After working on this logo for so long, I'm really hoping to move on shortly. I think I've got something that I'm actually going to like, but I'm starting to get nervous and I feel like I need to just finish it and start working on everything else that goes into building a brand. I hope to take a trip to the bookstore or Parkersburg this weekend and pick up some canvases or stretcher bars and paint (maybe?) so I can get a move on the portraits. Other items I know I want to create for the bookstore include:

• canvas bags
• t-shirts
• signs for each section
• "employee" recommendation cards
• bookmarks
• Price stickers (maybe)
• book of the month display
  
• event/sale posters

I will probably think of more things to include as the year goes by...I guess my plan is to just work on as many as I can, but keep in mind that it might not be realistic to expect to do everything.




















Gartenkulter's recycled book "pots." One or two of these could be a quirky addition to the exhibition...

More Awesome Images!

I keep stumbling on really cool images that relate to my capstone! Here's another one, an advertisement done for Anagram Bookshop in Prague, for their "Words Create Worlds" promotion. Excellent inspiration!



















More images in the link.

Nemo Gould

Stumbled upon a cool artist, Nemo Gould. He uses found and salvaged metal to make sci-fi themed sculpture.
































































Really cool stuff. Here's his website!

I'm starting to think about additional items to enhance the brand of my bookstore. So far I know I want to make bookmarks and canvas bags, but everything else is up in the air. T-shirts perhaps, with esoteric sci-fi/fantasy references on them? Posters? Maybe book lights? I will probably poll some friends and my sister, who have the same literary interests that I do and see what kind of items they would like to see or buy in a bookstore. And I'll look into what sites like cafe press can make for me. I also know that I want to make a CD to play at the opening of music that a person would hear while browsing if this bookstore where the real deal; I think that could really add to the mood that I'm going for.

In other news, I'm feeling like I'm getting closer to making a logo I'm happy with. I'm thinking I would like the final design to be a wooden sign, one that's perhaps reminiscent of a pub or inn sign. Getting this made professionally will probably be outrageously expensive, so I might just look into learning how to make it myself...
















Bookstore kittens are probably impractical.

What does a kraken look like? And what sort of feel do I want this logo to have? I've been looking to other artists and the ocean for inspiration.

I think that this is incredibly cool. It's a wall painting by Raewyn Haughton. It just makes me think that maybe I want to add a bit more realism and action/movement to the kraken in my logo?






And for the past few weeks I've been looking at old drawings of krakens, but maybe it would help to look at the real life inspirations....





The Octopus...











and the Squid.

















Not really sure which one a kraken would look more like...but I think if I keep sketching I'll probably find a hybrid that works.

I've also been looking at pub/inn signs, since I think I want it to have that kind of look with a wooden sign.

Also, I finished 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!

Continuing to Progress

There's not a ton to actually report on, other than more progress. Over break I sketched out Jules Verne and I'm nearly done with Tolkien (I just need to look up a ship reference for the smoke that will be coming out of his pipe). So soon I can start doing mini paintings of all of them and figuring out the canvas, etc. that I want. And I'm thinking about buying cheap books by each author and collaging the pages in the background? We'll see.

And more logo sketching, playing with something less corporate for Brass Kraken Books. I've been trying to put it into a shape, which could easily be made into a sign, and playing with heraldry. I'm not sure whether I want to go all out and fully blazon a shield with all the parts, or just choose the ones I want, such as the shield, insignia, motto, supporters, and crest. But I've been using the Heraldic Dictionary as a reference, which has been very useful.















Also thinking about bookshelves...I found another friend, Kelly, whose dad enjoys woodworking and has made shelves before (with ladders!!!!), so I'm glad I'm starting to make these connections now. I've also been wondering how to prevent book theft while they're just sitting on the shelves...perhaps the shelves can be built so a glass or plastic panel can be slid in? I guess I've got a while to ponder this issue.

And I'm about 50 pages away from finishing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Huzzah!

Door Knockers and Heraldry

Here are some interesting door knockers I may try to take cues from for
revising my logo:

















Also, looking at some family shields:















The Greyjoy Shield, from George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series.











My family crest! For the logo, it could be interesting and fun to use the traditional meanings of colors and shapes in heraldry. Also, the top figure (it's a greyhound in this one) could be changed out for each genre.

Decisions! And Critique #1.

Had my first critique today, and I think I'm pretty pleased with the results. I was having trouble deciding between the names "The Book Keep," "The Book Wyrm," and "Brass Kraken Books." Although I like The Book Keep and The Book Wyrm, I agree with the general assessment that the The Book Keep may sound too general and both are too fantasy/medieval themed for a bookstore that includes sci-fi and fantasy as well.

So! Brass Kraken Books it is! The image of the Kraken/tentacles cover all three genres (Watcher in the Water from LotR, Verne's giant squid, Lovecraft's Cthulhu). And I also think that brass is something that I would like to incorporate into the look of the actual bookstore as well. It was suggested that I look at brass door knockers for cues, which I think could give me some good ideas and does have that kind of secret door/space feeling that I want for the store. Brass Kraken Books also has a nice ring with the alliteration. Sarah suggested that I try putting my logo into a more closed shape, along the lines of a family shield, and make it so that the logo can be varied slightly for each genre. I like this idea a lot, so I think that's what I will be working on next. And finally, I'm probably going to ask Beth about the composition of my portraits once I have sketches of all three.

I am very satisfied! :)
Oh, and here's a kraken. Enjoy.