Rustic Canyon
RUSTIC CANYON IS CELEBRATED AND RESPECTED RESTAURANT LOCATED IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. KNOWN FOR THEIR PROGRESSIVE TAKE ON NEW AMERICAN DINING AND FOR THEIR LOVE OF OUTSIDE-THE-BOX PANTRY INGREDIENTS AND COOKING TECHNIQUES, THEY HAVE AMASSED A LARGE FOLLOWING OF FANS BOTH IN REAL LIFE AND ONLINE THANKS TO THE WHIMSICAL AND COMPELLING COOKING OF EXECUTIVE CHEF ANDY DOUBRAVA. HE REACHED OUT TO ME IN EARLY 2022 VIA IG DM TO HAVE ME DESIGN WHAT IS LOOKING TO BE A SERIES OF MERCH FOR THE BRAND.
Metal Porkchop
THE MISSION: CREATE A T-SHIRT DESIGN THAT SHOWCASES CHEF DOUBRAVA’S STUNNING PORKCHOP WITH SMOKED TROUT ROE SAUCE, BUT IN THE STYLE OF A METAL GRAPHIC. NO PROBLEM! I DIDN’T TRY TO REINVENT THE WHEEL WITH THIS DESIGN AND KEPT IT STRAIGHTFORWARD. THE AWARD-WINNING PORKSHOP IN IT’S PURIST BLACK AND WHITE FORM COMPLEMENTED BY A NICE THORNY BLACK METAL LOGO THAT I CREATED. WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS DESIGN AND ABOUT THIS REQUEST IS THAT THIS SHIRT DOESN’T REALLY REFLECT THE VIBE AT THE RESTAURANT AT ALL WHICH IS NOT METAL. I LOVE THAT CHEF DECIDED TO GO THIS ROUTE AND THE WEIRDNESS OF THIS PROBABALY EXPLAINS WHY THEY CAN’T SEEM TO KEEP IT IN STOCK.
Beets & Berries
THE MISSION: DESIGN A SHIRT THAT FEELS LIKE AN 80Ss TEE DESIGN AND THAT HIGHLIGHTS BOTH BEETS AND BERRIES. THIS ONE WAS PRETTY TRICKY TO BE HONEST AS I INITIALLY COULDN’T FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THOSE THINGS GO TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT WOULD PRODUCE A SHIRT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO WEAR. SO AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH SOME CUSTOM STUFF I DECIDED TO DO A FLIP OF THE ALBUM COVER FOR PET SHOP BOYS ‘ACTUALLY’, REPLACE THE HEADS WITH THE PRODUCE AND INTRODUCE A GRADIENT COLORWAY THAT FEELS LIKE WHAT IT SHOULD BE. I GOTTA SAY I’M NOT MAD AT THIS ONE. IT’S FUNNY, MINIMAL AND WOULD PROBABLY LOOK PRETTY TIGHT IF WORN WHILE SHOPPING AT A FARMER’S MARKET…IN THE 80s.