. The mountain range illustrated is the actual range behind the Brewery on the Thompson River a few miles down the road from us.
P
Hmm..... Top turned red for some reason.
[ June 04, 2006, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: Pierre St.Marie ]
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
For layout ideas, think of the way some of the murals were handled and what were the outstanding elements in their fine design.
The Queen Zinfandel mural had the queen as a supergraphic extending way beyond and dominating the background. I see your Super Cub as a large central image protruding beyond the scenery in the background as a take off (unintended low flying pun) on Pierre's suggestion. Jay's mural had loads of text similar to the situation you have with the "Special Thanks" and "Sponsored By" sections. These can be on smaller sub panels that are more subdued. The balance of the message can be worked in.
There's lots that could be done with this.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
I like the whole layout right down to the colors Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
My first impression is something like Joey's, I think it's 'spot on' for creating a look from a bygone era. However, I think the green ribbon is too loud in that it's competing with the airplane. Maybe some tweaking needed in the arrangement of copy blocks and negative space, maybe over-analysis on my part.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Oh yeah, and what's this business about "rookie"?? If you designed that layout, you ain't exactly rookie, man Posted by Dave Kirsten (Member # 6573) on :
I' committed on the perspective of the plane... too much work to change it.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Dave
I like your layout but would suggest a few changes...
I'm partial to the colors of your plane and like a slightly lower persepctive I also can do a quick drawing for you if you like
Here's what I would suggest...
-grampa dan
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
Much better, Dave. Overall better layout. Daniel, the only problem I have with yours is that it now looks more like a business card than a raffle ticket. I definitely like your perspective of the aircraft and background.
P
[ June 05, 2006, 06:17 AM: Message edited by: Pierre St.Marie ]
Posted by Jill Marie Welsh (Member # 1912) on :
Hi Dave. I'd stack the "Special Thanks To" line to fill up the hole above it, and better balance out the sponsors on the other side. And the copy inside the border would have more contrast if it was the same color as the background. Now the only thing it really needs is a Letterhead font from LHF called Chesham Sans by Arthur Vanson. love....jill
Posted by Dave Kirsten (Member # 6573) on :
This version incorporates a larger background, fillin sponsor gaps, more wing detail, better background color contrast, border text contrast, transparent wind screen, and while I agree with grandpa Dan on the plane perspective... I'm not drawing another plane.
[ June 07, 2006, 12:28 AM: Message edited by: Dave Kirsten ]
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
Love the new colours Dave. It looks good to me. The names in the border are a little hard to read and it is busy, but it is a raffle ticket. The only thing I might suggest is to shrink all the text slightly away from the border (about half again the spacing that is there).
Posted by Dusty Campbell (Member # 4601) on :
Nice. I like the border much much better now. And the sponsors over there helps the balance.
Criticisms: I think it's too tight in there. Still needs some air. And I don't think the photographic mountains go with the illustrated airplane.
It's coming along nicely though. Good work.
Posted by Dave Kirsten (Member # 6573) on :
I decreased the border font and gave it some "air"... what type of backgroung photo would work?
Posted by Dusty Campbell (Member # 4601) on :
Sorry I wasn't clear. I like the border. I think it needs some space around the sponsors and guests. Here's a quick illustration. I half did the mountains(quick). In Photoshop (I used the lasso tool to select it, but since you have the original photo, you have that to work from) I chose the Filter>Artistic>Watercolor, but other filters would work, or maybe the smudge tool used very sparingly.
I don't know how big these will be, but bear that in mind also. The guests may be illegible at this point, so some more adjusting may be necessary. Hope this helps.
[ June 07, 2006, 03:24 AM: Message edited by: Dusty Campbell ]
Posted by Dusty Campbell (Member # 4601) on :
Looking again, you could move SUPERCUB.ORG left so that the S overlaps the border just a hair. And decrease the size of 2006 a smidge.
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
i would not change a thing. if this is for a raffle ticket it looks great
Posted by Jonathan Androsky (Member # 2806) on :
The new colors are much better! Like Dusty said, I think you need a bit more breathing room around the "Sponsored by" and "Special Guests" text blocks. Otherwise, I'd call it done
Posted by Dave Kirsten (Member # 6573) on :
Moved block lettering, created "air", tried a nav map background... all of which fall in the category of "over the top", after all IOAFRT. It's not a complete waste of time however... I do expect to incorporate this drawing in the poster.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Dave,
Make sure you use a current sectional for the nav chart background, otherwise, it won't be legal for navigation.
I also like the mountain/trees picture. It's probably how it appears landing at one of those backcountry Idaho airstrips.
I don't have a fat tire Piper but I have the fat wing version (Cherokee 140 with Hershey bar wing). It won't make your fly in.
I wish I had gotten to meet you in Lodi. I knew you were around but never caught up to you for the official introduction. I love your town.
Your work looks very nice. You're more of a ringer than a rookie.
Posted by Catharine C. Kennedy (Member # 4459) on :
Sweet! The map is a slick improvement Cat
Posted by Dusty Campbell (Member # 4601) on :
Sure it's only a raffle ticket, but it's also a design improvement exercise. Right? I like what you've done. And think you could turn it in the way it is.
No matter how much you like it now, you'll most likely see something you'd change later.
I use alot of subjective terms like air and cluttered or busy when I mean negative space and conflict. It's my own design language. Sorry if it's frustrating.
Lookin' good.
Posted by Dawn Drake (Member # 6533) on :
I like the first one! It does what you want it to do. reads easily and looks antique-ish and the first green one.
Posted by Susan Soape (Member # 4421) on :
They all look great to me - if this guys a rookie, I am not worthy of being on this board! Great work, Susan
Posted by Dave Kirsten (Member # 6573) on :
Thanks for the kind words Susan... It is 100% accurate that I am a Letterhead rookie. Prior to the Lodi walldog event I had no Idea your community existed. I have been in the commodity business for 29 years and when it comes to sign painting or art, I have zero background. Over the years I have occasional worked with Corel Draw... mostly posters, flyers, a few wine labels, and customer presentations. After I explain how I made the above graphic you will no longer question your Letterhead worthiness. I copied the plane by tracing a .pdf from a website. I just placed it in the background and drew over it, which took at least five hours. The next thing I did was import a Corel clipart graphic which contained the ribbon and acorn. I ungrouped it and tossed out everything I didn't need. The only other elements were artistic text and background colors. While I am happy with the way it has turned out, I can't take credit for much more than a little patience.
[ June 08, 2006, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: Dave Kirsten ]
Posted by Catharine C. Kennedy (Member # 4459) on :
Patience counts! So does a real good eye! And knowing what to throw out! Welcome aboard... Cat
[ June 08, 2006, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: Catharine C. Kennedy ]
Posted by Jay Allen (Member # 195) on :
This is just how we got hooked, Dave!! Better watch yourself!!
You start slow - then the next thing you know, you're in a different state paying to paint walls as a Walldog - or sitting in on design seminars!!
Thanks so much again for your help during my emergency.
Any chance I can get some of those finished digital pictures of my 'completed' wall? Let me know and I can have you upload them to an Internet site I use for pictures. Or a CD - or whatever is easiest. Just let me know. Thanks, and welcome to the "grass roots, non-organized club".
Posted by Dave Kirsten (Member # 6573) on :
Hi Jay, I would be happy to do so. Send me an email dave@kirsten.com and I will ftp them to your site. I have quite a few photos for you.
Posted by Tracie Johnson (Member # 6117) on :
Being able to bring together elements from different sources, manipulate them and make them work in a design, is not something that is as easy as you so humbly make it sound. It definitely takes either training or a natural eye and understanding of layout. Most people who try this end up with something that looks like a train wreck, also referred to as nephew art.
You really seem to be off to a great start! Now just pick up a copy of Mike Stevens Mastering Layout, and you won't be able to claim you're a Rookie for long!
Posted by Dave Kirsten (Member # 6573) on :
Tracie, You are in Ventura! If H.K. Canning (also in Ventura) ever asks you to paint a sign, make sure it is cash in advance. I have been trying to collect on their NSF check ($18,500) since last November. Now Henry Knaust is hiding behind his employees and can't be reached. Don't be fooled by the "living large" appearances... he is a low life.
Posted by Michael R. Bendel (Member # 5847) on :
Stick with it Dave. It works great. Colors, layout, readability.
The simplicity grabs you, especially for a smaller raffle ticket.
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