Popular Monster

Santa Fe Arts Festival

2010-01-26T14:33:00.000-08:00

I know, it looks a lot like the Palm Springs stuff I did for the Ace (which was just a rip of Hatch Show Print stuff in the first place). My response: I don't care, I like it. Eventually this will probably turn into a full campaign, but for right now it is just an announcement splash page.

Dial M for Murder

2010-01-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

The kid is back! It has been a while since I posted anything, which is mostly because it has been a while since I had something worth posting. But thankfully the self-pity streak has been broken with the completion of the Dial M for Murder poster! Made for the Albuquerque Little Theater production, it is easily my favorite Hitchcock movie. And overall I am really happy with how the graphic came out. Of course, anything rendered only in black, red, and white is bound to look pretty good. Mostly I guess I am just happy that it doesn't look like total red barf. Which is really really gross. Take my word for it.

Pinball Publishing Interview

2009-09-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed! The awesome people at Pinball Publishing talked a little to Jeremy Pelley and myself about the work we did for the Ace Hotel over the past 2 years. See inside my brain! Steal our techniques! Thanks to the Laura at Pinball, one of my favorite printers ever.

Check out the interview!

Shakespeare In Hollywood

2009-09-11T17:17:00.001-07:00

I have just recently started volunteering my design skills to the Albuquerque Little Theater, this is the first poster I have done for them. I, like many Americans, love the idea of volunteering, but generally find it hard to find time or a way to volunteer the only thing I am really any good at. But designing theater posters is something I have always wanted to get into. Concert posters are great and all, but there is so much drama and story and comedy to convey in a theater poster. And what a rich history! I first started really loving theater design seeing the work Portland Center Stage did in Oregon. Great bold illustration and colors, imagery that fit in with current design. They made theater look so much more inviting. My favorite part was the way they found new ways to show iconic plays. Later in the season I'll be doing a poster for Dial M for Murder, one of my favorite movies ever. Hopefully it wont, you know, suck.

Santa Fean "Flow" Feature

2009-08-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

Back working at a magazine! This time it's a art and culture mag in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is way out of my comfort zone, so to speak, but certainly a learning experience. This feature is all about a Santa Fean couple's 2nd home, which is more expensive then anything I will ever ever ever own. I just wanted something that felt as modern and clean as their house, while avoiding being a total snore festival. Hopefully this came close. I kinda like it, anyway. PS: I didn't choose the article title.

Ace Press Kits: Award Winning!

2009-07-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have always thought design awards were kind of dumb. It's all so subjective, does it really mean anything? Still, it feels good to win one. For the work Jeremy Pelley and I did on the Ace Hotel press kits, we got an Applied Arts award. No trophy, flowers, or call from the President, though. I guess its more of a feel good award.

New Website!

2009-06-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

I hate updating my website. I usually put it off for as long as possible, then go to it 3 years later and realize the whole thing is in dire need of a total redesign. Today is that day! I have re-done popularmonster.com to reflect the person I am RIGHT NOW. Of course, the whole thing will be outdated in about 5 hours, but that won't stop me from re-designing it again… in 2012.

Grimly Boys Poster

2009-06-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Another old poster brought up from the depths of my external hard drive.

Sublimity Monster Board Graphic #2

2009-05-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

New Sublimity board graphic! Holy shit, that monster sure can sleep!

Kings Highway & the Amigo Room

2009-03-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

One of the cooler things I have done with the Ace is a ton of identity work for their Palm Springs on-site restaurant and bar, Kings Highway & the Amigo Room. My favorite is the beer cozy.

Ace + Arkitip

2009-03-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

I can finally say my work has been in Arkitip. My ego is EXPLODING! This is a kind of ad and a kind of editorial spread I worked on for the Ace that ran in a Arkitip newspaper release. I say "kinda" cause both really fall outside the normal definitions of ads and editorial, but I still like them.

Flapper Girl Website

2009-02-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

It took me way longer to design then it should have, but the Flapper Girl website is totally up and running! Christine Blystone, the brains and beauty behind Flapper Girl, coded the whole thing and did an amazing job.

Ace Hotel Property Map

2009-01-29T11:48:00.000-08:00

The Ace Hotel & Swim Club is such a huge property, it needed a map so people knew how to get to their rooms. So I drew one! I think it came out really well, and really captures the style of the hotel. It's a tri-fold, normally printed in B+W. The color is from my dreams.

Ace Hotel T-Shirt Collection

2009-01-12T11:09:00.000-08:00

A couple shirt graphics for the Ace, both for the Palm Springs hotel. The first one features letters hand cut out of cardboard, a new technique I perfected one day when I ran out of paper.

Ace Palm Springs Ads

2008-12-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

This is a sort of a collection of random ads I have done with Jeremy Pelley for the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs. We had the hardest time finding the hotel's voice, but in the end settled on really spastic and tight typography. It's even more fun when we hand draw it all!

Ace Hotely NYC Opening Posters

2008-11-19T10:37:00.000-08:00

This is a collection of Hatch style posters + graphics I have done announcing the opening of Ace Hotel NY for various needs. Mostly knock offs, but fun none the less. I guess if you are going to steal, steal something good!

Ace Hotel Website

2008-09-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

Probably the biggest website I have ever done! The style is pretty simple, but the big challenge was getting all 4 hotels (which are all pretty different) to exist in the same universe without it looking totally insane. We just made photography the biggest element. One day the page transitions will slide around like a microfiche, but it turns out that sort of thing is harder then I had hoped it would be.

Ace Survival Guide

2008-07-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

A kind of follow up to the Nike Presentation, this was sent to everyone who attended to further remind them how awesome the Ace Hotel is. It's basically just a list of all the great places in Portland that people should visit. I pretty much got to do this one all on my own, and tried to make it as interesting as possible while also getting it done in 2 days.

Ace Hotel Nike Presentation

2008-06-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

Nike is a weird company. I mean, I know what they do and how global they are, but it still amazes me just how many people actually work there. The Ace wanted to do a presentation to their travel people, who basically are the people that book the hotels for Nike guests and employees. I figured there were maybe 5 or 6 people who did this, but it turned out there were almost 25! To get their attention and break up their boring day (which was to be spent sitting through dopey hotel pitch after dopey hotel pitch), we came up with a whole experience that started long before the meeting.

First, Each rep attending the meeting was sent a letter with a specific number. The letter was an average form letter, with all the boring impersonal parts crossed out, letting the true message pop.

The second item sent was a 45 record sleeve pulled from a local record store with their number screened on the front and stuffed with gifts. The sleeve had a bunch of random stuff inside, including a record, an invite to the meeting, photos, notes, and love. This all came together with the meeting, where everyone just kind of hung out and talked about stuff they liked to talk about. Total success!

Sublimity Monster Board Graphic

2008-05-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

They made it! It changed a little, here is the updated version.

Sublimity Water Monster

2008-03-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is just a concept piece right now, but I thought I would throw it up. Not sure when Sublimity will actually be making it, but probably not for a little while. I want to turn it into a series, so I am going to be making 2 more at some point in the near future.

Saturday Morning Mix-Tape Poster

2008-02-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

Oh Mr.T, how I love you. Thank you for all the guidance you have provided in my life. The only way I can repay you is a messed up portrait. On a side note, Mr.T is actually showing up this weekend!*

Hope you can come!

* Mr.T will not actually be anywhere near Backspace this weekend. Sorry for lying.

Saturday Morning Mix-Tape!

2008-02-20T20:20:00.000-08:00

I've got a new gig! I am going to be hosting a Saturday Morning Cartoon show at Backspace coming up this weekend. I have been collecting tons of weird, old, wonderful cartoons for years and for the first time I have actually found something to do with them. More-or-less it is just a video DJ sort of gig, but trust me when I say the cartoons are fun to watch. My good friend Ruth is cooking up some awesome vegetarian breakfast items and Backspace has its regular menu going as well. The line-up is a surprise, but I will give you one of the best reasons to come. Hope to see you there!

Sublimity Shirt Love

2008-02-18T20:11:00.000-08:00

Just finished new shirt graphics for Sublimity Snow & Skate. Hearts and love, concrete and snow. Snow is for wimps, though.

Website Re-design!

2008-02-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

It only took me leaving my job to find the time to do it, but I have FINALLY updated my website! I did a total overhaul, with new graphics, more punch, and a cute picture of Astro Boy punching me in the mouth. Check it out!
popularmonster.com

Flapper Girl Creations Logo

2008-01-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

My friend Christine recently asked me to design a new logo for her clothing line, "Flapper Girl Creations". She does awesome work, which you can see right here. I am going to try and talk her into letting me design some t-shirts as well, but we'll see. At the very least, be on the look out for a new header graphic and buy stuff from her!

Sea Monster Poster

2008-01-13T18:42:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been trying to solidify a drawing style I can use for posters that is a little more poster-like then the quirky but color-less drawings seen here. To that extent, I think I have a winner in this poster. It took a while, but I am really happy with the outcome.

Old Site Design

2007-12-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

Another old design, but one I like a lot. This is a web design from a few years ago for a site that was going to provide users with various condition reports for their favorite sports. It has since gone under, but probably because they re-designed it away from my look. Fools!

Bigger Than Jesus Identity Work

2007-11-25T19:47:00.000-08:00

This is a little old, but is one of my favorite ID projects. Branding is one of my great loves of design, and something I only get to do every so often. This is the logo and poster, and I also did a few t-shirt designs.

Demo Blog V2

2007-10-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

If you read this blog, I have probably already told you about the other one. Its all drawings, all the time. I do so many, I thought it might be worth having some sort of web space for. And, you know, since it's free anyway...

Anyway, take a look: Pleasant Valley Tuesday

Something New

2007-10-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

It has been a while, so I thought I would just throw up something I am working on for the Mercury. It's not done yet, but I will put up an update once it is. Once done, it will be a rate card sent out to potential and existing advertisers. I am pretty jazzed, mostly because I was able to talk the sales dudes into letting me do something so graphic for a sales piece they will be using for a whole year. I am also currently jazzed because Art Chantry is coming to town tomorrow and doing a lecture, which is just really fucking cool.

Old Mercury Covers

2007-09-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

I think I posted this as a possible Mercury cover a few months ago, but I don't think I ever made a note that I used it as an ACTUAL Mercury cover back on Valentines Day. To make this a double feature, here is the first Mercury cover I ever did, which is apparently hanging on Courtney Taylor Taylor's wall. Dig it!

Nerd Metal Fest 2 Color

2007-08-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

Same as before, but now in FABULOUS Technicolor!

Nerd Metal Fest 2

2007-08-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

The name is horrible, but I think the logo came out well.

TV Electric Poster

2007-07-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I think TV Electric is a great band name.

I Love Grimly

2007-06-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

And I don't care who knows it.

New Sublimity Skateboard Graphic

2007-06-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Using the logo I made for them a while back. Pretty simple, but really sums up the whole mid-evil era, which was HUGE for skating. Trust me.

New Poster (finally)

2007-05-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted anything in about a million years. While there are a bunch of reasons, none of them really matter as I'm sure anyone checking this thing gave up as soon as I didn't make it to 30 covers. If there is anyone out there left, here is a new poster I am close to finishing. There is no date on it, so its not quite done yet.

Cover-a-Day #21

2006-12-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

This one isn't really ABOUT anything, I just wanted to make something a little prettier then I usually do. Then the girl is there cause all my stuff is about girls on some level or another. I kinda figured that was pretty obvious at this point.

Cover-a-Day #20

2006-12-05T23:52:00.000-08:00

This one doesn't have a whole lot of design to it, mostly it is just a really good find.

Cover-a-Day #19

2006-12-04T23:27:00.000-08:00

Watch out guys! She's a MAN EATER!

Cover-a-Day #18

2006-12-03T22:17:00.000-08:00

I am REALLY behind now. But dont worry my faithful readers (all 4 of you), I will finish!

I like this one a bunch. The love themes continue, yeah?

Cover-a-Day #17

2006-12-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Thats right, de stijl is cominc back! And its all because of me!

Cover-a-Day #16

2006-12-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

There was a lot more I was going to try on this one, but I am running a bit behind so I figured I would just throw it up as-is.

Cover-a-Day #15

2006-11-30T23:56:00.000-08:00

I know I kind of already did the thought bubble with the first cover, but I really liked this gag so I used it again. So what, leave me the hell alone.

Cover-a-Day #14

2006-11-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

Two weeks! Almost sorta half way there!

Cover-a-Day #13

2006-11-28T22:23:00.000-08:00

This started out as just a single cover, but then I felt that the guy needed a little motivation. A love intrest goes a long way towards motivating people, I have found.

Cover-a-Day #12

2006-11-27T23:56:00.000-08:00

Ready Set REBEL!

I am starting to realize that one of the hardest parts of this game is knowing when I should stop. Almost all of these covers could really benefit from some more tweaking time and love, but then I wouldn't be posting one up a day. This is already the second weak (in my opinion) cover in a row. Sorry, I am just babbling.

Bonus points to whoever names the inspiration for this one.

Cover-a-Day #11

2006-11-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

I don't know about this one. I like it, I suppose, but I dont really feel like I did that much. Its not like I took the photo, after all. Also, it feels a bit commercial, like it is way to close to a regular Spin Magazine cover.

Cover-a-Day #10

2006-11-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else noticing a pattern emerging? Its like I'm in love or something.

Cover-a-Day #9

2006-11-24T21:26:00.000-08:00

I am starting to run a little behind, but I am going to keep posting these as if I made one a day, just for the sake of easy organization. Two tomorrow, I promise!

Cover-a-Day #8

2006-11-23T22:45:00.000-08:00

I know, this one is pretty weak. And I know, I am kind of over-doing the whole wacky-image-threshold-collage thing. What can I say, it comes natural to me. Lets just say that I want to do different things and hope that I am telling the truth.

PS: Thanksgiving is a dumb holiday.

Cover-a-Day #7

2006-11-22T22:35:00.000-08:00

One week! I think its going pretty well, don't you? I have no idea what this one means, by the way. I know designers are always supposed to play up the subtly and make up reasoning and never let people on to the fact that the whole time they didnt know what the fuck they were doing, but on this one I really didnt. Still, I like it a bunch. I would give it a hug, were it a person.

Cover-a-Day #6

2006-11-21T23:40:00.000-08:00

I think this one might be my favorite yet.

Cover-a-Day #5

2006-11-20T23:56:00.000-08:00

For the most part, it is pretty easy for me to look at something and decide if I would want to use it as a cover. And looking at my work today, I am pretty sure there is no way I would put this on the cover. Still, I think the illustration came out pretty well. Just not COVER well.

Cover-a-Day #4

2006-11-19T23:52:00.000-08:00

I can already see some things on this one that I should have done differently, but it is almost midnight and this is about as good as it is going to get. Don't look at me, its not my fault. I blame Nintendo.

Cover-a-Day #3

2006-11-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

Go AMERICA!

Cover-a-Day #2

2006-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, my biggest worry with this whole thing is that at some point I will start hating the covers I make. That being said, I dont hate this one. I dont know if I plan on buying it a ring either, if you know what I mean.

Cover-a-Day #1

2006-11-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

I have always been a big fan of producing A LOT of work whenever focusing on a particular project. Recently though, I haven't really been producing much of anything, let alone lots of something. In an effort to battle this apathy I am struggling against I have decided to try something extreme. I am going to make a Portland Mercury cover everyday for the next month.

I don't know why I am doing this with Mercury covers, I think I just find the medium incredibly open to whatever I want to do. Also, I don't have to think about type faces (my least favorite design thing ever next to package design). But mostly, I think, I like the idea that by doing this I might make something I could actually print.

So check back often to see if I can pull it off. I am shooting for 4-7 quality covers, thinking that the rest will probably be kinda... well, terrible.

I would like to thank Madeline for inspiring this idea.

Mercury Covers

2006-10-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

These are from the house art show, which was a great time. Lots of excellent work and even better people. I dont know why it is that when now when I try to think of something creative and artistic my mind immediately starts thinking of Mercury covers. Oh well.

BIRTHDAY

2006-09-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

I am about to turn 26, and have decided to have an art show to celebrate. A bunch of house mates and friends will be hanging their work, please come by and say hello. If you have stuff you want to add, let me know. There is always room.

Sublimity Shirt Graphics

2006-08-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

I think making T-Shirts is the best. It also seems to be the medium that I have the hardest time coming up with ideas for. But I think both of these came out pretty well. Neither are actually made yet, but hopefully they will be soon.

8/10/06 Drawings

2006-08-10T17:53:00.000-07:00

More more more to come.

Halloween Pretenders Poster

2006-08-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

I still can't decide if I actually like this poster. For the most part, I think I do, but I feel like there is something wrong with it that I am just not seeing. More texture in the background or different treatment of the blood or something.

8/02/06 Drawings

2006-08-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

I love doing these drawings. I have never been able to keep a journal, but I have been carrying around a small square sketchbook with red and black pens for four years. I remember where I was when I drew one, if there were people around. I can remember if I was sad, if the drawing was about someone. I can remember how I felt.

Old Strawberry Blonde Poster

2006-08-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

This is another one from a while back. I really loved making posters for this girl, I had such a strong grasp on what her stuff should look like. Attitude + Pink + Bold. What else does design need?

Hurricane Poster Project

2006-08-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is a poster I did with my friend Danny Seim for the hurricane Poster Project, a benefit for victims of hurricane Katrina. It marks the first time, after three years of swearing we would, that Danny and I managed to do something together. I think it came out looking pretty rad.

The picture doesnt really do it justice, but the poster is screen printed on sheets of chip board. They are still up for sale on the site (thehurricaneposterproject.com) along with a ton of other great posters, take a look.

Also, Danny has a excellent gallery of poster work up over a Gigposters (right here).

Old Posters

2006-07-31T20:43:00.000-07:00

These are pretty old, from about a year ago. I had totally forgotten they exsisted, and also how much I liked them.

I Have a Blog

2006-07-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was talking to my friend and college Corianton Hale about monsters and the threat that the entire world faces on a daily basis from impending creature attacks. While we both felt strongly that monster attacks are 'bad mojo' we also felt powerless to make a difference, helpless to protect this planet we love. Until Cori had the idea that may not save the world, but it can make a dent.

Hence the creation of this blog. Through moderate (and hopefully steady) updates on my random graphic design work, I will stand aganist these attacks.

Someone has to make the first move. It is with the hope and dreams of all my fallen friends that I make this first post, a skateboard graphic that i recently made for Sublimity Snow & Skate, a small shop run by super nice people in Beaverton, Oregon. Check them out, buy my board. I will TOTALLY sign it, and that is a promise.