Black As Pitch

My newest commissioned work is for voiceover artist, Jeff Heytow. This was definitely a fun design to do, I was given free reign as long as it resembled a 70's concert poster. The centerpiece is its own element and could be used for stickers as well as any other application where the background would have to be removed. If every project went as smooth and was as enjoyable as this one was, I can see myself getting spoiled very quickly.

Poster/Shirt: Ángel Muerta

2011-01-12T09:51:00.000-06:00

Ángel Muerta

Depending on the application, I think this could work either as a shirt or a print. I rarely do anything with a distinct stylistic motif in mind, but this came together as such, so who am I to impede creativity? However, there is certainly no way to subvert my deviant tendencies, so I had to throw an inverted cross in there.

Shirt Design: Hunters

2011-01-12T09:36:00.000-06:00

Bodies Shirt

Circles of Hell Shirt

These two designs, as well as another designed by our guitarist, Ryan Kasparian, were the first run of merch we had as a band. The 'Bodies' shirt quickly sold out, while we still have a few of the 'Circles of Hell' shirts left. I attribute the lack of sales of the 'Circles...' shirt to the logo being on the back. I personally liked that idea, but for some reason people had an aversion to it.

We will be printing another merch run soon, but I do not think these will be included. I have since designed 3 or 4 more Hunters shirts, and we will be printing a Tom Denney design as well.

http://www.huntersmetal.com/

Print: 'Nature Always Wins'

2011-01-03T10:04:00.000-06:00

11x17
'Nature Always Wins'

This print is part of a style I have been cultivating for a few years now. I have always been drawn to the grotesque, especially in humanity, so it felt only natural to create my own form of mutations. These, however, are limited only to the mind, and not our genetic code.

Glossy Cardstock Print: Move Slowly Through the Darkness

2010-12-22T12:27:00.001-06:00

'Move Slowly Through the Darkness'
20x20 Glossy Cardstock

This piece is a huge deviation from what I have been doing recently. I have been having so much fun with Illustrator and vector images that I almost forgot where I came from originally. 'Move Slowly...' is one of my favorite photo manipulation pieces I have done, and will look fantastic when printed.

Glossy Cardstock Print: The Deepest of Roots

2010-12-21T13:29:00.001-06:00

'The Deepest of Roots'
12x12 Print on Glossy Cardstock

"All praise to the Elders of the forest who have stood through the ages as sentries against our demise."

This 12x12 print is available on glossy cardstock mounted in a black frame. I have always been a fan of the way that blue, gold, and brown worked together, and I think this is a great representation of that. I also have an extreme fondness for trees which are either dead or without leaves, which juxtaposes my extreme hatred for winter and cold weather. The original image was taken at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point, Indiana.

Logo Design: ORPHAN

2010-12-21T12:47:00.002-06:00

ORPHAN Logo
Experimental/Progressive Metal
Indiana

I really dig this design for this unfortunately short-lived band from Indiana whose members went on to form Conflagration of the Moth. Nothing much to say, really, I thought the background image played well into the melancholy of both the band name as well as the musical output.

ORPHAN MySpace

Logo Design: Suicidal Tendons

2010-12-21T12:22:00.003-06:00

Suicidal Tendons Logo
Noise/Power Electronics
Washington

This design was completed in roughly an hour, not for lack of inspiration, as I really dig this project, but because the album was going to press within that hour and he needed something really quick. I printed the text, drew the "tendons" in ink, and rescanned/colored the finished image. I love doing work for noise artists, because they are fairly open to experimentation, and allow me to get as weird as I want. This however, was designed exactly as he described it to me.

Barfing Dagger Recordings

Canvas Print: All Work...

2010-12-21T11:54:00.001-06:00

'All Work...'
24x36 Canvas Print

A co-worker of my father's came into the shop and ordered a 24x36 canvas print of one of my pieces entitled, 'All Work...' This is a relatively older print, and not too complicated. It is comprised of two manipulated photographs and some painting done in PhotoShop. The image of the man on the right is a public domain photograph of a worker in a carbon plant, while the branches are from my own personal stock photography.

News: This Land will Swallow Every Spire...

2010-12-21T11:30:00.000-06:00

I am putting the unveiling of my newest print, 'The Serpent's Many Skins' on hold. I showed it to my dudes in Hunters and we decided it will be our full-length album artwork. Obviously the title will change, so I have decided to appropriate those words for the new Noculture record, due early 2011.

I had already designed two alternate covers for the full-length, but after a few months of staring at the most recent one, I decided it just wasn't a good enough representation of our music. I will post the two "not good enough for Hunters, but still pretty sweet" designs shortly.

However, to hold you off until then, I will be finishing another print this week entitled, 'Move Slowly Through the Darkness'. This 20x20 print will be available on glossy cardstock, mounted in a black frame.

Logo Design: Lucky Sweepstakes

2010-12-21T10:51:00.001-06:00

Internet Cafe/Raffle Sweepstakes
Wauseon, OH

The client wanted to stay pretty traditional with this design, he wanted to incorporate symbols of luck without being too convoluted. I chose a celtic inspired font and stayed with the popular green and gold motif to play off of the monetary theme of the company.

Logo Design: CustomCanvas2U

2010-12-21T10:29:00.002-06:00

Canvas Portrait and Stock Printing
Merrillville, IN

I do print work for CustomCanvas2U™ and was asked to revamp the logo for the new website we are working on. One of the options we offer is a PixelBrush™ effect that transforms images into an oil painting, complete with brushstrokes. I wanted to emphasize the painterly aspect of this effect and feel it was captured quite well in this design.

Banner: CPHS JV Lady Bulldogs Basketball

2010-12-20T09:26:00.000-06:00

4'x6' Banner

This banner was commissioned by one of the heads of construction we share our offices with, whose daughters play on the team. At first I envisioned this with a lot of vector embellishments, (basketball hoop, backboard, tennis shoes, etc) but this is pretty much verbatim as far as what he wanted after we met. Lately I have been a big fan of the Bevel and Emboss blending option, it adds so much depth for such an overlooked option.

Shirt Design: Deathcatcher

2010-12-08T09:20:00.001-06:00

'Deathcatcher'
Design Preview

'Deathcatcher'
Shirt Preview

Finally finished this design after having to sit on it for a while. While the preview only shows One (1) color, this will be available in up to three (3) inks if needed. I am leaving it up to the clilent as to what color choices should be made, I personally like the dark gray on black.

* Up to Three (3) Color Ink On Black Shirt (specify colors)
* Space above design is saved for logo placement

News: The Skull Explodes...

2010-12-07T15:57:00.002-06:00

Going to be posting a few new art pieces and such shortly. I finished the 'Deathcatcher' design, opting not to color it, instead designing it for dark gray ink on a black shirt. I figured if a band wanted it colored it'll be easy enough to do so to their specifications. My biggest problem with designing shirts is allowing myself to use color. If I had my way, every design I did would either be in black, white, or gray ink.

In more grease-soaked news, I was commissioned to do a 40in. x 60in. (!) canvas print for a member of the Chicago chapter of the Hells Angels. For some reason known only to my subconscious, I decided to design this to scale, even though 99% of the print was vector based imagery. A momentary case of not thinking ahead caused a 3GB PSD file and save times that exceeded 25 minutes. Live and learn.

Hopefully tonight I will have finished my newest piece, an 18in. x 10in. mindfuck titled, 'The Serpent's Many Skins'. This will be available as a print on glossy cardstock in the near future, once I decide that I am focusing too much on visual minutia and have to let it go.

Glossy Cardstock Print: Ignorance and Fear

2010-11-19T09:30:00.004-06:00

'Ignorance'
11x17 Glossy Cardstock

'Fear'
11x17 Glossy Cardstock

"They stand transfixed, still singing their songs of praise even as the Mad Hounds of their Lord tear flesh from bone and gorge on the blood of the pure. The sky turns black as pitch, sinewy veins of lightning stab violently at their ravaged land."

* Two (2) 11x17 Prints on Glossy Cardstock - $12

WIP Design: Deathcatcher

2010-11-19T09:11:00.003-06:00

'Deathcatcher'
Design Preview

Worked on this for a good amount of hours last night, I haven't decided yet as to whether or not this will be a shirt design or a poster, which is why it is on a white background. It is about 85% complete so I feel I can show this Work in Progress preview, there are a few more accents I plan on adding, but the general idea is there.

Glossy Cardstock Print: Corpse Altar

2010-11-18T09:58:00.005-06:00

'Corpse Altar'
16x24 Glossy Cardstock

16x24 poster for my Dark Ambient Noise project, Noculture. I was thinking about having this screen printed instead of the usual print on high gloss cardstock.

http://noculture.bandcamp.com/

Shirt Design: Nuclear Faith

2010-11-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

Design Preview

Shirt Preview

"We're so self-important. So self-important. Everybody's going to save something now. "Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save those snails." And the greatest arrogance of all: save the planet. What? Are these fucking people kidding me? Save the planet, we don't even know how to take care of ourselves yet. We haven't learned how to care for one another, we're gonna save the fucking planet?" - George Carlin

* Two (2) Color White Ink and Moss Green Ink on Black Shirt
* Space above design is saved for logo placement

Shirt Design: Flesh of Faith

2010-11-18T09:19:00.004-06:00

Design Preview

Shirt Preview

"As the last word leaves his lips, his spine shifts unnaturally beneath his skin, like a snake in a sack struggling for release. Viscous tendrils thrash violently from open wounds, he screams his incantations through shattered teeth. Rendered formless, this Tempter of the Void has learned the true face of God."

* One (1) color White Ink on Black Shirt
* Space above design is saved for logo placement

Shirt Design: Protected From Death

2010-11-18T09:10:00.000-06:00

Design Preview

Shirt Preview

"Carrying a shield constructed with the bones of his victims, this dark stranger stands at the edge of yet another helpless encampment. Knowing soon that blood would once again rain across these worthless lands, his sword glints in the moonlight, anxious to sever flesh once more."

* One (1) color White Ink on Black Shirt

* Space above design is saved for logo placement