Kweller to Kweller
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Found
Check out this rad Ben Kweller 2006-07 Tour Poster by Delicious Design League.
Looks like they still have some in their store.
Tags: Ben Kweller, illustration, poster
Indigo Girls Tour Poster
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design
While working on a post for the Indigo Girls’ new live album Staring Down the Brilliant Dream, I discovered that they were sponsoring a Creative Allies poster contest. My Creative Allies submission for the ReadyMade SXSW contest did pretty well, so I didn’t want to miss a chance to create what my be the tour poster for my wife’s all-time favorite music duo.
Tags: contest, creative allies, original illustration
2015 is only Five Years Away
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Found
I don’t know how many times a week I say “man, I could really use a hoverboard right now.”
I was starting to worry that they might not arrive by 2015 and the whole space-time continuum would be jacked.
Tags: design, Film, future, video
Music Inspires Me: ReadyMade, Creative Allies, SXSW
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design
It is no secret to readers that I’m inspired by music.
I’m not exactly sure what connects me to any particular songs.
When I’m creating something visually I always have to have music playing… sometimes I can even look back at past artwork and know if I had been listening to Smashing Pumpkins or Sigur Ros or Radiohead or Bob Dylan while creating.
There is something about great music that is inspiring… it can’t be just the music itself, because different music inspires different people in different ways.
But when that perfect combination of melodies, harmonies, rhythms, ambient noises, or whatever comes together in a way that connects with me on a spiritual level…
I think it may be one of the top reasons why I believe in God.
UPDATE 3/3/2010
I found out this weekend that my submission to the Creative Allies for a ReadyMade Magazine contest is going to be featured in the exhibit at the ReadyMade Party during the SXSW Festival!!
If I’d had more time to enter multiple designs in the contest, I might have had a better shot at winning the Grand Prize… a trip to SXSW and party with the ReadyMade crew…
Would’ve been sweet… just saw this cool mix from NPR today and it’s got me wishing I could go to see some sweet bands like The Antlers, Band of Horses, Japandroids, Matt Pond PA, Rogue Wave, She & Him, and even Churchill will be doing a show there…
Not to mention a crap pile of the most snob-worthy bands so fringe they don’t even exist in real life… I’m sure one of them is probably my favorite band ever… too bad I’ll never know.
You can see all 12 pieces in the exhibit here and check out some close-up detail images of my illustration on my portfolio.
Tags: original illustration
Always Inspired by Colored Pencils
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Kids
Feeling uninspired lately.
I’m not sure if it is because I’ve been focusing on work-related stuff… or because I’m waiting for cat scan results to see what’s the next step.
But for whatever reason, I haven’t had much to say lately…
and because I’m committed to Strong Odors being quality, not quantity…
I’ve decided to share this illustration rather than ramble on about something no one really needs to read.
Not exactly sure what’s happening here… but one of my favorites from my daughter (who did this one back in the first grade).
I can’t come close to expressing the creativity that she can unleash with a single stroke of a pencil. Take a few minutes to discover all the detail and emotion and story in this one.
She challenges and inspires me as an artist.
Also threw some Passion Pit into the playlist… lots of Passion Pit echoing around our house lately.
Tags: illustration, kids
New Site for Thunderbeard
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design
My bro-in-law asked me over Thanksgiving to create a new header or at least an avatar for his blog…
I was kind of hoping he’d ask…
Even though he’d done a fine job choosing just the right theme for his WordPress blog, with the free WP hosted sites you only get so many options…
So I created this super fun illustration (his idea) for his blog…
and then went a little overboard and continued to customize a sweet new site that more appropriately fits the quality of his writing…
I don’t think of Strong Odors as a “Christian” blog, though I’m sure any regular readers can see my faith is a big part of everything I experience and write about…
Thunderbeard however writes from an unabashed Christian perspective… with honesty, transparency, humor and grit.
and because I know him so well… I know that every struggle or victory he shares is for real.
a real guy dealing with the real battles of being a man, losing a parent, finding faith and learning to be a better husband and father.
His readers are always really excited to catch anything new he puts out.
So check out the new Thunderbeard and Lightning!
Tags: original illustration, thunderbeard
Haunted State Hospital
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Traverse City
It is starting to smell like winter outside.
So I took advantage of some unusually nice weather and shot some photos at Grand Traverse Commons.
The old state mental hospital.
Some say it is haunted.
Tags: ghosts, original photo, Traverse City
No Headlines when a Black Girl Dies
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design
I love Canada, but I’d never really considered looking beneath the veneer of the friendly, relaxed world with which I had grown so familiar.
This illustration is inspired by a Kathleen Edwards song that challenges the listener to do just that:
Tags: kathleen edwards, Music, original illustration, social justice, wealth
The Grunge Movement
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Books, Culture, Music
I spent my freshman year of college at Bob Jones University (it’s a long story for another post) – the world’s bastion for conservative Christian fundamentalism.
When I say “conservative” I mean it… these guys call Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell liberal…
Within a few weeks I was confronted by my dorm supervisor… brought into a private meeting.
I think he was trying to tread lightly, since they have so many culturally-sheltered students when he asked me…
Tags: 90s, Culture, Music, photography
Return of Looney Tunes Tees
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Culture, Fashion, Humor
Looney Tunes has collaborated with fashion T-shirt designer Johnny Cupcakes to release these limited edition shirts.
Looney Tunes back en vogue??
I’ve been saving a purple Wile E. Coyote shirt (
ca. 1991) just for this occasion. Now if only I can find some red Arizona jeans and I’ll be able to recreate the entire ensemble.
Tags: Fashion, looney tunes, t-shirts
