Cisconcepts

It has been a while for this second installment of storefront signs as these montages further illustrates the city’s vast multiculturalism. Most were taken within the downtown districts and while some areas are culturally designated, many establishments are a mixture of all cultures. The collections creates an interesting assortment of font treatments and is always appreciated being a longtime type geek. 🏣🏬🏢🏪🏩🏫🚲

Happy New Year to all and wishing everyone a stellar 2025! 🎉 Start the year with some more obsessive assortments featuring a wide array of city signs taken throughout the many bike rides. Storefront typefaces whether good or bad can be an integral part for any brick and mortar establishment. The concrete jungle has seen a dramatic change in the past few years as many establishments require to rethink their brand as we further move into the digital age. Clever signs do still have an appeal as to draw in new buyers and customers. Posting a couple as the collection exceeded expectations and first time placing a soundtrack. 🏣🏬🏢🏪🏩🏫🚲🎼

A page from one of the numerous collage sketchbooks displaying a composition of architectural structures sourced from the paper archives. The post is inspired by all the amazing collage artists that follow and graciously share their work. The art style touches into the surrealism and can definitely feed into the obsessive compulsive mind as tendencies to end a piece seems to be never there 🫥 This construction of structures was a placement experiment before reaching the book as the initial intention was not reached while becoming something different. Will end here and hope to possibly post others in the future.

Another meditative sketch featuring the all mighty Shoebill. This majestic creature’s prehistoric like appearance mostly inhabits East Africa’s swamps and marshes preying on anything they can swallow. Sporting the third-largest bird beak in the world they stalk prey patiently, in a slow and lurking fashion. Populations continue to decline through habitat degradation and illegal trade with estimates of 5000-8000 remaining in the wild. The species is classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Under the genus name Balaenicaps rex, they are the only living member of their family, Balaenicipitidae. Being a long time favourite within the bird kingdom, they truly remind us of birds’ dinosaur ancestry✨🕊️✨

One from the new sketchbook featuring the mighty Leopard Seal of Antarctica. Generally living a solitary life, they group mostly during mating season and are known to be a difficult animal to study within their habitat. With their prehistoric smile, they rule sea and land fearing only orcas and large shark species. Plenty of smudging does occur once a sketch is near complete and it seems some inconsistency in tone with the previous posts. Used minimal filters used as it was taken under incandescent lighting. More insanity to come…

For the third sketchbook installment a dragon came out of nowhere to show its presence in this non sensical backdrop.
Found in cultures all across the world, dragons sparks the imagination as so many myths and legends have grown around them. The advantage of a mechanical pencil is the fine details it delivers although I do as much sharpening as the drawing itself. The insanity continues…

Second post from the sketchbook and have included 2 to view. With no real initial plan, the illustration tends to evolve around the biological subject and notice some objects do get intentionally included as it sort of binds them all. Placed a filter as they will appear brighter than the previous post. The insanity continues…

For my 200th post I figure to be brave and post from the sketchbook. Art is and always will be the one aspect of life that continuously moves us forward and have always feel blessed on what it delivers. Not sure how this evolved as their was never a set plan except for the biological subject. Mostly these drawing have served as a type of meditative exercise while objectively practicing my line work. This particular sketch book has taken quite the beating as it is always in hand and had to be retired. Fortunately the bulk has been filled and a new book is in the works. Will post more of the insanity.

As summer ends another set of random captured images taken throughout the city. It is always good to view something unique for the first time as sometimes it sparks an idea or build on a current one. Sometimes interesting things can made to appear unique by just capturing the moment as each day presents a new storyboard and up to us to live in the present moment.

In light of the lack of posts, some shared images that captured the eye during the summer bike travels. There is always something interesting to discover within the city even when visited on multiple occasions. It is all perception as we all have our own universes to experience.
There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.
-Aldous Huxley