Commissioned painting for Rachael Juliette.
Objective
To design a piece that communicates "Work Hard Be Kind."
Solution
When Rachael initially told me about the project, the expectation was far from the solution. I wanted to create a piece that got right to the essence of the message. I knew that I didn't want to digitally create something because that would be too easy. I needed to make something that was hard. Something permanent. Something that would last.
Every design decision tied right to the message. It started with an old piece of wood that I found at a scrap yard. I retrieved the wood block, scrubbed off the years of old dirt that was on it, and painted it with a matte, chalkboard acrylic.
While ideating the design, I wanted the work to convey "kill 'em with kindness." In that the greatest strength comes from being kind to others, so that we might keep working hard. The design needed to feel tough, but loving.
Floral, ornamental tattoos were depicted on the bicep to convey sensitivity through the flexing, tough muscle. "TKO XOXO" is symbolic to knocking them out with kindness. Gold was used on the black paint to depict a sense of royalty, as "Work Hard Be Kind" was Rachael's golden rule.
I could not be more satisfied with the end result. The process of hand painting the letters and illustration was extremely difficult, but I loved every moment of it. Work Hard. Be Kind.
Screen prints available soon.