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perspective, vivid primary colors, and subject

Two Pick 2 - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck - 2006

When a piece works well both small and large, I really feel like I’ve hooked it. To me, this digital painting is quite strong.

There is a boldness to the image which is quite iconic. As though the piece was practically clear enough to be a logo.

The perspective is incredibly clear and straightforward and I think that is part of the reason it reads so clearly. The colors are also vivid and primary - nothing confusing about the immediate perception. Even the two figures are immediate.

In the spirit of double talk - there is complexity but it is masked by simplicity.

Art prints for this digital image are available by request - please email: specialorders@outhousestudios.net.

See Also

• Field Play
  same size template - similar sized art prints - strong iconic image as well
• Depth Cues
  basics in clear depth perception

representing creative, positive, community change

Art Start Logo

Salinas, California like lots of places is in need of a renaissance.  The image of the city is tarnished by imbalanced reporting of gang violence.

I have recently had the opportunity of working with a group of high schools students - quite creative, quite personable, quite intelligent, and quite determined to rebrand themselves and Salinas.

This group has promoted and curated a city wide high school art show - which is being held at the communtiy college within the city - Hartnell College. They have over and over proved themselves dedicated to the community.

The term artstart is used by many - but it is quite representative of the programs being offered by local non-profit Artistas Unidos - Artists United.

• New artists can display work 
• Local businesses become venues for displaying local art
• Youth are mentored and encouraged to development art
• New audiences are exposed to local art

As a vehicle for positive change, art has a great deal of power. The simple logo above is designed to represent this artistic, community movement.

See Also

• Logo Pogo
  a look at logos by Outhouse Studios
• Artistas Unidos - Artists United
  Non-profit community arts - mentoring youth in Salinas

Concept Development & Aesthetic Balance

A different description - see Animated Version

In yesterday’s article or below I discussed going back to my original Logo/Flag for a number of reasons. But being the person I am, I couldn’t help myself playing around with a different concept describing Outhouse Studios.

The above image has a hand on a stringed instrument and a hand on a mouse and color pouring out of what represents a simplistic monitor. When animated it becomes more obvious - but it would not surprise me in the least if the image were not well understood.

For instance, why is the hand on an egg?  I could have done the image a few times until it was clearer - and probably would have if it were for someone else; but I liked it as is.  I liked the oddly shaped unequal sized hands;  and I liked it with just this amount of color - for aesthetic balance and for how much truer the works become once they are printed.

These images (below and on my site) are very close to intended viewed over a monitor. That is the way they were created, but it seems they truly become real when printed. I don’t know if that is our conditioning to art or the way the pieces actually look. But as I have alluded to in many different aspects of art and life - either way it is the reality.

See Also

• Writing Consistenly Across Media: Ten Proofreeding Tips
  Touches on yesterday’s Branding discussion and today’s need for Printing
• Reality Cracking: the most difficult reversing art
  Touched only the surface of site - but discusses conditioning vs reality in many different essays and ways

Conception, Development, Change

Original Logo/Flag - Animated Version(not in use)

In January I wrote an article on a new logo and look for Outhouse Studios. However, since writing that three things happened.

First, there were some conception problems with the then chosen logo. At least one person I know didn’t read the notes coming out of the house as being music - and even the structure itself was rather truncated. Nevertheless, I had thought it clear enough and more indicative of what the website is about. See the more filled in animated version

Second, I recently attended a talk on branding and one of the things which came up was how logos should be held on to and held on to as long as a company can. It takes a long time to develop the relationship between logo and product - so don’t change your logo flippantly.

My site and logo have only been around a couple years - I never really viewed my logo as much as a logo as a flag or emblem - marking the page and setting a tone. But the truth is, I like that tone better than the replacement logo. So I changed it back.

There is more to the logo story and a connection to the creative process - but will have to be continued over the next couple days in the next couple of articles.

See Also

• Full Steam Marketing - Brand Communications
  Salinas group who spoke - site shows impressive creative ideas
• Branding and Usability
  Good explanation and insight into branding
• Brand New Branding - Marketing Trends Magazine
  Branding and the Web - experts discuss the changes

New Look On the Horizon, What’s in a Logo?

New Logo for Outhouse Studios - Go There

Former look - will stay in use - but not as descriptive

I never gave that much thought to a logo - my first image was very personal - my dog Max who had died a few months earlier - the image of out of the house being imposed on the other letters.

I like the image aesthetically - but I don’t think it conveys much of what Outhouse Studios is about.

The current logo has more of the typical logo feel - being mostly single line - in fact it started out that way until today.

It also had the animated movement of the prints and music coming out of the house; but I kind of felt it needed a little toning up - so the above.

My understanding of logos is simple - a recognizable image that uniquely represents a business - easier said than done.

If you are looking for a logo, I have three suggestions - not necessarily in order of importance. See Graphic Art and Logos and http://www.10-4design.com/ for some very creative relatives of mine who I know do good work. And third - if you find yourself enamored with my examples - send me a note - I might consider doing more logo work in the right situation.

See Also

• Graphic Art and Logo Design
  Link Partners of Outhouse Studios
• ten four good buddy
  Logo design by Chris Thrurman and Dani Guralnick - work I can vouch for