Fly in under the radar for a sneak peek at the latest goings-on here at Angel Bomb and inside my crowded cranium. You might find photos of a killer project about to hit the press, a rant about the state of design in the digital age, the inside scoop on an upcoming art opening, a recipe for succulent beef tenderloin in port-rosemary sauce, or something completely different.
The Blog is updated on a predictably unpredictable basis, so check back often to see what’s bubbling up to the surface.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Hmmm, where can I set my beer?
It’s nearly quittin’ time in the studio and about time to crack a beer. It’s a good thing I printed up a whole heapin’ slew of these Letterpress Union Local 271 coasters! Following fast in the wake of the t-shirts come matching coasters. They possess the same cool illustration of a Chandler and Price 8×12 so detailed you can almost hear it clinking and clanking away. Letterpress Union members in good standing always set their beers on an appropriate coaster. We can’t have any condensation rings forming on the workbench, dontcha know. They’re also suitable for glasses containing rye, vodka, and even kool-aid. Stop on by during Art A Whirl in May and pick some up.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Promotional Folder
Recently, Stephanie Hynes, a great young fashion photographer, came to me with a desire to recreate the mood of vintage photo folders to use as promotional pieces. I followed the general shape and style of vintage folders but sized them up so she could fit 4×6 images in them. Her photography has a timeless elegance to it so I tried to maintain that with the design of the piece.
Using a large texture plate, I printed a light background color that would age the piece and give is some depth, helping it look worn from years of use. Then I designed and printed a great cameo on the front flap along with Stephanie’s contact information on the back. All this then got die cut and scored. Not only can you get beautiful pristine results with letterpress, but with using layers of ink you can also create a worn or aged look as well. The results are really only limited by your imagination.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Letterpress Union Local 271
At long last Angel Bomb has a new t-shirt design! Proudly show your commitment to unite against the Man keeping you down with poor wages and no beer-Fridays. Get your very own 100% cotton navy t-shirt and join the Letterpress Union today. Available in the store.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Just in time for the weekend!
Ahhhh, it’s Saturday; time to crack open a cold one and take a long drink of hoppy goodness. But where o where shall I set it? How about right here on these nappy letterpress coasters designed by those creative kids at Thorn Creative! Printed on some hefty 35pt blotter paper, these die cut beauties will take all the abuse a weekend of drinking can dish out.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
HOW International Design Annual
What a treat it was to get an email from my old friends at Christiansen Creative alerting me to the fact that the business cards I printed for them were included in the latest HOW Design Annual! Sweet! It was a great design created by Tricia for the St. Croix Souvenir shop in Hudson. Check it out, it’s on page 104.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Adopt A Maple
As one who recently adopted a blind puppy, I can proudly say that adoption is a good thing except when the adoptee pees on the floor. Which is why I take great pride in presenting these new certificates for Anderson Maple Syrup out of Cumberland Wisconsin. The trees stay in Wisconsin and won’t give you any headaches. Anderson wanted something woodsy that would show the recipient not only where the tree they adopted was, but also contained facts about the tree and the sugarbush in which it resides. We went with a subtle woodgrain background which is a great effect achieved with a hefty impression and just a little ink. You can see the nice detail in one of the images below. And check out the photopolymer plate used to print the second color. These are a pretty cool advancement in printing plates: they are compact, easily stored, and recyclable. Anderson even got some advance press in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel’s food featurette a week ago. It’s always nice to see my designs online and hanging in people’s houses so get out there and adopt a maple tree; you’ll get one of these dandy certificates along with your syrup.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Vintage Letterpress
So these two kids come walking into my shop all teary-eyed and crying and I ask them ‘what’s up?’ They tell me they need a print job done in a hurry, one color, a couple hundred copies max. I look for their parents but no-one else is around. The girl draws a picture of a dog, not a very good one either, and I try to get her to pony up for my illustration services but she wasn’t having any of it. I run the poster for them and they pay me with pennies and a handful of Tootsie Rolls. Lousy clients, but I’m glad they got their dog back.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Thank you thank you thank you.
It’s that time of year again. The holidays have past and a new year is well underway. Time to send out a thank you to all the clients who helped make Angel Bomb a success and remind potential clients that there’s more than one letterpress joint in this town. If you’ve been a proud supporter, watch your mailbox for these nifty cards. Official Business is a new line launched by Angel Bomb and these cards give you a taste of what’s to come. We’re all busy and don’t have time to sit and write soliloquies to friends, loved ones, clients. Use these handy cards to share your thoughts in less time than it takes to send an email with a lot more personality.
