Showing posts with label aviation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aviation. Show all posts

Monday, May 30, 2016

Dean Martin Katz for Denver Law Magazine



THE CLIENT

University of Denver Sturm College of Law

THE ASSIGNMENT

A cover illustration to honor Martin Katz, the beloved dean of the University of Denver’s law school, who is stepping down from his position.

THE CHALLENGE

Tell the story of Martin Katz – his deanship at the University of Denver, his interest in aviation, and his status as a highly-regarded figure, at the school and among the nation-wide law school community.

GETTING STARTED

I participated in a conference call, with my art director as well as the assistant dean of Sturm College of Law, to discuss what they wished to portray for this cover illustration, honoring Dean Martin Katz, and thanking him for his time of positive service, to the school and its students.

Among his achievements, Dean Katz instituted a strategic plan, focusing on experiential learning, which helped bridge the community, academia, and the law profession. The success of his vision helped rocket the school up 22 places in the US News and World Report rankings of best law schools. At his peak, Dean Katz was listed as the 4th most influential person in legal education, according to The National Jurist, a premier publication devoted to law school news, trends, and rankings.

Symbolism would be an important instrument in the story of this illustration.

Among his avocations, Dean Katz performs search and rescue missions for the Civil Air Patrol. His interest in aviation will serve as a tool to bridge the personal story of Martin Katz with that of Dean Katz, the educator. His eye is always on the horizon, whether in flight or in educational vision. Aviation should, naturally, play a role in the illustration.

In addition to aviation, the natural surrounds, of Denver – namely, the Rocky Mountains – would seem to be beautiful visual tools, to consider, as I set forth with preliminary sketches.

PRELIMINARY SKETCHES

I started with Mr. Katz in a stately pose, with the viewer looking up, giving him a larger-than-life, heroic presence. A natural starting point was to depict him with rolled-up sleeves, looking like he is ready to get to work. After some experimentation, and photo shoots, of myself, in various poses, I felt this pose would communicate the story and fill the space, best.

A colorful sunset sky seemed like, not only a beautiful addition, to the scene, but, also, a symbol of the sun setting on his time, as dean.

The other devices I chose were the school, itself (interior and exterior), the Rocky Mountains, and the campus bridge, as a symbol of his bridge-building reputation.

A Cessna airplane, toward the horizon, is also prevalent.

I provided 5 options.







REVISIONS

After review, my client liked number 2 and 4, but with some requests.

1. A less-menacing sky, on both.
2. Lighten the landscape on #4.

I re-submitted the following:




THE FINAL ART

My client chose sketch #2, with the sky revision.

The magazine cover was a success and very well-received, by Mr. Katz, which is the icing on the cake.



My thanks to the folks at Denver Law Magazine for the opportunity to honor Dean Martin Katz.



Allan Burch is an award-winning illustrator and portrait artist, providing solutions for editorial, book, advertising, and institutional projects.
View more of his work»
Sign-up for his newsletter»
Purchase prints»

Sunday, August 4, 2013

August: National Aviation Day -- The Captains of Industry Calendar



THE CLIENTS

Eyerus + Visual Communications Studio
The Captains of Industry

THE ASSIGNMENT

A calendar, illustrated in the style of '70s Blaxploitation movie posters. Each month will focus on an extremely esoteric holiday (or a popular holiday handled in an extremely esoteric way), all staring The Captains of Industry.

The Captains of Industry are: Graham Funke and StoneRokk, two innovative and eclectic DJs known for their creativity, sense of humor, and opinionated worldviews. You may find them working high-profile corporate and celebrity events around the country, or at their Las Vegas residencies at the Palms Casino Resort. They are "Your favorite DJ's favorite DJs."™

THE CHALLENGE: AUGUST

August's featured holiday is National Aviation Day. National Aviation Day is celebrated on August 19 -- designated as the anniversary of Orville Wright's birthday, and an occasion to celebrate the creation and advancement of aviation. A Titanic-esque aviation snafu is no match for The Capts, as they celebrate their day by raising a glass to the high life.

GETTING STARTED

The Capts took part in a photo shoot to aid in my visual reference. As you can see, they had no trouble getting straight into character, complete with trophy pup. You'll also notice Graham (on the left) using his foot to deny some poor sap entrance to their private raft.



With these images and direction from my art director, it is time to marry concept and vision.

THE PROBLEMS TO SOLVE

- Tell a complex, visually rich story of of a Titanic nature with a sense of order and humor
- Cramming the scene with sight gags and pop culture references that complement the humorous story
- Bring a sense of over-the-top tropical ease to The Capts which aptly contrasts the fervent panic they are oblivious to all around them

For my initial sketch, I started from a low vantage point, giving the guys the majority of the story and power



We needed to give more importance to the interesting story happening, behind them. So, The Capts shrunk in prominence and the frantic passengers filled the water



Approved! Now to have some fun detailing the stories happening with the passengers struggling to distance themselves from the wreckage. A photo shoot allowed me to explore these folks. I asked Melodie and Ricky to take it over-the-top, which yielded some very humorous results.




THE FINAL ART

With the help of Matthew, my art director, we fleshed out quite a few interesting stories for those who take the time to feast upon the scene. They include a Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio Titanic reenactment, a few scenes from the 1970 disaster movie, Airport (look for a cigar-chomping George Kennedy), plenty of every-man-and-woman-for-themselves battles, a few nuns and sharks, for good measure, and Otto and his lovely inflatable companion, from 1980's, Airplane, calmly rowing away with a wink and a smile.





THE SECRET 'STACHE

Each month of this calendar features Graham rocking a different mustache, integral to each story. This month, he is sporting what I affectionately call, "the Isaac." The name refers to the grinning, epically-'stached bartender from the 1977-1986 television show, Love Boat, memorably portrayed by Ted Lange.




Thanks, again, to the amazing team at Eyerus for allowing me the opportunity to be involved, for their direction, and for fostering an environment for creativity that any illustrator would cherish. Thanks, too, to The Captains of Industry for conceiving such a wonderfully-inspired collection of ideas for the world to devour, as well as for their very generous write-up about the project and their kind words toward me. See it, here.

You may still be able to secure your own calendar at The Capts Online Haberdashery.

Allan Burch is an award-winning illustrator and portrait artist, providing solutions for editorial, book, advertising, and institutional projects.
View more of his work»
Sign-up for his newsletter»
Purchase prints»