Monster Doodle Collabo

In our continuing effort to keep the creativity flowing, C3 Design recently did a quick and easy little collaborative doodling project.  Maybe you've tried this one: you use watercolor paints to produce colorful, abstract blobs and dribbles, then turn them into whatever your imagination creates.

Since monsters are a perennial favorite, we made a whole bunch of 'em out of these colorful blots. The results are sort of half Rorschach test and half whimsical doodle. Enjoy!

We're hoppy for you, Matt!

Never let it be said that our departing colleagues leave us empty-handed.

When art director and resident brewmaster Matt Loehrer recently left the C3 Design department for a new gig, we sent him on his way with custom-designed bon-voyage beer labels–wrapped around some real, live beer, of course! Each artist expressed his or her sentiments with style fit to be swigged.

Label by Steve Duffendack

Label by Brian Fyffe

C3 Design Volunteers

Artist Steve Duffendack's two kids attend Académie Lafayette, an award-winning French-language immersion charter school in KCMO. The school's academically-successful program has attracted a large number of students, and space has become a limited commodity. The school purchased a second building in the historic Hyde Park community in midtown KC to serve as the new campus for K through 2nd grade students.

With the new campus, the opportunity arose for Steve to decorate the library with murals, and he eagerly took on the job. The mural design features kids, animals and mystical creatures all engrossed in reading books–a subject matter that's a perfect fit for Steve's style of whimsical children's illustration.  After painstakingly tracing on the walls, Steve called in a group of volunteer painters, including some parents and other C3 artists. Good times–along with sore backs and arms–were had by all!

Volunteers pictured (from upper left): Alise Dodds-Duffendack, Spencer Duffendack,  Fred Briseno, Ed Schlittenhardt, Michelle Rader, Franny O'Gorman and Steve Duffendack (also pictured Anna Duffendack).

From the desk of...

Every artist up here has weird toys. In their opinion, these are their "weirdest" toys.  

From the desk of Ed. If I ever saw this thing move on it's own, I'd scream. It looks like it should be in a zombie monkey horror film.

Now this is Bob H.'s toy. Out of all the toys he has in his office, which is a lot, he choose this one. I didn't quite understand what it was at first, but then I decided it looked kind of like a fish from Ren and Stimpy or Spongebob. To my surprise, there's a 'one-eyed thingy' in its belly.

We're big Andrew Bell fans. This scared little guy resides in Hawkin's cubical. He's my favorite, even though the whole thing is a little morbid.

 Matt likes his action figures. He really likes this one because it has a strange "mini person" that rides in a little compartment in the back.

This is Zach's designer toy, made by Kaching Brands. It's called a Ripple, and it's huge. And by huge, I mean '16 inches tall'  huge. 

 And this is Tyler's creation- an action figure with a totally new head. Tyler drew its face. I think it looks slightly confused. I mean, I'm confused.

Originally posted by Hailey Osterhaus on Monday, March 19, 2012

Sneak-A-Doodle

Last week, I snooped around the illustrators' offices to see if I could find some sketches that aren't work related. These guys are always doodling and experimenting with pens and paper, so I knew I would find something good.
While flipping through the pages of sketchbooks, it kind of felt like I was reading their diaries. There is something revealing about an artist's sketchbook that I can't quite put my finger on...
Here's a peek at some of the drawings I found...and I'm posting with permission of course. Enjoy!

Tyler:

Matt:

Ed:

Hawkins:

Originally posted by Hailey Osterhaus on Tuesday, February 28, 2012

You like us! You really like us!

UPDATE: We proudly announce that we went on to win a 2012 National Gold ADDY Award for this project! So cool!

___________________________________________________________________________
The 2012 Kansas City ADDY awards were held on Saturday night, and we came away with more than what we were hoping for. Among our awards, the most exciting win was Best of Design for our 2011 Holiday Invitations. We've been through a lot of change this year and to receive an award for a project we all had a hand in reminded us how great it is to be part of this talented team.

Check out the event's website here- C3 Holiday Bossa Nova

We also received a judge's citation that commemorated our collaborative work. That was "the cherry on top" for us. Have a look at what he had to say. There's some really good stuff in there.

 

Congratulations C3! 

Originally posted by Hailey Osterhaus on Monday, February 20, 2012

My dad's better than your dad!

If you could be five again, you'd want your dad to work here.

The common phrase "My dad is better than your dad..." would never be challenged by your classmates. Why? Because you'd finish that sentence with, "...because he draws cartoons and makes toys!"

You'd be the coolest kid on the playground.

But Steve, one of our illustrators, told me something funny about his son Spencer.
When Spencer was younger, he didn't draw much because he would compare his drawings to his dad's. He'd get frustrated if his creations weren't perfect. But one day, they found drawings Steve had done when he was the same age as Spencer.

 Dinosaur drawing by Young Steve 

 

When Spencer saw these drawings, the creativity clicked for him and he's been drawing ever since. Steve says he's blown away by his son's work every day. 

Spencer, age 9

Look at this detail! 

Anna, age 4 

Steve's daughter Anna, age 4, has always been fearless in her creations.


Here is some more art by the children of our talented dads. And one piece of fine art by Franny's goddaughter!

David's son Finn, age 4

Finn is really good at telling stories with his dad too.
Writer in the making?

Doug's daughter Mia, age 5

Does Mia "like toh ave fun?" Doug says she does! 

Hawkins' daughter Lily, age 4

This is Lily's depiction of her dad. Isn't the resemblance uncanny?

Hawkins' son Henry, age 7 

Hawkins says this is what all of Henry's art looks like. Hehe.

 

 Franny's Goddaughter Ruby, drawn at age 7

Thanks for sharing everyone! 


Originally posted by Hailey Osterhaus on Monday, February 13, 2012

Good Taste: Packaging

Any artist knows, you have to keep an eye (or two) on design going on around you, just to stay inspired and in the know. We decided to do a quick survey of cool packaging to get the creative juices flowing. Here are some of our artists' choices of truly inspired packaging.

Ed's choice: Charles S. Anderson Design Company

Steve's choice: Bottle Rocket-Fossil

Michelle's choice: Happycentro- Sabadì

Originally posted by Hailey Osterhaus on Monday, February 6, 2012

2011 Holiday Invitations

Every year the design team chooses the theme for our company Holiday Party. This year, BOSSA NOVA was chosen for its casual flair, saucy tunes and colorful customs. To stay on theme, the team created custom invitations that housed a 45 record delivered in 1 of 9 custom covers with a paper sleeve and collectable insert.

Originally posted by Lindsay Tippett on Monday, November 28, 2011

Meet the Artist: MATT LOEHRER

Today, we're featuring Matt Loehrer. He's one of the many talents working Upstairs at C3.



Born: Ottumwa, Iowa

School/college: Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

Who or what influences your visual style?

I was a big cartoon and comic fan. Observe:

http://www.tothfans.com/

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/04/12/walt-simonson-thor/

Though I enjoy American modern art; Hopper is a favorite:

http://artchive.com/artchive/H/hopper.html#images

In his own words:

I’m finding my personal style is really evolving now—I’ve been a designer for years, but never really thought I fit into the “artist” mold, so it’s interesting to me that at almost 40, I’m just now starting to really branch out and explore new styles and techniques and media. You never know what life is going to send your way, I guess.

Originally posted by Ed Schlittenhardt on Thursday, October 13, 2011