Mended Arrow Design Blog

2017-01-17T00:12:00.001-04:00

I've moved my blog and website. You can see the new work here: www.mendedarrow.com

New Work: More Gallery5 posters

2016-04-26T07:42:00.000-03:00

Two more Gallery5 posters. Seems like a Gallery5 poster week this week.

I try to make an effort to use aesthetics that are appropriate to the content. This is a bit more obvious for band posters since, often times, aesthetics are the only thing going for them. Instead of illustrating something using a definitive “style” I choose techniques and imagery that reflect the musicians. This is important. I feel like several of us forget that and make imagery for ourselves and not the client. It can be just as much fun experimenting and getting out of your comfort zone as it is to keep creating stuff using your personal style.

NEW WORK: Gallery5 Poster for Silver Apples

2016-04-23T11:01:00.001-03:00

Poster for Silver Apples performing at Gallery5 next month.

NEW WORK: Refueling

2016-03-24T21:00:00.002-03:00

Sci-fi comic recently published in the latest issue of DC's Magic Bullet.

NEW WORK: Homesick | Restless

2016-03-21T09:59:00.001-03:00

To be printed on a Risograph by Barry O’Keefe with similar colors. Can’t wait to see how it turns out! The piece is for the Homesick | Restless print exchange/exhibition organized by Barry O’Keefe. All the artists are Richmonders making commentary about the city, living in the it or the duality of loving the city while wanting to leave. I revisited a drawing about the history of the area marked as an African burial ground in Shockoe Bottom. What draws me to this city is the populace’s resilience, culture, innovation and unashamed defiance. What often makes me want to leave are the proposals and failures of the city government.

NEW WORK: Hip Green Scene

2016-03-21T09:39:00.001-03:00

Shirt colors still undecided, but this is an illustration for a Hip Green Scene shirt. I can’t take credit for the concept. The client came up with this brilliant idea! So great to work with smart folks.

NEW WORK Park illustration

2016-03-03T14:44:00.000-04:00

Illustration and detail for Max Brandon Park in Flint, MI. The illustration will be used for signage developed by Ben Gaydos’ Design Center class at the University of Michigan. To develop the visuals, I worked with Professor Gaydos, several naturalists and park administration. Max Brandon Park is a 107-acre urban forest and the second largest open green space in Flint.

2016-02-14T16:57:00.002-04:00

Finished this poster for Sweet Fix's dessert series.

New Work: Performing Statistics

2016-02-08T15:18:00.001-04:00

Newspapers I designed for the Performing Statistics project aimed at changing the juvenile justice system. Above are some spreads and the cover. Included in the paper: art & writing by incarcerated youth, statistics, info about the project and ways to incorporate the project into the classroom.

“You’ll begin to see them popping up around Richmond and they’ll be delivered to every single legislator…even hand-delivered on Youth Lobby Day coming up Monday, Feb 15″

NEW WORK: Night Idea

2016-01-21T14:43:00.000-04:00

Final design for the band, Night Idea. Originally was a cover design, but will now be used for marketing materials (shirts, posters, etc).

Panel Discussion

2015-12-30T13:11:00.003-04:00

I’m on a comic panel with several talented comic artists to discuss our work, the comic medium and the current/future state of the Richmond comic scene at Studio Two Three (3300 W Clay St)! See you at 7:30PM January 11th.

NEW WORK: Gift Cars

2015-12-28T11:48:00.004-04:00

Designed the print component of these gift cards using: photography from Jessica Maida, mural by Mickael Broth, and cakes by Sweet Fix . You can them pick up at Sweet Fix (9 West 10th Street, Richmond, VA, 23224)

NEW WORK: Ad

2015-12-28T11:40:00.001-04:00

Designed this quick ad for The Wedding Crashers Tour. Info about the discount below.

“This is the last week for our ‪#‎merryandbright‬ special on crasher tickets! Head over to www.weddingcrasherstour.com and grab yours. And don't forget to enter the @diamondsdirect contest running through the 31st: LIKE & Follow us here and then TAG an engaged friend in the comments for your chance to win. No purchase necessary, winner announced Jan!“

Discounted copy of Issue #3

2015-12-17T12:19:00.002-04:00

I made a minor coloring error for issue #3. If you would like, you can purchase a discounted copy of The Little Red Fish #3, click the button below.

1 page is missing the purple color
on a rock.

1 page has a few panels missing some coloring on the Little Red Fish

$3.00 For Discounted Misprinted Copy

NEW WORK: RVA Krampusnacht

2015-11-21T10:09:00.002-04:00

Check out this large format poster piece in person at the annual RVA Krampusnacht to coincide with Richmond’s annual Krampus walk in Carytown the following day, Dec 5th. The exhibition is up for the month of December. Opens 7PM, December 4th, at Gallery5 (200 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220). I’ll also have smaller versions at 11″ X 17″ available at the event. More info here.

Here is the tentative list of amazing artists in the group show: Brit Austin, Richard Becker, Audrey Benjaminsen, Charles Berger, Sishir Bommakanti, Mickael Broth, Nick Bryant, Erin Conley, Brad Douglas, Melissa Duffy, Jacob Eveland, Parker Galore, Autumn Haynes, Adam Juresko, Kyle Katterjohn, Bizhan Khodabandeh, Ish Keller, Lily Lamberta, Amelia Blair Langford, Abigail Larson, Al Lukehart, Onca O'Leary, Jeff Pageau, Dave Parrish, Scott Parsons, Bryan Patterson, Nicole Pisaniello. Sam Randolph, Oura Sananikone, Morgan Sawyer, Andrew Slater, Tim Sinclair, Emily Schy, Courtney Elizabeth Stowell, Jean-baptiste Stowell, Beth Stratton, Will Towles, Ross Trimmer, Cathyrn Virginia, Steven Warrick, and more TBA

New Work: Localore

2015-11-17T11:43:00.001-04:00

Identity for one of 15 Localore: Finding America projects. The point of departure is conversations with locals leading to monuments of forgotten sites and people in the city of Richmond. To represent this, I used two human profiles creating a monument to a citizen. The lettering is custom. This project is titled, “UnMonumental” and is being executed by independent producer, Kelley Libby in Richmond, VA.

About Localore
“The program, run by AIR, partners independent producers with public media stations and provides them with funding through July to cover underserved communities.”

About UnMonumental
“Richmond’s African Burial Ground rests under I-95 and at the center of debate about where to place a new stadium. It’s the first stop for a public radio and art enterprise that introduces us to many of Richmond’s hidden or forgotten sites and the people who cross these spaces.”

Blue Grass Festival Poster

2015-11-16T16:17:00.000-04:00

My Richmond Bluegrass Festival poster was selected to be in this years Society of Illustrators annual as well as the exhibition!

RVA Yart Sale

2015-10-13T08:15:00.000-03:00

This coming Sunday, I’ll be at this event tabling my books, prints, boards, shirts and more! Get a peek at my stuff here in my store!

1-5pm Oct 18th, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, 2408 Ownby Lane, Richmond, VA, 23220.

New Work

2015-10-10T09:20:00.002-03:00

Designed and Illustrated with the talented David Pijor and myself. This is a great Halloween series of events coming up. More info here.

SINK/SWIM’s Comic Creator EXPO!!!!

2015-10-08T10:42:00.002-03:00

OCT 17th 11AM-5PM at Gallery5 200 W Marshall St. More info here.

The tentative list of participants:
Chris Visions (Dead Letters, Constantine), Rick Spears (The Auteur, Carnage, Black Metal, Wolverine), Richie Pope (Spera, Time Magazine, New York Times), Jim Callahan (The Auteur, Strange Detective Tales, Rotting In Dirtville), Scott Wegner (Atomic Robo), Brian Clevenger (Atomic Robo), Matt Dembicki (XOC, DC Conspiracy), Frans Boukas (Bartkira, Goon), Ian Sampson (Pep Talk, Up To the Top, Ignatz Award Nominee), Morgan Sawyer (Hyper Slum), Jared Cullum (Baba’s Accordion, You’re a good Bear, Bear), Brian Funk (The Enforcer), Sishir Bommakanti, Al Lukehart, Autumn Haynes (Tea for Trolls), Cathryn Virginia, Abigail Larson, VCU Comics Anthology, Chris Kindred (The Nib), Shannon Wright (The Guardian), Ameorry Lou, Oura Sananikone, Jacob Eveland, Amelia Blair Langford, Dashiell Kirk (Consumption [RELEASE AT EVENT]), Ellie Gill, Ian Bodkin (The Savage Lyrics), William Bennett, Chase Beasley (Crud City), Jake Ziemba (Yukon Glory, Mt Olyphant), Christine Skelly (Mt Olyphant), Greg Steele (Harrington Comics), Adam Juresko (No Supervision), Adrian Todd (Mr. Toast Comics), James Moffitt (The Little Red Fish [RELEASE AT EVENT], What To Do When You Give Up), Bizhan Khodabandeh (The Little Red Fish [RELEASE AT EVENT], The Little Black Fish, Kitty Meow Meow, SI Silver Medal Awardee), Christian Leaf

Richmond Folk Festival Poster

2015-09-14T20:39:00.001-03:00

Richmond Folk Festival poster design with and without the figure and type. The image on the left is the one being used of course, but I thought that I’d show it without the b-girl. Also working on the shirts for this year’s event.

If you haven’t see it, here is some press about the poster design for this years event. http://www.richmond.com/entertainment/article_92152bb0-9ed6-513c-b19b-9c39e0923b8b.html http://wtvr.com/2015/09/09/richmond-folk-festival-poster/

http://www.styleweekly.com/Studi/archives/2015/09/09/the-2015-richmond-folk-fest-poster-revealed

NEW WORK: Richmond Young Writers

2015-08-19T22:09:00.001-03:00

Just finished this guy for Richmond Young Writers. 29 young writers were paired up with 28 artists to illustrate their stories through art. An exhibition of all the participants will be up at ArtSpace kicking off on Sept 18th. I was paired with the above 14 year old author.

More info below:
“We’ve matched 29 Richmond Young Writers with 28 of Richmond’s most fantastic creative artists in a collaborative arts show at ARTSPACE gallery (0 East 4th St Richmond, VA 23224 USA) … for 30 days! Join us on Friday, September 18th for opening night in the main gallery room to see how the artists add 2 and 3 dimensional life to text.”

Fri, Sep 18, 2015 6:00pm
Up Till Sun, Oct 18, 2015 5:00pm

2015-08-14T10:06:00.000-03:00

Finished up this logo for the Mathews Film Society. This non-profit regularly shows films in Mathews, VA. I chose to use a crab as a point of departure because the city is in the Chesapeake Bay region and known for their sea life. The society’s next film screening will be the 1962 adaptation of To Kill A Mocking Bird on August 20th. At the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the actress, Mary Badham, who played Scout in the film.

UCI Championships

2015-07-27T18:29:00.000-03:00

Did this illustration for the 2015 Road World Championships in collaboration with Proof Integrated Communications for Dominion Power. It was a lot of fun having the point of departure to combine some of the elements of my previous work with classic French cycling posters. More of my work can be found at: www.mendedarrow.com

NEW WORK: Boom Box self-promo

2015-07-25T18:31:00.002-03:00

Unused illustration that I sketched out for a client, but just had to finished it. It was a lot of fun - as will be the final sketch that the client went with.