BSA Polaris Poster

Toward the end of June I got an email from the Boy Scouts of America wondering if I had time to do a presentation poster. I have a great history of working with the BSA over the last ten or twelve years on projects for Boys' Life Magazine and the scouts in general, so I was excited to take this one on.

concept sketches guided my photo shoot

The time frame was fairly tight and I had other projects to get off the table before I could start. The premise was to create an image of adventure that could be coupled with words from the scout oath or motto. The kicker was that it needed to feature a machine partnering corporation Polaris. I set up the photo shoot, scratched out a few idea sketches, lined up my model and went to town. The BSA worked closely with me to coordinate contact with the local Polaris dealer and set up a photo shoot with the specific youth sized ATV that was to be featured.

I had one shot to get all the info I needed, so I planned for three or four different options.Jeff Schoetz at Plaza Cycle was awesome and got my model all geared up with the proper safety equipment and we rolled the machine up on a ramp outside. It took some serious imagination to picture this out in the wild, but I got some good angles and managed to cobble together a view that I think works.

 Because of the quick turnaround, I used the photos to mock up different option and one (actually my favorite) was selected. After approval, I had about one week to digitally paint the poster image and get it to the designer for the type application. Brady Tauzon and Bryson White from Weld were great to work with and I think Brady nailed the type treatment on this one and we sent it off to get printed. BSA had to have framed copies in Minneapolis five days after I delivered the art to Foundation Arts for the ceremonial presentation to Polaris executives. Gina, Jared and the team at Foundation Arts did an amazing job and turned the printing and production around in two days! This project was one of the quickest turnarounds I have done and yet one of the smoothest. Everyone kind of understood that it was a tough schedule and all the steps just fell smoothly into place. Not only that, I already got paid. Talk about a great project! Thanks to the guys at Weld, everyone at BSA and Foundation Arts for making this one such a joy to work on. Can't wait for the next one.

Jamboree Patch Phenomenon

Various CSP's (Council Shoulder Patches) from the 2010 Jamboree

Last week when I was at the National Boy Scout Jamboree I witnessed the phenomenon that is patch trading. I had heard from those that had been there before that this was a huge deal and many scouts would sacrifice all the wonderful activities offered at Jamboree and succumb to the allure of patch trading. I was flabbergasted by the extent of this trading by both scouts and adults as well as wowed by the artwork on some of these patches.

Order of the Arrow full pocket and flap patch

I arrived at Jambo with zero patches and it became a bit of a game for me to see how many of these fully embroidered patches I could accumulate in my two days there. Admittedly I would not have scored very many patches had I not been there as a celebrity artist of sorts. Many patches were simply given to me because I met so many people while signing at the Boys' Life tent.

Striking artwork and rarity added to the tradeablility of patches

Others were acquired because I mentioned I had two boys attending and several people gave me pairs of patches to pass along to them. I felt like a magician  as I pulled patch after patch out of my pockets to give to them. I basically conjured around fifty patches out of thin air and the generosity of those I met.

Me with Art Merit Badge Staff leader Judi Krew

Art Merit Badge Staff patch and another designed by Judi Krew

Judi Krew of Canton Ohio, was one of these people who graciously gave several patches to me and my boys. She was running the Art Merit Badge booth at the Jamboree. Here are a couple of the patches that she designed. Thanks Judi!