Lance Armstrong, my yellow band and my son

So today it was announced that Lance Armstrong was stripped of all 7 Tour De France Medals. It is my birthday and I've always been a loyal Lance fan. Oakley, Nike and Giro have always been loyal too. I have numerous signed Lance Armstrong items I cherish and collected. I had the Lance shrine of stuff at Giro when I was art director there. I always thought that he was innocent of doping. Over the years I met quite a few of his Postal teammates and many stood in front of my collection of swag, posters, cutouts and said I hate that guy. I always thought it was jealousy and ignored what they said. I believed he was stronger than most and possessed something more. I was wrong. I still believe in his Livestrong non-profit. I know it has helped people fight during their cancer battles. My son's middle name is Armstrong for his strength and determination. He is still proud of that name and I think he was sadden by the news. I know I am.

Magellan GPS iCast booth graphics 2012 Photos by Jay Watson

Always nice when I can show work after a shoot. This was shot at Rooster Comb Ranch near Henry Coe Park near Hollister California by Jay Watson here is a more complete portfolio of the project. I am super fortune to have great opportunities to collaborate. This was a fishing, hunting and hiking shoot. We had done a Triathlon shoot prior and all worked well together. I art directed, produced the shoot, location scouted, found the talent with some help from Elle one of the models from the last shoot. Had Matt Twisselman and daughter Allison modeled. (Matt and I went to Kindergarden together and I helped him with the Amgen Bike race surfboard prize.) Heading out to Outdoor Retailer next week to see the Magellan GPS booth set for this show with some of the other images we took and also meet up with Croakies to show them some final work from Jimbo Phillips. I'm going to pick up shoe and sock catalogs for the Sockshop and Shoe Company (second largest Independent Retailer in the Nation no less) and find more brands to use in photo shoots.

Big thank you to the crew: Angela Stucky, Katie Stei, Dylan Tushar, Nils Carlson on the shoot and reps and marketing managers that sent me product and helped out. We couldn't of done it without you. All the contacts and relationships have made it possible to do a wide range of projects for catalog design, location scouting for Totts Champagne, style for clients like American Express and call folks from Oakley to Brookes shoes and get product for shoots is amazing. I take nothing for granted.

Giro Snow Illustrations Mark Burrier

Came across some illustrations that Mark Burrier created for the Giro Snow catalog. It was a fun project. He is a talented illustrator. The catalog with these images won an award. Was the year Giro launched goggles! Eric Richter and Bob Scales the two marketing managers are a great duo to work with. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to work with so many talented artists over the decades. The best place I have found new artists is in Communication Arts, Juxtapoz, Giant Robot, Colors magazine and some online sources like Coroflot.

I love it when I work with an artist right before they go big and I can not afford them. James Jean, Jim Phillips, Jimbo Phillips, Mojo, Eric Bailey another. Talent is talent. Biggest artist to date that I've worked with is Michael Schwab with the Lance Armstrong poster.

Capitola and artist James Jean

So great to see illustrator James Jean get a huge mention from Lance today on twitter for his Livestrong chalk art drawing. Very cool. I had the chance to work with James a few years ago. Of course the first year Lance was not riding. Got some amazing images for the Giro bike catalog. The bottom image is from a shoot on the beach in Capitola on the wall the other is taken in between the buildings at Venetain Hotel. Photos by BK.

Thank you to Mark Whiteley of Slap for putting a little shout out to the Capitola Classic survey.

Giro helmet graphics

I came across some helmet graphics I art directed at Giro. Love working with talented artists. Jimbo Phillips created the surfing kitties. He also designed the surfing Koala helmet that Lances son use to wear and not want to take off. Mojo designed the Crabby Patty and the Fairies. Kimi Normura designed the endangered species helmet. All fun and some of the first kids graphics that were not lady bugs and flowers.

Lance Armstrong's bike found

So glad to read that this morning. I hope he kicks some ass on it. Never too old to give those youngsters a little reminder. Determination, power and strength. I think he has all that and more.

Lance Armstrong poster at the NPG!

One of my favorite projects. Limited edition serigraph raised over $60,000 for both the LAF foundation and Youth Cycling Org. 300 signed and number posters sold for $300.00 a piece! I saw a poster in the high 475 numbers go for over $2,100.00 on ebay last year.
This portrait was accepted into the Natl. Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC
Featured in Communication Arts Exhibit and Graphis Poster book
Lance Armstrong
Michael Schwab, 2002
Color silkscreen poster
71.1 x 50.8 cm (28 x 20 in.)
National Portrait Gallery; gift of Michael Schwab
Thanks for sharing Michael
Can't wait for LA to ride through on Feb. 16, at the AMGEN Tour of California.