MERCER WINE LABEL

I wanted to submit our wine label designs to Mercer this weekend, so if you have something you'd like to submit, please forward it to me at nancyjthurston@gmail.com. THANKS!  Nancy

"Kennewick's Grain Elevator on Clearwater"

 

This old grain elevator was at this same location when I first laid eyes on it in 1957. Then it was the westernmost building on Clearwater Avenue, in Kennewick, WA. Due to population growth and consequent growth west, it sits near the middle of town these days. Newcomers find that hard to believe. It also was an actual grain elevator in those days, the trains still run right along side it, but today it's mostly a cell phone tower.

Richland Library, Richland WA, Lobby

My first attempt at a big vertical drawing..A challenge!

Richland Library

TOTALLY forgot my paints, which forced me to be true to the drawing.  Dang, it's easier when you can throw me off with color...  This perspective was so tough.  The ceilings are so high and the people are so little - but it really helped me watch exactly where things were.

For this one, I just used my pencil - again, something I rarely do.  The kids moved so fast I had to throw them in quick but the books were great!  I do like the ease of the kids though...

"3rd Saturday Sketchabout - March 2013"

Looking down one of the aisles in the library.

We met this morning at the Richland Public Library at 10am for a couple hours of sketching.  At noon we regrouped, shared our sketches, and had a very interesting conversation about our work. 

Afterwards we went to McKays Taphouse for a lunch, more sketching and conversation.  (The Italian sandwich I had at McKay's will not be the last.  It was wonderful!!)

I offer these images for viewing.

Nancy, Dave, Jay and Greg enjoying themselves at McKay's.

The noon sharing brought these sketches to the table.

Dave, Greg, Nancy, Jean, Jim and Jay.

FINAL - Eagle & Plow

Here are the final renditions of my 4 'EAGLE & PLOW' labels.  

I am planning on forwarding these and Jim's to Mercer Winery at the end of this month - around March 30 - so if you'd like to draw up a few labels, now's the time!  

Forward them to me and nancyjthurston@gmail.com.

"A Few Sketches from Earlier in the Week"

Over the course of the last few days, I have taken a number of opportunities to do some sketching. 

Usually I add color, but today being a rather gray day, I decided, for now, for these sketches, to leave them in monotone.

Maybe I should add some shades of gray/black color, just for emphasis, but no...not today. 

The top sketch is from a football game I attended last Saturday.  My son-in-law is one of the coaches of this "elite" team of 7th and 8th graders from the greater Tri-City area.

The middle page was done while I was sitting in
a local Subway for lunch on Tuesday.  I often use the corner table in this shop as an office space.  In addition to lunch and sketching, I was working on end-of-year reports for a local school retirees association of which I preside this year. 

I got a lot of work done there, listened to some iPhone music.  Some of my very old albums from as far away as high school have landed on the iPhone.  Great stuff.  If you're into the '60's.

The bottom sketch is a quick study in perspective

I did while my wife was in one of the stores looking for a special type of dog food.  Perspective is gradually becoming a little more clear to me.  One thing that has really helped is a book I recently purchased by James Richards, "Freehand Drawing and Discovery."

4 Options for EAGLE & PLOW

Here are my 4 options for the Mercer label.  I have spent a lot of time on these and even now, there are some problems that will take even longer to address.  On 2 of these the '&' sign is too far to the left and needs to snuggle in but that would mean doing the entire thing all over again.  At this point, this is enough of an idea if the Mercers would like to use them and I can tweak more if needs be.

The winning designer gets a case of the "Eagle & Plow" wine each year the label is used, so it's a fun prize!  I am thinking, if I had the proper tools to be a graphic artist, these things would be so much easier on my computer than by hand.  I guess I prefer the fine arts and the graphic arts programs would require a lot more time for me to learn than I'm willing to spend.  There's only so much time in a day you know!

 Number One

Number Two

Number Three

Number Four

If your interest is tweaked and you'd like to have a go at the contest - DO IT!  Submit your designs to this website and I'll forward them on.  GOOD LUCK!

EAGLE & PLOW Wine Label

Spent hours today working on this wine label.  This is the third try and so far, I like this best.  

If only plows were more attractive or maybe if an eagle and a plow went together but, DANG, try putting an eagle on a plow or by a plow or even DRAW a plow.  

A Plow?!