Just got a email from Benjamin Mace over at YouPlusWe about the new Plan B Tech Decks out that had my illustrations on them. So I decided to take a break, head over to Target, and yep, there on the shelf were two boxes left. I snatched them up since I doubt I’ll ever get a promo copy from the client. It’s pretty exciting to see your work on something that is a established brand like both Plan B & Tech Deck. Thank you Benjamin for getting in touch and letting me know! I am always impressed by random people & designers who notice my work out there. It means quite a lot for you to get in contact or share photos you’ve taken when you spot it!

I have had the pleasure of helping DCMA Collective on a bunch of different pieces. It is a relationship I am proud of and always try to go a few extra steps on the pieces for them. Just recently discovered a couple of my designs up on their store. Check them out over at the DCMA Store. DCMA is going to kill it this year!

While doing some minor shopping over at Target this past week, I noticed the new Idog Amp’d is out. I had the pleasure of working with Tiger Electronics at Hasbro on some deco for these. This past year I’ve helped Hasbro with defining the logo for Power Tour Guitar, Mighty Muggs Typography, Deco for My Little Ponies, Controllers for Transformers & various things for Littlest Pet Shop. One of the projects that I’ve enjoyed a lot was working with the licensing department on Nerf, Transformers and a couple hush hush projects that are on deck. So yeah, I do more than skulls!! (inside joke)

With many requests from clients and possible clients, I have gathered up my first PDF Look Book for download. This is a selection of recent & semi-recent pieces within Typography, Illustration & Apparel. Most who visit Hydro74 often have probably seen this work. This is a 40+ page collection of various works.Hydro74 Spring 2008 Look Book

Rob from The Ronin was sporting the Samurai of Death T-shirt over at the FITC event in Toronto. Looks like I’ll have to bribe Chris / Dstrukt (who is next to Rob) with some shirts as well!. Thanks Rob for being a great friend. Also, if you haven’t seen The Ronin’s work or Dstrukt’s work, take a moment. They are amazing what what they do!

Just got a email from Howard Smith over in the U.K. showing me his new tattoo that he got. I’m always impressed and flattered by those who adorn their body with my art. Thank you Howard, a Hydro74 gift will be posted in the mail for you!

Pale Horse is getting ready to release a 74 page book from the last Gallery Show it held. Here is the low-down: It’s Full color – 8.5”x8.5” 74 Page, soft cover bound book. This book showcases Four Horsemen-themed artwork, bios and exhibit photographs from over 30 amazing fine artists, illustrators and designers, across North America and Europe, in various mediums and countless interpretations. Artists include, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Hydro 74, Josh Taylor, Dan Mumford, Jarrod Eastman, Joe Scarano, Horsebites, Tony Philippou, Rob Schwager, Eric Jones, Jason June & many more!

Pale Horse Studios
Pale Horse, 2nd Coming Book

HYDRO74 RANT...Yesterday I went to Borders to look for some books and found this cheap DVD for $4.99. I remember a while back I saw the trailer of it and wanted to see it, so besides the price being really cheap, and the packaging being nice, I decided to get it. That night (Sunday) with the Simpson, Family Guy & American Dad (about the only time I watch Fox..) being reruns, I put the DVD in and suddenly got depressed. This Documentary is about the climate crisis and the wastefulness of the world, and mostly us Americans. I had mixed feelings of the evolutionary aspect that it presented at the beginning since I do believe in ideas of evolution, but also believe slightly in intelligent design (not that I’m advocating a religion because I don’t subscribe to that ideology anymore), but after on, the aspects of abuse without good stewardship of the planet had changed the dynamics of how the Earth reacts from human growth & greed. I was very impressed with it. Much like Al Gore’s Documentary, it shows the error in what has been done with possible solutions, but those solutions are only done when we become selfless and responsible in how we deal with our consumerism, waste and need for carbon producing objects. The part I did enjoy is that they did focus on the idea that it is far easier to break free from Oil to earth friendly mediums, however with the amount of power and wealth the Oil companies have, they dictate the political system. This is just a after thought and by no means did this movie advocate it, but after thinking about the true power wealth has given the major Oil producers, it is easy to see how Al Gore lost his race as he ran for President and that a former Oil Man who gains control of the the office, wages a war with a country that had no ties to 911 as well as focus on regions that still have large supplies of natural gas and reserves. So as a citizen of this planet…no, better yet, as a guest of this planet, along with the million others, why did we not care and allow 8 years of social, economical & environmental demise happen from fascist styled propaganda that has us fearful to question any true nature of the events that took place. We’ve became complacent and assumed we as individuals couldn’t do anything about no matter how much we disagreed with what was going on. I guess at the end of it, both the documentary & the short time I just thought about it, I realized I have been impacted, and have impacted with series after series of my own Americanized gluttony. We all want to live like Kings no matter the cost. I need to make my own changes and allow this to be my faith so that I wasn’t complacent on this issue, but did something for my children and future generations. What is wrong to treat nature as that, nature, rather than property that we can sell, trade, abuse, destroy, as well as destroy those who live and depend off of it, animals & humans alike. So with that said. It’s only $4.99, buy it. Proceeds for this go to nonprofit organizations. Watch it, see what you agree with and what you don’t. Now is not a time to be complacent and assume this is somebody else’s problem, issue or agenda. This is our agenda.
11th Hour Action
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Movement

…And again, going though stacks of old burnt CD’s I found this. Basically, on of the first projects I got when I worked in Dayton Ohio over at Axis Media Group was some packaging design for a sub company of DK Bicycles. It was called Armor which provided a lower end, but quality selection of various bike parts. I believe, if i recall, had to produce 35 different packaging sets and work with a company over in China to get these figured out. It was very time consuming since I never did that before. However after re-checking out the work, it wasn’t that bad for circa 2002. These are not the final ones, so if i can get my hands on a box or find a disc that had the art, I will post them. To be honest, I’m rather just enjoying checking out my older work because it’s a good point of reference to see how I’ve grown in my designs and ideas with it.

 
Oh Frack’n Wow!. I was cleaning out a massive box of Cd’s since we moved recently and found some old art Cd’s that I had various files on. These couple of pieces were done in mid 2000 when i worked in Grand Rapids at Studio Ink / Stink Brand Skateboards. For some reason at the time, I really liked a hybrid anime style of power puff and furi furi. During that time we (Stink Brand Skateboards) was on this hessian tip, so spend most of my time using old propaganda, skulls, pop colors, and weird stuff, which, when I look back at it, Mr. Dodd (owner) was way ahead of the curve. Also during that time I got to work with Bill Danforth and meet some great skaters. I guess I’m amazed I was hired for that job because I really wasn’t that good. I was struggling to find my voice as a designer, as well as figure out the tools of the trade. It wasn’t till 2001-2002 that things really click and Hydro74 got developed, ala the birth of mecha animals (hydro style). Well anyway, I wanted to share my sad illustrations. I still slightly dig them, but not enough to ever promote. Also, PLEASE don’t request that style from me, it’s dead to me (ha)