Summer Work

This summer I was able to stretch my design skills by designing Vermont Children's Theater's Web site. 

As part of the project, I have also been expanding their brand, to include more options for their logo (to come) and brand colors.

The colors evoke summer and the joy of theater. The red (the primary color for the company) represents the barn the theater is located in.

The secondary colors each represent different aspect of summer. The blue is the Vermont summer sky, the green is the grass around the barn, and yellow is the sun.

I 

The Play's the Thing: Gallery Exhibit

On Wednesday, September 15 from 5 to 7 I will be exhibiting my work at the Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville, Vermont. I will be showing over 25 years of theater posters as well as other examples of me playing around.

Here is a description of the show:

My work is all about play, whether it's a poster for an actual play (I love theater), or it is me playing around with my bow tie guys, recording my travels with on-sight sketching, or illustrating children’s books and coloring pages; it is me having fun. It is me trying to bring that sense of joy and fun to others.

Summer sketching in the Dark

A few sketches from Saturday night’s performance of Newsies at the Vermont Children’s Theater. I was using Procreate so I could better draw in he dark. It is still challenging to draw people while moving. I am working on it.

Busy Week! Newsies Illustration

It's been a busy week. This is the second of two illustrations finished for The Vermont Children's Theater. For Newsies, I struggled with how to present the show in a different way. Most of the posters either had characters dancing, holding a newspaper and yelling or fists in the air with newspapers. I took a more subtle approach by demonstrating the aspect of a strike with the newsboy hat off and a stack of papers left alone. The energy of the musical comes in with the frenetic line work and the prominent “STRIKE!” on the front of the paper. I kept with a warm pallet to also denote the energy.

This was a huge win for me. I struggle with doing illustrations that do not play to my strengths. I took the challenge and found away to make it work.

Finished Elf!

Just finished the illustration for The Vermont Children's Theater's poster for Elf jr. The Musical! I captured the magical, energetic feel of the show by placing the main character in a New York snow globe. The musical's Logo will be on the base of the globe. As I could not alter the logo, I needed to keep the base light.

The idea came from a scene where Buddy shreds a manuscript to make snow.

The performances are July 18, 19, and 20th at 7 pm. There is also a Sunday matinee at 2 pm on the 21st.

Latest Project

In between family time, I have been working on the illustration forThe Vermont Children’s Theater production of Elf Jr.

Still struggling with the hands.

Seeing your work

It is always a mixed bag of emotions when you see your work in public. For me it is humbling, a little embarrassing, and exciting. I see all the mistakes and all the problems, but it is there in the public to be seen in all it's awkward glory. This was taken at the Vermont Children's Theater this last weekend.

Some one at the theater also took my logo design and made a no smoking sign. I think whoever did it did a wonderful job keeping the same look and feel.

Aladdin Jr

Again, being inspired by simplicity, I created this illustration for The Vermont Children's Theater's production of Aladdin Jr. I am enjoying going simple.

Annie

With school out, I know have the opportunity to work on illustrations for this years Vermont Children's Theater productions. After many iterations and concepts for Annie, I felt it best to go simple and iconic with this poster. After a search on the internet, I was surprised that I could not find anyone that had done this before. I also felt I did a good job of infusing a bit of my style into Annie.

This was a bit of a flash back for me as I played FDR in my high school production of Annie. This year my youngest son is in the production. We do not know what role it will be yet. Performances are on June 29, 30 and July 1 at 7pm.

Final Illustration for Willy Wonka

Here is the final illustration and poster for the Vermont Children's Production of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka.

A work in progress

Here is the rough and final drawing the Willy Wonka poster. Throughout the process I simplified the illustration. The production of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka will be at the Vermont Children's Theater on July 21,22,23 at 7p 28,29, and 30 at 2 and 7.

In preparation for the the project, I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the first time. It is a wonderful book. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to get to.

I went more conceptual with this. It is something mew for me. And a special note, to prove a point,  there is no bow tie in this illustration.

Final Illustration for Shrek Jr. (and Bow Tie Guy of the Day)

Here is the finished poster and illustration for Shrek Jr. The Musical for the Vermont Children's Theater.

Vermont Children's Theater

This is the first of three illustrations for this years Vermont Children's Theater productions. This is for   an original musical Matinicus, Through the Storm. It is based on the story of Abbie Burgess. The director requested a lighthouse. I pulled my insight sketches as references and created this one.

I will not be posting as many bow tie guys this week as I am teaching a weeklong class in insight sketching all day.

Fiddler on the Roof poster for The Vermont Children's Theater

I just finished the illustration for the Vermont Children's Theater production of Fiddler on the Roof. Creating it was a wonderful honor as this musical is on my top five musical list. I watched the movie again recently and was reminded how brilliant the show is. I love the  message of love, of approaching trials to long held traditions, of perseverance, and how traditions and faith are not necessarily the same. The show gives me hope.

My challenge initially was to try to come up with something different. Every poster has a fiddler on the roof. As I worked and consulted with the director, I realized the traditional approach was the best way to do it. I believe I put the fiddler more precariously positioned on the top of the roof than any other poster I I have seen though. It also captures the joy of life amidst the trials we go through.

The best part was while working on the illustration, I found myself humming the tunes to the songs.

West Side Story at Vermont Children's Theater

This was a particularly difficult poster for me. For all practical purposes as much as I love West Side Story as a musical it is not a poster I would choose to illustrate. I like to draw animals and I like to create illustrations that have a humorous side to them. I am grateful for the insight of the director, John Walker. Without his vision and ideas, I would not have been able to come up with this. I just don't think this way. In his director's statement he said “…these bad choices and this unleashed hatred kills even the most beautiful and pure thing, authentic love. Like a rose trying to grow out of a dirty sidewalk only to be crushed under trash and the tread of tires or shoes.”

I found the idea of the rose growing in the grime and darkness of the inner city depicted in the musical captivating. I ran with it. In the end I am glad I had the opportunity to stretch myself. 

New Vermont Children's Theater Poster

Here is the final illustration for the Vermont Children's Theater production of Dinosaurs Before Dark, Kids. As mentioned last week I find great joy in drawing dinosaurs. The Show opens on June 26th and runs through the 28th.

Work in Progress

I started working on the poster illustrations for this years shows at the Vermont Children's Theater. The first show is The Magic Tree House Collection Dinosaurs Before Dark. 

I love drawing dinosaurs. Here are a few preliminary sketches of the pteranodon. I will post the final poster next week.

Te Sound of Music

Just finished the illustration for the Vermont Children's Theater's production of The Sound of Music. This one was challenging. I didn't want to do the typical dancing on the mountains and there wasn't much room for an illustration based on the requirements for the text. In the end I enjoyed it.

Now it is on to finishing the cover for the fall Beau Ties Ltd of Vermont Catalog.

Dr Dolittle

Just finished the poster for The Vermont Children's Theater production of The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle. The best part was my 2 year old son recognized all the animals except the pushmepullme.

Barnum

Illustration for the Vermont Children's Theater's Production of Barnum. I feel like I was really channeling my inner Bill Peet.