Anticipation!

This is how my brain looks right now. I am excited to be launching several new things on the blog next week - including a new lettering project for 2013. Please stay tuned...

Have a great weekend!

Alphabet 100 print: sneak peek

The new print is almost ready - please stay tuned...

Have a great weekend!

Bonne fête, Lucie!

Alphabet 100: the finale

And that's a wrap! After 5200 thumbnail sketches and over 200 hours of work, above is the final complete lower case set of the Alphabet 100 lettering project. It has been such a joy to work on this for the last 52 weeks. I am currently formulating a new lettering project for 2013 – I hope you will stay tuned!

In case you missed it back in July, below is the complete upper case set. Watch for a new print in my shop with all 52 illustrations coming in early 2013.

Mandy Glinsbockel Photography

Here is a look at the new identity I created for Mandy Glinsbockel, a documentary and commercial photographer based out of Calgary, Alberta. Below is a screenshot of her beautiful new website, a peak at the business cards, and a little glance at some of the logo development work.

Be sure to check out Mandy's exceptional portfolio here.

Looking back, moving forward

2012 was a big one. 

One year ago, I took the leap and decided to pursue freelance graphic design full-time. I am happy to report that Year One was a huge success. As I did last year, I'd like to take a moment to highlight some exciting landmarks that made 2012 a year to remember:

• In January, I launched Alphabet 100, a lettering project for 2012. Every week, I picked a letter and set out to sketch 100 thumbnails. Then, I chose the best / most interesting option, and rendered it in Illustrator. 52 weeks later, I had 52 complete letters – A through Z, in both upper and lower case. (I am just wrapping up the last 2 letters – please stay tuned!)

• February - lots of client work, but I also made time for lettering.

• In March, I launched my second print in my online store, Numbers Print #1. I also completed a little photo essay on the typographic choices of the new Loblaws at the historic Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. It was great fun.

• In April, I rebranded my online identity with a spiffy new website (developed by the talented Chris Roberts), new stationery, and a new wordmark. I also worked on an infographic for the Toronto Star.

• May was a big month. At the beginning of the month (and just in time for National Etiquette Week), I revisited the Toronto Etiquette Project and relaunched it as the more inclusive Urban Etiquette Project (Le Projet D'Étiquette Urbaine for our French-speaking friends). I was pleased as punch with the reception, which included a mention on two of my favourite blogs, Quipsologies and Swiss Miss. Exciting! Then, I found out that my Numbers Print #1 had been selected to participate in Creative Type Four, an annual curated exhibition of typographic artwork from Toronto illustrators, artists and graphic designers. Exciting! On May 13, I did something I never thought I could do: I participated in the Sporting Life 10K Run in Toronto. My final run time was 1:04:35, but more importantly, I raised $420 to help kids with cancer go to camp. It was the most exciting, gratifying event I have ever been part of, and cannot wait to start training for this year's marathon.

• In June – Pride Month – I relaunched the The Official Gay Card & Official Lez Card. Along with a fun quiz and printable card, there were also a new way to donate to three exceptional LGBT charities: It Gets Better, Camp firefly and Toronto YouthLine. As well, I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to design Toronto Pride's official theme graphic for 2012 – and even see it used in the Toronto Pride Parade!

• In July, I designed my first large billboard, which was for Greenpeace Canada. I also turned 30 on July 30th. Best birthday ever.

• In August, I took a mini-vacation to Montréal. 9 days, 21 coffeeshops, 600+ photos, 3 crepes, 2 poutines. Lots and lots of photos here.

• September and October were filled with lots of client work, and plenty of lettering practice.

• In November, I was given the opportunity to design the poster and promo materials for one of my favourite rock musicals, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Definitely one of my favourite projects of the year! I also completed a movie-themed bilingual desk calendar for Audio Ciné Films, which was super fun to work on.

• And then December ended on a high note. Ridiculously fun chalkboard lettering for snap + tumble, the Twelve Days of Christmas lettering project, two new map prints for the store, holiday cards, and of course, the "end of the world".

When I started my freelance career one year ago, I was both excited and trepidatious. There was really no way to know how 2012 would unfold. Where will the work come from? Will I have enough money to get by? 

As the days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, I started to recognize – and embrace – the ebb and flow of freelance work. When I stopped worrying, my work improved. And with better work, more work came in (I guess good work does beget more work). But the bigger, more significant personal revelation of the year was this: if you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. I feel blessed every day that I am able to do graphic design and lettering work – and get paid to do so. Life is good.

I have a lot more projects and blog posts planned for the new year, including a more extensive post on the things I have learned in Year One, and advice for those who are entering the freelance world. Please stay tuned!

This formative year wouldn't have been possible without the unending support of family, the generosity of friends, and the encouragement of the community. Thanks to all of you, truly.

I wish each one of you a healthy and happy new year.

CR

Twelve Days of Christmas (update)

Here are all 12 parts of the Twelve Day of Christmas lettering project. Looking forward to more lettering practice in the new year!

Merry Christmas!

The end

Or not? Have a wonderful weekend, and a happy holiday!

CR

Alphabet 100 update: the final stretch

Here are the next four lower case letters to the Alphabet 100 project.  This is exciting for 2 reasons:

• only 2 letters remaining – lower case y and lower case z
• lower case x marked letter #50, which means I have officially sketched 5000 letters so far!

Be sure to check out all the sketches over here.

A tale of two cities

I am please to finally reveal these two new map prints, available for purchase in my online shop.

It all started back in the spring when I was trying to find a simple way to illustrate the best parts of my favourite city: Toronto. After plenty of research, many lists, lots of sketches and several layout ideas, I arrived at a solution. And then after a trip to Montréal this summer (my second favourite city!), I decided to use the same template, and apply everything I love about downtown Montréal (in French, of course).


These 18" x 18" map prints are ink jet printed in Toronto in full colour on 180gsm ultra white matte cotton-based art paper.

Special thanks to everyone who helped me out with one, especially Raymond at Front Print, and Lucie who helped with the translations and copy editing on the Montréal map.

Love your city? Need a last-minute Christmas gift? Stop by my shop and pick one up. And thanks in advance for your support!

CR

p.s. Canada Post suggested mailing dates here.

Marcus

Here is a little memento I created for Marcus, who turns one year old today.
Happy Birthday, Marcus!

Twelve Days of Christmas

December, 12, 2012, or 12/12/12, will be the last date of its kind – when all three numerals in a date are the same – for the next 88 years. The next time this will happen is on January 1, 2101, or 01/01/01.

Although there are many notable twelves, one of the most famous (and festive!) is the Twelve Days of Christmas. To celebrate the holiday season, and to commemorate this cosmic event, I've decided to start a small lettering project. For the next 12 days leading up to Christmas, I will be lettering the lyrics to the Twelve Days of Christmas, and posting the results on Instagram and Twitter. If you're not already following me, please join in the fun! You can find me at:

Twitter: @Chris_Rouleau
Instagram: chris_rouleau

Watch for the first installment tomorrow!

Fun with chalk!

A little chalk lettering I did for snap+tumble at City of Craft this weekend. Thanks again to Tanya for the opportunity! Another shot of the original rendering below, and more photos here.

Light

A new poster for Music in the Barns Chamber Ensemble's Light, an "exploration of our relationship to light through composition and scientific imagery". Be sure to check it out this weekend:

Saturday, December 8
Artscape Wychwood Barns

Get your tickets here!

She's coming...

Teaser postcards for breathe.feel.love's upcoming production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Poster design here.

Toronto Etiquette Project, one year later

December 1st marks one year since I launched the Toronto Etiquette Project.

So what has happened since then?

First, some numbers. As of today, the Toronto Etiquette Project website has had almost 23,000 page views, with over 3200 downloads.

The expanded Urban Etiquette Project / Projet D'Étiquette Urbaine, launched in May 2012, has had over 20,000 page views, 1900 English downloads and 200 French downloads.

Since the launch of the bilingual cards, I have also had requests for Spanish and Portugese cards – and even volunteers for the translating! These are currently in the works, and should be coming in the new year. As well, a woman in Baghdad had translated the entire blog and cards into Arabic - amazing!

Additionally, a middle school counsellor in Georgia contacted me about adapting the positive etiquette cards to fit middle school scenarios to encourage kindness, respect and pro-social behaviours at the most critical developmental age:

Every adult in our building was given three cards each, wrote their names on the back and were asked to distribute to students when they saw acts of kindness. Four 8th graders were given three each as well, same instructions. 

How awesome is that?

And most recently, a Vancouver college student writing a research paper on public transit etiquette requested permission to discuss the etiquette project. I enthusiastically obliged.

What does this all mean? Even though the etiquette project is not in the headlines anymore, people are still engaged and interested in improving public etiquette in their own personalized way, and this is very encouraging. As we head into the hustle and bustle of December, it doesn't hurt to remind everyone to slow down, be courteous, and find little ways to make life better for those around you.

Have a happy and healthy holiday season.

--

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato

ACF calendar

  
Here's a 2013 bilingual desk calendar I just wrapped up for Audio Ciné Films. ACF is one of the largest non-theatrical film rights representatives in Canada which issues copyright licenses for organizations to screen films for fundraisers. They also have exclusive rights to some of the biggest film studios out there: Disney, Pixar, MGM, Universal... the list goes on and on. This 12-page, 8" x 5" double-sided flip calendar offered film licensing ideas for each month, including both classics (Guys and Dolls, E.T., Back to the Future) and new blockbusters (Skyfall, Les Misérables, Lincoln).

This project was a treat to work on, especially to be engaging with such exciting content. Thanks again to Lucie and Oliver for the great opportunity!

Alphabet 100 update

Ta-dah! Here are the next four lower case letters to the Alphabet 100 project.  Be sure to follow all the lettering fun over here!

(p.s. Only 6 letters to go!)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

I was honoured to be asked to design the poster for breathe.feel.love's production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (one of my favourite rock musicals!), and I am pleased to unveil the final poster. The entire piece was sketched and hand-lettered by yours truly, scanned, and then manipulated in Photoshop.

Above is the original concept I pitched to the team, with a fancified colour version as well.

Here's three more versions of the graphic and lettering as they progressed over the last few weeks.
Another working sketch.

And finally, a peek at how the apartment has looked for the last month, with sketches and ink drawings on every surface area.

There will likely be more materials to come (handbills, programs, web pieces), so keep your eyes open around Toronto. And don't forget to mark you calendar!

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
January 9-27, 2013
Tickets go on sale Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thanks again Seth for this amazing opportunity.