Finlayson Portfolio

2011-09-21T13:35:00.001-05:00

WJBY is a sister station of WGAD. I was asked to create this branding image while I was finishing up on the WGAD logo. This image visually ties in with the other logo - while maintaining an identity all it's own. I saw both logos enlarged on a banner last night at the Gadsden/Etowah Chamber of Commerce's 'Business After Hours'. Having created these logos in CorelDraw and fine tuned in Photoshop - I only had seen them on my computer monitor. It was rewarding to see how well they both looked super-sized.

They blowed up...they blowed up real good!

tuning in

2011-09-16T08:11:00.002-05:00

WGAD is a radio station that's been servicing Gadsden, AL since 1947. I was honored to be asked to develop their new logo. The station is now under new management and new direction - now boasting a new transmitter facility, new transmitter and a new tower. I'm anxious to see what the new improved WGAD will offer our community.

The initial challenge was to create a branding image that has a lot of elements (WGAD, 1350, 99.5 and News Plus) and make it work as a single unit. The initial idea for this image was to integrate the the old 1 3 5 0 frequency into the bold WGAD call letters. I welded the call letters together to work toward a single element appearance. The other two elements were brought into the image using the bold red bars. There was a lot of tweaking involved to get this one just right. I am very pleased with the final outcome.

collective savior

2011-09-15T15:16:00.001-05:00

This one's from a while back, yet still relevant.

not my idea

2011-04-26T10:51:00.000-05:00

I thought this idea from John Shaw was a good one - so I fleshed it out. If you don't know already, it's based on the idiom, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice - shame on me." I hope that when the next presidential election rolls around, more American's will have wised up to Democrat promises of hope and change. Thanks John.

my sentiments

2010-10-26T10:37:00.000-05:00

Commander in Chef

2010-09-21T11:35:00.001-05:00

This graphic was inspired after watching the Frank & Beans clip from Obama's CNBC Townhall.

“I’m exhausted of defending you, defending your administration, defending the mantle of change that I voted for,” said the first questioner, an African-American woman who identified herself as a chief financial officer, a mother and a military veteran. “I’ve been told that I voted for a man who was going to change thin...gs in a meaningful way for the middle class, and I’m waiting, sir, I’m waiting. I still don’t feel it yet."

I tell you, I literally laughed all the way home yesterday.

remember in november

2010-03-23T14:06:00.000-05:00

This is a freebie that pulled together in PhotoShop to share with my facebook friends.

bipartisanship obama style

2010-02-20T18:58:00.000-06:00

a lymphedema panel

2010-02-04T12:05:00.000-06:00

Here's another lymphedema related cartoon. As most of you know, my wife and I are owners of Occupational Therapy of Gadsden, LLC. Gina is a certified lymphedema therapist and most of our clientele are lymphedema patients. As a graphic designer, I use my cartoons to market our services. During the course of the year I will be working on an illustrated pamphlet/booklet to help educate our lymphedema patients.

This particular cartoon was scanned directly from my sketchbook and popped into a cartoon panel. I rendered it while attending a Lighthouse Lymphedema meeting in Atlanta last October. If you are part of the lighthouse network, you'll probably see some of my cartoon panels from time to time.

here comes the judge

2010-01-14T23:51:00.000-06:00

Judge Roy Moore asked that I help him with his campaign logo back during the Summer. It took several long sessions, and we finally came out of the other side of the project with a strong image that met his need. We had a great time working on this image. Creating it was a long process and I'm proud of the results.

I start most logos in CorelDraw. I like the way Corel lets me manipulate fonts with ease. The 'M' and banner were built as separate images and we discussed up front that the judge could use the 'M' independently if needed. As always, after working with the text, the graphic was taken into PhotoShop to polish.

About Judge Roy Moore. Don't believe everything you see on television or read in the paper about people. To get to know this fellow, you'll discover a kind man with a real heart to serve God. I always enjoy our conversations. He's a very intelligent man. By the way, he's one of the good guys. My prayers go with him.

first sketches of 2010

2010-01-04T15:44:00.001-06:00

Not too long ago I came across some Marx Brothers movies real cheap at our local Big Lots. I sat up late last night watching a couple of them and had the urge to pencil sketch Groucho. After Groucho, I turned the page and scribbled Harpo. I had to improvise on Harpo because he's a moving target. He was never still enough in any scene to make out facial detail. Even if he did stand still - Harpo was constantly making faces. I thought Chico was going to be the reel challenge - but he was actually my favorite of the brother's to draw. Like Buster Keaton - Chico was a comedian with a dead-pan face. Chico could have been his own straight man. Growing up, I enjoyed Groucho and Harpo the most. Watching these old movies again though, I've grown a new appreciation of Chico's talents. Each of these illustrations, I feel, capture a little of the personality and energy of their characters.

This afternoon I scanned the three images into PhotoShop and merged them all together as one playful image. I wanted each of the penciled caricature to remain unique, so I gave each brother their own color hue. Looking at all three images together makes me think of the old cartoon imagery used in the old Marx Brother's publicity material.

self promo piece

2009-10-25T19:21:00.003-05:00

This cartoon is on a new direct mail piece/post card going out to area physicians. I've also worked up a gray scale version for a puzzle book that is being distributed at health fairs. We've also ordered some jar openers with a black and white version of this cartoon to give out.

I've been using cartoons as a marketing tool for Occupational Therapy of Gadsden, LLC since we first started. I thought this piece turned out well. I know that not everyone out there who doesn't know what lymphedema is will get the cartoon.

he's coming for you

2009-10-09T13:41:00.002-05:00

This a half page Ad that will run in the Messenger next week.
I was very happy with the outcome.

the nobel

2009-10-09T10:11:00.005-05:00

Obama just won the Nobel Peace Prize. For what?

I got a good laugh this morning when I heard the news.

LTC Steve Russell (Ret)

2009-10-03T14:53:00.004-05:00

This is a pen & ink of LTC Steve Russell (Ret) who is to be the keynote speaker at the Etowah County Republican Party's 2009 Dinner & Fundraiser. Steve Russell and his unit's efforts were chronicled in Discovery's "Ace in the Hole" and BBC Panorama's "Saddam on the Run" documentaries. Steve is highly decorated, the Chairman and Founder of Vets for Victory, and the subject of many books. He's also a committed Christian, Sunday school teacher, as well as an articulate defender of conservative principles. I look forward to hearing him speak.

I rendered this illustration a few hours ago. It is to grace the pages of some area publications. I am still in the process of working on the actual Ad.

Yes We Can!

2009-10-02T23:05:00.004-05:00

Playing on Obama's campaign slogan. I don't think I'm through with this 'Yes We Can!' theme.

DNC altar call

2009-09-26T12:56:00.002-05:00

I worked this graphic to upload on my facebook account. Feel free to copy it and spread the wealth of love around. May Obama bless you!

for don

2009-09-21T10:55:00.002-05:00

My brother in-law Don Rakestraw had this editorial cartoon idea. Don actually has more of a mind for political commentary, but he doesn't draw. So, this one is for you my brother from another mother. It's rare that I use someone else's suggestions, but always appreciate Don's input.

Poor Pelosi

2009-05-20T10:12:00.003-05:00

Poor Pelosi. She can't pull a lie off like Clinton or Obama. She blamed The CIA? Man - for a woman she sure does have a set.

Titantic Theme

2009-05-14T09:33:00.004-05:00

There was an original caption to the cartoon above, but it got kind of wordy. "Just ram it into three more icebergs. The additional holes will allow even more water to flow out." I like that idea better - but it was a lot of text.

One idea spurred the other.

like Vietnam

2009-04-03T05:17:00.002-05:00

About a dozen years or so ago, I met a preacher friend of mine for breakfast at a Bob Evans. We had one of those in Bowling Green, KY. We were talking about life, God, love, and politics. I remember Mark looking a me and shaking his head.

I said, "What?"
He said, "David, you are probably one of the most creative people I've ever met and I don't get it."
"What don't you get Mark?"
"That you are such a conservative"
"meaning?"
"That most creative types I've ever met are as liberal as you can get. It just doesn't make sense."

I know what he was getting at - but since when do I have to check my brain at the door to be a creative type? Sure I am a touchy-feely kind of guy - but that doesn't mean I don't use my brain.

place mat sketch

2009-01-23T17:04:00.004-06:00

Gina and I were at the Cultural Arts Center one day having lunch in the Courtyard Cafe' when a large group of Red Hat Society ladies came in to have their luncheon at the table next to us. Most of their hats were very ornate and attention getting. I made this sketch on a place-mat while we waited on our meals. As you can see, I kind of went overboard with the frill of the hat.

a rising from the dead problem

2009-01-16T12:43:00.003-06:00

Here's yet another of the old Skylight cartoons that I've reclaimed for the new area directory. These days I create cartoon panels and add the captions in PhotoShop for illustrations I scanned. The panels of these older cartoons were rendered with a pen (not computer, thus the ink is uneven in flow here and there. I don't mind that - seeing how the cartoons are loose. Today I have been adding the new Light Side logo mast, deleting my old hand printed text and re-entering text using a comic font. This morning as I left the house I was thinking about possibly redrawing all of the images but after sitting down to take a closer look - I like was I see.

A cartoonist friend of mine, Stacy Curtis, used to comment about how I used to draw my hands like mittens. I don't recall where I picked that up. I guess it was because if I didn't need finger action - I left out the detail. I still do it from time to time - usually when drawing kids. When ever I start illustrating a cartoon I do a pencil first. Often, if the penciled image looks good I'll just go ahead and ink it. If a cartoon dude isn't pointing or manipulating an object, I'll ink in a non-defined appendage. Over the past decade though, I usually make a hand look like a hand - a four fingered cartoon hand that is.

By the way, like all of my illustrations, they are all my property and not public domain. You must obtain permission from me to use these. Contact me if you have use for something you see and we'll work something out.

cartoon resurrection

2009-01-16T10:07:00.004-06:00

Today I have been working on the 2009 Physician's Area Directory. This is a publication we produce solely for the medical community. Last year I included a handful of cartoons within it's pages - but the humorous panels were content related to medical field. This time around I've decided to simply throw it all into the mix. Last night I ran across some cartoons that I created for the old Christian Brother Association "Skylight" newsletter. I pulled some of my favorites and currently brushing them off to include in this year's directory. The Light Side logo is new as of today. I think it's a definite keeper and enhances the look of the cartoon panel.

thowing caution to the wind

2008-10-24T13:33:00.005-05:00

This is an old but good one. Before Rush Limbaugh had his official site - there was the unofficial Rushonline site. I've developed a good bit of political cartoon work for The Web Network (TWN) down through the years. One of my favorite illustrations I did for them is a piece I did during the Clinton administration. The cartoon is based the incident when Bill and Hillary got into a fight - when a hot tempered First Lady hurled a lamp at the Commander In Chief.

RocketMan to the rescue

2008-10-13T16:06:00.003-05:00

Here's a job that I finished last month that I meant to post earlier. An old friend who works up in Huntsville,AL threw a party for a genuine rocket scientist friend of his. It was framed and given as a departmental gift for the doctor's birthday. I had fun doing it.

Oversized Postcard Design

2008-06-16T14:33:00.002-05:00

Jose' saw a postcard design that I did for our therapy business and asked if I'd come up with a design a mailer for his business. The entire layout was created in Adobe PhotoShop. We left the back of the postcard blank. Usually folks add return address and a stamp box on the back but we decided that this card could be used as a note/calling card as well. It is a nice piece to paperclip to the top of a job estimate. I like the idea of Jose' being able to use this project as a direct mail piece and as a presentation piece.

We used VistaPrint to print him us the postcards as well as business cards for both of his businesses. I am a big believer in the online print service VistaPrint. I can order full color printing at small quantities and the turn around is very fast. I have yet to be disappointed with their services.

Take note of the Rodriguez Home Builders, LLC logo. It's my handiwork as well - and proud of it! The house was rendered in CorelDraw and then thrown into PhotoShop for text treatment and tweaking.

batteries not included

2008-03-20T11:24:00.004-05:00

Here's cover art for the area phyisicain's directory. The illustration was generated in Corel Draw and then sweetened in Adobe PhotoShop. Most of you babyboomers out there might find this helmet-haired guy familiar. I thought paying tribute to this 60's favorite game would make an eye catching cover. By the way, it was Gina's (my wife) idea to add the tweezers at the top. I don't mind suggestions and comments from folks looking over my shoulder. Ideas are often fleshed out and outcome perfected as other minds are welcomed into the creative process. By the way, the game Operation is still on the market today. Last year my daughter was given the Shrek version of the game.

power branding

2007-12-23T01:26:00.000-06:00

I usually use CorelDraw when developing logos. This software enables me to manipulate text easily. This winged logo for Rodriguez Auto Sales was rendered entirely in CorelDraw then transported into PhotoShop to colorize. When working on logos - I first work with black and white imagery to make sure the branding is strong as a one color design.

Tribute for Paul

2007-12-19T22:33:00.004-06:00

Early 2006, I was asked by Gene Crume of Midland Lutheran College to submit a tribute cartoon piece for Paul Norris, creator of the Golden Age comic classing Aquaman. I was deeply honored to say the least. Paul also hand his hand in such classic comics as Secret Agent X - Flash Gordon - Jungle Jim - Brick Bradford - Magnus & Tarzan. I received a letter from Mr. Norris which reads as follows:

Dear David:

This is about two months late, but I want to thank you for the art in which Submariner is set straight. Nice touch for Aquaman. I like your technique. It will find a permanent place on the wall in my den. The den used to be my studio before I got too old to draw cartoons or run out and play golf.

The tribute to me by Midland was a surprise and it made an old man feel happy. I thank you for being part of it.

Best wishes,
Paul Norris

Paul Leroy Norris April 26, 1914 - November 5, 2007

I am still today so deeply honored to have been asked to have played part in that tribute.

make room...

2007-12-19T17:07:00.000-06:00

The inside reads "Let's make room for Jesus this Christmas!"
Original Christmas card design for Occupational Therapy of Gadsden, LLC for 2007. The initial art was created in CorelDraw and then taken into PhotoShop where text, color, and textures were added.

wolf in sheep clothing

2007-12-19T16:56:00.000-06:00

Just a sample of the many illustrations for http://www.playingpolitics.com/. Original hand illustration is scanned and sweetened in PhotoShop.

Lawley Drug & Medical

2007-12-19T16:49:00.000-06:00

One of two Ads recently created for Lawley Drug & Medical that ran in the Anniston/Gadsden Christian Family publication.

Alabama vs Auburn

2007-12-19T15:42:00.000-06:00

I developed this football schedule a few months back for the area magazine Etowah Illustrated.

big mac attack

2007-07-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

Original cartoon for the 2007 Physician's Area Directory

let's get digital - digital

2007-07-09T09:43:00.000-05:00

Original cartoon for the 2007 Physician's Area Directory

denial

2007-07-09T09:23:00.000-05:00

This is a cartoon created for the 2007 Physician's Area Directory. It's a hand drawn illustration that was sweetened in PhotoShop.