20 Years of Valvoline Paint Schemes

Some of the top drivers in NASCAR have run with Valvoline on their hoods. The oil maker has been a stalwart sponsor since NASCAR's early days. (Fun fact: Valvoline was in the winning car in the first American car race back in 1895.) But over the past 20 years, their paint schemes just haven't kept up with their preeminence in racing.

Neil Bonnet's 1989 scheme (top left) features a bold V stretching across the hood with "Valvoline" set in all caps. The logo and name sit atop the a body, with the back of the car featuring the name knocked out of a dark background. This was iconic design visible at high speeds, and set the style that would define their look for the next 15 years. Mark Martin's scheme from '93 (top right) continues the tradition, but with Valvoline set in upper- and lower-case. The car number on the door now falls on the dark background. The next paint job (middle left) is my favorite of all the Valvoline schemes, with the V transcending its role of simple logo to become a forceful design element. The V allows the car to retain it's earlier characteristics of light front/dark rear and allows for instant recognition on the track. Mark Martin wheeled this scheme into Victory Lane four times during the 1995 campaign.

In 2002 Johnny Benson sat behind the wheel of the #10 (middle right) with its much-neutered design. The earlier precedents are retained, but handled poorly. The swoops along the side and the smaller V on the hood detract from the overall impact. The incredible shrinking hood logo continues in the bottom row (2008 and 2009), with Valvoline's presence on the hood diminishing with each iteration. At this rate, A.J. Allmendinger's signature above the door will be larger than the logo on his hood. Also lost is the light front/dark rear concept that had long been part of the car's identity. This year's design looks like they just plain forgot to paint the sides of the car.

When companies are paying upwards of $20 million a year to carry their message on the hood of front-running car, you have to take full advantage of the space you have. We happen to think Valvoline's dropping the ball here. Duckpin would be happy to step in and sponsor the car instead.

Anyone have $20 million they'd like to part with?

APA preview

March o' the Bobs.
(Halfway through my next APA project.)

Successorize Yourself

Need a little inspiration today? Create your own motivational poster.

More Poop Rainbows

Don't adjust your color settings. Today's post is brought to you in all its technovomit -colored glory.

A trip up to the Laurel Am-Vets thrift store yielded this cache of kaleidoscopic color. (That is, if your kaleidoscope is stuck on yellow, orange, and brown.) Enjoy our latest installment of poop rainbows, clockwise from top left:

• How to cook food in that newfangled "microwave"
• A gradient rainbow t-shirt
• Andy Williams' The Shadow of Your Smile. Note: If your teeth are a bleached as his, there is no shadow
• Starter kit for your Weber Grill
• If there was ever a typeface that captured the zeitgeist of the poop rainbow, this Perry Como album has it: Cooper Black
• This Kenny Rogers shirt is actually an earlier thrift gift from Jim L., but I have to credit our good fortunes to wearing it on our outing. As any rainbow chaser will tell you: poop rainbows beget poop rainbows

Click on image for larger view.

Coin-Op Studio

Arriving in the mail this week was a wonderful piece of letterpress from illustrator Peter Hoey. The letter-sized promo is most striking for it's extreme level of detail. Captured here a couple of close-ups showing the precision required to pull off an even printing of such closely-spaced wavy lines, especially on the pillowy Lettra stock. All around, a well designed and well executed piece. Now excuse me while I wipe the drool and jealously from my face.

Plates are photopolymer from Boxcar; printed on a Vandercook SP-15; Crane Lettra

Master of the Fanbrush

When it comes to American painters, there is no artist quite like Bob Ross. His everpresence on PBS is testimony to his innovative techniques, his encouraging tone, and his ability to mesmerize viewers with a soft-spoken, reassuring voice. Sure, his canvases sometimes looked like the cousins of Thomas Kinkade's sappy works, but it was his philosophy that was his strength. Bob taught us that we may not have power over our everyday lives, but we are the sole determiners of what goes on in our artwork. He let us know that we are the creators of our own little worlds, and through our own creations we can experience unbridled joy.

We certainly experienced that when creating these poster tributes to him.

Paper is from the French Paper Company; assorted wood and metal type, metal stars, arrows and rules; handcut lino block; hand inked in 3 passes on the cylinder press. 12.5" x 19". Thanks to Mom and Dad M. for their assistance. Special thanks to WHUT for continuing to air episodes of the Joy of Painting daily.

More Handlettering

Our earlier hand lettering post displayed a more traditional version of the art form. Above is a contemporary work by San Francisco-based artist Jeff Canham. He's keeping the ol' art form alive with a tangy design sense and flawless execution. Now if we only could get a handpainted Duckpin sign to hang in the basement...

Drop Caps, Not Bombs

Someday we're gonna put together a comprehensive guide to all the corny (aka awesome) graphic design themed t-shirts out there. For now, though, we'll continue running through them piecemeal. Enjoy the latest from Mental Floss, Duckpin's favorite magazine.

On the Mailboat

We're fresh back from a sublime vacation to Portland, Maine. Highlights included getting messy with some lobster, taking in a Portland Sea Dogs game (complete with post-game fireworks), and happy hour at Portland's only rooftop lounge™. Plus we endured a long day of city hiking that would rival any aboriginal's walkabout. We spotted this impressive hand lettering aboard the mail boat that ferries passengers and cargo around Casco Bay. It's reassuring to know that a fading art form is alive and well in lobsterland.

APA Preview: Blog Promo

Here's a look at what we printed up for the June APA bundle to promote this blog. We also made a half-dozen alternates using an azure ink.

Paper is Crane Lettra (110#, pearl white); type is handset lead; 3.67" x 4.25" with rounded corners

Ampersand Book

Okay, we're sorta riding the crest of ampersandness here. Student Andy Mangold created a nice one-off celebrating a history of the ampersand. He used wintergreen oil to transfer photocopied layouts onto heavy, accordion-folded stock. I've never used wintergreen oil, but am starting to wonder about pairing that transfer technique with letterpress. Anyone know of a project that employs both transfer and letterpress? We'd be happy to be a guinea pigs for such a venture. Any suggestions for a project we can test it out on?

Curling Uniforms

It's been awhile since we posted about our third favorite obsession, curling. There are multiple intersections between design and curling, as non-scientifically evidenced by the large number of architects who belong to our curling club. A hat tip goes to club member (but not architect) Joe Rockenbach, who pointed me to Uni Watch's post on some bad-ass curling sweaters.

Curling sweaters normally fall into two camps: the quaint, patternbook variety or the sleek but styleless. These lads' throwbacks sport the best of both, especially when paired with some natty trousers. Check out the great photos on the post. Finally some uniforms that match the finer design points of the curling rink.

Doilies: A Word I Never Thought Would Ever Appear on This Blog

Our Aunt Dorothy has always had a thing for doilies, so I guess it runs in the Duckpin family.

A recent posting on the wonderful website FPO details the process behind creating the poster pictured above. Big whoop, right? Well, the beauty of the poster is that it was created using store-bought paper doilies that the designer, Bennett Holzworth, Xactoed, spray glued and mounted type-high. What a unique and resourceful way to create your own printing surface. The hands-on nature of this process is definitely more in tune with the whole letterpress-as-physical-expression vibe than designing something on the computer and having a poly plate spit out. Kudos for the handiwork and for sharing the process behind the print.

Perhaps Aunt Dorothy was just a little bit ahead of her time...

The Ampersand

As a contemporary typehouse, Hoefler & Frere-Jones is peerless. Sometimes I think they should include a bib on their website, as I drool uncontrollably every time I visit. You've seen their work everywhere: newspapers, museums, packaging, ad campaigns, signage, etc. They've infiltrated every cranny of the our environment for good reason: their deliberate approach to type design is rooted in deep, classical exploration. In this post, they trace the history of the ampersand and its variants. (We were surprised to learn that its history predates that of many letters we use.) As a bonus, they explore some theories of how the ampersand got its name.

If Hoefler & Frere-Jones ever decides to cast lead type, there won't be a bib big enough to contain my excitement.

Pimp Out 'n Print Out

You can now sport the finest in Duckpin threads by visiting our Cafe Press store. You'll find men's tees, women's tees, kids stuff, a coffee mug and more. We didn't mark up the base rates for the merch, so the prices are as low as they can be. In other words, this thing ain't making us any money, but it is making you look good!

Thanks to Chris B. for the nudge to make this happen. Happy shopping!

Color Yourself Kinky

For those of us still stuck in print land, here's some inspiring work from DADA Design. We think Ken Nordine would be especially proud.

Happy Mother's Day

A great big shout out to all you moms out there—especially ours. We appreciate your dedication and guidance, and thank you for not judging us when we wanted to fill the basement with lead. You are the best.

Card above is one we designed for Mother's Day, 2008; paper is Fabriano Medioevalis; wood type is 10-line gothic bold

Modernist Poster Sale

The second best thing about May 21st will be the Modernist poster sale at Swann Galleries. Posters from the past 100 years will be up for auction, including iconic works by Peter Beherns, A.M. Cassandre, and Jean-Michel Basquiet. Better save up your pennies, though, as most lots will go for quadruple figures. Of course, Dad, you should feel free to do a little birthday shopping for me...

APA Bundle: April

Some nice pieces in the April APA bundle, including a fitting commemoration of the Vandercook composed of ornaments and borders.

Top image: Mike O'Connor's story of working a Washington Hand Press; middle: Sven Olaf Nelson's serene 2008 holiday card; bottom: Gordon Rouze's Vadercook celebration.

Shop Music: Ken Nordine

This series celebrates what we're playing while we're printing.

Ken Nordine's Colors is essential listening for anyone working on a project that involves, well, colors. The album consists of 35 tracks, each a celebration of a single hue. Though there's sparse instrumental accompaniment, this is word jazz at its finest. Nordine's expressive delivery gives each color a distinct and fitting personality. And since 1/2 of Duckpin Press experiences synesthesia, this is a particularly rewarding album to listen to while pondering what ink to mix up next.

Samples can be heard here.