ARTISTS FOR PEACE

This past month I created this poster as part of the Dialogues: Poster Art of the Soviet Union Show at the City Gallery at San Diego City College. Rare historical Soviet posters from the period of Perestroika and Glasnost were featured alongside contemporary posters with political, social or arts themes and a Russian twist. 

My poster was about the potential of the arts to promote peace and social change. To craft a culture of peace you have to first imagine it. Artists around the world and throughout history have given voice to that ideal. A sharp pencil can be a powerful weapon to communicate the pathos of war.  I’m greatly inspired by folk arts, many of which are living traditions. Birds are a common theme in Russian folklore and this region has a particular gift for storytelling. The folkloric pattern inside the bird represents a diverse patchwork of beliefs and opinions. The colors tip their hat to Russian Constructivism. When creating this poster, the recent peace agreement and conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists was on my mind and in the news. The two leaves symbolize differing points of view with the pencil of the artist providing a stable perch for the idea of peace to take hold. 

You can purchase a high quality, 20 by 26 giclee poster for $65 with all funds going to the Doyald Young Reading Room. I am such a believer in books and this design and illustration library at City College is open to students and the community. I'm supporting this effort as this reading room is a great place for aspiring illustrators to find their way.

Dancers in historical costumes performed barefoot in the gallery at the opening. Photo by Edward Honaker

Photo by David Eichinger

Poster Poster

Thanks to Poster Poster for featuring the ReImagine poster I created for the Americas Latino Eco Festival on Poster Monday yesterday. Fresh type design by Lulubi Garcia. Seemed like a good time to look back at some of the other posters I've created over the years for a variety of organizations, political and social causes. The idea is the important thing when coming up with a poster. I start by thinking about the audience and how to communicate a message with impact.

Americas Latino Eco Festival Series

When working on a series like the Americas Latino Eco Festival I wanted to find a fresh approach as so many concepts had already been tried. Although I observe trends my goal with these posters was to search for simple, concise ideas that would send a message.

THE IDEA COUNTS
I start with lots of words and thumbnail drawings to get the ideas flowing. The five Rs of conservation are reduce, reuse, recycle, restore and replenish. I played off this mantra by adding to that list with reflect, re-flourish, reawaken and re-imagine.

GET CONSISTENT
Once I had these themes I was challenged to unite the poster series yet keep each individual poster compelling. I decided to design a background element and leaf/teardrop shape that is a repeating element used in different ways. You can find it in the bird wings, flower petals, tears and leaves. Then I consistently implemented textures I had photographed in my hometown of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to add emotion to the posters. The deconstructed type designed by Lulubi Garcia is also a unifying element. 

COLOR AND TEXTURE
The posters below became official campaign posters of the 2008 and 2012 campaigns targeting Latino voters. I employed textural affects and motifs this demographic would connect to. Latinos have no chromphobia so my approach to color was to interpret the vision and determination of the President in vibrant hues they would relate to. I spend long hours developing painting techniques and photographing textures that I can add digitally to my compositions.

2008 Obama Election Campaign

2012 Obama Re-election Campaign

One World, Many Stories Reading Program for Kids

National Book Festival Poster

San Miguel de Allende Chamber Music Festival

Southern California Fire Relief

Bird Day Illustration for a poster. Type design by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Gil and Lobo Concert Poster

Gator by the Bay

Read Across America Poster Illustration. Type by CTA.

Latino Film Festival Poster