IMAGINOMICON

GALLERIES of the IMAGINATION

Welcome to IMAGINOMICON, home to an eclectic assortment of my artistic renderings, many of which are survived only by the images displayed in this department. Spanning more than four decades, a large number of these works are shown here for the first time ever in a public arena.

For those persons interested in investment-quality pieces, most of these graphics are available for purchase as hand-signed, singly produced prints. When modestly framed, the images make rare and unusual conversation items, designed for both the serious collector and the casual art enthusiast. A certificate of authenticity and a brief history about the artwork’s origin accompanies each of the prints, all of which are suitable for display with or without framing.

Fig. 1. Early concept design for a slide presentation.

INTRODUCTION
The Specialty Works

Fig. 2. Concept art for magnetic sign.

    Many amateur and professional artists are, at one time or another, sought out by friends, interested strangers, and small companies to render some form of artistic service, or to produce a specifically commissioned work. Whether a logo design, an advertising theme, or illustrations for products, a collection of both sketches and finished pieces often accumulates as a historical record of past projects.

    Separated from their original context, these particular items take on a decorative, intriguing mystique, each a unique bit of fluff, all as creative slices of hand-crafted flotsam and jetsam. The AHLEC gallery located on page DRA21 Anatomy Of A Pitch could have just as easily been included on this page. It's a good example of a major project that resulted from my placing a newspaper ad that actually read, "Professional doodling for hire."

    The artworks displayed are also a tribute and testament to a specific artist’s talent; all are potentially collectible and make for surefire conversation items. For the sake of posterity, whether kind or indifferent, this premier assemblage presented in IMAGINOMICON is showcased for your amusement, enjoyment, and scrutiny. Or as cherished mementos in the form of quality art prints, hand signed, suitable for framing, and available by POD mail order. Each print comes with a certificate of authenticity and a short description as to the origin and purpose of the work. Notice how I snuck in another mention of purchasable prints? Sneaky, I know.

    A final note worth noting: Almost everything you see here was produced prior to the introduction of personal computers (PCs) for home use. The images look better than they did originally because they've all been cleaned-up and tweaked for presentation on my website -- using a computer. A younger audience will generally have no clue as to how slow, tedious, and painstaking it was to do this kind of art without a PC to help things along. Even I look back and can't imagine doing all this strictly by hand, using a ruler, pencil, and especially an eraser.

    Prior to the advent of color printers, inkjet and otherwise, color printing was obscenely and prohibitively time-consuming, complicated, and above all, expensive. The production of a simple, multi-color button, for example, which today costs only pennies to make, could run hundreds, even thousands of dollars to create. How's that for progress? Even worse was the artwork reproduction market. Few artists could afford to spend $5,000 to $10,000 dollars reproducing any one of their paintings. Yes, you read that correctly. A quality art print today might cost a few bucks to produce on good paper. And they can be made one-at-a-time if desired. Times have certainly changed, and with respect to artists, not only for the better, but for the immeasurably better.

    Another prime example of this phenomenon can be found on page IMA4 listed under this same heading of IMAGINOMICON. In the section that discusses video tapes, DVDs, and Blu-ray optical disks, mention is made with reference to how blank VHS tape originally cost 20-30 times more than it does today. Blank tapes still run about a dollar here and there, but the first one I bought in 1982 was $29.95! No, that's not a typo. As if that wasn't bad enough, commercial, pre-recorded Hollywood movies were initially out-of-the-question. Star Wars, when first released on home video, was about $200.00. I still remember when prices dropped to an average of $29.95, how thrilling that was. So-called "early adopters", meaning those who want in on the latest technologies, pay dearly for the privilege. Today, by comparison, not so much anymore.

    For anyone interested, I still have a couple hundred blank video tapes I'm willing to let go -- on the cheap, as they say. How about ten cents apiece? Okay, five, but that's my final offer. What is that, about a thousand times less than they cost originally? Shipping will run more than the merchandise itself. Which, by the way, happens more often than you'd think. Chuck Dickens was definitely ahead of his time when he wrote that, "It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times." Technically the best, but socio-politically the worst? Don't get me started.

Fig. 3. Ahlec and friends.

Fig. 4. The Dragonia novels.

Fig. 5. The CORE Group.

Fig. 6. The Sea Shepherd Society.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

A back-turned Mickey Mouse orchestrating a seemingly never-ending parade of products and services.

Successes & Fails

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11. Lack of extra colors lessened the appeal.

The late, great, General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. 1934-2012
Tribute buttons designed to celebrate both his military victories and his nickname as "General Bear".
The badges were sold to help raise money for charity while selling Gulf Sun UV block.

Fig. 12. High cost of color printing in pre-computer times often produced poor results.

Fig. 13.

Fig. 14.

Fig. 15. The completed design as placed on stationary.

Fig. 16. This item sold @ www.glp.com

Fig. 17. Writer's block.

Misspelled "Divine" went unseen.

Fig. 19. A neighbor wanted this; I needed money. Any questions?

Fig. 20.

Fig. 21. Find the one line that doesn't belong.

From sublime to absurd.

Fig. 23. These same wings were used in another painting. Can you find which one?

She's also in a painting from page IMA2B.

Fig. 25.

Prepped for any number of applications.

Fig. 26. A sketch that never received a final inking.

Fig .27. A nice design intended for use as a temporary, removable tattoo.

Fig. 28. Custom, one-time-only, hand-lettered font.

Fig. 29. Another tattoo-style rendering.

Fig. 30.

Messing around with the original
Book Antiqua font.
Needed a bit more development.

Fig. 31. A sketch from the MOMENTUMS Series.

The "Free Spirit" collection. 1970-71.

Fig. 33. The never-finished logo for TK's sauce.

Fig. 34. A classic fail; just too much of everything.

Fig. 35.

Fig. 36.

Fig. 37.

Fig. 38.

Fig. 39.

The unfinished BODD designs. A suntan lotion, probably. I forget what happened to stop this project. The last one (right) was an interesting inversion of colors.

Fig. 40. More about this on page IMA14.

Armada Plumbing and Heating

Fig. 42. "&" is missing. Can you spot where it belongs?

Fig. 43.

Before and after.

Fig. 44.

Fig. 45. I also drew the whatchamacallit.

A hair salon in Dana Point, California. Natch.

Fig. 47.

Fig. 48.

Fig. 49.

Who are these guys and why did I make them? No, really; I forgot. Yes, telephones used to have cords.

Fig. 50.

Fig. 51.

Fig. 52.

Fig. 53. Before.

Fig. 54. After.

Fig. 56. A sign for a jewelry store. Duhhh.

Fig. 57.

Fig. 59. A union logo? Definitely.

Fig. 60. A big fail. But with excuses.

Fig. 58.

Fig. 61. A quickie hand-out flyer.

Fig. 62. A pendant design; never made.

Fig. 63. A cat.

Fig. 64.

Fig. 65. A bear.

Fig. 66.

Fig. 67.

I do know who these guys were and why I made them. Don't ask; I don't want to talk about this failed effort. It was the client, not me. Honest.
Okay, so he didn't have enough money to make a separate animal for a pig, dog, cat, bear, and rabbit. The solution? Use the same body and head for all of them.
Right? Wrong! Actually these were the first of their kind, ahead of their time. A cassette recorder was inside the body. I know; what's a cassette?