Sneak Preview: New T-shirt Shop

Hey Kids!

I've recently opened a new T-shirt shop with Zazzle, and I'm still fumbling around, getting things organized, and working on some more designs. I'm starting off with a lot of slogan shirts, and yes, many of them are somewhat crude and vulgar, but if you know me, I don't imagine you would expect anything less. I've also got some graphic fashion tees up, and more are on the way. So, if you want to see what I've got so far, you can check out here, or you can also just check the shop panel to your right. Oh! and tell your friends if you would.

-Cheers!

Comfortable Underwear: The Evolution of a Logo

There is an old graphic designer's saying, which I've just made up: Logos are like underwear on a long bus ride—you want a good fit. I'm not sure exactly how many versions I've come up with for Vintage 66 Graphics, since I started almost a year ago, and while many never even made it beyond the sketchbook, there are three that made it to the final stage. So without further adieu, I present the V-66 logo Collection in chronological order.

This was the first finished version, which I have dubbed the Googie logo. Its name comes from the architecture & design period of the same name. It has very bowling alley or motel look to it, and certainly reflects parts of my style, but not all the elements, and its really too clean & crisp to properly represent my work .



I call this second version my Highway Logo, because it has more of an Atomic Era highway feel to it (think Route 66, Super 99, or Pacific Coast Highway). Not only did I create a new logo, but I went with a new color scheme as well, which I've come to realize is just too bland, and not really me. Don't get me wrong, I really like the logo, but no cigar.



For the current version, I returned to my old color scheme, and went with a real cartoony font, and the result much better represents the cartoony, neo-retro, mid-century modern, skully, tattooed pinup, dark and twisty jack-in-the-box, farting buffalo, rabid trailer tramp feel that my style encompasses.



Well, kids, I reckon that's about it for this post, so thanks for stopping by.

-Cheers!

Vintage Portland Video Clip: 1939

I would imagine this post comes under the heading of whatnot, as mentioned on the new banner. I was stumbling around Youtube a little while ago and found this really cool clip of some traffic at what is still a somewhat intimidating intersection: E. Burnside, 12th and Sandy in Portland, Oregon. Okay I'll grant you that on the surface traffic isn't that entertaining, from Portland or anywhere else, but this is different. It dates from 1939, and most of it is in color. It was originally posted by Dan Haneckow over at Unknown Cafe. According to Haneckow, this clip (along with a few others) was filmed by the Traffic Engineering Bureau as a way of documenting the traffic pattern after installing some modern traffic lights. In the background is the legendary Tik-Tok Drive-In Restaurant, which I understand, had only opened the year before in 1938. And those cool old cars are pretty nifty—of course, they weren't that old at the time. Also, keep an eye out for the electric trolley buses, which were all the rage at the time. Anyway, I just think its cool to see a bit of Old Portland come back to life, and I hope you enjoy it.
-Cheers!

Web Site is Done!

Holy Smacks! I've been fighting with this stinkin' thing for quite some time now, but the new Vintage 66 Graphics web site is finally done and published, and even ahead of schedule. Now bear in mind that it is still in beta mode, but the grand opening should be soon—God willing and the creek don't rise. Why don't you swing by and take a look? Oh, and did you happen to notice the new logo as well?

-Cheers!