Category: Mid Century Modern

The Fictitious Records by Javier Garcia

Nope, these are not existing records I found. This is a self-initiated experimental project that I designed myself. I started this project about a year ago. I’ve been collecting The Haydn Society records for quite some time now and I decided to do my take on it. This was totally fictitious and I did not intent to redesign or make the records any better than they already are.

One of my biggest influences for this was one of The Haydn Society collaborating artist (and one of my favorite designers), Alvin Lustig. When thinking of designing this his way, I couldn’t help but to grab a ruling pen, compass, brush and some india ink.

Process was very simple. The text was taken from actual albums. It was totally experimental and I did not set deadlines so I doodled covers for over a month every time I had a spare minute. Then selected the covers and inked them by hand with india ink and scanned them. I then took my black india ink and did some color separations. Color and type was then added on the computer. Yup, that was it.

Overall I had a lot of fun doing this and I really hope you enjoy these covers!

Design: Javier García   |   Year: 2011

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Alice & Martin Provensen, Come Lord Jesus

Here is a a wonderful set of Illustrations by the great Alice and Martin Provensen. They are in a book titled “Come Lord Jesus” and it’s heavily illustrated throughout. Enjoy!

You might also like this magazine by the Provensens »

Design: Alice and Martin Provensen    |    Year: 1965   |   Photo: Javier García

* The work is presented here for illustration purposes, please refrain from religious comments.

Jerome Snyder Book of Bridge

To keep up with my last Stig Lindberg playing cards post, here’s the 1961 Sports Illustrated Book of Bridge written by Charles Goren and illustrated by Jerome Snyder. He was a Self-taught and self-made illustrator who became Sport’s Illustrated first Art Director in the 50’s.

It’s a very thick hardback book, mostly heavy on the text with a slip case. Snyder’s illustration appear as chapter openers. Slip Case is printed in four colors and the inside is black and red with a middle section in four color. As usual if you haven’t heard of Jerome Snyder, google him and drool…

Design: Jerome Snyder   |   Year: 1961   |   Photo: Javier García

You might also enjoy this Jerome Snyder Record Cover »

More images after the jump…

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Stig Lindberg Playing Cards

Here’s my absolute favorite set of playing cards designed by the Swedish ceramic designer, Stig Lindberg. He was not only a ceramist but a glass designer, textile designer, industrial designer, painter, and illustrator.

This set is absolutely amazing. Each suit set (clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) has a different illustration with a great amount of detail. I really love all his work and specifically fond of this particular set which took me a while to get a hold of. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

Design: Stig Lindberg   |   Year: 1958   |   Photo: Javier García

If you haven’t seen the El Al playing cards designed by Jean David I’d recommend you take a look.

Consumer Reports Bill Charmatz, Roy Doty

Not too long ago, I found this great stack of magazines contained in three binders. I was in a rush but quickly flipped through a few and took one binder. After seeing what was inside, I had to go back and get the others.

Well, what we have here are some Consumer Reports magazines from late 50’s through 60’s mostly illustrated by Bill Charmatz (1945-2005) and Roy Doty (I believe he’s still illustrating). Both prolific during the 50s and 60s and continued through today (although their styles evolved). There are a few other unsigned illustrations in a few issues that I wasn’t able to identify. I was able to spot Doty and Charmatz because they signed some of their illustrations. Thanks to Scott Lindberg from (New Doccuments) for stepping in to identify Charmatz’s signature for me. Click images to enlarge.

Way too much to show. Enjoy!

Design: Bill Charmatz, Roy Doty, etc.   |   Year: 1950-60   |   Photo: Javier García

More images after the jump…

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