A Walk in the Park!

Come and view the 5 poster introduction to my Wisconsin State Parks Poster Series. I'd love to hear your feedback on the next five that I should design. See the collection now at MIAD (on the River Level).
273 East Erie Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202

These posters are printed on heavy-weight archival paper. 

Pricing: 45.00 per poster, or the set of five 16" by 24" signed giclee prints for $200.00.
Attached please find a downloadable order form, as I do not yet have an online store option set up.

ORDER FORM

Phil Belair

belairphilip@gmail.com

Introducing the Wisconsin State Parks Poster Series

After finishing the 5th Design of the 5 poster series, I explored options for printing and settled upon a giclee, or digital inkjet printing method for the first edition of these posters. Although I really wanted the aesthetic and color choices of serigraphy, the giclee method offers flexibility in edition size, while also providing the opportunity to use color-fast inks on heavy weight archival matte paper.  I am very pleased with the results and consider the color to be quite saturated-very much mimicking the effect of a serigraph.  I found that in order to make a true serigraph in a cost effective way, I would need to reduce the number of total colors and do a larger quantity. I am not ruling out the silkscreen process if these evolve to larger runs, but for right now, I can still produce a limited edition of signed, quality prints at an economical price point for the print buyer.  If you are interested in purchasing a print, please contact me at belairphilip@gmail.com. I am in the process of creating a website to allow for the direct purchase of these via paypal, but this will be a temporary process for now.  Turn-around time for a signed 16" by 24" signed print is 2 weeks maximum.  The print will be shipped in a durable mailing tube upon receipt of payment.  The cost per print is $45. The series of 5 is at a reduced rate of $200.  All graphics portrayed on these posters are the original artwork of Philip J. Belair.

Governor Thompson State Park  16" by 24"

Kohler-Andrae State Park  16" by 24"

Lakeshore State Park   16" by 24"

Mirror Lake State Park  16" by 24"

Willow River State Park   16" by 24"

Phase Five shows the final composition of the first two posters. These won't be going to press for a while, so If you have suggestions I would love to hear them!

In the fourth phase of the poster series initial design I explored conversion techniques to add a retro aesthetic to the series.

The third phase of the poster project explored the typographic components of the poster series.

The second phase of the poster project, which was all about converting compilation of photographic images to the final art.

The first Phase of the poster project, which relied on hundreds of photos as visual reference for each state park. Thanks to my wife Sue, who accompanied me on many of these photo excursions!

Welcome to my Sabbatical Project: Wisconsin State Parks Poster Series

I was fortunate enough to be granted a semester-long sabbatical from my teaching duties at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. To be considered for sabbatical, I had to submit a proposal on how I might use the time for a regenerating creative endeavor. On my proposal, I mention "an interest in printmaking, specifically silkscreen, combined with a love of landscapes which will lead to the perfect melding of fine art and design." I have been a Wisconsin landscape painter for about the past ten years. A few images of that are shown here at Phil Belair Northwoods Landscapes

I will use what I have learned via this discipline, now interpreted through the screen printed image.

I wrote up a project description for myself, as I can't get off and running without one. It states:

Develop a series of 5 posters, each promoting a different Wisconsin State Park. Take inspiration form WPA-style (Works Project Administration) and tourism posters from the 1930’s to 50’s. Consider final production methods. Silkscreen printing or 4/C process litho? Merge aspects of vertical landscape composition and typography relevant to the poster “vibe” and park identity.

Process:

• Identify State Parks that you wish to do a poster about. They should each have a visual characteristic easily recognizable to viewers of the poster at a glance

• Take reference photography at the various parks for use as compositional structural reference

• Be aware of the time of year the reference photography was taken, in order to be accurate with representation of flora and fauna

• Build a collection of reference of similar posters, studying composition, wording, hierarchy, color and contrast

• Makes notes on the styles of this reference, calling out what is working and what is not

• Explore techniques for the build of this art, to include online tutorials, sketch-painting, compositional drawing and specialized filters

• Study and sketch out typographic approaches to the poster headings

• Develop a commemorative “seal” identifying the designer, as done with WPA posters in the past

• Finalize production technique, relying on the advice and expertise of others. If pressed with time or budget constraints, do giclees and offer them for sale individually on the web

• Source out the best way to sell these posters. (anticipated runs of 250 to 500)

• Document photographically all important steps and create and maintain a blog to post progress on a regular basis.

This project relies on having the ability to be a self-starter, each and every day. Keep a moleskin journal on progress and next steps and maintain it faithfully. 

I developed a specific schedule to take me through the time period but I won't bore you with that. I will have a show in the Fall to present these posters. They will also be offered for sale in limited quantities. 

This project is not sponsored by the State of Wisconsin  or Department of Natural Resources in any way. It is a representation of landmark natural spaces in the public domain.

Here are reference images found online. The top batch shows a printmaking style, and the bottom collection, a painted interpretation. Most of the designers names can be found by doing a simple google search on the poster name.