Amerikan Made Prints: The Posters
Amerikan Made Prints was started by myself and wife, Jenn. I create the designs, which are usually inspired by my experiences growing up in the 1970s and frequently falling down stairs as a child. Jenn is responsible for expertly mixing paint pallets for the posters and as well as quality control. Together, our goal is turning out posters that rock harder than Gibraltar.
Kenny G. Aint Jazz
Jazz washes away the dust of every day life - Art Blakey
This poster, originally slated to be released with Series One, was delayed for almost a year due to reworking the graphics and difficulties in getting the proper screen exposures. But now it's here and it smokes like a Buddy Rich solo. One of the rules that we have at Amerikan Made Prints is that we only screen-print listening to classic jazz on vinyl. We thought it made sense to create a poster that paid tribute to some of the great jazz musicians that have inspired us as we laid down the ink.
Space Talkies
Growing up in the 1970's, one of the staples of childhood was mobile communication via the technology of Walkie Talkies. This poster is a loving tribute back to simpler days before iPhones, iPads, Internets and computer games. These were days when names like "Solid State" and "Archer" stood for fun and imagination just as much as Wham-O and Marx Toys. When I was kid, I had and loved many pairs of walkie-talkies. I had generic sets, super-hero sponsored sets, sets that had special buttons for Morse code. Some of my fondest memories was sneaking around my neighborhood, pretending to be a spy on a secret mission. I would wait for a cryptic message to be sent through the static from my friend, as long as he was within the 20-foot signal range. Those hazy days of summer are forever etched into my memory through the Kodachrome filter of fond nostalgia.
Another Day. Another Drop Shadow.
The dream of a graphic designer is to create meaningful designs that communicate on a visual, intellectual and emotional level. It is the joy of being creative and having someone pay you to do it. But the reality of that dream is that it often comes with the heavy price on the creative soul. There are endless meetings, client revisions, committee-mandated direction, project managers who are frustrated art directors, long hours and often little recognition. These are the daily and universal struggles of a graphic designer and this is my loving tribute to those in the design trenches. May the creative concept never be forgotten and the good fight always be fought.
It Will End In Reams Of Paper Tears
Mr.Typeface™ has just heard that it’s the end of print and he is crying reams of paper tears. The style and layout pays tribute to the awesome Penguin paperback book covers from the 1960’s and early 70’s.
Adventures In Outer Space!
This poster was designed out of my love for the travel posters from the 40’s and 50’s. I wanted to create something simplistic but naturally had a vintage vibe and would visually feel at home next to a Pan-Am poster for Hawaii or Switzerland.
