Deans Painting Completed!

I finally finished Dean's painting for his living room. Over a year ago when he moved into his new house, he handed me a blank canvas and said "This is my house warming gift... can you paint me a picture to hang up." A year later, this is what I came up with.

I have been studying up on brand identity for the last year and have found there is still a difficulty clarifying the difference between a brand and logo for some people. What is the difference between the two? and does it really make a difference when the idea of growing or marketing your company comes into play? The answer is yes! There is a difference!


Brand
Definition from www.businessdictionary.com
Unique design, sign, symbol, words or a combinations of these, emplyed in creating an image that identifies a product and differentiates it from its competitors. Over time, this image becomes associated with a level of credibility, quality, and satisfaction in the consumer’s mind. Thus brands help harried consumers in crowded and complex marketplace by standing for certain benefits and value. Legal name for a brand is trademark and when it identifies or represents a firm, it is called a brand name.

Logo
Definition from www.businessdictionary.com

Recognizable and distinctive graphic design, stylized name, unique symbol, or other device identifying a business or organization. Also called logotype, it is affixed, included or printed on all advertising, buildings, communications, literature, products, stationery, and vehicles. Not to be confused with a brand, which identifies a product or family of products.

Creating just a logo is not sufficient anymore for a company or organization to get the image of their product or service out there. It's all about creating a Brand Identity now. It's about creating more than a design, a sign or symbol. It's about creating a lasting image, thought and emotion in our customers and future customers eyes.

All in All...

Brand Identity is the perceived emotional image of a company as a while and the guidelines a company follows to accomplish it.

Logos identifies a business or organization in its simplest form via the use of a symbol or mark.

Block Printing

Back in high school we got to do a block printing project in art class. Lately I have been wanting to try it again. This time though I wanted to start printing on clothes. I didn't get the right ink for clothes yet, so I stuck with just doing prints on paper. (I will be printing on clothes soon) After doing some reading, I thought acrylic paints would be the best choice since I was only doing a few prints with each block... and I already had them. Acrylic paints dry quicker than block printing inks, so when doing larger prints you may end up with partial prints. But to be honest I kind of like the look of the partial print.

Block printing takes a few steps. First step is to choose your type of block you want to use. There are several different options. I have seen anything from the traditional linoleum block to blocks of soap (kids), speedballs speedy stamp carving block to blocks of wood. I decided on trying both the speedy stamp and the traditional linoleum block. I recommend if you are a first timer to use the speedy stamp, I found it to be a lot easier to carve into. Next choose a design, use transfer paper to trace the image onto the block and then start carving. I used a speedball Linoleum cutter assortment which i purchased at Michaels for around $15.oo. And well, i am sure you can figure out the rest. This is what I came up with. Enjoy!

Traditional Linoleum Block and Cutting Assortment

Speedballs Speedy Stamp Carving Block

New Joy In An Old Passion

Over the last few weeks I have felt inspired to start painting again. Something I haven't done since before my brother passed away. The first painting I did was one of him. The picture was of him on Christmas day laying on the couch and I had just gotten a new camera and snapped a quick shot. The second painting was a self portrait. I am having a lot of fun getting back into it. My next painting, which I am looking forward too, it will be a surprise:) It is for the living room of one of my good friends.

Updated Website

I have been going over and over with designing a new website for Graphic Nineteen and every time I seem to have something I kind of like, I keep coming back to my original design. What I like about my site is the cleanness and simplicity of it. So what I decided to do instead of create a whole new site. I decided just to update my current one. Use the same layout and change some images, add in a new page "Services". I haven't updated my portfolio yet.. the last time was October so bear with me.

Photos for Superior Door

I have been collecting photo's over the last month for Superior Doors. Here are a few :)

The NEW Tony Wilson Kickoff Classic site Launched

The Tony Wilson Kickoff Classic Tournament might be my favorite site I have gotten to work on over the last few years so it was really exciting to see it launch on April 2nd. The TWKC is a annual golf tournament in Lynden, WA benefiting the Lynden High School football team, the Tony Wilson Scholarship Fund, and the National Kidney Disease Foundation. This will be the 4th year of the tournament and hoping again for a great turnout. Check out the site and if you are interested in sponsoring the event you can fill out the contact form and someone will get in contact with you soon.