Wooden Grove CD artwork
Graphic Design

Steve Case (Wooden Grove) CD artwork

This was the second CD design I worked on for musician Steve Case. This job required a simple single fold cardboard sleeve. The front and back cover were made to look like a leather bound book while the inside spread looked like the inside of the book cover. The inner-left panel contained a printed message from Steve Case while the inner-right panel allowed him to write a personal message (plus signature) for anybody who purchased a CD from one of his live performances.

… Steve Case (Wooden Grove) CD artwork
Guitars

52 Guitars, week 31—SGC Guitars Tomcat Stripe

I recently discovered that GraphTech had released some new Ratio Tuned Machine Heads for electric and acoustic guitars. Then I discovered the Sublime Guitar Company (SGC Guitars) had put those machine heads onto one of their USA Custom Tomcats (they tweeted this fact). At the same time, I discovered SGC Guitars plans on putting the GraphTech Ratio Tuned Machine Heads onto their upcoming production models. I was discovering things like I was the James Cook of the guitar world.

I was going to say I was like Christopher Columbus, but I realised I’m Australian. … 52 Guitars, week 31—SGC Guitars Tomcat Stripe

Guitars

52 Guitars, week 30—Washburn Guitars Paul Stanley PS1800CM

As an Australian graphic designer who uses the metric system I saw the code name of the Washburn Guitars Paul Stanley PS1800CM and thought “Damn! That’s a massive guitar!”  Although I have no idea what the 1800 refers to, I’m pretty sure the CM stands for the cracked mirror finish this awesome guitar comes with. I know KISS is big, but I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing this is a standard sized guitar that mere mortals like me can aspire to. I can’t be Paul Stanley—I’m pretty sure I wanted to do that when I was 12 years old—but I can play his electric guitar. … 52 Guitars, week 30—Washburn Guitars Paul Stanley PS1800CM

Graphic Design Scarebear

Scarebear (the artwork) by Xaizently

This is somewhat self-promoting, but I had to share this story. Why? Because I don’t believe it is actually about me. It’s about a talented artist I came across on deviantART named Xaizently.

Almost two years ago I was wondering what I should do with all these points I had accumulated on the deviantART website. The points are worth very little in real-world currency, but I had accumulated somewhere between 30-50 of them. Surely I could use them for something! … Scarebear (the artwork) by Xaizently

Guitars

52 Guitars, week 28—Chubbuck Guitars Hollowbody Mousa 2

Last week I wrote about a guitar I discovered on Instagram. This week I’m sharing a guitar I discovered on Tumblr. Guitars … They’re everywhere people!

The Chubbuck Guitars Hollowbody Mousa 2 is a sexy woodgrain guitar that has an amazing looking finish (the nitrocellulose lacquer doesn’t hurt there). I really like the look of the offset double cutaway body shape and the contours that have been applied to the guitar’s front and back (both made from Flame Claro maple).  … 52 Guitars, week 28—Chubbuck Guitars Hollowbody Mousa 2

Guitars

52 Guitars, week 26—Taylor Solid Body (SB2-S)

This week I’m going to do something different. I’m going to reference a guitar I’ve actually played before. Crazy right!?

Last year I was lucky enough to visit San Diego and I made sure I took the time to visit the Taylor Guitars Factory Tour. If you get the chance to participate in this tour, make sure you do. It’s guitar heaven. When I was there I played the Taylor Guitars Solid Body SB2-S (and many others from the Taylor Guitars range). Although I went there expecting to learn a lot about acoustic guitar manufacturing, I walked away with an increased appreciation for the Taylor Guitars Solid Body range.  … 52 Guitars, week 26—Taylor Solid Body (SB2-S)

Guitars

52 Guitars, week 25—Dean Guitars Dave Mustaine Zero Classic Black

Dave Mustaine playing something that’s not a V shaped guitar? That piece of information alone drew me to the Dean Guitars Zero range. I’ve been a fan of Dave Mustaine’s guitar playing for decades and I don’t recall him ever really playing something that wasn’t a V (excluding the ESP Axxion signature model—what was that?!)

My current favourite Dean Guitars Zero model though? Classic Black. It’s a guitar that is pure metal. … 52 Guitars, week 25—Dean Guitars Dave Mustaine Zero Classic Black