I Birds Austin

Lately I've been very busy.  Ok, so I say that every other day, but this time I mean really really busy.  In addition to the backyard demolition and the guest bath remodel I've been working with superstar client, Birds Barbershop, to unleash a new campaign on our unsuspecting and fair city. See, with the word Barbershop in the name, people often assume that their core customer looks a lot like this:

With free lone star on tap, you best believe that several dudes get their ears lowered at Birds, but they also have customers like-a so:

And plenty like this:

Birds owner, Michael, and I have been brainstorming and coordinating this campaign for months.  All photographs were shot by Alison Narro, layout & graphics by yours truly, and the logo is a spin on an old austin bumper sticker from the '70s.  (BTW, I tried to find a pic of the sticker online and couldn't but trust me it exists)  Here are a few other posters I've put together so far.

The shoot took place over 4 days (one day at each Birds location) and all the models are Birds customers who just so happened to show up during the shoot to get a haircut.

If you're in Austin, keep your eyes peeled, these posters and ads will be popping up everywhere soon.  Treat it like a where's waldo, would ya?

Featured Artist Friday: K-Dawg

Ok, so it's no secret that I've been a bit too busy to put together spellbinding posts.  These days, Erin's posts are akin to the view one might obtain after weathering the journey to the top of Mt. Everest, while mine are more like, well, looking at swamp water.  It's not that I don't love the blog, I do, I just haven't had the time to source that which my heart doth love the mostest:  great design online Normally on Fridays I toss up a picture and bid you good weekend, but this week I thought I would mix it up a bit.  I still haven't gotten the time to find awesome works abroad but I do have access to one portfolio that I do know quite well:  my own.  Hey I'm no Alexander Girard, but I can put together a graphic or two if I have to.  Here are some of my most recent projects (and the source of la massive time suck)

I made this horsey a while ago with the intention of painting him on a wall or screen printing him on to pillows, then the web got inundated with things made out of lots of smaller things and I couldn't decide what to do:  jump on the trend bandwagon, or admire him on my computer screen.  As of now, it's only been the latter.  This is one of the only recent personal projects I have as most of my time goes to my clients (and even this is over a year old)

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that Birds Barbershop is one of my biggest clients.  Here are 4 of the gazzillion gig posters I've made for them over the last year or so.  Those dudes give a mean haircut, but they also love to party.

And yes, that is 100% a Nagel knock-off up there.  It was intentional, OK?

One of my other clients is Owl Tree Roasting, a fantastic organic coffee brewery here in town, on the left is a sticker for one of the coffee bags they did for Progress Coffee, on the right is a sticker for the Mexican beans they roasted up for Birds.

Massage Harmony keeps me busy (but I dare not complain since my back is nice and loose thanks to them).  Here's a poster I did for a recent open house they did.  Psst, if you're in Austin, I can't recommend them enough, and their prices are SO GOOD

Our pal Jen of Naughty Secretary Club seeks out the K-Dawg for her design skillz every now and again.  Here are a couple of ads I did for her.  Yes, I have a thing for animals in accessories (note the zebra, dog, lamb, and duck on this site, which I also designed)

I made this gig poster for my friend Andy who is a DJ.  He's awesome.  If you show up to a party and he's playing, it's going to be the best night of your scene loving life.

And finally, here's the baby shower invite I drew for our very own Erin Bear.  I've cropped it so you stalkers can't find my house, but, well, you get the gist.

I've got a bunch of other crap, but who wants to look at mock-ups for law firm e-newsletters or keypads for portable foot spas?  Well, maybe that's your thing.  If so, I've got 'em in spades.

Happy Weekend everyone!!!  I promise to make more time for all of you in the coming weeks

Birds is the Word Again

So it's 9:30 on Monday night and I've just gotten off the plane from my trip to Albuquerque, where I got to check out more than a few awesome Bart Price houses (alas, still not from inside).  Congratulations to both Sherri and Freshly Found for their laser-like accuracy in Friday's where in the world contest, you made my decision tricky so you will both win bracelets from Naughty Secretary Club. Hooray!! Anyhoodle, as I mentioned, I'm fresh off the plane and have just returned to my computer after 4 days of work-free-best-friend's-wedding-bliss.  Despite my begrudging return to the real world, all is not so bad as my inbox included brand new pics of the newest Birds Barbershop taken by our own Ms. Erin.

You may remember that Erin took these pics of Birds on East Sixth just a couple of months ago.  The newest shop has a 3D mural created by local party planner extraordinaire and all-around badass, Luther Himes.  Psst... remember those 3D party pics I posted last week?  See, it's all coming together, right?

My favorite part of the shop is the 35 foot long wall with the black and metallic silver chevron stripe.  I had originally suggested a wide, angled stripe, then Joel Mozersky suggested we make it a chevron while at lunch one day.  I gave the design to our painter who then suggested that we put it at an angle.  So, it was a 3-way collaboration.  Yay!  Collaborative success!

Oh, unfortunately, at the last minute they had to put that ugly AC in.  But at least it's nice and cozy in there now.

That AC is a godsend since every other wall is a floor-to-ceiling window.

Did I mention the Free Skill Crane?

And the free Lone Star?

I love the back shampoo room, these chairs sit across from the big chevron wall.  The black high-gloss stripes running up the wall were a quick solution (suggested by yours truly) when no back splash had been planned for the sink, those shampoo bottles get messy too, so the wall directly behind them needed to be protected as well.

I found this light on ebay, it is my one true love

I also designed these 3D glasses, they're mighty special from the front as well, guess you're going to have to stop by the shop to see them.  For those of you in Austin, it's at 1902 South Congress, Just north of Magnolia Cafe.  You can also visit their site (designed by lil ole me) HERE