So it’s kind of a long story, but when my buddy Vijay, who owns and operates Artist Series Guitar, mentioned that his good friend, Ryan Hurst, would be doing a photo shoot for his custom Demon Hunter and Throwdown guitars, I had to make sure I was there. For years now, people have said I look like Opie, a character that Hurst plays in the always-enthralling Sons Of Anarchy TV show. All of us in Demon Hunter have become huge fans of the show over the years, so this was a really cool opportunity. Oh, and my wife made the dope leather vest Hurst is wearing in the shoot. Checking off that bucket list, one day at a time.

Design Bureau Magazine asks us a few questions in their latest issue. Featuring K-Rash like a boss on the cover.

Goats, phones & fries. The best part about our job is we never know what’s coming next. Here’s a fun piece we recently finished for the fine folks over at Publicis and T-Mobile. We were asked to create character and BG illustrations for this 15 second spot while the talented peeps at World Famous handled the animation/post. OK, now I’m hungry.

Credits/Publicis: Kristi Flango: Art Director, Jenn Maples: Copywriter, Marisa Schoen: Executive Interactive Producer, Todd Bois: Creative Director

Here’s a fun photo of our grandfather, Don Clark (great name, right?) at around 10-12 years old (which should put this at around 1938-1940) with a few home-made wooden toys he had created. Dad got his supreme woodworking chops from this man. Love that Model A-esque rig in the background!

Is it summer yet? Not quite, but with last night’s (bitchin’) lineup announcement for the 2012 Sasquatch! Festival – we’re getting close. The festival poster and identity remains at the top of the IC “Pet Project” heap each year, thanks to our client and friend, Adam Zacks. So if you see a haphazard vegetable oil-fueled modified recliner with scrapped airplane turbines and tree stumps for wheels carrying ‘Squatch and his renegade gang of animal misfits – you’re on the right road. See it bigger in our work section.

And check out the rad animation by the folks at Wintr and Something Savage.

Extra special thanks to the talented and gracious Mr. Foster for featuring us in his beautiful new book, New Masters Of Poster Design, Volume 2. Available now!

Looks like this guy got ahold of Leroy C. Alas, it was just Zac.

We’re really honored that Matt Stevens included an homage to the IC in his glorious MAX100 book. What’s even cooler is that our inspired piece sits right next to Mr. Lustig’s, one of my all-time fav’s. It must have been an omen. Bless you, Matt. Oh, and get yours here. It’s a treat for the eyes (and feet). Seriously.

Well, it appears someone ate the yellow snow. Our brand new Winter White Leroy C. is now in the shop. Get ‘em while he’s cold.

Thanks to Computer Arts for featuring us in their Character Design issue last month.

We got 6 inches of snow yesterday. So naturally Seattle is shut down and I’m chugging coffee while drawing in my slippers. Decided to dust off a few more Grandpa illos in the process. These 5 span approx. 5 decades, with the last one created the same year he passed away.

… Was going through some old files tonight and found this great photo of JF I saved a few years back.

Looking for a little sun amidst those long, cold and blustery days? We suggest the new ‘Winter Getaway Blend’ packaging we created for Seattle’s Best Coffee and the fine folks at Creature. As obvious fans of all things caffeinated, this was a real treat to work on. Big thanks to Dave Taylor, Kaylin Fitzpatrick and Cara Schwartz at Creature for the fun project. Get a slightly closer look in our portfolio. Only available in SBC Cafe’s.

We’re honored to be featured in Design For Music by Hans Lijklema and published by The Pepin Press – showcasing a nice little smattering of various music projects throughout the years + a lengthy interview with both of us. Also includes an accompanying disc featuring ‘Collapsing‘ by some band we are affiliated with. Big thanks to Hans for asking us to be part of this.

Happy New Year! We have two new Gift Cards hanging out on various Bullseye end caps throughout the nation. The first one actually features candles that light up and turn off as you blow them out! Pretty cool technology and sure to cure those winter blues. Grab it here.

The second one is for that special teacher in your life. Featuring a cool embossed reflective ‘vintage lunchbox metal’ type material. Pick one up here.

Always a fun time. Art direction: Rob Weaver, Kelly Gray and Ted Halbur.

Ruin your mom’s van. Assorted vinyl IC stickers finally added to the shop.

Well, we’ve been hard at work for over a year on this next project (and have many more months to go), but we are excited to preview the logo and name of our first interactive children’s book The Uproar!, arriving on iPads everywhere via the Apple App store this fall. Lots of fun announcements coming in the first half of 2012, but for now – a quick synopsis:

“Journey into a world of sound and wonder in the interactive musical story The Uproar! Join a bizarre band of misfit monsters to explore a sprawling story from the mind of Invisible Creatureʼs Don Clark.”

We are honored and proud to be working with our new favorite publisher + partner: Space Dog Books. Please do yourself a favor and download Space Dog’s first chapter book Treasure Island, illustrated by the amazing Matthew Cruickshank.

It’s going to be a fun year. Much more soon …

We had a fun and crafty time creating end-of-the-year ‘Thank You’ gifts for a few of our A.D.’s at Target this year. Dad made all of the sets and our buddy Sean Ingram over at Blue Collar printed them up. Look for more Dad Clark collaborations coming soon. It’s just too much fun.

It’s that time of year again. The infamous IC ‘Top Ten Albums’ of 2011. Get your hate mail ready …

Ryan:

1. White Lies “Ritual”
2. Young Galaxy “Shapeshifting”
3. Chapel Club “Palace”
4. Jamie Woon “Mirrorwriting”
5. Bon Iver “Bon Iver”
6. Nero “Welcome Reality”
7. Elbow “Build A Rocket Boys!”
8. The Joy Formidable “The Big Roar”
9. My Morning Jacket “Circuital”
10. Graveyard “Hisingen Blues”

Don:

1. Young Galaxy “Shapeshifting”
2. Phantogram “Nightlife EP”
3. Active Child “You Are All I See”
4. Foster The People “Torches”
5. The Joy Formidable “The Big Roar”
6. Austra “Feel It Break”
7. Adele “21″
8. Mat Kearney “Young Love”
9. Jay-Z & Kanye West “Watch The Throne”
10. Mastodon “The Hunter”

Zac:

1. Tycho “Dive”
2. Mat Kearney “Young Love”
3. Nero “Welcome Reality”
4. Young Galaxy “Shapeshifting”
5. Friendly Fires “Pala”
6. Needtobreathe “The Reckoning”
7. White Lies “Rituals”
8. Mirrors “Lights And Offerings”
9. The Joy Formidable “The Big Roar”
10. Phantogram “Nightlife EP”

Well, IC is officially shut down until 2012. Oh, what a year. Many, many thanks to our wonderful clients, customers and folks just generally interested in what we do. As the studio turns 5 this month, we are so thankful to be celebrating our best year yet. Here’s to 2011 and a big high-five to 2012. So much fun stuff in the works …

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
-Don & Ryan