Friday, December 30, 2011

Rainbows

Rainbow

There was a rainbow today. Fact: Everyone loves seeing rainbows.


Muppet Theater

Muppet Theater
The Muppets. wdsiemer ii

If Disney princesses were real

If Disney princesses were real
By Joanna Douglas, Shine Fashion and Beauty Editor | Fashion

I've always enjoyed when an artist renders what a cartoon character would look like if it was real. I've seen it in an episode of South Park of the boys, an illustrator figuring out the skeletal anatomy of Peanut's characters, and here is one of Disney characters as real-life-like renderings.

Belle is a cutie.
Photo by: jirkavinse.wordpress.com

This is a fun one. Please visit the gallery! [VIEW GALLERY]

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Creatures

Creatures

My close friend Nick has me in love with collecting and displaying creatures. This is definitely what we consider a creature.

I am pretty much on vacation for the rest of the year and some if you are wondering about the limited frequencies of my posts.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Google Doodle Happy Holidays

Google Doodle Happy Holidays




Hermit Crab in Mouse Skull

Hermit Crab in Mouse Skull

I really don't know what my problem is. I get something in my head, and I feel the need to quickly realize it.

The Strange Process
I was thinking of hermit crabs this morning after hearing them mentioned on the radio, and started thinking of strange objects they could take over as their shell. I thought it would be really interesting if it took over another animal. I figured a mouse was small enough for them to occupy, but it would probably have to be its skull, instead of its carcass. Yes, very strange indeed. A look inside the mind that never turns off.

Hermit Crab in Mouse Skull Mock-Up. wdsiemer ii

Pixel Challenge

Pixel Challenge

I've seen a pixel game appear on Yahoo's front page several times. Can you guess this iconic photo/painting/etc? Make your own rather quickly in Photoshop. Open image>Filter>Pixelate>Mosaic (the more squares, the more difficult the image will be to discern.

 Yahoo's Pixel Challenge
My own pixel challenge. Click for Answer

Santa Jesus

Santa Jesus

My Christmas parade of posts continues... Remember the reason we celebrate Christmas--the birth of Santa Claus.

Santa Jesus

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Easter Bunny on Santa's Lap

Easter Bunny on Santa's Lap (Stupid Pic)

The Easter Bunny sitting on Santa Claus' lap confessing his sins.

Two Creeps: The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. wdsiemer ii

Santa Claus Origami

Santa Claus Origami

Came across this, and felt it was relevant since part of The Sketchpad's identity is an origami paper boat, and it is Christmas-time.

The Sketchpad's paper boat represents my childhood, imagination, the need for escape, grids/measurements and re-construction/re-imagining (making dimensional art from a flat, static media). There's some really skillful origami out there...

Santa Claus by Linda Mihara

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

TheSketchpad.XXX

TheSketchpad.XXX

Thinking of reserving the website thesketchpad.xxx as a way for people to fulfill all their naked mole rat sexual needs--dirty and naked.

Naked Mole Rat at the potential TheSketchpad.xxx wdsiemer ii

The Future of Electronics

The Future of Electronics

We've seen them in movies, but I believe hands-free, transparent screens superimposed over the real world are what we are striving to achieve in technology. The technology exists, but I wonder when it will catch up to some of our most fantastic concepts. My prediction, this technology will be one of the most innovative features of my future. I just hope by the time the advancement is made, I'm not like a current 90 year old figuring out what Facebook is.

Prototype transparent screens have already been demonstrated
at technology shows - so the idea of 'wearable' computer glasses
is not as out-there as it sounds.

Distant Sun

Distant Sun

Distant Sun. wdsiemer ii

Food of the Future

Food of the Future
As Inspired by Dippin' Dots

Why eat the same old foods of the past, when you could enjoy all your favorite foods in rabbit poop form?


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Reindeer Candy Cane

Reindeer Candy Cane

Went to UDF to get a drink, and the lady there gave me a crafty candy cane she made. Nice of her. Pretty cute!

Reindeer Candy Cane. wdsiemer ii

Greek Restaurant Typography

Greek Restaurant Typography
Designs We've Seen (a lot) Series

I posted a Designs We've Seen (a lot) Series a while back about the overuse of certain fonts; specifically, Comics Sans (for Day Cares/Preschools) and Papyrus (Salons and Spas). (Comic Sans and Papyrus)

I was recently working on some menu boards for a Greek restaurant. We used beautiful high-resolution stock photography on floating frosted glass with silver studs (which goes well with the restaurant's architecture), but the client is set on using the font Adonais. I understand Adonais gets the point across, but it downgrades the class of the restaurant, and is so cliched.
Seen it all before. wdsiemer ii
So, I'm adding Adonais-type fonts for Greek Restaurants to the list... Next to be added to the list? Scripts (e.g. Brush Script/Monotype Corsiva/Edwardian.

Go Crazy!
FREE Adonais Font

Apple Store Crowds

Apple Store Crowds

Have you been to an Apple Store recently? If so, this is probably what you saw...
Apple Store crowds are a little hectic this time of year.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

Smiley Face Magnets

Smiley Face Magnets

A lady came to us wanting to play a joke on her husband who recently bought a bright yellow car. She kept teasing that his new sport's car looked like a giant smiley face. So, I ended up creating a set of cut-out magnets that she could place on the hood. She later sent me this photo to show me how it looked. She said her husband freaked thinking it was vinyl.


Fabric Texture + Ink

Fabric Texture + Ink

Scanned in this rag that I had been using to clean a CMYK solvent printer. No reason. The nice thing about textures is there is no limit to on how to use them...

A possibility. wdsiemer ii
Endless possibilities. wdsiemer ii

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Cutest Baby Contest

Cutest Baby Contest

I think some of this stuff is the biggest joke... PLEASE vote for my kid's photo in the cutest kid contest!! My kid seems much smarter than other kid's his/her age. My child is an angel!

Vote for my child as the cutest kid in the world. wdsiemer ii

MADDER MAD MEN

MADDER MAD MEN

Yes, we have a Mad Men-like atmosphere here in the design room--alcohol (although cheap wine), firing clients, a dog running wild, design, and drama.

Wine Collection
MADDER MAD MEN logo
Toy Airplane on Keyboard


Bad Economy: One Percent

Bad Economy: One Percent

Times are tough IN THIS ECONOMY. I had to settle for the standard stereo system in my new "BUG." How am I expected to get my child through college?

My new Bugatti sans upgrades

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Beavis & Butthead KFC Diet

Beavis & Butthead KFC Diet

Well, my KFC Popcorn Chicken Diet has come to an end. I only gained about 10 pounds. Looks like the diet is catching on...


Vintage Sign Mock-Up

Vintage Mock-Up

I usually don't post any work on The Sketchpad (I reserve that for my personal site), but I figure I'd start posting miscellaneous jobs here-and-there that aren't strong enough, so I can record what I'm working on (as in a journal). Anything of value will only appear on my personal site.

A client drew up what he wanted, and I realized it in this quick mock-up that was later approved and produced...


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Ice Cream Cone Clip Art

Ice Cream Cone Clip Art

It seems like I create ClipArt-like imagery like this once a day for a client, so I thought I'd share with the public. I'm sure it'll get some hits in the image search category.


Ornaments to Spruce Up Your Lawn

Ornaments to Spruce Up Your Lawn

Planning on having a house party soon? Consider some of these spectacular lawn ornament ideas to impress your guests! Dress up a goose, display a garden gnome, show African American history with a lawn jockey, protect your possessions with a lion, or mesmerize them with a gazing ball orb.



Color of the Year for 2012: Tangerine Tango

Color of the Year for 2012: Tangerine Tango
Dec. 8, 2012


2012's shade, PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, is a reddish orange shade, described by the brand as "vivacious" and "enticing."

In this image courtesy of Pantone, the color swatch for Pantone's Tangerine Tango is shown. The world doesn't need more gray, and the blues are covered, too. What consumer products need is a jolt, a shot of energy and boldness, all of which comes from Tangerine Tango, the reddish-orange hue that Pantone has picked as its top color for 2012. (AP Photo/Pantone)

Monday, December 12, 2011

Robert Noyce Google Doodle

Robert Noyce Google Doodle

Today’s Google Doodle honors the birthday of Robert Noyce, the co-founder of Intel and the co-inventor of the integrated circuit or microchip, used in practically all electronic equipment today.

Robert Noyce Google Doodle (Intel microchip)

Friday, December 9, 2011

Truck Graphic Install

Truck Graphic Install

Should have never taken on this job. Too big, too cold, too inexperienced. Lesson learned.



Thursday, December 8, 2011

Nest | The Learning Thermostat

Nest | The Learning Thermostat

Using his industrial design and usability knowledge, Tony Fadell created a design and eco-friendly thermostat. His previous work included the the first 18 generations of Apple's iPod and 3 generations of the iPhone.

Turn up the heat in style!