My Old Kentucky Home

When I started this blog, one of my first posts was about collecting vintage tins. Among the tins I've accumulated is a weathered beauty for Kentucky Club pipe tobacco. I adore this tin. The imagery is wonderful, and the colors, wow. I've always wanted to do a homage to my state, incorporating the things that make Kentucky what it is. I did this poster using the tobacco tin colors, featuring a number of Kentucky icons. You'll find the state bird and flower, an alert thoroughbred in racing gear, a bourbon barrel, basketball, coal miner's helmet, a Kentucky long rifle, and lastly, a Gibson mandolin (the one used by the father of Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe). The word Kentucky was hand done for a more rustic feel and it's surrounded by 15 stars as Kentucky was the 15th state added to the union.

I love the Bluegrass. I love the people, the culture, the heritage, and the natural beauty. This poster is my love letter to my Old Kentucky Home and is likely not the last.

My Old Kentucky Home

original vector art

© Rachael Sinclair

element detail

Awards Aren't Everything: Working Through Discouragement

"There are two things that I want you to make up your minds to: first, that you are going to have a good time as long as you live - I have no use for the sour-faced man - and next, that you are going to do something worthwhile, that you are going to work hard and do the things you set out to do." -Theodore Roosevelt, 1898

Being creative is difficult sometimes. It's not always masterpieces and accolades. But being a successful artist, designer, writer, musician, or actor isn't just about the praise. It's not easy to ignore the noise about awards and such. The quest for 'fame' can put a serious dent in your self confidence and can ultimately stunt your development in your field.

Our world is all about the next big thing, the next meme, the next billion in profit. Tastes and styles are constantly shifting. As artists, we may produce amazing work, but if we don't have the right connections or timing, our efforts may be trampled by the herd. The internet has opened many doors of possibility, but those doors are covered in cobwebs of doubt and intimidation. One may see the sheer volume of amazing talent out there and just refuse to try. We can't be discouraged. We must decide what we truly want and why. Would we rather have thousands of pats on the back for something we're not completely proud of or be pleased, deep down, by a project no matter how much stir it causes.

Creativity isn't just a job, it's a part of us. Above all, we must remember to have fun, to enjoy what we do. That can be extremely difficult when our efforts to be noticed go unfulfilled. We must remember that we are unique. Others may be similar, but they don't have the experiences or history we have. When you're feeling ignored, make a list of your accomplishments. You may find you've had more success than you remember. Do something that makes you happy. If you're a designer who's sick of being in front of the computer, take a sketchbook to a comfortable chair and draw what pops into your head. If, as a musician, the songs you've been playing are only making you more frustrated, dig up a song that never fails to bring a smile.

Awards and praise are nice, but that sort of thing is usually fleeting. Yes, having an award on your resume can help you get a job or gig, but the true test of success is longevity and genuinely loving what you do. It's better to prove the ability to follow through with something worthwhile than to come up with a lucky break. Awards can be very political and aren't always the best indication of talent. Hone your skills, do your best, and have fun. If accolades come, good for you! If they don't, it doesn't mean you've failed. Follow your passion with fervor and happiness will tag along!

The American Flag: An Infographic

"You're the emblem of the land I love. The home of the free and the brave."-George M. Cohan

The flag of the United States is a beautiful and inspiring thing. On a clear day, against a pale blue sky, the stars and stripes cuts a very regal silhouette. It has deep roots, roots that intertwine with those of its people. From the first pennant of independence to the reverently folded flag of respect for a fallen soldier, our flag is indeed a grand old flag. I wish you a happy and safe Independence Day!

Stars and Stripes Forever

original digital art

© Rachael Sinclair

Enlarge the images below for detail.

Color Flavor: Honeysuckle

It's a popular fragrance for soaps and lotions and in the spring and summer, it sweetens the breeze and entices the bees. Honeysuckle comes in tame and wild varieties and doesn't just smell good, it's a great source for color inspiration. This vine can be considered a pest if not controlled, but if you've walked by a bank of it after a rain, you know the scent is like none other. If you stop to study further, you'll notice tones from smooth butter to lively magenta and all tones in between.

In design, these colors are a dream for something fresh or feminine. A bakery or candy shop would be a fitting use for the buttery yellow and zing of fuchsia and tart green. The brightness of these hues would also do well in the branding for a specialty children's store.

Home is for comfort and these warm tones do just that, comfort us in the arms of a summer day. Use a lighter honeysuckle yellow for the walls. Here, I've used Behr's Manila Tint (310A-3) with a more intense hue for accents (Flame Yellow: 360B-6). Splash around the greens and purple (Brook Trout: 110E-2) to bring attention to certain areas. Warm wood would further brighten the feeling where a contrasting use of cool metal would bring balance.

Honeysuckle yellow is a color that can almost instantly trigger a perfumed memory. The scent alone is a beautiful thing, but the kaleidoscope of colors in the bloom of a honeysuckle are just as amazing.

Patterns can be found here, here, and here.

Color by COLOURlovers

Chase Away the Creative Blues

"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way." -Edward de Bono

One of the pitfalls of creativity is the shin-cracking stumble of being uninspired. How many times have you had a really productive streak and then nothing? If you're anything like me, ignoring your creative dry spell is harder than ignoring a giant spider crawling across your face. So, how does one remedy the drought? There are many ways to tempt your spark back out into the daylight. Generally, people have to find their own cure, but here are a few suggestions.

Escape

Whether you have a regular '9 to 5' or work from home, it's easy to get into the routine of bottom in chair, eyes on the computer. Though this is fine when all your cylinders are firing, but if you've run out of ideas, it's time to go idea shopping. The trip doesn't have to be lengthy or really have purpose. Put on your walking shoes and stroll around the neighborhood. Visit a green space or if that's not your style, sit at a coffee shop or bookstore. Whatever you do, distance yourself from your usual working area, enjoy some peace, and observe life around you. The kick-start you need may be in the colors of a pretty day or the smile of a stranger.

Hat Trick

I've used this method many times in the past. Write some random words on slips of paper and place them in a bowl or basket. Draw out a word; ready, set, create! Ignition may not be immediate, but when it comes, you'll be back to normal in no time. Sometimes, the brain needs a hard restart. When you're hung up on something or just lacking drive, forcing your mind to think the  unexpected can really help.

Shuffle

In the same vein as 'random word in a hat' is the shuffle. So many of us employ a steady set of skills in our field. Some of us code websites all day while some toil over layouts and illustrations. Sometimes, when our usual work bores us into stagnation, we need to shuffle to something unusual. How about getting creative in the kitchen? Find a recipe and make something. Interested in gardening? Get a new potted plant. Do a word puzzle or play a game. People have a plethora of skills, we just don't use them all in one day. Skills need a break just like pulled muscles.

Unwind

Being uninspired, though seemingly monotonous, is something that can push your stress level to critical. Escaping to different surroundings may help in some respects, but remember, there are a lot of parts to the machine that is you. It's important to do diagnostics on everything. Have you laughed today? Has something made you feel like a child again recently? Cutting loose and being silly is great medicine. Shaking the snowglobe of your mind with a little laughter can really help things settle more clearly.

Creative silence can be deafening. It's important to keep perspective and not let the blank page get you down. Success and refreshment is never far. The trick is to not be dissuaded by the time it takes to get back on track.

Idea Seeds: the Olympics

They are a symbol of peace, civilization, and excellence. The Olympics are the pinnacle of society; athletes from all over the globe participating in friendly competition, living together in a 'village'. This show of goodwill and skill is also an inspiration to artists and why the Olympic Games star in this Idea Seeds post.

Athletics is akin to art in sculpting and grace. From the balance of a gymnast to the lines of a diver; the chiseled beauty of an eventing warm blood to the blurring colors of racing oval, the games are stuffed with creative energy.

The Olympic games boast a number of year-specific creative items. The medals themselves are sculpted especially for each Olympiad. The opening and closing ceremonies are a spectacle of dance, music, and color. Posters have long been a way for artists and designers to show their tribute and skill. You see in this collection a sampling of some of the best Olympic and Olympic-related from the first half of the 20th century.

The games of the XXX Olympiad will take place in London this year. There's no better time to enjoy the events how you may and be spurred to create. I created this piece to reflect the depth and movement of the games. The stylized rings are like sails moving us forward while echoing back to remind us of how far we've come. The motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) and it gives us the fire to keep going, to keep achieving things we didn't think possible. How can you be better today?

Faster, Higher, Stronger

Original vector art

© Rachael Sinclair, 2012

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Amongst the Stars

I stumbled on the poem The Old Astronomer to his Pupil by Sarah Williams a while back and haven't been able to get it out of my head. In particular, this line: "I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." The Saturn V carried us to the moon and helped us make one giant leap for mankind. There is no better craft to represent this amazing bit of poetry and the sentiment that you should not fear the unknown. The sky is vast and can be frightening, but possibilities are endless if you're brave and your love is strong.

Amongst the Stars

Original vector art

© Rachael Sinclair 2012

Note: You can see my NASA STS (shuttle) piece here.