Signs of the Times - November 2013 - (Page 42)
DESIGN MATTERS
By Jeff Russ
Jeff Russ is ST’s Sr. Art Director and
a freelance designer and illustrator.
A Horse of a Different Color
Dusting off the cobwebs and relearning a few lessons
If you are reading this paint a sheet
column, you
already know how to
of plywood.
Even though a project like this
school mascot seems simple, countless decisions and revisions must
be made at every step. Let’s just
say this mustang took me twice as
long to create as I had anticipated.
Grinding out this project definitely strengthened my admiration
for the creative work signmakers
do every day.
I created the 8-ft.-tall, plywood
mascot for Ruth Moyer Elementary
in Ft. Thomas, KY, home to the
Moyer Mustangs and also the school
my children attend.
As an illustrator and designer,
I've made hundreds of signs over
the years, but I haven’t hand-painted
anything on this scale in a while.
I considered this project a way to
give back to the school, while giving
myself a chance to design with something other than a computer.
■
Even at this relatively humble scale, the perspective issues that plague muralists came
into play. Are the shoes too large? Is the head too small? With perspective playing its
tricks, I trusted my grid and kept sketching. Priming, and painting, both sides ensured
that warping would remain minimal, and it gave the piece a nice finished look. On the
completed piece, the back and edges are painted gloss black.
Talented woodworker Gil Russ (my dad) cut, then routed,
the edges from my sketch. He also constructed the
French cleat I used to hang the heavy 8-ft-tall mascot.
We both thought the other did the “hard” part.
42 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / NOVEMBER 2013 / www.signweb.com
With the sketch and woodwork complete, the painting began. Here, the
endless adjustment really takes place. Color choices and subtle facial
expressions can make or break the piece; I must have revised the hoof
shape a dozen times.
http://www.signweb.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - November 2013
Signs of the Times - November 2013
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
The Moving Message
Technology Review - Caldera Flow+ 2.0 software and its Version 9.20 RIP
Technology Review - KeyedIn™ Sign Edition software
New Products
Design Matters
Enter the ST Intl. Sign Contest!
Deep Thoughts
Temporary Vanity
LEDs: The Omnipresent Illuminators
Accessible Training
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking
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