Life Inspirations

'Evergreen - Green Inspired Illustration' (Click to View Larger)

The Moments of Inspiration
Inspiration comes in many forms. It may be derived from a creative process where you try to facilitate ideas, it may be from other peoples work or by what they have said, it may come from creation around you as you take in the Almighty's handiwork, or it may just come from seemingly mundane situations or events that spark interest and cause a small fire in your creative soul. Life is filled with inspiring moments.

So when I was asked to design a poster for an art show in Mexico called 'DO2'. I had been thinking a lot about the environment and green related topics the past two days after reading an article titled 'Plastic Ocean'. I was inspired to create art that had a green theme to it. I decided to play off the tribal tattoo look but instead of being hard core I gave it a subtle foliage flair while limiting my color palette to greens.

I'd love to get this printed some day on recycled paper using soy inks to really push the whole green aspect of it. I think that would be really cool.


'Evergreen - Poster Design'

The final art size for this poster will be 43cm x 56cm. You can download a PDF version of this poster design by clicking here. Print it out, and hang it up.


'Nisqually - NW Indian Inspired Colors'

Alternate Version
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and was surrounded by Indian reservations and was exposed to a lot of NW Indian artwork such as totem poles and painted carvings etc. I've always liked the Black, Grey and Red color scheme they used so I decided to try this art using that palette just to see what it looked like as well.

All the textures I used in this art are part of the bonus '30' texture set I give away for FREE to anyone who orders my texture book. For more information about that book visit www.Vonsterbooks.com

About the Names
Evergreen is the name of the university close to where I grew up. Those who attended there were nick named 'Greeners' because the school leaned towards all things green, so Evergreen seemed like an appropriate name for my poster art as well. We use to ride our bikes down to the Nisqually valley to go fishing or in the summer to buy firecrackers that were sold on the reservation, so that is where I got that name from for my alternate version of the art.

Spruce up your creativity!

'Art for a Concept Card'

The majority of times my ideas drive my art but at other times my art drives my ideas. Such is the case with this piece of art. I had doodled this character on a notepad next to my work station over the course of a few days. I liked the character and wondered if there was a way I could use it for something? Just to entertain myself I started writing down puns related to the art and then the idea hit me. Instead of a mere business card that had my name and contact information I'd create what I call a 'Concept Card'. It would be art driven but also have clever copywriting. So I started weaving the puns together and after a little refinement and help from a copywriter friend this was the result.

"Are you stumped? Is your project giving you a splitting headache? Neck on the chopping block? Woodn’t it be great if you had an artistic lumberjack to harvest a forest of ideas and create design that leafs the competition behind? You know, someone sharp to cut through the dull so your audience isn’t board? Try Vonster. Okay, so maybe you’ve got no axe to grind, but you should quit barking up the wrong tree. And how do I know the answers? Easy…a little birdie told me."


'Inside of Concept Card'

The 'Concept Card' will be the same size as a business card but fold out to be twice as tall. The bottom half will showcase the art and the top half is a speaking bubble with the above text in it. The back of the card will have my logo, contact information and a slogan that says "Spruce Up Your Creativity!"


'Outside Front and Back of Concept Card'

I have a couple other ideas for future 'Concept Cards' already sketched out and like this one the art is inspiring the idea. I gave the drawings to a copywriter and told him to go nuts and write it as if the character is speaking to my target audience, the results are pretty funny.

Logo Lounge IV

Just found out today that '39' of my logo designs have been chosen for Logo Lounge Volume 4. Here is a run down of all the designs that will appear in the book.


'Logo Concept for Pepsi.'


'Logo Concept for Microsoft Gaming.'


'Logo Concept for Microsoft Gaming.'


'Avatar Icon for Upper Deck Company.'


'Avatar Icon for Upper Deck Company.'


'Avatar Icon for Upper Deck Company.'


'Logo for Judah Interactive.'


'Logo Concept for a Collectible Game.'


'Logo Concept for Proctor & Gamble.'


'Logo for 'DangerUS' a Rap DJ.'


'Illustrative Mark for Knight School of Journalism.'


'Logo for Ornery Frog Productions.'


'Logo Concept for Grace Church.'


'Logo Concept for Leap Frog 'Fly'.'


'The Bambino - Logo Patch for Upper Deck Company.'


'Logo for Friends in Robotic Engineering.'


'Logo for Octopod Project.'


'Logo for Big Bocca Animation Studio.'


'Talon Heart Logo.'


'Tribal Tattoo Logo Mark.'


'Dork Brand Logo.'


'Logo for White Rhino Productions.'


'Bear Bryant - Logo Patch for Upper Deck Company.'


'Immaculate Reception - Logo Patch for Upper Deck Company.'


'Da Bears - Logo Patch for Upper Deck Company.'


'Logo for Campaign for The Cause.'


'Logo for Green Building.'


'Logo for The Loud Room Podcast.'


'Rain Clouds - Illustrative Logo for River Bank.'


'Thumbs Up - Illustrative Logo for River Bank.'


'Smiling Face - Illustrative Logo for River Bank.'


'Sunshine - Illustrative Logo for River Bank.'


'Chief - Logo Patch for Upper Deck Company.'


'Logo Concept for Film Location Company.'


'Logo Concept for Mad Lively.'


'Self-Promo Logo (Create or Die).'


'Logo Mascot for San Tan Scorpions, Arizona.'


'Logo Concept for Proctor & Gamble.'


'Logo Concept for Jim Henson Company.'

Alien Biker Skull

'Alien Biker Skull Art - Click to view larger image.'

After I posted my BMX skull art I received a few emails in regards to my opinion as it relates to the 'Top Ten Favorite Themes' of illustrators. (And designers for that matter)

One of the people to contact me was the editor of 'Computer Arts Magazine' out of the UK. He enjoyed what I had to say and invited me to write an opinion piece for their magazine on the subject. Which I am currently working on and once published will post it here. In the mean time I was inspired to create a new piece of art that could be used with the article in the magazine.

I started off wanting to do an alien skull or what I'd imagine your garden variety alien grey would have under their dermis that is. After working out a sketch I decided to add some horns at the last minute. Yeah I know aliens never have horns, but then again how do you know that? Ever been abducted by them? And whose to say Spielberg is correct in his portrayal. After all maybe bikers in other solar systems grow horns so they look more intimidating then the normal greys?

Or better yet maybe the aliens have now integrated their dna with cows since they've been abducting and messing with those too? In any regard the artistic prerogative wins out and thus horns were added so stop whining.

If you'd like to download a pdf file of this design so you can print it out and hang it up click here.

BMX Bike Graphics 2

'Click Image to See Complete Design '

I think this project tapped out my skull art quota for the rest of the year. I really like how the two designs came out though.

I have documented my entire creative process which includes an interesting way I went about shooting my own reference pictures to draw from. I'll be posting a tutorial about this project at www.IllustrationClass.com so you'll be able to see each step on my creative process in creating this art.

BMX Bike Graphics

'Winged Skull Bike Graphic'

I've always enjoyed designing for the action sports industry. So when Dave Mirra's company contacted me to create a few bike graphics for them I was honored. Dave Mirra is to BMX what Tony Hawk is to Skate. That and I'll use any excuse to draw a skull and with wings no less. After all it is one of the 'Top Ten Favorite Themes.' for illustrators.


'Skulls-O-Plenty. I'll be using the other three in my second design.'

Why are skulls so much fun to illustrate? Why do they look so cool with wings, flames and crowns? Of all the things an artist can draw or create the skull is somewhat iconic, simple shapes and form that captures and relays complex ideas and subject matter in a very graphic way. Is it a representation of death? Or is it a visual contradiction to live a bold and full life in the face of death? After all the death rate is still one per person.


'Skull Art In Context'

I have to create another design using three other skulls for them and I'll post that art soon as well.