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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!

Monster Mix-Ups

10/11/2020

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Monster Mix-Ups was the second of two rubbing plate creativity kits I worked on for Crayola. It's identical to another kit of theirs that I designed two years earlier – Create-A-Critter, but this time with monster-themed plates and new toy colors.
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Crayola Monster Mix-Ups Rubbing Plates line art by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups Rubbing Plates line art by illustrator Joe Lacey.
The design of product components (stickers, stamps, rubbing plates,) and packaging for the Crayola Creative Development kits was the responsibility of Crayola Art Director Kathy Buckley. Kathy and I had known each other from college and working with her on these types of projects was always fun. ​
“Joe just 'got it', no matter the subject, no matter the medium, so hiring him to work on the Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates and package illustration was a no-brainer. I remember it was always so exciting when Joe would bring in his sketches. As much as I knew I could expect excellence, I always got a little something more because Joe would add those amazing, creative details that his work is known for."
I submitted twelve different characters knowing that ten would be chosen. I kind of think of it like The Gong Show. I send my wacky characters out to be judged and someone's gonna get "gonged!". This time, the cheerleader and the gravedigger got the mallet. I wanted this Halloween theme to be done with a lot of humor. Kathy recalls, "I didn't have to tell Joe that Frankenstein should be holding a skateboard (and honestly it wouldn't have occurred to me to do so), but Frankenstein showed up holding a skateboard. A mummy tied up with a gift tag warning not to open before Christmas? Yes, please. Joe delivered so much more than what we asked and that is why we kept asking him to deliver more.”

It's pretty impressive that a kid could actually make 1,000 "scary ghouls." I haven't done the math, but I'll take Crayola's word for it.
I no longer have the original line art used to make the plastic rubbing plates. If they weren't returned to me, they have most likely been destroyed. Luckily, the side panels of the box have small, but very crisp, reproductions of each character. This was back when I would do the final inkings on graphics paper and markers. Later, I typically used a brush and ink on this type of project to get crisper lines. Today it's almost always computerized vector art. They both have their pros and cons.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates character design sketches by illustrator Joe Lacey. ghost, Frankenstein, Morticia, zombie, Wolfman, mad scientist, pirate skeleton, Dracula, witch, mummy, zombie cheerleader, gravedigger
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates character design sketches of a pirate skeleton and Morticia by illustrator Joe Lacey.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates character design sketches of a zombie cheerleader and a gravedigger by illustrator Joe Lacey.
HISTORICAL FUN FACT #1
1993 marked the beginning of Crayola's updated packaging.
The two stripes of the chevrons became thicker, and the logo is now on a jaunty angle. Crayola adopted the use of a single chevron on its packaging and gone is the dark green. For decades, the dark green was the only green used. It's lighter and brighter replacement would become known as "Crayola Green." 
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The official "Crayola Yellow" used for the background would remain the same, but the newer packaging tended to have more variation in tone. Both the "Crayola Yellow" and the "Crayola Green" are custom colors run along with the CMYK process making these boxes a six color run. The crayons included with the toy are still of the older design, but they too would become updated.
HISTORICAL FUN FACT #2
​
All of Crayola's rubbing plate kits have "©1982 Binney & Smith Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED" molded in to the base of the toy. Don't let this mislead you. Always go by the dates on the boxes. Create-A-Critter came out in 1991 and Monster Mix-Ups in 1993.  It's the same approach used as the markings on vintage G.I Joes which all read "copyright 1964" for over ten years of production. Yes, it's a collector's nightmare.

The bottom of the art tray used for the Crayola Monster Mix-Ups craft toys manufactured by Binney & Smith, Inc.
From 1885–2007, the company was known as Binney & Smith. In 1984 they became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. In 2008, the company changed its name to Crayola, LLC and dropped the use of the Binney & Smith logo.
I get a kick of seeing these drawings molded on to plastic plates. I often illustrated stickers that would be applied to a toy, but when the illustrations are the toys – well, that's even cooler! The combination of bright lime green, orange, and purple was a popular color scheme of the early 90s.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups Rubbing Plates by illustrator Joe Lacey.
The illustration for the back of the box turned into a fun and creative way to show the step-by-step instructions. Kathy Buckley drew a very precise layout for me to follow. This was all pre-computer, so precision was important, and this illustration was going to get a lot of text wrapped around it.

Following her design I drew a tight pencil version at 100% size. I used photocopies of the three characters shown as "works of art." I lightly transferred the sketch to a piece of bristol board using graphite paper. The drawing was covered with a plastic film which was cut with an X-Atco knife, revealing only the background. I airbrushed the background purple and sprayed black for the drop shadows, both with acrylic paint. I then cut new film to cover everything except the red boxes, which were also sprayed with acrylic paint. The rest of the painting was completed with gouache. I used colored pencils to give a crayon look to the three finished pictures in the lower right corner.

I primarily worked on content and less on packaging. This always frustrated me, but it does make sense from a product line point of view. Typically, the same artist will work on the same parts of a product line. I got to design and illustrate the toy's art, while another artist illustrated the box covers. I was often given the job of illustrating the backs of the boxes, but I always approached them with the same enthusiasm as if they were the covers.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates toy by illustrator Joe Lacey. Art director sketch.
Art director's sketch.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates toy by illustrator Joe Lacey. Artist sketch.
Illustrator's sketch.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates toy by illustrator Joe Lacey. Airbrush illustration.
Original art.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates toy by illustrator Joe Lacey. Back of box packaing.
Back of box.
The sides of the box featured six crayon-colored "mixed-up" monsters as well as the B&W line art. 
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates toy by illustrator Joe Lacey.
HERE'S A PUZZLER! Try not to "mix up" this toy with Color and Stamp Mix-Up Monsters, also by Crayola and released later that same year.
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates toy by illustrator Joe Lacey with skeleton ghost holding a skateboard and wearing a
Crayola Monster Mix-Ups rubbing plates toy by illustrator Joe Lacey. Crayon colored children's drawing of zombie and wolfman.
HISTORICAL FUN FACT #3
​
The Monster Mix-Ups toy marked the beginning of Crayola using a hinge top styled box made from a single sheet of cardboard. The artwork was printed directly on the cardboard, which was then die-cut, folded, and glued at the corners. Prior to this, boxes like Create-A-Critter, were made of heavy stock cardboard with a separate lid and bottom. The artwork was printed on a litho-sheet, glued, and wrapped on the lid and bottom and folded along the inside edges.
Box lid and interior for Crayola Monster Mix-Ups by Binney & Smith, Inc.
Box lid and interior for Crayola Create_A-Critter by Binney & Smith, Inc.
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Trick or Treat 365 Coloring Book

9/10/2019

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Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Written, designed and illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola.
Trick or Treat 365 Coloring Book
INCLUDES:
• 64 Silly-Spooky Coloring Pages
• Halloween Sticker Sheet
• Metallic Foil Enhanced Cover!

From the back of the book: Who says it has to be October 31st to enjoy the spooky fun of Halloween? Join the all-year celebration with a ghoulish cast of madcap monsters who just want their mummy. 64 pages. Ages 3+

The holidays are here and we're kicking them off with this really cool coloring book from Crayola! Trick or Treat 365 started off with a brainstorming session over the phone with the creative director at Crayola. "What would the Halloween monsters do when it's NOT Halloween? What if they lived next door to you and me?" These are monsters that have the same life experiences as you and I.

• The Wolfman has a bad hair day...
• When Frankenstein isn't mowing the lawn–he's taking selfies...
• The Mummy has laundry to iron...
• The Skeleton is pumping up at the gym so he can look buff...
• Drac is moonbathing at the beach!

Did I mention that the swamp monster has to take swimming lessons in the baby pool? Well, he does! And you're not the only one who finds this funny! Look for "the laughing ghost" who pops up throughout the book. He thinks all of this is a scream!

The book also has mazes, dot-to-dots, puzzles, and a full color sparkly effect sticker sheet. The pages are perforated for easy removal.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Written, designed and illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Coloring pages from the Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Written, designed and illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Book cover with metallic foil effects.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Written, designed and illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Back of coloring book.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Written, designed and illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Trick or Treat 365 Halloween Coloring Book by Crayola. Sticker sheet.
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Tattoos and Vicious Animals

6/17/2019

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Bubble Gum Tattoos With a Bite!

“Vicious Animals” Tattoo Champ by Richardson Brands Bubble Gum Temporary Tattoos illustrated by Joe Lacey.Picture
I've been on a bit of a nostalgia kick the past few months. Probably from watching old episodes of Beverly Hills 90210. You see, Brandon just broke up with Kelly, Donna is still with Ray and Dylan is...oh sorry! Back to the point of this article --

Ultra Tattoo Champ was another one of my very early commercial projects from the 90s for Richardson Brands, best known for Beechies Gum*, Richardson Mints and rock candy. During this time, they manufactured a sizable series of these temporary tattoo packs. Sold in foil packs and in large 180 piece tubs for individual purchase at 5¢ each, the tattoos were wrapped around a piece of gum inside a wax wrapper. The gum had another selling point for kids beyond the tattoos — purple gum turned the mouth purple, green gum turned the mouth green, and... you get the idea. I illustrated two lines for this series, Vicious Animals and Sports. For this article, I'm showing my favorite of the two, Vicious Animals!

*Beechies Gum was originally made by the Beech-Nut Company and introduced in 1933. Richardson Mints have been made sine 1893. They also make a product called Gravy Master which has nothing to do with bubble gum or candy, although, a gravy flavored gum would probably be a big seller! There's my free million dollar idea.
“Vicious Animals” Tattoo Champ by Richardson Brands Bubble Gum Temporary Tattoos illustrated by Joe Lacey.Picture
This is the complete set of Vicious Animals tattoos. Each tattoo is roughly 2.5 inches tall and 1 inch wide. I don't recall exactly how Richardson Brands had contacted me, but I do remember driving to their office in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania twice, once to show my portfolio and once to deliver the art. I met with the art director, was given samples of previous tattoos, and some gum that I chewed on my drive back home.
“Vicious Animals” Tattoo Champ by Richardson Brands Bubble Gum Temporary Tattoos illustrated by Joe Lacey.
Over 25 years later, these tattoos still work and still look pretty cool! No, I did not eat the gum.
“Vicious Animals” Tattoo Champ by Richardson Brands Bubble Gum Temporary Tattoos illustrated by Joe Lacey.
The original art was painted with gouache on bristol board at 300% reproduction size. They worked really well at the tiny 1 inch tattoo size and were remarkably bright and colorful! The original art is owned by Richardson Brands and all I have are 35mm slides. I had enough sense to have taken shots of most of my work back then as I never liked sending the art away, never to see it again. It was a lot tougher to keep good records of my artwork prior to digital scans and photos. It took A LOT MORE TIME but it was well worth it!
“Vicious Animals” Tattoo Champ by Richardson Brands Bubble Gum Temporary Tattoos illustrated by Joe Lacey.
I did quite a few sketches for project. They were done pretty quickly as I remember in order to meet the deadline. The art director sent a good amount of them back asking for "more blood" and everything that went along with it, which made me really happy!

I look at these today and only wish I could do them all again! I'd add EVEN MORE GORE! C'mon Topp's, give me a call! I can do this!
Tattoo Champ by Richardson Brands Bubble Gum Temporary Tattoos illustrated by Joe Lacey.Picture
Here he is — the Tattoo Champ! ready to chew gum and kick butt! Kinda looks like Steve Sanders!
“Vicious Animals” Tattoo Champ by Richardson Brands Bubble Gum Temporary Tattoos illustrated by Joe Lacey.
The foil packs came with an XL big tattoo 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches. I bought about five or six packs to get one of my illustrations. Glad it was the piranha, they're cute!
Famous Illustrators of the Golden Age Coloring Portfolio: American Edition 1898-1927 adult coloring book by illustrator Joe Lacey.
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    Joe Lacey

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