Tag Archive for: Freelance

Western Grim Reaper
Western Grim Reaper
© Brian Allen 2016

An undead gunslinger with a cigar glares behind the smoke of two pistols.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Undead Gunslinger
Undead Gunslinger
© Brian Allen 2016

An undead gunslinger with a cigar glares behind the smoke of two pistols.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Zombie Gunslinger
Zombie Gunslinger
© Brian Allen 2016

A zombie gunslinger whips out his aidearm against the backdrop of a menacing full moon.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Tiki Totem Earthtones
Tiki Totem Earthtones
© Brian Allen 2016
Tiki Totem Earthtones
© Brian Allen 2016
Tiki Totem Earthtones
© Brian Allen 2016
Tiki Totem Earthtones
© Brian Allen 2016

Various tiki totem designs in earthtone colors.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Terror Creature
Terror Creature
© Brian Allen 2016

A horrifying creature emerges from the dark, his talons razor sharp and eyes bright.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Snake Skull and Roses
Snake Skull and Roses
© Brian Allen 2016

A skull with a snake and roses in the background.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Skull with Crown and Wings
Skull with Crown and Wings
© Brian Allen 2016

Crowned Skull with Wings.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

© Brian Allen 2016

A skull with roses and wings.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Skull and Pistons
Skull and Pistons
© Brian Allen 2016

A laughing winged skull with snakes and flaming pistons.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Skeleton Gunslinger
Skeleton Gunslinger
© Brian Allen 2016

This badass skeleton gunslinger wields two golden pistols.

his artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Motorcycle Gang
Motorcycle Gang
© Brian Allen 2016

Trio of bad ass motorcycle riders on a background of flames.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Medusa Sugar Skull
Medusa Sugar Skull
© Brian Allen 2016

The infamous Medusa from Greek mythology dons a sugarskull makeup as her snakes writhe around her.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Helicopter Zombies
Helicopter Zombies
© Brian Allen 2016

Military zombies on board a helicopter battle on even after death. Explosions rain down from the sky.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

alligator in swamp
alligator in swamp
© Brian Allen 2016

A ferocious alligator in the deep swamps– a fishing boat is in the background against a hazy sunset.

This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/

Famous European military story C

Famous European military story C

Description:

Fun parody tribute to the Wu-Tang Clan rappers in a shoot-out. The design was for apparel and a vehicle wrap for the russefeiring tradition.  If you haven’t heard of it, basically russefeiring involves an entire class of Norwegian students renting a bus (a Russebuss), painting every inch of it with really cool street art, and then partying in it night and day for an entire month during graduation.  The different classes wear their designs ever where they go as they clash with rival classes.  I’ve done a bunch of these now, and really enjoy it.

Psychedelic imagery of a gray sp
Psychedelic imagery of a gray sp

Client:

Personal

Description:

Psychedelic imagery of a gray space alien meditating amongst spaceships, planets, stars and galaxies.

This artwork is available for licensing:

An evil magical tiki mask surrou

An evil magical tiki mask surrou

Client:

Personal

Description:

An evil magical tiki mask surrounded by psychedelic imagery and visions of faraway places and things.

This artwork is available for licensing:

Psychedelic and trippy colorful

Psychedelic and trippy colorful

Client:

Personal

Description:

Psychedelic and trippy colorful image of a blue-skinned many armed god meditating and transcending the realm. He achieves nirvana even as he floats alone on an island of land.

This artwork is available for licensing:

Client:

Personal

Description:

Parody of famous Nintendo characters as gangsters.

This artwork is available for licensing:

The legendary grim reaper with b

The legendary grim reaper with b

Personal

Description:

The legendary grim reaper with billowing dark hooded cloak complete with his scythe and hourglass surrounded by flaming skulls and candles.

This artwork is available for licensing:

Parody illustration of the crew

Parody illustration of the crew

Client:

Personal

Description:

Parody illustration of the crew from classic TV cartoon The Flintstones crammed into Fred’s iconic foot-powered vehicle.

This artwork is available for licensing:

A metal skinned firefighter with

A metal skinned firefighter with

Client:

Personal

Description:

A metal skinned firefighter with a fire axe coming out of a metal logo. Banner can be customized!

This artwork is available for licensing:

Character design sketches of the

Designing The Philadelphia Flyers Mascot, Gritty

Client:
The Philadelphia Flyers

Project
The Philadelphia Flyers, the NHL hockey team, hired me to design the costume for their new mascot, completely from the ground up. They reached out to me because they had liked some edgy mascot artwork I had done for a television commercial by Chick-Fil-A.

The Flyers gave me a lot of freedom with the design. They had previously commissioned some designs, but nothing had hit the mark yet. They told me that the mascot design had to be “someone you’d want to high-five, but not hug.” He had to be fun enough to attract kids and younger fans, yet had to still be tough enough to earn the respect of the tough and gritty Philadelphia fans.

I began the project by sketching over 20 different possible mascots, including, bats, bulls, groundhogs, dragons, tough guys, yetis, and even a flying squirrel.

Once the client saw the sketches, they picked a big dumpy monster I had drawn as the starting point.

Early Gritty concept sketches

Early on, we still hadn’t decided on a name for the mascot. The Marketing team decided on Gritty, which is a perfect fit.

Early Gritty Concept Sketches
Character design sketches of the
Pencil Drawing of Gritty, Front
Character design sketches of the
Pencil Drawing of Gritty, Side

Final Turn-Around Illustration

Character design sketches of the
© Brian Allen 2016

After we nailed down the foundation of Gritty, the Art Directors and I experimented with many different variations to tweak Gritty’s look.

Working digitally with a Wacom Cintiq tablet, Clip Studio Paint, and Adobe Photoshop, I swapped different details on Gritty, including:

  • 10 Different mouths
  • With and without shorts
  • Wings (a bunch of different kinds)
  • Many different fur colors
  • …and even a tail!

Once approved, this front, side, and back view of Gritty was submitted to Character Translations Inc. so they could begin work on the costume.

Additional poses for the mascot

Character design sketches of the
© Brian Allen 2016

Once the concept phase was over, the Flyers hired me to create a series of 10 different poses showing Gritty in action. The different illustrations were to be used primarily for promotion during the rollout.

The mascot illustrations were also used for merch designs sold at the Flyers’ stadium and online – from t-shirts, hockey pucks, sticks, and keychains.

Gritty introduced to the world!

Periodically throughout the process, the Flyers would send me photos of how the costume was coming together, but I usually only saw pieces. It wasn’t until just a few days before the official release that I saw Gritty for the first time. The costume creation team at Character Translations Inc. did an amazing job bringing my drawing to life.

Some of Gritty’s most unique features, such as the googly eyes, and squeaky hands, were added by the creative team at the Flyers. I was just as surprised as everyone else when they were first revealed!

The initial reaction seemed negative at first, and it was a little overwhelming. But the momentum changed very quickly. Within a couple of days, people were sending me fan art they had created of Gritty, and it was clear he had become more than just the mascot for the Flyers: he was now the mascot of the internet!

Client Testimonial:
Thank you again for all your great work throughout the project! Appreciate the quality work, quick turnarounds and accommodating the many changes we sent your way.
Ben DiCandilo
Philadelphia Flyers, Marketing Manager

Character design sketches of the

Thank you, Flyers!

I owe a large debt of gratitude to the Flyers for making me a part of something so big (and orange!).

Thank you to the Marketing Team – They had great ideas and clear communication.

Thank you to the costume company for their incredible work!

And thank you to the man inside the Gritty suit, who has really brought this two-dimensional drawing to life!

The full story behind the creation of Gritty:

Interview by Mark Brickey on the popular art and design podcast, Adventures in Design

I go into full detail of the process of how I designed Gritty with the Flyers, and how I dealt with the outpouring of reactions to the mascot I helped create, both negative and positive. Adventures in Design is a really great podcast that has interviewed many of the best artists in the industry, so it was an honor to be included!

SquareVideo SquareVideo Gritty

Interviews and Press about the creation of Gritty:

Gritty took the world by storm, and I was very fortunate to be part of it. It was really humbling to be interviewed by over 20 news outlets, several of them on camera, and to be a guest on my favorite art podcast, Adventures in Design.

https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/12/24/18145323/gritty-explained-mascot-flyers-meme-leftist

• VOX

https://www.businessinsider.com/artist-behind-gritty-on-marketing-gritty-does-not-go-away-2020-11

• BUSINESS INSIDER

Gritty: How Brian Allen Created The Philadelphia Flyers Hockey Legend

• POP ICON

Gritty is the internet mascot for a world that’s broken in 2018

• CNET

The 15 Best Marketing Stunts, Activations and Odd Creations of 2018

• ADWEEK

Gritty’s First Month: The Heroic Ascendance of a ‘Ghastly Empty-Eyed Muppet’

• NY Times

I Learned to Love Gritty the Terrifying Mascot and So Can You

• USA Today

Flyers Introduce New Orange, Fuzzy Mascot Gritty, Relish Reaction

• ESPN

Gritty, the Flyers’ new mascot, is up to all sorts of shenanigans on his 1st night out

• NBC Sports

Meet Gritty: The Flyers’ New Team Mascot

• 6ABC News

LOOK: New Flyers mascot Gritty dances with Jimmy Fallon, gets punched by Ricky Gervais

• CBS Sports

Philadelphia Flyers’ new mascot, ‘Gritty,’ sparks backlash, calls for euthanization

• Fox News

Gritty, Stuff Of Nightmares, Has Been Officially Welcomed To Philadelphia

• NPR

Gritty: why the Philadelphia Flyers’ new acid trip of a mascot must be stopped

• The Guardian

‘Gritty’, the internet’s most beloved mascot, explained

• SB Nation

TRUE GRITTY, OR HOW A MYSTIFYING NEW NHL MASCOT WON THE INTERNET

• AdAge

Are You In or Out on “Gritty,” the Philadelphia Flyers’ New Googly-Eyed Mascot?

• The Ringer

Classic EMS star of life logo wi

Classic EMS star of life logo wi

Client:

Personal

Description:

Classic EMS star of life logo with a snake intertwined around it, perfect for the paramedic or emergency medical personnel in your life.

This artwork is available for licensing:

Tag Archive for: Freelance