Fantastic Cleveland Tweed Ride

It's that time of the season in Cleveland to don your finest riding tweeds, polish your saddle shoes, wax your handle bar (bike or mustache) - and join the Fantastic Cleveland Tweed Ride. It is always a joyful jaunt to see the great ensembles the riders stitch together, socialize over a mid-ride tea stop at Erie Island Coffee on East 4, and celebrate the success of an afternoon ride at the Happy Dog - where prizes comprised of the generous donations of incredible sponsors is bestowed upon the "Most Dapper Male", "Fanciest Dame", "Most Impressive Mustache" - and of course, "Best Steed" (bicycle).

I would like to give a special thank you to Justin for his fantastic tweed animation of the 2012 Tweed Ride mascot created by Grey Cardigan. Check it out here!

Gather at Mall A on Saturday the 28 at 3pm for check-in - and then we are off to tour the downtown and surrounding areas. Pip pip and cherrio, mates.

grey {love} matters

Bazaar Bizarre Valentine's Edition will be happening on the main level of the 78th Street Studios - perfect chance to find that unique gift for your beloved(s). Who would want boring roses and chocolates anyway?

I happen to be doing some work at a friend's studio this Saturday - so I figured I would bring along some prints and cards should you want to add a little grey matter to your Valentine gift giving. I will be at Downie Studios (on the 3rd Floor of 78th Street Studios) from 11 am - 4 pm, stop by and say hello! I am offering a special Valentine's deal of a print and a card for $40.00 - a $50.00 value!

Also on hand will be Matthew Chojnacki and his incredible ode to 80s single art, Put The Needle On The Record. Nothing says "I Totally Heart You" like a Grey C print and/or a totally awesome 80s book!

clevelandfoodie.com

I am very excited to reveal the collaboration with my friend Michelle Venorsky, aka Cleveland Foodie. Michelle is always on the scene and sharing the multitude of Cleveland culinary offerings that seem to spring up daily - a highly bookmarkable blog indeed!

See the newly grey cardiganed masthead here!

100 Candles

Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Disney visual/conceptual artist, Mary Blair. I came across a book of Mary's work a few years ago and was knocked out by her great bizaarist renderings of many of the characters we know well. I wish the movies actually kept the look of her concept sketches - they really have would have had a surreal beauty to them. Mary also worked in package/advertising design, creating those great iconic "retro" illustrative looks when they were current and modern! Google is paying homage to Mary's birthday with one of their popular logo redesigns and can be seen here. I completely concur with their statement of Mary's "clean and fresh color design inspiring generations of artists." And just look at her - she is simply fantastic.

A simple google of Mary's name brings up an incredible gallery of work.

Cleveland Design Competition

Now that a busy summer of shows + festivals has ended - and before I leap into the preparation of the impending holiday season (how is that possible already!?) - I am playing catch-up and plan to post some things that I have been meaning to share for some time.

Every 2 years the Cleveland Chapter of AIGA holds a design competition, judged by 3 designers from across the country – and the design work chosen is revealed at a Design Exhibition. This past May I was honored and amazed to receive the Best in Show for Grey Cardigan illustrations and corresponding website. To read what the judges had to say about their reaction to my work was a true honor, and can be seen here.

I have always advocated that Cleveland has an incredible design community, and shows like this are a testament to the creativity and caliber of talent our city posesses. Please take some time to view the full site of AIGA Cleveland Design Competition winners here!