It is Finished
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Faith

Design by Jim LePage
Abaout a year ago I interviewed and featured Jim LePage and his Word Designs project – his unique and modern illustrated poster series of the 66 books of the Bible. Since then we’ve become pretty great friends (what’s the “guy love” equivalent of online dating?)
Today he posted the very last of his series of 91 total prints.
Please take time to see the entire series on his site and if you do not own one of these for your home (or the entire set for your church) then today is a great day to remedy that problem. Check the Revelation post to see how to take advantage of a sale going on right now – or how to win a free print of your own.
Proud of you Jim for sticking to it man.
Tags: bible, design, Jim LePage, Word Designs
Odorifous: Von Glitchka
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Odorifous
At first glace Von Glitchka’s work might not seem so special… but (though this is a bit hard to explain) that is exactly what makes him such a master. Great design should after all, be “invisible.”
Tags: contest, interview, Von Glitschka
Odorifous: Thomas Allen
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Odorifous

Sometime last year I had just a hint of an idea that involved taking my designs and photographing them to give it a little dimensional feel. I think the idea came when I was maxing out my photoshop skills to make client photos respectable for their print pieces. I come up with about a dozen new ideas each day though, so this one like most others came and went and was buried in my mental rolltop where all the clutter is stored.
Around that same time Ward Jenkins posted a few photos on Facebook of one of his favorite artists – Tom Allen.
Tags: art, interview, photography, Tom Allen
New Project: Traverse City Maker’s Market
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Good, Traverse City
Early this summer my friend Kelly & I agreed to join forces on the totally awesome event that she dreamed up and founded in 2010—Traverse City Maker’s Market.
It’s been a whirlwind few months (since these things generally take a year of planning), which involved the two of us collaborating on a new website, recruiting over one hundred applications from awesome artists and crafters from all around Michigan, planning and promoting the coolest new thing in Traverse City.
This Saturday—October 22nd—the event finally arrives! (RSVP on our Facebook event page)
We’ve got 25 of the coolest vendors from around the state, plus a half-dozen amazing food & beverage vendors (including hand-squeezed brats!) and local musicians providing a great backdrop for us all day.
(plus some pretty sweet event merch too!)
October is a wonderful time to visit northwest Michigan – come on up this weekend for Maker’s Market!
PS. After-party at Right Brain Brewery is gonna be insane in the membrane.
Here are a few products from our vendors that I’m definitely looking forward to checking out:
Tags: maker's market, tcmm, Traverse City
Odorifous: Lisa Congdon
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Odorifous
Lisa Congdon is inspiring to me because (like me) she’s a self-taught artist—no fancy art school, no grad school connections with whom to jump-start careers—and didn’t start working as an artist until she was in her thirties.
She’s one of those people that give the self-taught, mid-thirties, bible-college-grad like me a bit of hope for this “career” I’m working on.
Because I have a tendency to want to do everything NOW.
Tags: art, illustration, interview, Lisa Congdon
John Hughes Illustrations Published
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Work
Last summer I created a set of posters for the Traverse City Film Festival commemorating nine of John Hughes most iconic films. This month a couple of those illustrations were picked up by Open Skies magazine – a Motivate Publishing print magazine that serves as the in-flight mag for Emirates Airlines.
The posters are currently on exhibit at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City. I’ve already sold a few out of there and they are each a limited edition – so come on out to my reception this Saturday to get one before they’re all gone!
You can also order the posters from my online store.
Tags: original illustration, published work
Strong Odors Art Exhibit: Opening Party July 16
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Beer, News, Traverse City

Illustration by Troy DeShano
I’m excited to announce my exhibit opening at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City next weekend!
All the work is already up, so you can stop by anytime to check it out, but I’d really love it if everyone could come to the opening next Saturday night!
If you are anywhere near Traverse City or even in Grand Rapids or lower Michigan wondering what to do for fun next weekend you should definitely make the trip up to beautiful Traverse City! Nothing’s better after a long day at the beach or hike along the dunes than a hand-crafted brew from Right Brain Brewery!
My reception will be from 7-9pm so please stop by and say hello and hopefully you or a friend can go home with some radical new artwork for your walls.


TCFF John Huges Posters behind the bar
If you’ve never been to Right Brain then you’ve been missing out! Each beer is hand-crafted with the same kind of TLC that we visual artists know is required to create something that we can be proud of. The atmosphere is really fun and relaxed—way cooler than a bar with no big-screen TVs in sight!
Come support local art and just have an awesome Saturday evening at Right Brain!
Let me know if you can make it by Likeing the event on Facebook.
Here’s the details
Right Brain Brewery July Artist Reception
- Date: Saturday, July 16th
- Time: 7-9pm
- Place: Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City’s warehouse district. (map)
More on Right Brain and the Artist Reception
- RBB’s July Artist Reception announcement
- RBB on Facebook
Never miss out on Strong Odors news!
If you haven’t signed up for my email newsletter yet, do it today. I offer regular contests, giveaways and other big announcements like this one that you’ll never want to miss. Sign up now!
Tags: art, Beer, original illustration, shopping, Traverse City
New in the Shop: Lots of Crows
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design
I suppose I could have called this “angry birds.”
5″ x 7″ limited edition giclee on fine art paper – $22
Tags: art, birds, original illustration
Live Now: New Book by Eric Smith & Friends
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Books

A couple years ago I discovered illustrator Eric Smith and his Live Now project. At that point it was a handful of illustrations, contributed by a variety of great artists—each with a particularly positive message.
After meeting Eric I came to find out that he is—like me—a cancer survivor and the project was inspired by his own experiences enduring treatments and learning the invaluable lesson that each moment of life is precious.
Tags: Books, eric smith, live now
Have I Lost my Soul? Design Inspiration from a Satanist
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Found
I found this interview with Metastazis founder Valnoir incredibly inspirational.
When I first started freelancing as a designer I had this attitude that my ideas may be weird, but I believe in them—and only clients that love to take risks and can trust me need apply.
Valnoir obviously has the same foundation to his work. From metastazis.com welcome page: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: design






