Odds and Ends

A new seasonal fundraiser was added to the Kirksville Arts calendar: ARToberfest.

 

I was inspired by a wine label, and as with wine labels, especially with the artsy sketch of the winery, in this case, the Kirksville Arts Center. The design can be altered over the coming years. I do like the scripty font, so that'll stay.

 

Then we have a Thank You ad (newspaper) for this year's Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival. I've seen many such ads that list just the names. Have some pictures from the event! Show them why they are being thanked, that way they may be inspired to give again next year. And the year after that. And it's never a bad time to push for new members, or remind those who haven't renewed. (Like me, and I really need to take care of that.)

Inadvertently off last week, and I'll be off next week due to a research trip. (I'm purposely disconnecting as much as possible in order to focus.) See you October 29!



Last minute ad!

Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like getting a call -- or in this case, an email -- asking can you work up an ad by Friday? (Technically, we had a few days after that, but still ...)

The local Kirksville paper publishes an annual Progress Edition focusing on the changing dynamics of the community.

This ad is very close to the initial rough draft. The second stab at it added two more pictures, but saner heads prevailed, and it was reduced back down to four. (Less is more.) There is only one static shot. Most arts detractors think the arts are to look at. I really wanted to show folks engaged, people doing things.

There are studies showing how arts/culture/tourism are tremendously positive factors of any local economy. Only progressive communities take advantage of those assets. This is the first ad Kirksville Arts has run that addresses what they do for the area. I hope we get to do one each year from here on out.

Plan B

A few weeks back, I wrote about co-organizing and designing for an exhibit planned for the fall, a career retrospective of Bernard Perlin. Shortly after I posted, the numbers started coming in regarding what it would cost to borrow various works from various institutions. Yowza. There is such a barrier to entry, no wonder many people write off art as only being for the elites.

A quick regrouping and Plan B was formulated. Perlin's work for Life and Fortune magazines is actually his first major body of work, and one where we can see an artist grow and develop. And the bulk of the material is in one spot, with very little borrowing involved.

Design 101 (for me, anyway) dictates that a strong graphic will make your look. The one utilized here is called Patrol Disembarks. Coupled with the title "an artist goes to war," the linkage is undeniable. A mockup of the poster in on the left, the bones of a newspaper ad on the right.

Still have to raise money, though, but it's less than Plan A, so it should be easier. (Knock on wood.)

Painting Missouri

When I have access to a strong graphic, it is the canvas upon which to place text. Even if you arrange the text similarly, you’ve a different end result each and every time because of the graphic utilized.

In Painting Missouri, Billyo O’Donnell traveled to all 114 counties in Missouri and found a representative scene for each. You can read more about the project here.

 

The one thing I’ve done differently from previous posters is I placed the logos and contact info in the upper right corner. (I know pretty freaky, right?) However, this may not work in a vertical layout.

 

Newspaper ad. Here, the stack of logos and contact info works really well.

Perhaps a shaded background on future posters?

 

With each project, I try to strip it down to the bare essentials. Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. One of the more immediate goals is to try to figure out how to include a QR code without it having look like an afterthought, or worse, clutter. (What do you mean “What’s the current status of my desk?” … None of your business.)