Mascot for Pittsburgh Science & Technology School

And now for something completely different, this is a "mascot" symbol designed for the new Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy which will open in August of 2009. Yes, it's a Pit Bull--a notorious urban dog, some might say scary as well. I chose the Pit Bull as an apt symbol for inner city school students who may have a reputation for being "tough kids" but by adding the glasses, I thought it also showed the "smart" side potential. 

This symbol is actually derived from a collaboration between Evan, my son, and I. He and I developed the original "pit bull" symbol (with no glasses) for an industrial manufacturing client who wasn't nearly courageous enough to use it--although everyone admitted that it would be the talk of their industry if they did. 

Early reaction from students has been positive; they seem to like being associated with a tough but "brainy"  dog.

Accepted in the Pittsburgh Chapter AIGA Context 2009 Communication Graphics Show.

Frozen 2009

I'm working on compiling a collection of images, new and old, to put into a photo book I'm tentatively calling "Frozen." This was shot this morning at sunrise. The sunrise adds warmth to an otherwise frigid scene.

Embossed Portrait 1988

Hand embossed portrait done in 1988. Drawn into handmade paper from Wildcat paperworks using a blunt wooden tool. 22 x 32 inches.

Prints: 2001

Two large stamp prints, each two color. The plates are 4 x 6 inches. Printed on cream  Arches etching paper. Left image title: "I'll only ask once". Right image: "Yes Man"

Hand Cut Stamp Portraits ca 1980-1983

Way back in the 80's brother James introduced me to hand cut stamps, something he was using in his calligraphy work. I was pretty familiar with making relief prints, having done woodcuts and linocuts for years. I embarked on a three year project where I cut hundreds of stamps of everyday objects, often in funny situations--e.g. a group of bulls with suits and called it "Business Lunch"; a Teddy Bear with an erection called "Teddy's Surprise". (Side note: the big surprise undoubtedly was to the client of mine who bought a large stamped print that I was exhibiting at the Three Rivers Arts Festival--a collection/collage of many hand cut images and buried within the group is the one image of the Teddy Bear with the erection--never heard from that guy again.)

Anyway, within this group of stamps are a few portraits. The top one is really more of a "conceptual" portrait--not really meant to look like me as much as to express me as the subject of the dilemma.

All these stamps are cut into ArtGum erasers: the standard 1 x 2 inch size. The small ones are one-half of an eraser; the larger ones are two erasers glued together. I contacted the ArtGum people--Eberhard Faber-- to see if they'd sell me larger pieces of ArtGum and they said no, they couldn't because it would negate their copyright on the product.

Self Portrait ca.1968

Pen and ink on cream colored Arches etching paper, approx. 7 x 8.5 inches.

Jim & Jeanie 1975

Drawn in 1975 while at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The future Mrs. CrustyPiMan II is in the background. Not terribly flattering...but hey, I just draw what I see. Yuk. yuk.

Portrait of Jim c 1983

This is a woodcut printed on canvas approximately 10 x 15 inches. It was derived from a photo that I took of Jim sometime in the late 1970's. I later made many copies of this portrait—all were printed on the VanderCook proofing press that I had at the time. I then did did a multi-colored assemblage on canvas about 5 x 6 feet. Alas, the canvas was purged in our move to the country.

Another from 1988