alandesigns

Self portrait

It’s me! This is a print using the relief technique. Basically I carved the image out of a linoleum block, covered it with paint, slapped a damp piece of paper on top, and ran it through the press. I carved the different brown tones at different times though, carving out the white first, then light brown, then medium then dark brown last. It’s a similar technique to Japanese woodblock printing, except it’s on linoleum instead of wood, and except that its…not…even like a Japanese woodblock and I suck in comparison…..

banner

This banner was created for a ProWorks trade show, to show off our version of Microsoft’s Customer Relationship Management software. The banner has an eerie feel with shadowy figures meeting, who could be your customers making a deal without you! The challenge of this project was to create an atmospheric, yet “tech” look to the 6-foot tall banner.

smurfette

It’s Smurfette! This may look like quick little drawing, but it’s actually etching print using the “Intaglio” technique. Basically, I covered a zinc metal plate with an acid-proof coating, then “drew” the image by scraping off the coating where the image goes, and placing the plate in a bath of acid. The acid eats away the metal where there is no protective coating. Many many repeats of this process with different lengths of times in the bath are needed to get the right amount of tonal differences. When the plate is done I cover it with ink, wipe off the excess, slap a damp piece of paper on top, and run it through the press. The pattern in the background is actually a piece of lace I placed over the coating.

save the date card

This save-the-date card was created for my friends Ajai and Christin, with their visual sensibilities in mind. They liked a lotus flower theme, and even sat down with me to hand-choose some of the images to be used. The design is brought into the actual wedding invitations, response card, and info card as well. There is a bit of symbolism too, if you like, in the two larger lotus flowers coming together in the middle. They would represent the bride and groom being together.

cow book

cow book

cow book

cow book

cow book

Where Does Milk Come From? I illustrated and put together this book for the Oregon State University’s “Health in Action” preschool level health awareness program. This 11 page book is a cute little step-by-step process of how milk gets from the cow into your bowl of cereal. I had a blast drawing up some fun images for this project.