JOE LACEY
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Joe Lacey

BLOG
/bläɡ/ noun – a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. Yep, that's my blog!

1960s Wilton Catalogs

3/29/2018

 
Whenever I work with a client, I like to pick up old product catalogs to see what they were making years ago. It's a nice way to make a connection to the past and see where my work fits into the company's history. These two books, Wilton Sugar Mold Ideas and Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies were gifts I sent to the Creative Director at Wilton. I may have to get my own copies. What was I thinking?! There's so much fun art in these books! I could post every page, but here's a few of the ones that really impressed me.
Vintage Wilton Sugar Mold Catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies. 1963 vintage catalog.
My services with Wilton over the years have been in product development, creative exploration and production design. Much of my work has made it into production as single items or as major parts of full product lines. I'll be posting more of my work for Wilton at a later date, but in the meantime, here's a couple cupcake products that I designed.

To see more of my art, please visit my website.
Wilton Freaky Friends Cupcake Pix. Designed and illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Wilton Freaky Friends Cupcake Pix. Designed and illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Wilton Shark Cupcake Decorating Kit. Illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Wilton Shark Cupcake Decorating Kit. Illustrated by Joe Lacey.

Great Illustrators of the Past: Vernon Grant

3/24/2018

 

A Look at Vernon Grant's Promotional Books for Kids

My personal collection of illustrated premiums and books by American illustrator, Vernon Grant.
My personal collection of illustrated premiums and books by American illustrator, Vernon Grant. "Tiny Tower" - 1934, "Mother Goose" - 1933, "The Cow and the Silver Cream" - 1944, "Flibbity Jibbit" - 1943, and Kellogg's "Fold Yourself A Lot of Pictures" -1933

You may not know him by name, but you know his work. Vernon Grant (April 26, 1902 – July 9, 1990) is the creator of the Kellogg’s characters Snap! Crackle! and Pop! In 1938, Life magazine called him "America's favorite children's artist." Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, his illustrations appeared on major magazines, cereal boxes, advertising and collectible premiums such as posters and books. It's these premiums which first made me aware of this great illustrator. I hope you enjoy this very brief introduction to the art of Vernon Grant.
Kelloggs' "Fold Yourself A Lot of Pictures" -1933 by illustrator Vernon Grant.
Kelloggs' "Fold Yourself A Lot of Pictures" -1933 by illustrator  Vernon Grant.
Kelloggs' "Fold Yourself A Lot of Pictures" -1933
Kelloggs' "Fold Yourself A Lot of Pictures" -1933 by illustrator  Vernon Grant.
Kelloggs' "Fold Yourself A Lot of Pictures" -1933
Junket's "Flibbity Jibbit" - 1943 by illustrator  Vernon Grant.
Junket's "Flibbity Jibbit" - 1943 by illustrator Vernon Grant.
Junket's "Flibbity Jibbit" - 1943 by illustrator  Vernon Grant.
Junket's "Flibbity Jibbit" - 1943
Junket's "Flibbity Jibbit" - 1943 by illustrator  Vernon Grant.
Junket's "Flibbity Jibbit" - 1943
Years ago I found a small Kellogg's Rice Krispies flip book at an antique market. "Fold yourself a lot of pictures" it read. It delivered on that promise. I was impressed by the whimsical art and the cleverness of the booklet. I bought it. There was a very distinctive signature on it - "Vernon Grant". I thought, "This is a guy I need to see more of." I love promotional giveaways and Grant's are among the best. Since then, I have added to this collection and am always looking for more of Grant's premiums.

Then I found Flibbity Jibbit, a promotional kids book that told the tale of a key-keeper, a king, and a little bird named Flibbity Jibbit. Their journey to find the key to unlock the door that held Junket's Rennet Powder for the king's custard party is told by Grant in an illustrated 32 page fairy tale. It was adorable! It also made me want to make some custard. I guess advertising really does work!

Grant's style is very economical and not overly rendered. He often makes use of three color tones to create volume with a dark, middle, and light. But more importantly, his drawings have character. A lamp is not just a lamp, it's full of personality. It feels as if even a shoe can be your friend in Vernon Grant's world.

His compositions make use of circles and solid shapes. Buildings and backgrounds can be bold and abstract in nature, similar to the German Expressionist movement of the 1920s and 1930s, creating a world full of dream-like twists and turns. He utilizes classic design principles of color and tone to keep the viewer focused on the center of interest. A signature look of his work is the use of solid color backgrounds, often black.
"Mother Goose" As Told by Kellogg's Singing Lady - 1933 by illustrator  Vernon Grant.
"Mother Goose" As Told by Kellogg's Singing Lady - 1933 by illustrator Vernon Grant.
"Mother Goose" As Told by Kellogg's Singing Lady - 1933 by illustrator  Vernon Grant.
"Mother Goose" As Told by Kellogg's Singing Lady - 1933
"The Cow and the Silver Cream" for Wright's Silver Cream - 1944 by illustrator Vernon Grant.
"The Cow and the Silver Cream" for Wright's Silver Cream - 1944 by illustrator Vernon Grant.
"The Cow and the Silver Cream" for Wright's Silver Cream - 1944 by illustrator Vernon Grant.
Today, these commercial premiums are in the form of activity books, not story books, with puzzles, games and coloring pages replacing story driven themes.

I'll be posting an article and samples of my work in this field of illustration sometime soon. In the meantime, to see a small selection of my illustrated kids premiums and books, please visit my website.

Famous Illustrators of the Golden Age Coloring Portfolio: American Edition 1898-1927 adult coloring book by illustrator Joe Lacey.
BOOKS I RECOMMEND
  • Beyond Snap! Crackle! Pop! The Story of American Illustrator Vernon Grant - 2014 by Linda Williams
  • Vernon Grant’s Mother Goose - 1998 by Harry N. Abrams.
  • Vernon Grant’s Santa Claus - 2003 by Harry N. Abrams.
LINKS
  • The Main Street Children’s Museum, Rock Hill, South Carolina
  • www.VernonGrant.org
  • Vernon Grant Book Sheds New Light On Famed illustrator Newspaper article with author Linda Williams.
Tinker Tim the Toy Maker by Vernon Grant. 1934, Whitman Publishing Company.
Tinker Tim the Toy Maker by Vernon Grant. 1934, Whitman Publishing Company.
Collier's / The National Weekly September 21, 1940. Cover art by Vernon Grant.
Collier's / The National Weekly September 21, 1940. Cover art by Vernon Grant.
Collier's / The National Weekly January 11, 1940. Cover art by Vernon Grant.
Collier's / The National Weekly January 11, 1940. Cover art by Vernon Grant.

Tiny Tower / A Monthly Magazine For Children, November 1934. Cover and back Kellogg's advertising art by Vernon Grant.
Tiny Tower / A Monthly Magazine For Children, November 1934. Cover and back Kellogg's advertising art by Vernon Grant.
All the images are from my personal collection.

AVON Kids Package Design

3/17/2018

 

Just Like Daddy & Mommy

AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy bath products. Package art and design.
I was in the middle of my contract, working on a series of zany fruit character themed illustrations for AVON's Kids Naturals bath products when I was commissioned to design and illustrate the Just Like Daddy Grooming Kit and Just Like Mommy Pedicure Set.

The boy's grooming kit is an updated version of the 1968 AVON Scrub Mug, a liquid soap decanter that resembled an old fashioned shaving mug and brush, but now with a toy safety razor, mirror and "manly" aftershave. The  girl's themed companion pedicure set came with an inflatable foot bath, brush and soap. Each box featured a hidden picture game.

To see more of my art, please visit my website.

AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy bath products.
AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
The box sizes, shapes and general layouts were all pretty much determined prior to me working on the sketches. The project moved along smoothly and I did not have to do too many explorations for the look of the kids. The girl was by far the most challenging. She had to scrub her toes, wear a robe, be in the bath and still read very similar to the boy. I think the whole job was done in about two to three weeks.

First draft of boy characters. AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
First draft of boy characters.
Pencil sketch layout for boy's grooming kit. AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Pencil sketch layout for boy's grooming kit.
Pencil sketch layout for girl's pedicure set. AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Pencil sketch layout for girl's pedicure set.
Vector art created in Adobe Illustrator used as color guide and painting base. AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Vector art created in Adobe Illustrator used as color guide and painting base.
Final art rendered in Adobe Photoshop. AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Final art rendered in Adobe Photoshop.
Final art rendered in Adobe Photoshop. AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Final art rendered in Adobe Photoshop.
AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy bath products. Package art and design.
Bath Time Fun! Hidden Picture Game
The boxes were a pretty good size, so I suggested that a picture game would work nicely on each box. The layout really lent itself to this. It also gave added play value to each kit. I designed a bathtub themed hidden picture game that would be appropriate for little kids. Each has the same game, but the games are color coordinated to match the boxes. And, whenever I get the chance, I like to put a dachshund or two into my illustrations!
Rough pencil sketch for side packaging of  AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Rough pencil sketch.
Final art for boy's version of game for side packaging of  AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Final art for boy's version of game.
Final art for girl's version of game for side packaging of  AVON • Just Like Mommy /Just Like Daddy children’s bath products for boys and girls. Package art and character design by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Final art for girl's version of game.
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    Joe Lacey illustrator

    Joe Lacey

    I produce illustrations and creative idea solutions for toys, packaging, publishing and advertising.


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