If you're like me, you may still be mourning the loss of Minneapolis' City Pages. Luckily, a new startup, with a similar style and approach to reporting has arrived. Get to know this Racket.
New Publisher in Town
in Illustration
Comic Art
in Comics
Very happy to announce that my artwork is once again in the most recent issue of the comics anthology Rust Belt Review. Read the thrilling conclusion.
in Illustration
More than a couple movies that have been teased recently make me want to go sprinting into the movie theater. Please enjoy what looks like the credit sequence for Mr. Anderson's latest. It's animated and in French.
Shop Talk
in Autoptic
Autoptic recently released a whole slew of impressive cartoonist interviews, with the likes of Pascal Girard, Keiler Roberts and more. Take a walk and listen to these artists describe how they interpret the world.
Find A Gun: Part 1
Free and Clear
in Illustration
Design Ingredients: Asymmetrical Balance
While nearly all designs will need to be well balanced, Asymmetrical Balance can be used to unify disparate visual elements.
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in Comics
This month the club goes to Daalo Hilaac.
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in Illustration
Closed: Lost Restaurants of Twenty-Twenty
New Eat Street Diners Club book. Only 2 left.
32 pages
Signed edition of 15
4.25" x 5.5" with wrap-around cover
Pinball, 1973
in Illustration
Reading through the Haruki Murakami's "Series of the Rat". So far, my favorite installment is Pinball, 1973. Surreal and real, it's relaxing to slow down to Murakami's pace.
38th & Chicago
in Illustration
Finally got around to reading this thoughtful reporting, by Slate, about CUP Foods. Minneapolis being the epicenter for a national conversation about racist police policies has been a lot to process. Here's hoping for improvement, change and a more humane government and culture in 2021.
Eat Street Diners Club #25
in ESDC
Go the eatstreetdinersclub.com to read the latest comic and subscribe to future episodes.
Design Ingredients: Emphasis / Focal Point
Emphasis / Focal Point is a very powerful ingredient when designing messages that need to catch someone's eye. A strong focal point makes it almost impossible to not engage a viewers attention. While a design can have more than one focal point (aka accent), it is important to be careful—several focal points will turn the design into a three-ring circus.
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Autoptic 2020
in Autoptic
Last August would have brought us the Autoptic Comics Festival, but … well you know. What the team was able to put together at the last minute are a number of fantastic cartoonist interviews, and a show catalog (designed by yours truly), with artwork from over 60 contributors. There are just a few days left to pre-order your copy.
Thank you so much to all the contributors and special guests who contributed. Hope to see you all next year.
Working with a Print Designer
Producing a printed promotional piece that shines and communicates the quality of your business requires the help of a print designer. If you’re new to print, I can help.
Print Design Formats
There are endless types of projects that are printed, each with their own unique advantages and challenges. Listed below are a few of the type of projects that benefit the most from an experienced print designer:
Business Cards with Special Effects • Branded Packaging • Brochures • Billboards • Book Covers • Magazines • Outdoor and Indoor Signage • Posters • Tradeshow Banners
Print Design is Different from Digital Design
When selecting a designer for your print project, it’s good to ask how much of their portfolio is print focused, and how long they’ve been designing for print. Once your project is printed, the opportunity to correct mistakes has passed—similar mistakes in an online environment have fewer financial consequences.
Also, there is a limit to how much text and graphics can fit on a single side of a business card. An established print designer is aware of these boundaries and is focused on readability and clarity.
Color is another element that looks different on a computer screen when compared to a physical printed object. A print designer can help navigate those differences so that there are no surprises.
Printers Speak a Unique Language
Ideally, there is a discussion about how best to produce the print item before selecting a print partner. Then written specifications are developed in a common language familiar to the print industry. Developing this language, reviewing/converting images and preparing color for print is my specialty.
Read The Final Proof or You’ll Pay The Consequences
Tips for final proofing:
-Review a physical proof (not just a PDF) before printing any project.
-Someone who has never seen the project and can look at it with fresh eyes can see errors others’ might have overlooked
-Bring these proofs with you to the press check, if your print designer hasn't already
-Color correction should be done with the printer, based on the proofs, because their color-profile and workspace may be different from what you’ve been looking at.
Need help with your next print project? Send me an email.
George Floyd
Waiting for justice in Minneapolis.
I’m hoping that a direct way to communicate our anger with the MPD is to tell them directly by email.
If you are financially secure, there’s need all around, but below are a few places to consider. I’m willing to bet a lot of you have already given.
Rebuild Lake Street - Any amount helps and the Minneapolis College of Art & Design will match donation by alumni if you send them a receipt.
Black Owned Minneapolis Restaurants - From City Pages
Minnesota Central Kitchen - There is a lot of need and Second Harvest Heartland is ready
Plague Delivery
Eat Street Diners Club #19: Are restaurants just a dream?
Read the Eat Street Diners Club on Substack!
Best Web Comic of the Year?
Not likely. But I’m very excited to hear that the Eat Street Diners Club was shortlisted for Slate’s Cartoonist Studio Prize.
What a surprise and honor. Doing my best over here to not let the bad news obliterate the good.
