Terribly Poetic

Okay, so I have to apologize for totally going off grid for the past while. Not sure what’s gotten to me. This spring has just been incredibly busy. For those like me in camp ministry, spring is our busy time, preparing for summer. So that is my excuse.

Today I was reminded of over two years ago what inspired me to create the graphic design side of my online little world, and of course I am referring to Poetic Industries. That inspiration came from Watoto Children’s Choir, as once again I was able to see them, this time as they came to our church in Saskatoon. It once again reminded me that we have been so blessed living in North America, and that we are called to return that blessing to others around us. I needed that reminder, and I need to continue to do whatever I can, and to teach others around me that same lesson. We are called to serve others. Libby, our oldest daughter, is excited to help in whatever way she can to give to our newest Watoto Child. A girl that is roughly the same age as Libby. I hope that I can be an example of what it means to serve others, and that this can be one more way I can teach my children to live selflessly. I also realized that Poetic Industries began with sponsoring a Watoto Child and that since then I could do more. And I thank all of you who have supported Poetic Industries by buying a t-shirt or getting me to design a website for you. In turn you have helped children in Africa. This has once again sparked me to want to print more t-shirts or skateboards, so if you are interested let me know.

Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that I haven’t completely forgotten about this site. I still enjoy it and really need to put some time and energy back into the site and what I want for it now and in the future. As I think about that I’d like to hear from you, what would you like to see here? More writings, more videos, or just more stuff about my family and daughters? Let me know in the comments.

I don’t think I’ve said it here often enough, but I really love my job at Ranger Lake Bible Camp. One of the biggest part of my jobs is being in charge of all things creative. Like a Creative Director. Anyways, as we are gearing up for the summer of 2010 I have been busy lately getting posters, brochures, t-shirts and the like ready for promotion. I am very pleased with this years design and with the theme of Believe. Here is the official desktop wallpaper that shows off the design. It is from this design that all my other designs will take their influence. I decided this year to go with a much more typographic treatment as compared to the heavy graphic components of last years theme. You can download the wallpapers for your desktop and iPhone/Touch below.

As we look to our theme, what is something you believe in?

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Just a quick follow-up to my previous post. I mentioned the possibilities of there being tshirts for sale to raise money for adoption. Well, here are the first mockup images of what the tees could look like. I am really excited about this as I am told that there are numerous other families in much the same situation as Darrell and Jessica that would appreciate these shirts as well. I am excited that Poetic Industries work could help people again as it has been awhile since the first Watoto Project and the shirts that got printed then.

While these shirts aren’t for sale just yet, if you would like to buy one please comment and I’ll make sure to let you know when they become available.

I got the chance to do up another poster for a concert coming up at the YFC Building. This time it is a benefit concert to help 3 nursing students travel to India to help in a hospital. While I am not super pleased with the results, it is what came after very short amount of time spent on it. I’d love your comments. I would encourage you all the check out the concert. Here is a link to the facebook event

The deck arrived today. I am so pleased with how it looks. The company that printed it actually phoned me to comment on how good the design looked. Let me know what you think.

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Coming up this Saturday, I am getting the chance to show off my Poetic Industries art and tees. I also got the chance to design this poster for the event. While its not my best work, it was fun to throw together something quickly for this concert. Andy Shauf is a very talented young man and I encourage everyone close enough to Saskatoon to come join us. Cost is $10/door or $8 with a donation for the Food Bank. Here is a link to the Facebook Event.

If all works out I will be able to show off my first skateboard as it should arrive before Saturday. It is an all ages event and should be a great show. It is being put on by my friend and co-worker Dallas Pelly. Can’t wait.

Just when I thought Poetic Industries was at a stalemate, a few pieces fall together and I am right back to promoting the brand, and trying to raise money for The Watoto Project. About two weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me if I’d be interested in showing my shirts at a concert. She is a fashion designer and would be having her own small booth. Of course I said yes. Then I went to work creating business cards, and making my first set of prints. Creating framed prints of my work may have been the ‘a-ha’ moment that I needed as I had stalled on creating more designs that I didn’t think would ever be printed; until now that is. Printing designs and framing them has given me a whole new lease to start designing some new pieces. I can’t wait.

Then for the icing on the cake. I had visited a number of sites regarding custom skateboard decks before and had always thought of printing some Poetic Decks before, but the costs seemed to be too high. Until I found a more reasonablely priced online company that does just that. Custom Skateboards from your own graphics. Thanks to Deckpeck I can finally get to see a Poetic Industries Skateboard, and I already have a buyer. Thanks Benyamen. Now I can dream up new designs or retool past designs specifically for skateboards. And while I think the skateboard provides a unique canvas, one that as a youth minister, I would display on my wall; Benyamen plans to ride it hard. Here is the first ever Poetic Industries Skateboard.

Here is a sneak peak at the design I created for Ranger Lake’s summer theme: Alive. I’d love to hear what you guys have to say about it. But I won’t apologize for the retro, even 80′s look as we had decided that the theme name of “Alive” already sounded 80s, so I choose not to fight it, but to appeal to it, just in a newer way.

Today I am proud to say I completed one of my quickest designs. Early this week Greg of Ranger Lake and Curtis of Camp Kadesh set out to establish a combined summer theme for 2009. I was able to be part of the discussion of picking out the theme, which as mentioned yesterday is taken from Ephesians 2:1-10. Well thanks to alot of input from Curtis, Greg, myself and even one lone contribution from here. Thanks Jared A theme was picked yesterday and ALIVE was chosen. At first it was thought of as too, early 90′s or even 80s sounding. I suggested, when the other options didn’t seem to be working out, that sounding 80′s wasn’t all bad. In fact, when I look at what young people are wearing, the 80s are back. I know this is scary, but its true. So rather than fighting it, I suggested we embrace it. So ALIVE was chosen, and last night I began work on the brochure poster, which is one of the strongest pieces of the design that I do for Ranger Lake.
I can say that today at around 5pm, I finished both the poster and the front of the brochure. I don’t think I’ve ever completed something so fast. Okay, so the whole design package that I do isn’t really complete as I still need to do the T-shirts, but the overall feel of the design is done. I am really excited about this design and am glad that Greg and co. at RLBC are excited about it too.

I’d post an image of it here, but I’d better wait to get the approval from Greg first. Until then you’ll just have to wait in suspense. All I have to say is that the feel of 1980s should come across in the design.

Download the newest wallpaper. Select your size below.




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