same as it ever was

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Hoover Dam

Second to the BC hockey banner for “wait, really? Hah! Okay, sure!” commission orders:


LOVE, 5’x5′

The New York Cosmos hit me up for an order mixing the nostalgia for the old team (Pele!) and the movement for the new one (that’s a new issue ball he’s heading). Very minimalist concept that emphasizes that we do what we do for the love of the game. Enjoyed working with a color palette other than red/white/blue/black/gold, but my favorite part of this was the font, a slightly modified Despeinada, chosen because it echoes the handwriting of Andy Warhol.

This is not the final version delivered to the client–this one got lost in the mail and the client received a repaint, which had slightly brighter colors and I probably should’ve photographed before shipping. Presented as a gift to the Cosmos’s Borough Boys supporters’ group.

Posted in finished projects, goofy, somebody paid for this |

red stripes, yellow roses, blue bonnets, and silver cannons

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Hoover Dam

Another offseason commission, this time for a buddy in Dallas who wanted a flag celebrating various Texiana:


STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR IT, 3’x5′

He gave me a list of things he thought might look good against FC Dallas’s horizontal stripes, including, but not limited to, a yellow rose, bluebonnets, and the El Capitan cannon that’s the centerpiece of the Dallas/Houston rivalry. I drew up a concept, and he wrote back saying I’d more or less drawn what he’d just gotten for a tattoo. Score! Even better, my local fabric store had red striped fabric ready to go. Loved getting to play with the colors on this one, even if the perspective on the cannon is a little off. Finished product has a 1″ sleeve on the end for a pole and grommets for hanging instead of the usual banner straps.

Text is from an old Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ song, since, you know, when you think Texas music, you think a band from Atlanta.

Posted in finished projects, somebody paid for this |

go Terriers, unless someone else will make me money

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Hoover Dam

Older one I never got around until posting just now:


TRUST: 4’x6′–eh, wrong color red, but their money’s green

Back in October, I got a non-soccer commission, specifically, draw up Boston College hockey coach Jerry York. Talk about laughing all the way to the bank–I went to Boston University. Some of my BU alumni pals asked if I put any sneaky sabotage in the banner. Nah, pride in my work goes above and beyond any sports rivalries. Besides, this one taught me a new technique: The tweed texture in his coat came from cutting a potato into a tic-tac-toe pattern and using it as a stamp. The guys who ordered it were delighted, and I got to wince as this thing came out for BU’s first round Beanpot exit. Eh, strictly business.

Posted in finished projects, goofy, somebody paid for this |

ante up

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Hoover Dam

It’s opening day for most of MLS (Revs open tomorrow) so it’s time to make this official:

If the New England Revolution finish lower in the standings or end a playoff run in an earlier round than the Chicago Fire, I, Prairie Rose Clayton, will receive a bottle of Jeppson’s Malört, Chicago’s Favorite Disinfectant, from Phil McFarland at Small Bar. If the Chicago Fire finish lower in the standings or end a playoff run in an earlier round than the New England Revolution, Phil McFarland at SmallBar will receive a bottle of Buckfast, Scotland’s Favourite Bum Wine, from me, Prairie Rose Clayton.

No, I still don’t drink. That’s not the point.

Posted in goofy, revs |

make a (Christmas) miracle

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Hoover Dam

In early April, I got a heads up on Twitter from the Revs’ own Chris Tierney and his pal Taylor Russo that there might be a commission out there for me. Sure, why not. Turns out Charlie Davies’ agents over at James Grant Sports wanted to give him a gift to congratulate him on that whole “not dying” thing. (This was back when we were sure he was just minutes from the World Cup roster, which, in hindsight, everyone agrees was a bit much, but hey, we’re Americans, we like the sports movie endings). Holy crap, I thought, these guys are tracking me down to do this? What a bonus! Better use my whole ass on this one.


in progress

Went through about a dozen drafts before finally setting on a composite of CD celebrating his goal against Egypt in front of the fans holding up the #9 posters at the US-Costa Rica WCQ. Colors are the same shades of yellow/blue/white I used on the Chuck D piece; unfortunately, I didn’t have enough fabric left over from that to paint this on the same bolt. Painted the piece, much smaller than I usually do (it was to be framed, so they didn’t want it much bigger than about two feet wide), overnighted it, then…it kinda hung out with his agent for a while, as initial plans to send it to France didn’t work out.


second progress shot

Turns out they’d sent it to CD’s family in San Diego; he’d probably see it the next time he visited. Chafing under the non-disclosure agreement, I started leaving Twitter hints in December, asking if he was heading home when the French league took its winter break and perhaps did his parents get him anything nice for Christmas.


finished

Then, on Christmas Eve, I got my Christmas present. CD posted a photo and said “The plaque at the bottom of this gift reads: ‘Success is not final, Failure is not fatal, It is the courage to continue that counts.'”


framed

Not shown, since it’s framed: The title of the piece (“Make a Miracle”) is written on the upper back hem. Yes, that’s a line from a Public Enemy song, and I’m starting to see more people than just me tell him that every time he posts about returning to the field. All in, we’re gonna win.

Posted in finished projects, nats, somebody paid for this, why we do this |

gonna dress you up in my love

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Hoover Dam

Last year, the Boston chapter of American Outlaws had a brilliant idea: instead of just a winter party, throw a winter ball for charity, where everyone gets dressed up and goes out dancing, like a prom, only you’re allowed to be honest about the alcohol. It was a smashing success, raising thousands for the local chapter of America Scores. When they announced plans for this year’s ball, I decided to get clever with the outfit.

The 2010 US Men’s national team jersey, in dress form. Based on a pattern dating from, appropriately enough, 1950. Whole thing is silk; my mom fronted for the fabric as an early Christmas present. Altered the sash so that it split in half across the top of the dress, rather than around the waist, added blue and red piping around the sash, and held the two halves of the sash together with one of the buttons left over from the Campaign 2010 project.

Except things didn’t turn out quite as they look on that dress form.

Continue reading →

Posted in finished projects, goofy, nats |

the great fight north

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Hoover Dam

When they announced MLS Cup 2010 would be held in Toronto, Mike and I immediately knew we’d attend even if the Revs weren’t involved. We’ve got non-soccer buddies who live just blocks from BMO Field, and it’s an easy, if fantastically dull, day’s drive from Boston. So we packed up my car and headed out for yet another adventure in name-dropping and freeloading! Check the photos and join the fun, won’t you?

Continue reading →

Posted in finished projects, goofy, how did I get here, you should've been there |

the melonhead files

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Hoover Dam

NB: This is mostly aimed at non-soccer buddies wondering why I’ve been so upset today, so a lot of it will be familiar to the regular soccer audience. It’s also both schmaltzy and boastful, for which I make no apologies. However, if you want some insight into why it is I do what I do, click on through.


lots more where this came from

Continue reading →

Posted in melonhead, why we do this |

the gifted son who cannot score

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Hoover Dam

When a player retires or leaves the team, I give him all of his banners. I really, really wish I didn’t have to hand over these three today.

Posted in finished projects, melonhead, revs, why we do this |

10/31/10

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Hoover Dam

Really, really weird not doing any Revs pumpkins this year, but, well, that’s not exactly my fault. Didn’t stop me from doing two USA pumpkins, both based on source photos from the US-Algeria game. Click both for bigger.


landy

Landon Donovan, in action vs Algeria. Not the moment he scored THE goal, but a cool action shot.

http://tifosi.hooverdam.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=5797
disco stu

Stuart Holden, yelling at everyone after the game.

Posted in finished projects, nats, pumpkins |