This morning, I set out to astound you with my thoughts about the Elton John & Billy Joel concert I saw the other night. I figured what a great thing this is to blog about; two ROCK LEGENDS live on stage, “Face 2 Face,” turning out classic song after classic song, sending every fan into their own nostalgic musical frenzy. After completing what I thought was going to become my blog entry, I passed it on to my lovely wife (the true writer of our crew and whom I dearly respect and love) to get her always honest opinion. “It sucks”, was the response I received. “Too much like a review”. So I sat back down and thought hard about what I was really trying to do. Explain the experience of a concert of this caliber, a musical experience, something that you need to experience with your senses, with a few words on a blog. IMPOSSIBLE!
Unable to bring my usual plethora of equipment into this venue-precision lenses, tripods, etc.-I was forced to use my wife’s point and shoot. Once again, I turn to my passion for photography and leave you with a photo from the concert.
If you listen real close you can you can still hear the sound of 15,000 strong belting out “Piano Man”.
The cliché question rings out… Do you want me to draw you a picture?
Answer: Yes… please do.
With the advances in technology these days, we seem to have gotten farther and farther away from our roots as artists and designers. I see more and more folks who can jockey a computer, but fewer and fewer who actually draw anything on paper. Unfortunately I recently found myself fitting that same description and tried to do something about it.
I admit it… I went out and purchased a WACOM Bamboo tablet and have been trying to learn to draw in Photoshop with it. To be perfectly honest, I suck at it so far and it’s a complete source of frustration for me. The feel is different… the pressure of the pen against the texture of the tablet doesn’t resonate with me I guess. So I eventually did what I probably should have done in the first place, and simply picked up a pencil and some paper… and started drawing again… and I remembered how much I liked it! It had been too long since I felt the familiar drag of graphite across paper… watched the shapes evolve from imagination to reality on the page. Within an hour or so, I had put down a concept on paper with hand-skills that would have taken half a day in the computer. It began loosely… gestural and roughed-in… evolving and growing with light pressure. It then tightened up with bold marks and darker lines,eventually finishing with Sharpie Pens and erasers. I hadn’t done that much drawing in years… and that realization was kind of sad. I was the kid that always drew on his homework and that habit stuck with me all through college. I can’t tell you exactly when I put the pencils and pens down this last time, but it’s not something I intend to do again. Since this moment of self-discovery occurred I’ve found myself doing random sketches on napkins and notepads, as well as producing hand-drawn storyboards and ad concepts in the office. It’s great to draw again!
As we move further along in the development of our technologies, it seems we are working harder and harder to stay connected to what got us here. As much as I enjoy working with the tools afforded to us by today’s software packages, I have to say that my reunion with the “old-school” tools has sparked a renaissance of sorts. I’m studying and sketching again… not just for work or for clients, but for me personally. I hope that eventually I do improve with the WACOM tablet and learn to have some fun with it, but if I don’t that’s okay. I can still go back to the basics and enjoy every minute of it.
The crowd arrived early Saturday night, ready to storm the new Intrust Arena with enthusiasm for their own Wichita Thunder as they set out to wipe Tulsa off the weather map.
The shiny new arena sports huge screens, bright lights and notable venders including an Irish Pub stand and more tasty morsels than the avid food junkie can sink a tooth into. Only a few red padded seats remained after over 13,000 fans aging from 3 months to 93 years poured into the arena, filling it nearly to capacity and waited in anticipation for the competition to commence. Donning Thunder jersey’s old and new, with Guinness’ and pretzels in hand, fans were eager to roar when the Thunder made their entrance. It all set the stage for a remarkable fight (better make that several fights) and a superior show for all!
The Squid showed his face from the start, featuring an exciting video introduction on the Big Screen, welcoming the Thunder onto the ice, while preparing the crowd to fire up for an extraordinary contest between these rivals. Before the game got underway, the players began their first scuffle, a carry-over from 24 hours earlier, where in Tulsa this same match-up ended in a huge Thunder win! No doubt, some obvious unfinished business was in need of settlement. For the Squid, these brawls translate to enticing video clips, edging on the feisty crowd and giving us a chance to show off our creative genius each time the Thunder rolls out another fist or slams another opponent’s helmet onto the frozen tundra. Are we encouraging physical endangerment to human kind here? You bet your sweet funnel cakes, we are! Hey, we’re not even sure if these guys are human in the first place. What man withstands obsessive nose gashing and head bashing abuse to lift himself up off the ground and go back for more? Thank you Sir, may I have another?
The Squid had his hands in all kinds of great video throughout the night, from the intro up until the very end. This arena is alive with stimulation down to every last detail, including a video ribbon which encompasses the entire perimeter of the stands, where Squid Ink producers had the privilege to create some fantastic plugs for Thunder and Intrust Arena sponsors as well as some amazing close-up shots of each player as they were introduced onto the rink. We showed up on the big screen during icing penalties, in between periods and each time the Thunder scored.
Unfortunately for most, a bittersweet ending would wrap up the night, with only one video clip revealed to celebrate a goal scored for our mighty Thunder. Not enough to beat Tulsa this time around. Overall though, Wichita put up a snarling fight, entertaining and full of heart was this Thunder team in their snazzy new home. If you missed it, I encourage you to come out and support the Thunder (and us) this week or every week if the mood strikes you. They’ll be plenty of excitement to make it worth your while and win or lose, I can promise you this. This Squid certainly knows how to play the game! Come to the next Thunder game to see more great Squid work just like this.
The Wichita Thunder are moving into their new digs at the downtown Intrust Arena this weekend, and the Squid will be swimming among them.
Our multi-talented, multi-armed cephalopod has created some outstanding work to be featured during Thunder games. I won’t drop the puck just yet… wouldn’t want to spoil all the fun! You’ll just have to check it out for yourselves. So far, 8000 seats have sold for the event but by face-off Saturday night, we’re hoping for a full house to hear our Thunder roar.
We are honored that the Thunder asked us to be part of the move to the new arena. You can imagine our excitement to share the Squid’s creations with you on the big-screen! Support for our local events is important to our economy, not to mention a fine excuse to have a good time! So we look forward to seeing many of our fellow Wichitans out there this weekend, cheering hard for our Thunder as they take on Tulsa and break in the new ice.
Keep your eyes on the bright lights, folks. There’s a whole lotta’ squid work coming your way this weekend!
With Christmas a few days away, I’ve survived the sea of humanity crashing over the halls of Towne East, the parking garage otherwise known as Rock Road and electronics glut that permeates the gift market. This doesn’t imply that I’m not a techno-junkie, but as a kid, Christmas was always a time to revel in the latest-greatest innovations from the toy industry – real tangible toys! One of my all-time favorites was the now-obscure Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle that I received from Santa in the Christmas of 1973 (not to date myself or anything…I always celebrate the anniversary of my 29th birthday!).
Time warp…back in the 70’s, Evel Knievel was at the height of his popularity and was a marketing machine. Ironically, he built his daredevil legend not from a successful jump, but one of history’s most famous un-successful jumps, the infamous Caesar’s Palace jump over the fountains in 1967. The result was a crash for the ages, with Evel famously twisting head over heels down the landing ramp. The other irony was that his other most famous failed jump, the Snake River Canyon jump, signalled the beginning of the end of the Evel Knievel era.
Not discounting his motorcycle prowess, he really was a master at his craft, he built an image and mystique that led to an entire Evel Knievel industry and product line. Which brings us to the toy…
This was a gift that was completely out of the blue. I had no clue that it even existed and Santa was on top of his game when he picked this one out for me. I ripped the gift wrapping off, set GI Joe aside (see earlier post), snapped the launching kit together, strapped Evel onto his bike and it was go time! My brother and I made a makeshift ramp from a shoebox lid and stacked some Encyclopedia Britannicas neatly together to resemble the buses that the real Evel would jump. I grabbed the handle, started turning the wheel, and the bike make an evil whirring noise. Turning the wheel faster, the deafening roar of the bike soon drowned out the Mills Brothers Christmas music playing softly in the background. And then it happened… the bike shot off the launcher, went screaming down the hall, hit the ramp and shot over the Encyclopedia’s – ending in a perfect landing. SWEET!!!!
I quickly retrieved my daredevil and launched off two more jumps. Then I discoverd the true ‘nuance’ of this toy, the design flaw that a generation of boys would come to call “the knuckle buster”. As you can see in the photo (taken by yours truly) the handle isn’t very large, and after a few exhilarating launches, we would grab that handle with our now sweaty hands, crank the gyro, then WHAM! The hand would slip off the handle and…CRUNCH! A little hydrogen peroxide, a band-aid, a kiss on the knuckle from mom, and it was back at it! A busted knuckle wouldn’t keep Evel down, so it would’t stop me either.
So now here we are in the electronic age, the games are everything that we wished existed when we were kids, but the games come and go quickly in this highly competative market. They might be really cool, but nothing can compare to the toys of my youth like my Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle and a lifetime of fond lasting memories (and scars!) .
From all of us here at Squid Ink Creative, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May all the blessings of the season be upon you, and may the new year greet you with bright promises for the future.
Enjoy a bit of holiday cheer from our office to yours… Happy Holidays!
Over the last few days we’ve sent out several copies of our press release to local and regional publications, and will be sending out more over the next week or two. Please enjoy, and be certain to share the news with your friends!
A new advertising firm has been formed in downtown Wichita. Squid Ink Creative is poised to take on new clients and new challenges while Swimming in Creative Genius.
Wichita, KS, December 2009: A new creature is now prowling the dark sea where fierce design solutions lurk in the shadows. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the studio, we would like to announce the monumental discovery of Cephalopoda Incaustum Creativia, better known as Squid Ink Creative.
Squid Ink is a full-service agency, meaning they can provide in-house support in graphic design, photography, video production, web design, and multimedia. The ability to achieve this array of service under one roof translates to shorter time-to-market, lower costs, and a more intimate experience for clients. “This is a flexible and dynamic agency, capable of handling any design project and any client. The fact that we can handle all disciplines here in the studio means fewer hassles and less worry for our clients, along with lower overall costs. We are a single-source agency ready to handle whatever the client throws at us,” says Derek Pletcher, Creative Director for Squid Ink Creative.
Ultimately, their objective is to become a trusted part of a customer’s marketing team, forming long-term relationships and focusing on the client’s needs. In today’s rapidly changing marketplace, they will be the creative support staff a client relies on to remain unique and visible in a sea of mundane identities.
Squid Ink Creative invites you to dive into an ocean of possibilities and discover all that lies beneath the surface. They have their tentacles into everything, and are prepared to serve up a plate of creative calamari that’s in a league of its own!
For more information visit www.squidinkcreative.com or call Derek Pletcher at 316.260.3805.
The color combination of red and green together automatically leads us to think of the Christmas season; but what are the origins of the duo that steer us to that train of thought? Here are a few explanations based on historical fact and Christian faith.
In the 14th Century, churches celebrated Miracle Plays which were a means of bringing religious education to the illiterate. One play, The Paradise Play, was presented each December 24th and was the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. As there was no way to provide an apple tree in the middle of winter, a pine tree with apples tied to the branches served as the Tree of Good and Evil. This became a popular prop among the many churches and soon it became a tradition.
In Germany, the Paradise Tree was so popular that people began erecting pine trees in their homes and decorating them with apples. Soon this tradition spread as well, giving birth to our modern-day Christmas tree, and the colors of red for the apples and green for the pine tree became a symbol of the Christmas season.
In the Christian faith, the color green is a symbol of hope for eternal life that Jesus Christ offers. Evergreen trees, which remain alive and green throughout the year, expand on that representation.
The color red is intended to symbolize the blood of Christ, which was shed for all people so that they could be saved. The holly berry, with its green leaves and red berries is meant to symbolize both life and blood and as such has become a popular Christmas staple.
In the advertising business, the Coca Cola company began a marketing campaign in 1931 magazine ads featuring Santa Claus as a jolly rotund man in a bright red suit. Created by artist Haddon Sundblom, this red image of Santa has continued on to present day in many countries.
Whatever the reason, and for more centuries to come, the colors red and green will always be associated with the Christmas season.
Thanksgiving is a couple of days away and, as with every year, I look forward to spending a day with the family, doing what I can to help with the massive task of the meal preparation (which mostly involves consumption on my part), throwing my elbow out playing on the Wii with my niece or re-hashing family stories and having a laugh while playing the various board games that we have dusted off.
I was flipping through the various collections I’ve accumulated and I came across one of my favorite works of art that echoed my Thanksgiving sentiments, the immortal Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom from Want”. One of the “Four Freedoms” paintings, the work was part of a series that was inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union address and is generally recognized as the “Thanksgiving painting”.
I am drawn in by the nostalgia of this work, its idealistic setting and the strong image of family. I am always struck by the power the work invokes thru sheer simplicity, timelessness and masterful use of color and depth. It reminds me to take pause of my surroundings and to give thanks for what we have in this country, to lend my hand to those in need, to appreciate those that we love, and to protect the ideals and freedoms that define our unique land.
What is it that drives us creative types? What convinces us each morning to get out of bed and head to our studios/offices/computer stations and create something we call Art? Is it an overwhelming compulsion to be different, or to share our inner-most feelings, or to benefit financially from what must be natural talent at work?
And at the end of the day, is what we’re creating really art at all? Who defines it and clarifies it? Who gets to say, finally, that something we put on paper or canvas, or chisel from a stone is really artwork? What you see may not be the same as what I see, or what our coworkers see, or what the next guy off the street will see. Out of that group, whose opinion matters the most? Who benefits the most… the artist or the viewer? Or is it both?
So many questions about something so simple.
As the Creative Director for an agency, these questions all have merit for me. These are the things that drive what we do… and influence how we make our customers happy… and therefore have an impact on the success of the company. Every day, our job is create visual imagery and written words that inspire, convince, influence, celebrate, and decorate the world we live in. And at the end of our day, we leave the building knowing that what we created here was done in the best interests of our clientele. That makes us a good agency… but does that make us good artists? At what point in the creative process of pushing pixels around did we leave our own opinions or motives behind in order to satisfy the wants and needs of another, and is this a good thing or a bad thing? We get paid for this after all, and the person writing the check wants what they want. We can suggest and maneuver, justifying our positions and attempting to steer things our way, but ultimately what the client wants will be the deciding factor.
So… when it’s all said and done and the check has been written, is it still art that we’ve created?
I believe the answer is yes… we are creating art. It’s easy to portray our own personalities and display images that are reflections of ourselves… we do this every day, not just with the bits of creative genius we make and keep, but also with the clothes we wear, cars we drive, and color of plates we eat off of. However, the ability to turn our interests away and focus on the needs of those who cannot create this imagery on their own is a valuable and unique skill. We can – and should — experience genuine happiness when something we create is put to use by a client and it positively influences their world. In many ways, knowing that we can have such an impact on the lives of others is the greatest satisfaction of all, and that is why we continue to get up in the morning and create something we call Art.
