Anatomy of a Poster
It’s no secret that we love illustrating posters, mostly because it’s one of those projects that allows us so much creative freedom. It’s always really fun to see the end result and to look back at where it started. So we thought we’d share some behind-the-scenes looks into our creative process and all the work that goes into each piece.
First Wilderness Heritage Corridor
We worked with Warren County to develop a series of illustrations to promote the towns and villages within the First Wilderness Heritage Corridor. We then created interpretive signage and sell sheets based on the illustrations, including informational maps to highlight all there was to do and see in each community. There were 12 artworks altogether, and each one had to convey the unique character of the particular town, while also fitting into the larger system. The image above, which features the scenic and historic Warren County Bike Trail as it passes over Glen Lake in Queensbury, was the first poster we tackled and became the basis for the entire system. From thumbnail sketch to printed product, you can see a quick look at the process below:
Make sure you check out the whole series, here!
Adirondack Theatre Festival
For the second year in a row, we created the show posters for the Adirondack Theatre Festival, which is entering its 26th season (with a whole new identity!). This was another instance where the artwork had to fit the theme for each show (comedy, drama, romance, musical, etc.), while still working together as a cohesive system. We achieved this by using a similar illustration style throughout and keeping the overall season in mind, without getting too siloed into one concept. Some of the posters traveled seamlessly from sketch to draft to finished product, while others started and ended in entirely different places. That revision process is something we’ve learned to expertly navigate over the years. By establishing concrete creative direction upfront and providing key visual references (whether it be a pencil sketch or inspiration found online), we make sure we’re on the same page with our client each step of the way. When a concept just isn’t working or needs significant revisions, communication is crucial and we pride ourselves on listening intently and offering creative, yet realistic solutions.
After several initial sketches, a concept was chosen, which featured a view of a singer in a retro radio recording booth. While we had the vintage time period nailed down with the style of the imagery, we went through several versions of the poster until we captured the proper look of the main characters (the show is set in a retirement home, after all!). We also added some key details, like wood paneling and linoleum flooring to match the set of the production.
