not-so-deep thoughts of Ryan Feerer

Dark Was The Night DVD

2010-06-22T23:44:00.000-07:00

So, the video component of the Dark Was The Night compilation is out now... It was a simple variation of the album art I did a while back ago. I think it turned out pretty well. Its an Urban Outfitters exclusive. Buy it online or at your nearest OU store! Its for a good cause and it's awesome.

Leach & Kellogg Wedding Invitation

2010-05-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

I used the colors and similar typographic style as their save the date. I think it turned out pretty good. Enjoy!

Mary McBride's Home Tour

2010-05-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

Mary McBride is a very talented musician who is putting on a special project, called The Home Tour. Here is a little description of the project.

" 'This summer, Mary and her band will be on THE HOME TOUR, a U.S. tour of "places people call home'- homeless shelters, supported housing communities, prisons, hospitals, and homes for people with mental and physical disabilities. Mary has partnered with a not-for-profit organization in each city which will host the concerts. The videos below represent many of these organizations and the tremendous work they are doing to improve the lives of people every day."

This is the site we, Abidesco, created for The Home Tour.

Abidesco Logo

2010-05-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Abidesco, or Abilene Design Company, was developed by several creative Abilene Christian University alumni. Creating this network of designers, photographers, illustrators, and educators has allowed us to work with people we enjoy and take on large scale projects. I developed these logos for Abidesco.

The Comedi Icons

2010-05-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some icons I did for an Austin based tutoring company, The Comedi. They like them.

Dylan Sneed's Texodus

2010-05-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Jeff Rogers, a good friend of mine and creative genius, approached me about collaborating on Dylan Sneed's latest album, Texodus. Jeff just wanted me to do the text for the album cover and he would use some of the ornate elements as detail throughout the album. I'm not sure what the final product looks like, but this is what I did.

New Red Hot logo!

2010-05-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

I've had the privilege to work with Red Hot (aids benefit organization) on many occasions, starting with the Dark Was The Night compilation. The approached me about rebranding them and I quickly accepted. This is the final product. In my opinion, it's quite a timeless mark and is very versatile. This particular logo is the most complex and is used in most instances. The simplified version is what you see now, minus the ribbon and play safe copy. That version is used best in small places such as the spine of a cd. I think it turned out quite well.

The Tracy Family Wedding Invitation

2010-05-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

Good Magazine Illustration

2010-02-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

Good Magazine approached me and asked if I'd be interested in doing an illustration for their neighborhood issue. Since I'm a big fan of the mag I quickly accepted. Even though it's not a neighborhood, I did my flag over Abilene, Texas. I used ornate line work and textures to create some country charm and picked the reddish-orange background to represent a Texas sunset. I decided to put a tag line in there that says "Abilene I Can Fly". After incorporating that, I knew it was complete.

Another Save The Date

2010-02-28T16:01:00.000-08:00

Old college friend asked me to do her save the date recently. I had complete creative freedom and this was what I came up with. No concept, just nice type and excecution.

NYC to ABI

2010-02-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

Me and a few other ACU alums that have worked in NYC were part of an art show in Abilene recently. The show was titled ABI/NYC and was received well. Me and a buddy of mine, Jeff Rogers, did the collateral. I did the ABI portion and he did the NYC. This is what I came up with for my part of the logo.

Save The Date

2010-02-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

This is a save the date I did for some good friends of mine. They wanted it to look shabby sheik, have flowers, and it needed to have pink and gray. This is what I came up with.

Merry Christmas!

2010-01-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

This was my family's 2009 Christmas card. Pretty typical holiday portrait with our vests and antlers on. Sorry for those of you who got their cards after the New Year. That's what I get for ordering the envelopes a week before Christmas.

Custom Portraits Now at Elsewares!

2010-01-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

"Best cartoon portraits, period. Just send us a photo of yourself (or someone else) and up to two of your (or their) favorite things. Then sit back & relax while Mr. Feerer creates what is almost certainly the best present you've ever given (or received)." Elseware's words, not mine.

An elsewares.com exclusive.

Mitch & Lindy's Wedding Invitation

2009-12-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Rocketboy Mitch and his lovely bride-to-be Lindy approached me to do their wedding invite. They just wanted something nice and pretty. This is what I did. I think they liked it quite a bit.

The Rocketboys 2010 tour poster

2009-12-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

I do a lot of work for the Austin-based band The Rocketboys. They approached me to do a poster for their upcoming 2010 tour and I gladly accepted the job. I decided to team up with a local design studio named Belmont Icehouse and give them a series of design options. This is just one of the few we showed. They loved everything we presented.

Meisel Holiday Card

2009-12-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

I did this Holiday card for Meisel through Belmont Icehouse (nice studio in Dallas, Tx). Meisel is a company that primarily focuses on retail, corporate, and trade show graphics. They've been around for over fifty years and has always tried to be on the edge of print technology. This concept was going to be a fold-out 3 dimensional card (snowman would be the front panel, then the house, then the trees and sky). They didn't have enough time to print these and send them out before the Holidays. It's a shame because they're quite nice.

10 Steps on How to Change One's Perception of Yourself

2009-11-23T22:27:00.000-08:00

This illustration was done for a Christian magazine publication in Amarillo, Texas. It's essentially an ad for the editorial. If you take this "medicine" you can change one's perception of yourself. I think it looks pretty nice but it didn't fly with the client. This was the second of two directions. It was a difficult project that didn't come out the way they wanted so we both cut our losses. Oh well!

The Welcome Wagon EP

2009-10-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

This year, the Urbana 09 Student Missions teamed up with FreeSetGlobal.com to help end Kolkata's most recognized sex trade industry in the Sonagacchi Red Light District. FreeSet Global is trying to keep women out of the sex trade industry and give them skills and jobs enabling them to live sustainably. These women create these amazing organic handbags which are sold on the FreeSet Global website. Now they're trying to increase their company by creating a new T-Shirt line. The Welcome Wagon has generously donated their upcoming EP to help spread the word of FreeSet Global's mission. Urbana approached me and asked if I would be interested in donating my services to this cause. I worked with The Welcome Wagon to create the look and feel of this cover and I think it turned out pretty great.

100% of the sales for the next several months will go straight to this cause, which is absolutely awesome. If you buy this album you'll help save over 45 women (and their families) and future generations escape from this sex trade industry. SO BUY IT... when it is released. I'll keep you posted.

Sunday's Birthday Invite

2009-09-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Here is an invitation I did for my friend's birthday. If you knew Sunday (my friend) you'd know he's a stand-up guy who lives fashion and class. This invitation played off the phrase "Put on your Sunday best" and Sunday inviting you as one of his best friends to his birthday extravaganza. I thought it worked pretty well. He really enjoyed it and that's what really counts.

Big Bang Robot Logo

2009-08-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a logo I did recently through Citizen Scholar for Big Bang Robot. Big Bang Robot is a media consulting company who loves vintage robots and big bangs. They like this logo... and that makes me happy.

The Rocketboys - 20,000 Ghosts

2009-08-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

This is an album cover I designed for The Rocketboys' upcoming debut full-length album entitled 20,000 Ghosts. The trees, grass, brush, rocks, water, and fog were all put there one piece at a time. It's meant to look mysterious, somewhat eerie, and beautiful. It was also intended to confuse the viewer so they ask themselves, "Is this real or fake?". Also, there is a nice surprise in the interiors of the album. Keep your eyes peeled if you ever buy this bad boy.

2009-07-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a logo I did for Lance Gooden. Lance is running for Texas House of Representatives. Lance likes his logo very much.

Katie Mullins New Album

2009-06-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here is an album I'm finishing up for a very talented young lady named Katie Mullins. Her music is very beautiful with old-fashioned charm and hints of mystery. I enjoy it quite a bit. The album is named "Pastoral" and should be out soonish.

The design was inspired by the baroque style type I did for Dark Was The Night's "Play Safe" message. I felt like it was appropriate and visualized her music in a nice way. And yes, I added a frame on this one just like The Rocketboys EP. It looks good there :)

The Rocketboys Tour EP

2009-06-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is the Tour EP I designed for The Rocketboys (formerly Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys). I didn't do the illustration but I did everything else. And yes, it has the band name on there twice. This is a sketch of what the full-length will look like. They are a very talented band. You should get to know them.

The N's Avi Mall

2009-05-28T09:37:00.001-07:00

After many hours of intense illustration and design the Avi Mall launched. Avi Mall is a part of The N's online community which I worked on at Funny Garbage. I worked on the whole mall experience. I designed and illustrated most of the stores, some of the detail elements, the signs, and even the clothes that the avatars are wearing. The process of creating this system was pretty complex so I won't go into that... But I think it came out nicely.

"THE ACE HOTEL: NEW YORK’S HIPPEST NEW HOTEL FINALLY OPENS"

2009-05-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

Check out this post on uCityGuides.com about how awesome the Ace Hotel is. Also look at the first image on the post. Look familiar? The Play Safe room is lookin' good.

The Musical Twig

2009-05-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is the design for The Musical Twig, which is Murkville's limited edition music package. Real twigs with usb drives inside that holds the music from Thy Old Murkville Forest's first compilation entitled "Cooyamintad". Only 750 are made so you'll want to get them quick. They will be going on sale in the next few months. I'll keep you updated.

You're a Gentleman and an Owl

2009-05-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a little illustration I did for a project that fell through. It's a shame really. Look how nice this owl looks. He's a stand-up guy. Nice collared shirt with a black tie and an argyle sweater... which I believe is cashmere. The top hat and feather also adds another layer of sophistication. The only thing missing is his cane and monocle.

Old Man Lake

2009-05-12T20:16:00.001-07:00

Here is an illustration that I was going to paint for Ace Hotel until I realized how long it would take to create it on a 6'x8' canvas. I decided to recycle the image and throw it on threadless. Although the illustration is great, in my opinion, it only got a rating of 2.something. I can thank those people that go on threadless and vote 1 on everyone in order for their designs to look better. How do I know this? Because my wife told me she did that very same thing. It's a waste of time, really... and kind of funny too.

Hayley Davis Unique Interiors

2009-05-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a logo I did for an interior designer named Hayley Davis. The whole idea behind the logo was to showcase and promote her name and make it as beautiful as possible so it'll be hard to forget. If you need interiors to be designed (or baby bedding) you should hit this girl up.

Typographical Body Parts

2009-05-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

Here is one of many posters I'm in the process of designing for Citizen Scholar and myself. They're uplifting little messages built with pieces of my illustrations acting as visual puzzles. I'm tempted to tell you what it means... but you're gonna have to use your problem solving skills.

Jimmy Fallon showing off some Feerer work

2009-05-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

If you watched Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on May 6th then you probably watched The National rock out their Dark Was The Night song. If you watched The National rock out their Dark Was The night song then that means you saw the album I designed. If you saw the album I designed then you probably smiled. If you didn't smile then I should've done better and I'm sorry.

Ryan Feerer, the Knight of Murkville

2009-05-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already done so, go to Illustration Friday and read the interview about Dark Was The Night, my work, and me. I've heard its pretty entertaining.

The Ace Hotel "Play Safe" Room

2009-05-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

This "Play Safe" message was created for Dark Was The Night, a Red Hot release celebrating 20 years of dedication to fighting aids through pop culture. We wanted to push the message of preventing aids in a light and non-intrusive manner. Ace Hotel really liked it and wanted it to be featured in one of their rooms... so I did it. I think the placement of the message above the bed is perfect, humorous, and kind of charming in a weird way.

The "Play Safe" illustration will also be featured in Gail Anderson and Steven Heller's latest book entitled New Ornamental Type.

Ace Hotel Painting No.3 Finally Finished

2009-05-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

After some time, I have finally finished all of the pretty pictures for Ace Hotel. This is the most recent one. There is a special message in this painting. Are you special enough to see it? I think you are.