Books

I think that it is important for me to peruse collections of other productions in this field of work, and where better to start than the library. Here are my results:

Promo-Art: Innovation in Invitations, Greetings, and Business Cards

 By Charlotte Rivers

• Cal*LINE - Classic American Letter Press Greetings Cards

http://www.littleoranges.com/products.php?type=letterpress&category=2

These are by far my favorite and most inspirational finds from my research so far. Such simplicity and yet so much character.

• Camron PR Christmas Card

http://studiobaer.com/design/

Detail within simplicity here with this bird and elaborate text. Something to take forward in my own work perhaps.

1000 Greetings  Creative Correspondance designed for all occassions. Peter King & Company. Rockport Publishers, Inc. 2004.

• KBDA Jamie Diersing

The card range above is a simple lino print, something that i could pursue perhaps with basic block colours that complement eachother.

• Firebelly Design Mikel Rosenthal

I have chosen to include this card because of the complementary colours and the border that reflects throughout that card folds. I am also drawn to the front text layout within it's triangle like casing.

• Dairy

I have included this because of it's novelty use and it's theme of 'I Wanna Take Your Breath Away' to show that there are themes like mine out there.

• Michael Osborne Design Paul Kagiwada Michelle Regen Bogen

The simplicity of design within a range of cards is shown here, something that i would like to stick close to.

• Fiddlesticks Press Lynne Amft

Again, another simple design on a range of cards.

Initial Idea Research - Current Greetings Cards

Based on the idea of 'I Wish You Were Here' greetings cards, i have googled 'i wish you were here' to see if anything like it has been done before. I had 3 main results:

• http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/miss-you-cards/wish-you-were-here

Greetings Card Universe, above, hasn't really excited me with their designs, the only one that relates moderately is the latter example above of the lady sat with tea in a strange art Nouveau style. The rest were simply photographs or basic cartoon concepts, nothing appealing or contemporary.

• http://www.zazzle.co.uk/wish+you+were+here+cards

These again don't stand out from the crowd, although i have found 2 interesting homely cards that do relate to my theme but focus it to a Christmas audience, the first is a basic vintage style print of a family centered around the house at Christmas time http://www.zazzle.co.uk/vintage_countryside_greetings_card-137183546205397443. The Second is titled Christmas around the fireplace with the inside greeting saying 'I sure wish you were here' as it is simply a photograph of an elaborate, grand fireplace   http://www.zazzle.co.uk/christmas_by_the_fireplace_card-137654555135095198.

• http://www.bettyblanche.com/shop/pd/wish-you-were-here-caravan-postcard

Now, the only website here to strike me with exciting designs is this one, Betty Blanche. Whereas the other websites featured very basic cards in terms of art; either reflected through use of photography or cartoon. Betty Blanche uses a block print system onto quality brown card, and although this is a postcard, it still works and appears contemporary and interesting to look at. 

Further research continues below:

• http://www.pinkfloydstore.co.uk/acatalog/Wish_You_Were_Here_Greetings_Card.html

I thought that i would include this last example just so that i am aware of the relating title connotations that link it with Pink Floyd.

Here is the chorus from the song that i may draw upon in development:

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
And how we found
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

On the theme of furniture, here are some examples of current greetings cards:

I really like the basic imagery used here with the chair above and the rocking chair below, something i'd like to draw upon perhaps in keeping my idea simple .

These pieces above and below are a bit too fine art esque, and something that i cannot practice within my time frame unfortunately.

Inspiring as the card below is, it is a very dramatic photo... Not what i'm looking for.

A range of  furniture related greetings cards, all paintings or prints which makes a nice change from the theme of current 'I wish you were here' ranges.

The latter one above is being marketed as a retirement card. 

http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/retire/greeting+cards

The Idea and Reasoning Behind It

I have mentioned that i wanted to play on the theme of 'I Miss You' and some of the more niche topics like 'Hugs', purely because they offer potential for expansion and trying something that hasn't been done in the market before. From this i have said that i would like to surround my greetings cards with the theme of 'I Wish You Were Here', and to me this is a personal topic and something that keeps cropping up. It came about because i live apart from my girlfriend and other than 'i miss you', the only topic seems to be 'I wish you were here' that seems relevant.
Not only is this a personal topic to me, but it can be used in a variety of contexts such as someone being ill, some sort of forced separation whether that be through the military/ for example, post break up perhaps, or that your child is about to embark on a journey for example university or a gap year abroad etc.
I am therefore proposing to design a series of 4 greetings cards all with the theme of wishing that a loved one was with you, or by your side. To me this whips up warm, homely thoughts; a fire place or a rocking chair for example.

'I Wish You Were Here' (the first things that pop into my head):

• Warmth
• Homeliness
• chimney / Roof Line
• Fireplace / Wood Burner
• Living Room
• Television
• Sofa
• Rocking Chair
• tandem

To get the ball rolling on my initial ideas generation i have come across some old Habitat brochures from the mid 90s, which offer a wealth of furniture and home imagery. From this i plan on taking forward and developing my drawings into final outcomes. Along the way, no doubt that i will twist and turn as my ideas develop, i am hoping to gain more enthusiasm, and ideas from this process.

Here are the sizes that i am to work to:

110 x 210mm

121 x 184mm

157 x 159mm

159 x 159mm

Sandra Dieckmann

http://www.sandradieckmann.com/

Looking at Sandra's work, i am enthused by the way that she uses so much detail and takes so much time. Her outcomes include so much depth as an image and are really inviting and wholesome in the way that they draw you in. 

Degree:
BA Hons Graphic Information Design

1st class honours with distinction

University of Westminster London
 
Awards:
Winner of 'Emerging Talent' at the Cheltenham Illustration Awards 2011, chosen by Oscar winner Shaun Tan.
 
Selected clients & collaborations:
Random House Publishing

Urban Outfitters

Area Designed Environments

House of Wolf (Venue // Islington, London)

Ohh Deer

Atomic Skies

Rhum & Clay Theatre Company

Coast

Digital Artist

Tallow Swim & Surf Apparel

Paper Darts Publishing

Moment Skis

AMMO Magazine

Poolga

Anorak Magazine

Gabby Young & Other Animals

The Culture Vulture

Politick Magazine

Catch Club London

Financial News
 
Selected print & publications:
print - 
 " All Rights Reserved"
 “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals”
 UTNE Reader
 Time Out London
 Famous Magazine // Russia
 Watchmepivot Magazine
 V-mag
 Get In If You Want To Live
 Digital Artist issue 25, 28 and others
 Illustrators Unlimited
 Digital Arts Magazine July 2011
 Lamono Magazine
 AMMO Magazine 6
 Wolf Magazine
 Paper Darts Magazine
 
Selected press:

web - 
Pull The Metal Magazine
ETSY FEATURED SELLER 

BBC CLICK
Computer Arts
Country Living Magazine
Kuvva
Grazia
Lamono Magazine
1973
Creative Boom
BLKFRMT
Free People
Juxtapoz
Doodlers Anonymous
We Love Creativity
Beautiful Decay
Cohabitaire
The Artfuls
Girlcore Magazine
Poolga
PeculiarBliss // Main Feature
Anorak Magazine Blog
Culture?
IM // UR
Ape on the Moon
The Culture Vulture
Pikaland
 
Exhibitions & Live Art:
 100 Houses for Shelter :: Bristol UK, Nov 16th 2012
 (En)danger for WWF :: Philadelphia USA, Oct 13th, 2012
 "KIDULTS" at L'ÉPATANTE GALLERY :: France, Oct 12th, 2012
 White Canvas Project 3 :: London UK, Oct 11th, 2012
 HelloHead :: London UK, Aug 2012
 Etsy UK at Clerkenwell Design week :: London UK, May 2012
 The Beach Hut Solo Show :: London UK, May/June 2012
 FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION exhibition :: London UK, Jan 2012
 Dog & Pony Gallery :: Munich GER, December 2011
 Give Me 5 exhibition :: Moscow RUS, June 2011
 Illustrated Type :: Gallery Nucleus, LA USA, May 14, 2011 - June 6, 2011
 Jaguar shoes, Shoreditch London UK,12th Nov 2010
 Ballad Of life drawing event, London UK, 4th March 2011
 
 
Elsewhere:
twitter 

Facebook 

Society 6 

blog 

flickr 

tumblr 

letterplayground 

Envelop 

Etsy 

Poolga
 
✏ sanidieckmann@gmail.com
☎ (+44) 0753 1120058
 
Sandra is represented by Jules Beazley Represents.

Methane Studios

http://methanestudios.com/

I would rather enjoy collaborating and creating work with Methane Studios. Their image making approach is strong and cemented and therefore very recognisable. 

Methane Studios  got its start in 1998 when Mark McDevitt and Robert Lee formed a partnership to produce silk screen posters for the East Atlanta club The Echo Lounge that featured some of the best independent bands in the late 1990′s.

The roots of this partnership started in the mid 1980s at  Columbus College of Art and Design located in Columbus, Ohio.  Robert and Mark,both from small Ohio towns, majored in Illustration and bonded over bad 80′s haircuts, corndogs, good music and creating art to form a friendship that would transcend into creating award winning artwork recognized worldwide. Our status as well-known designers has led us to win awards in design competitions in How, Print magazine, and the Graphis poster annual.

In college we learned in a more traditional way  which allowed us to explore techniques that we use today. We never let our posters “look” computerized. We use the computer like a pencil or paint brush. The computer has allowed us to speed things up and to explore more options for sure, but we still belly up to the drafting table often. We draw inspiration form many artists be it musical or visual and our work tends to have a vintage influence.

Today we exist as a two man studio creating package designs, logos, and posters for clients such as Turner Broadcasting, Honda, Liberty mutual, Blue Q, Dave Matthews and many other of your favorite bands. Recently featured on CNN, you can also find our work in many books that feature designs relating to t-shirt, music packaging and of course posters. We dig David Stone Martin, Jasper Johns, Ralph Bakshi, Mort Drucker, Robert Rauschenberg, Warhol, Edward Ruscha,  Push Pin, Alex Steinweiss and countless others.   Our goal was always to tell a story, convey a message, and to make someone stop and think a little with our designs. We have a sense of humor as well and it’s important to not take ourselves so seriously all the time.

Contact:

Mark McDevitt – mark@methanestudios.com


Robert Lee – robert@methanestudios.com

Publications:

                          1000, Music Graphics: A compilation of packaging, posters, and other sound solutions

                          1000, Garment Graphics

                          Gig Posters Rock Show Art of the 21st Century

                          New Vintage Type: Classic Fonts for the Digital Age

                          New Master’s of Poster Design: Poster Design for the Next Century

                          Naive: Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design

                          Swag 2 Rock Posters of the 90′s & Beyond

                          Swindle Magazine No. 9

                          Coupe 2007 International Design & Image Competition

                          Print Magazine 08, 07, 06, 05, 04, 03, & 02 Regional Design annual

                          Communication Arts Magazine 2003 Design Annual

                          Step Magazine 03 & 04 Design Annual

                          How Magazine 02, 03 & 04 Self Promotion Annual

                          The Art of Modern Rock – Chronicle Books

                          Sonic Visuals for Music – Die Gelsten

                          Graphis 2004 Poster Anuual

       

Clients:

                          American Cancer Society

                          Coke

                          Cartoon Network

                          Third Man Records

                          Penguin Publishing

                          Turner Broadcasting

                          How Magazine

                          Sony

                          RCA Music Group

                          Liberty Mutual

                          Death Cab For Cutie

                          Iron & Wine

                          Sonic Youth

                          Spin Magazine

                          HBO

                          Phish

                          Bon Iver

                          LiveNation

                          Smithsonian Folkways

                          Honda

                          LA Marathon

                          Blue Q

                          University of New Mexico

                          Dave Matthews Band

                          Wilco

                          OK Productions

                        Mellow Mushroom

Interviews:

http://printsy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/interview-with-mark-mcdevitt-of-methane.html

http://www.lookslikemusic.com/methane-studios-10/

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ip1y_htIw5sC&lpg=PA124&pg=PA124#v=onepage&q&f=false