Framed or Unframed

I added the 'Bad Vamp' Saboteur Pinot Noir poster to my  Imagekind page. I haven't used this site before, but thought I'd give it a try. 

The Motel Files

I still have a 2 drawer file cabinet in my studio full of reference photos ( sometimes referred to as a morgue file) which has everything from pictures of retro mopeds, to architecture photos(including motels), to restaurant/diner images, all ready to be plucked for quick reference. The infinite jpg file that is Google Images now takes its place. I still use it occasionally, but the file cabinets main purpose now is as a place to put my printer on.

Anyway, I was searching online for some neon reference, and came across a YouTube link to the motel signs above. Videos of flickering neon may seem a little odd, but I'm a sucker for motel images and liked the idea of some weary travelers filming these digital postcards after checking in for the night. Enjoy.

Postcard from Bel-Air Palms Motel ( El Monte, CA)

Fetch

The past few days I've been working on a new promo mailer and a few other personal projects, including a new 'Bad Vamp' poster and another portrait( hint: she's a recent addition to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum). Also started sending out the remainder of my 'jumping dog' promos.

Got a Light

Back and rested from a week at the beach.

After unpacking I have a few jobs waiting for me, which is always nice- they include a series of illustrations for Smart Money Dimensions and a couple of web projects that I started before I left.

In between lounging in the sun, some rough swims in the Atlantic (courtesy of Hurricane Bertha, which was blowing by somewhere far off the coast)  and bocce ball games on the beach, I managed to squeeze in a few volumes of 'Mad Men' while on vacation. I'd only seen part of the first episode, but kept hearing how good it was and decided to check out the DVDs. I'm looking forward to catching up with the rest of the first season this summer. 

I'm not a smoker, but I do collect vintage ashtrays, everything from ceramic Sasha B. igloo ashtrays to the illustrated metal ones once found in motel rooms across the country. In a TV series like Mad Men, set in the ad world of the 1960's(where anyone that matters smokes) they obviously use some good period ashtrays as props, and that inspired me to post a few ashtrays from my collection.

Now Showing

A few deco theater images I found when researching a cover illustration for IBM that I did earlier this year. I also stumbled on the funky Raj Mandir theater (below) located in Jaipur, India.

Under the Knife

Sliced up paperbacks take on a new life in these Thomas Allen photos. I picked up Uncovered on a recent trip to Baltimore at the American Museum of Visionary Art. I really like his work, and being a collector of vintage paperbacks (more on that later) it was hard to pass up.

Cool Pool

I like dipping my toe into the design 'pool 'whenever possible. Below is a poster I did for a weekly summer concert series at a pool. (Above illus. was for an article on data storage)