LouCaravana.com - Blog

Huskies Graphic

2012-01-18T14:06:00.000-05:00

Check out these shots of a graphic I laid out for UCONN.

Converse Graphic

2012-01-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

One of our reps wanted a Chuck Taylor inspired look for the Wrigley Field area of Chicago. The star in the middle is the style that is used on the Chicago flag.

2011 Minor League Baseball Show

2011-12-05T17:04:00.003-05:00

Here are some shots of the booth. I'm really happy with it. Everyone did an awesome job! I'll try to post more in the coming days.

2011 Baseball Winter Meetings

2011-12-03T10:49:00.000-05:00

I'm Heading to Dallas tomorrow to attend the Baseball Winter Meetings/MiLB Trade Show! Looking forward to setting up a great booth and showing everyone the new line. I'll be posting pics during the week, so check back!

Baseball Show Samples

2011-11-11T08:41:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the samples that we printed up for the Minor League Baseball Show/Winter Meetings coming up in December. Lots more to come!

Baseball Show Promo

2011-11-02T16:43:00.000-04:00

Here are the give-away bags and postcards that we are running for the Baseball show in December. We are sending every team a postcard that is redeemable for a free Beachcomber Bag at our booth. We're hoping it will bring some new teams our way, and get them familiar with the line. This was my first time laying out a promotional mailer, and I'm pretty happy with the results.

Corporate Appliques

2011-10-17T20:25:00.000-04:00

I set up some applique designs for our corporate division. It's been a while since I really worked with twill/embroidery...these came out pretty sweet. Check em!

Minor League Baseball Show-Buyers Guide Ad

2011-10-06T16:48:00.000-04:00

I got the opportunity to create a half page ad for the Buyers Guide at the Minor League Baseball Show coming up in Dallas. The biggest challenge was removing the graphic on the models shirt and replacing it with one of my baseball graphics. The shirt has a bit of pattern, which can be tricky. Check it out!

New Self Portrait

2011-10-02T14:36:00.000-04:00

Check out the new "Avatar" (not the movie) style self portrait I finally finished up. Hand sketch/hand inked/cleaned up, highlighted and colored in Illustrator. Look for it at the top of my Web Site soon!

Six Flags Samples

2011-09-13T15:46:00.000-04:00

Here are the printed samples from some of the Six Flags designs I did recently.

2012 Minor League Baseball Catalog

2011-09-03T16:14:00.000-04:00

Well, the catalog is printed! I can't believe another year has passed. I went for a TOTALLY different look than last years vintage feel. Clean and bright was the focus for the 2012 layout. As with the past few years, I designed all of the graphics myself. I'm working on a companion Mini Catalog of the remaining graphics that didn't make for cut...check back for that before the Winter Meetings. (BTW...thanks to Jay for leaving me with the awesome reference material.)

Click HERE for a page by page look at the entire finished product.

Six Flags

2011-08-25T15:48:00.000-04:00

Here are a bunch of designs I just worked on for Six Flags. They were looking for mostly ride specific shirts.

QR Codes

2011-07-29T15:56:00.000-04:00

We're playing around with putting QR codes on shirts that can be used with readers on smart phones. The code can be sent to the web destination of the customers choice. The challenge is trying to manipulate the code, while still maintaining its functionality. Here are two that I laid out for NYU and the Cyclones. Try scanning the codes on your screen...hopefully it works!

Florida Gators

2011-07-19T12:04:00.000-04:00

A rare College graphic I just finished up.

Softball Tees - SAMPLE

2011-07-13T16:38:00.000-04:00

This is the one they went with...hot off the press. They also ordered the same design on charcoal shirts.

Softball Tees

2011-06-29T16:27:00.000-04:00

Here are some mock-ups for a two day, four game softball event being held at the Dell Diamond in Texas. It's the same event that I worked with last year that needed the Jennie Vs. Cat tees. It looks like they are going with the diamond shaped design. Check them out!

15 Minute Aces Design

2011-06-01T08:50:00.000-04:00

A good friend and colleague works for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks. He needed a girls left chest graphic STAT, so I whipped this together in about 15 minutes. I sent it, they loved it, and ordered the design. This NEVER happens on the first shot, so I felt compelled to post it. I'm really not bragging here, but I might as well savor it now as it won't happen again anytime soon.

"Rule #32 - Enjoy The Little Things."

Standard Procedure

2011-05-26T19:25:00.000-04:00

Check out the site I finished for my buddy's new clothing line. Check out StandardProcedureClothing.com ... He gave me the design layout, I did all the code. VIVA STAN PRO!!!

New York City Concept

2011-05-13T16:32:00.000-04:00

I just started to work on some ideas for an all-over print for New York City. Here is the first concept...I laid it out on a garment to show the size of the graphic.

Spider-Man Garment Layouts

2011-05-04T16:38:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the garment layouts I created with the Spider-Man illustration I did for Universal Studios.

I went for an over the zipper, four color print on the first one. Pretty standard with the font layout. It had to be distressed to work with the garment.

For the second option I went with a play on his classic costume. I've seen these shirts before, but they are usually the full costume complete with muscles on a huge print. I never liked those so toned it down a bit by fading it out. I threw in a "Venom" black and white color theme for fun.

The third is pretty simple, but I think it works well. Just a simple line drawing of the full figure, over-sized across the zipper in a tonal ink.

I had a lot of fun with these. Click the images for full detail!

Spider-Man

2011-04-21T22:43:00.000-04:00

I'm working on some Spider-Man stuff for Universal Studios in Orlando to be sold in conjunction with their ride. I found a pose online that I liked, and redrew the figure. After I did a rough ink, I imported it into Illustrator, vectorized it, and drew in the details. I then used Photoshop to make some half-tones in an effort to minimize ink colors if need be. I'll post the garment layout that I use this on when it's ready.

San Francisco

2011-04-13T21:36:00.000-04:00

I'm working on some graphics for the 2012 MV Catalog. Here's one I started today...check it!!

Fourth World Comics

2011-04-08T08:54:00.000-04:00

I just finished up the site for Fourth World Comics. I actually laid it out a few years back as an exercise and a portfolio piece, but it went live this week as the store officially has an online presence. I made some slight changes, and plan on doing a few more, but the basic look and feel will remain the same. Check it out at www.FourthWorldComics.com

The Amazins

2011-04-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

I've had these on my desk for a while now, but today is as good as any to share these since its Opening Day. Heres a peek back when my beloved New York Metropolitans actually had some fire in them when they played baseball. Keith Hernandez is the man...just saying.

New Islanders Designs

2011-03-23T13:53:00.001-04:00

Some new stuff for the Islanders. They wanted to keep things simple, so I went with basic text layouts while incorporating their classic NY logo. Hopefully there will be some more to come. Click for detail.

Celebrity Softball Jam

2011-03-17T10:37:00.000-04:00

Here are the preliminary mock-ups for another Softball/Music event in Texas. It's being held at the home of the Round Rock Express, the AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Had to go with a one location, one color print on these, as the event was trying to keep the costs down. Click for detail.

New Paw Sox

2011-03-04T13:10:00.000-05:00

I'm starting to develop the Baseball line for next year. Here is the first of what I know will be many. The Paw Sox have one of my favorite logos in MiLB. Click for detail!

No Lifeguard On Duty

2011-02-22T13:30:00.001-05:00

Check out this graphic I laid out for surf. It's based on a sign that my boss brought in with the added spray paint text being an optimal name drop for future use. I rarely use tiff files for added effect, but I used them here for the dot pattern highlights on the sign. They definitely work in this instance to make a basic red shape look like an actual road sign. Click the image for more detail!

MV Sport Creative Blog

2011-02-04T21:02:00.001-05:00

We just started a blog for the Creative Department at MV to post our work for the sales reps and customers to have easier viewing access to our designs. I was given the chance to design the layout and overall look. Click HERE to check it out!

New Hockey Graphic

2011-01-24T15:44:00.000-05:00

Here is a graphic I created for our Hockey Hoods. The laces make it hard to place the graphic on the garment, so I placed the sticks on either side to create height and to increase the size of the print.

Calvin and Hobbes

2011-01-06T08:22:00.001-05:00

This is one from my youth. I was offered the chance during my senior year in high school way back in 1997, to paint a mural in one of the art rooms. Being a huge Calvin and Hobbes fan, I decided to paint the very last comic strip that Bill Waterson drew.

After I graduated, I heard from some buddies a year behind me that the mural was painted over. Needless to say I was not happy. Fast forward 13 plus years. My cousin now goes to my old High School and notices a mural in art class signed by me. He lets me know, I dig up the ONLY picture I have, and a post is born.

Yes the quality of the picture is horrible. Yes my scale and overall technique is questionable at best. Yes my brooding expression is laughable. What do you want? It was the late 90's and I was 17!

Check out the strip the way it was meant to be seen below mine.

The Oakmont Squirrel

2011-01-05T16:43:00.002-05:00

My boss just found this. It's one of the first projects I ever worked on at MV over four years ago. We found some old retro looking illustrations and decided to use that idea for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Still one of my favorites.

Islanders Hoods

2010-12-22T15:30:00.008-05:00

My boss came across this picture. It's a bunch of the New York Islanders wives and girlfriends with Howard Sterns wife Beth O. at an event for the North Shore Animal League. The reason I feel the need to post this, is because three of the ladies are wearing Islanders hoods that I set up when the team ordered from MV last year. I know it isn't much, and it's hard to see the shirts, but I thought it was kinda cool...especially being a huge Howard fan. Click the pic to see a larger shot. The best view is the one second from the left.

UPDATE - He found another one! Here is Rick DiPietro's wife with a close up shot of the graphic. Still not great...but much better.

More Baseball Trade Show Pics

2010-12-08T21:12:00.005-05:00

Here are a few more shots of the reps at work in the booth, as well as some shots of the hotel grounds. New Era had a sick booth this year, so I threw in some pics of them for good measure. The show was great, and I had a great time as always.

Baseball Trade Show Pics

2010-12-06T22:39:00.017-05:00

Here are some shots from the Baseball Winter Meetings and Trade Show. The booth came out really nice this year, and we're looking to have a great show. I'm hoping to add some more pics in the coming days.

2010 Baseball Winter Meetings/Trade Show

2010-12-03T15:33:00.006-05:00

Heading to sunny Orlando Florida to work the booth at the 2010 Baseball Winter Meetings. I can't believe it's here already. All the work I've done throughout the year for Minor League Baseball is going to be showcased for the teams and execs to check out. I'm going to be posting pics daily, so check back next week.

Baseball Show Samples

2010-11-26T11:10:00.014-05:00

Here are some of the samples made for the Baseball Winter Meetings. The Meetings and Trade Show are December 6th-9th in Orlando Florida. I'll be there with MV manning the booth for my fourth year in a row. I've been working on the line since January and I'm pretty psyched to see the final product and head down to the show to see whats happening in Major/Minor League Baseball as well as our industry.

Detailed view showing verbiage

¡Viva Stan Pro!

2010-10-29T09:14:00.006-04:00

My fellow Creative Department brother in arms, Dan, started a blog called ¡Viva Stan Pro!. Check it!

Baseball Flyer/Catalog

2010-10-20T09:16:00.008-04:00

I decided to lay out a flyer to go with the 2011 Baseball Catalog to use at the show in December. It's 18 graphics that I designed after the initial catalog was printed or didn't make the first cut. I didn't want to go with the traditional single page layout that we always do, so I went with this mini booklet feel, and designed it to be a similar look to the big catalog.

And since I NEVER posted what the 2011 Baseball Catalog looks like for some reason, I included it under the flyer.

Live In The Ballpark - Samples

2010-10-04T16:21:00.010-04:00

Check out the final product for the Live In The Ballpark concert being held in Texas later this month. When compared to the original graphics posted below, these prints came out solid. I'm really happy with the fade effect on the sun-burst.

Ziegfest - Samples

2010-09-24T12:31:00.007-04:00

Here are the finished tees for the Ziegfest concert being held in Texas in early October. Click for detail.

Ziegfest

2010-09-09T16:44:00.006-04:00

Another concert being held at a Minor League Baseball park. Using the sunbursts again, as it's incorporated in the ZiegenBock logo. Back prints followed by their front chest print.

Turbo Roster

2010-08-30T15:46:00.005-04:00

Check out the layout I designed for TurboRoster.com. The site just launched today, and is an online registration management tool for sports leagues, school districts, yoga studios, training facilities...etc. I was going for a clean look with nice lines that was easy to navigate. I didn't do any of the coding, I just developed the look and feel of the homepage and the logo. Click the link above to check out the site!

Another New Baseball Graphic

2010-08-20T16:37:00.006-04:00

Here's another new one (post 2011 baseball catalog) that will hopefully get printed up for the show in December. I liked the banners from the retro mic layout in the Live In The Ballpark series so much that I decided to drop them in for baseball. Jon Contino definitely inspired this one.

Live In The Ballpark

2010-08-13T16:32:00.006-04:00

I'm doing some shirts for a concert being held in one of the Minor League stadiums. Here are some of the initial ideas. These are all intended to be full back pieces with the main "Live In The Ballpark" logo on the chest. Can't beat working on shirts that combine music and baseball...too bad I'm not a fan of any of the bands.

Jennie Vs. Cat - Sample

2010-08-02T15:49:00.005-04:00

Check out the final print from the Jennie Vs. Cat job. A few changes from the original setup, but it still worked out pretty well. Click for closeups.

Jennie Vs. Cat - Shirt Concept

2010-07-18T13:51:00.004-04:00

Just worked on this layout for a softball series being played at one of the Minor League Baseball stadiums. It's just one of a few early concepts. They're focusing on the Jennie Finch vs. Cat Osterman angle, so I went with an old boxing poster look. I added the weathered texture for the post, not sure if we can pull it off on the garment yet. It's going to be a full back print with the main "Jennie vs. Cat" logo as a centered front chest. Hopefully I can post a sample if I can get my hands on one. As always, click the image for more detail.

New Felt/Screen Print

2010-07-09T16:04:00.009-04:00

Here is a sample from our upcoming 2011 catalog I worked on. Felt applique letters over left chest screen print. Click the pics for more detail.

The Eternity Code: Recap

2010-07-01T13:59:00.009-04:00

Here are some pics from the show (thanks again Andrew) and a video of our new song "3rd Prize Is You're Fired". Thanks so much to the huge crowd who came out to see us. We had an amazing time.

The Eternity Code

2010-06-21T22:07:00.003-04:00

My old band The Eternity Code is playing a Reunion show on June 26th. It's the first time we're playing in four years. Here's the info.

New Applique

2010-06-16T11:57:00.008-04:00

Check out the new design and sample I worked up for the baseball catalog. Here is a great example of showing the process from art concept to finished garment. Click on the pictures for a more detailed view.

Ocean Beach

2010-06-01T12:44:00.007-04:00

My buddy Andrew from the Marketing Department at work shot some footage, and made a movie of their time at the photo shoot for our upcoming catalog. Sick background track. Check it!

Paw Sox

2010-05-12T14:22:00.008-04:00

Another new baseball graphic for next years collection. Inspired by the Grotesk book. (thanks marketing). 1 and 2 color versions.

T-Shirt Contest

2010-05-11T22:47:00.005-04:00

Check out the graphic I submited to VoteForArt.com. Sign up to the site (it's free) and cast your vote.

New Baseball Graphic

2010-05-04T13:19:00.010-04:00

I've been working on the 2011 Baseball line for a few months now. Here's one I just finished for the Ladies Collection.