I finally got around to putting my latest sketchbook online (the previous one is here). Have a gander and let me know what you think!

For the last few weeks, I’ve been working on a new identity system for my new era//404 client, First Funds, LLC. They’re an amazing team, there, full of creative visionaries and allow let me do a lot of exploration. Their company was badly in need of a branding overhaul so the Director of Marketing approached era//404 to create a whole new campaign.

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Many thanks to my mom for sending along a forward about Mr. Grohe. I’m blown away by this guy’s talent.
Eric Alan Grohe was born in New York City in 1944. He moved to the West Coast when he was young, currently residing just north of Seattle, Washington. His professional career as a graphic designer and illustrator began in Seattle in 1961, briefly interrupted by a tour of duty in Vietnam. Back at home, Eric was hired as a graphic designer by Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson, a national architectural firm. Later he worked with the Cambridge University archaeology dept., illustrating digs in France, Greece, Israel and England. Returning stateside, Eric worked in New York City as a freelance illustrator.

In 1973, he was asked to design graphics for Expo’74 in Spokane, Washington. At this time, he began receiving commissions for his artwork, which have continued to grow in scope and size, leading to today’s large-scale trompe l’oeil murals. Throughout his 43-year career as a professional artist, Grohe has received national recognition for his work, which is now focused on painting figurative and architectural murals for clients throughout the country.

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I found an old gesso’d board along the side of the street in Chelsea that some photographer threw away, along with a bunch of prints and photo-paper that they no longer needed. The board was great, because it was painted white, but wear-and-tear had created a unique “aged” feeling on it.

I hadn’t actually painted for a while, so I thought it might be time to get my brush wet again. The concept was to draw a scene from a Shakespear (ask Sari about my decision to spell it without the trailing “e”) play and, of course, I drew something from MacDeath. Below is the watercolor illustration of Lady Mac and husband after “the deed is done.” Click for an ultra-hi-rez version.

Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated.