New York City burning after a demon comes through.
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. To see more of my work, or hire me for freelance projects, please visit my website: www.flylanddesigns.com
Tag Archive for: mascot
Red head bull with gold ring in his nose
I created this design for Great Dane Graphics
This artwork is available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Falcon head with beak open as if he is screeching
I created this design for Great Dane Graphics
This artwork is available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Crusader head in a knight’s metal helmet and green cape.
I created this design for Great Dane Graphics
This artwork is available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Grey elephant head with big tusk.
I created this design for Great Dane Graphics
This artwork is available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
This angry looking Tiger head would make a great mascot for any team.
I created this design for Great Dane Graphics
This artwork is available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Tough looking bulldog head with read spike color.
I created this design for Great Dane Graphics
This artwork is available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Muscular Firefighter mascot design that I created for Great Dane Graphics
This artwork is available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Viking football player mascot with a horned helmet. I created this mascot for Great Dane Graphics.
This mascot is available for license: https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Bulldog football player Mascot with blue jersey and red spike collar. This was designed for Great Dane Graphics.
This image is now available for licensing. https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
I had such a fun time creating this rotten apple design. I did it in the same style as the evil mushrooms design I did a few years ago.
This design is available for licensing : https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Earth Tone Owl Head drawn in a psychedelic style.
This image is available for licensing: https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Client:
What The Supp
Description:
This was a series of characters I created for a supplement company for their labels, and to advertise the products in Germany.
All the custom characters were created to look hyper-jacked and muscular. Each character reflected the title of each product in a subtle way. I created a minotaur, a pistol-wielding Gorilla in a suit, and a panda drug lord.
Crowned Skull with Wings.
This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
A skull with roses and wings.
This artwork is available for licensing at https://www.flylanddesigns.com/licensing/
Client:
Ron Clark Academy
Description:
The award-winning charter school, the Ron Clark Academy, hired me to create this apparel design based on one of their school mascots, the wolf.
Nothing about the RCA is ordinary, so they wanted a school t-shirt that looked tough and ferocious, with a lot of detail and color. This design was set up for limited color silk-screening.
Description:
An intense illustration of a sharp-toothed roaring tiger with wild eyes.
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.
Client:
Personal
Description:
A wild, roaring sabertooth tiger head against a blue background.
This artwork is available for licensing:
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.
Final Turn-Around Illustration
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
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
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
Client:
Nome Elementary School
Description:
Elementary school mascot redesign I was commissioned to create of a polar bear for this school in Alaska.
We produced a series of sketches in different styles and positions, and then had the students of the school vote and pick the best direction. Really fun group to work with, and they were thrilled with the result. The graphic was set up as a vector to be easily printable in all sorts of situations.
Client:
High Times
Description:
Custom Eagle logo I created for a cannabis brand overseas called High Times.
Because of the regulations in their country, we had to find a way to connect the logo with the marijuana industry subtly, which we tried to accomplish with the colors, and the “happy” expression on the eagle’s face.
Client:
Great Lakes
Description:
Stylized angry mutant Mahi-Mahi fish I created for an apparel graphics company leaping from the water.
This was the first time I explored drawing fish in a more crazy creepy style, rather than realistic, and I love it.
This artwork is available for licensing:
Client:
Dart Addicts
Description:
Logo design I created for a Dart sporting supplier for competitions and jerseys, of a crazed dartboard coming to life and chomping on darts.
Client Testimonial:
Thanks for the great logo!! Pleasure working with you!
-Chris Weatherly
Owner, Dart Addicts
Honey Badger illustration I created for an archery club in Australia called the “Van Diemen Archers.” If you don’t like this, Honey Badger don’t care.
Packaging design I created for the board game “Colliery Dominoes” featuring a fun cartoon miner I designed outside a cartoon mine.
Insane lab rat mascot I created for the cool people at Premium eJuice USA, LLC for their new rebranding campaign.
The design is inspired a bit by the classic Rat Fink character, only this time with science. Drawn in manga studio 5.
Client:
Red Eye Rhino
Description:
Custom vector mascot Rhino I created for Red Eye Rhino, the competition dart brand for use marketing their products and apparel.
The client approached me with an outdated Rhino mascot that they wanted to be pumped up – so we came up with this guy, wearing one of their signature jerseys and clutching a handful of darts. Angry mascots are kind of my thing.
Client:
Honesty Seeds
Description:
Honesty Seeds, a cannabis seed grower, and distributor hired me to create a fun seed character for their new logo to drive their packaging and marketing.
We had a lot of fun exploring different attitudes and poses for the character, and ended up going with something friendly and a bit goofy. I used a traditional font and banner design to give it an organic feel.
Client:
Pirate Polos
Description:
I created this pirate mascot logo design for a brand looking for something colorful and bold for an apparel brand.
We went through a few different looks and styles on the pirate, and decided on going with a look that wasn’t too serious.
Client:
Commemorative Air Force
Description:
I was hired to create the new mascot and logo for the Commemorative Airforce, a charity organization that restores and preserves military aircraft, in an outreach attempt to a younger audience.
I created this vector graphic of a young female pilot in pilot gear for use on all of their marketing materials for the new program.
Client:
Boy Scouts of America
Description:
I was thrilled recently to work with Boy Scouts of America illustrating their Bear, Wolf, and Tiger mascots for a catalog that went out to all troops nationwide. We created illustrations that blended real studio photos of kids in Boy Scouts gear, and drawn into a comic book background. The marketing team hired me to reinvent the existing mascot illustrations in my own style. I was a Cub Scout long ago, so it was a lot of fun to leave a little mark on the organization.
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Client:
LX
Description:
Mascot illustration I created for a DJ called LX. We designed this character wearing a gas mask for his marketing materials, flyers, and website.
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
Client:
Big Ass Diesel
Description:
I illustrated this mascot for a new trucking apparel brand called Big Ass Diesel. We thought it would be cool to make the Donkey part machine with glowing eyes. I created this as a vector graphic in Adobe Illustrator so we could blow this thing up on the side of some of their trucks.
Click here to see more of my Logo Designs
Client:
Widjaja
Description:
Stylist character design I created for an alternative salon that wanted a hero character for their marketing materials.
We tried to add some stylish clothing and accessories to the character.
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Client:
Talos Security
Description:
I created this mascot character for the internet securtiy firm Talos, of a cyborg cyber-crime-fighter. The brand approached me with the task of designing a character that would be used on their website and other marketing materials. We went through a few sketches in the beginning, exploring different options, and eventually arrived at the idea of having a realistic looking, futuristic cyborg, projecting the
Client:
Commando Racing Gear
http://commandoracing.com/
Description:
T-Shirt illustration for a racing apparel brand called Commando Racing Gear. I designed the mascot and artwork for this brand, and we created a series of t-shirts showing the mascot skeleton in a bunch of funny situations.
Client Testimonial:
If you were closer, I’d hug you!!! We absolutely love it.
-Steve Kanner
Commando Racing Gear
I created this fun t-shirt design for Commando Racing Gear – a hardcore skeleton! We went through a couple different [and equally exciting] designs but eventually settled on this one. I had a lot of fun with this!
Client Testimonial:
If you were closer, I’d hug you!!! We absolutely love it.
-Steve Kanner
Commando Racing Gear
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
I created this fun t-shirt design for Commando Racing Gear – a hardcore skeleton! We went through a couple different [and equally exciting] designs but eventually settled on this one. I had a lot of fun with this!
Client Testimonial:
If you were closer, I’d hug you!!! We absolutely love it.
-Steve Kanner
Commando Racing Gear
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
Check out more of my T-Shirt designs here.
I was hired by an apparel brand creating a series of T-Shirts featuring the unofficial football mascot of Stanford, the Stanford Tree! I was asked to design the mascot sitting in a pose inspired by The Thinker, with the rock replaced by a crumpled Notre Dame mascot. If you want a drawing challenge, try making a tree look mean. It’s not easy! Trees are usually pretty pleasant.
I was recently commissioned to design the logo and mascot for a William Kahuna, a YouTube personality that films his adventures dirt-biking through Hawaii. The brand was called Sunday Rides, and we came up with this fun sun character to be his logo for merchandise and branding. I tried to inject a lot of William’s laid-back and fun-loving personality into it.
Click here to see more of my Logo Designs
Click here to see more of my Illustrations.
I created this mascot and logo design for a team of drag-racer’s new line of merchandise and apparel. The client wanted a tough, dark, militant mascot character that could later be drawn in other situations and shenanigans. We went through a few sketches at the beginning that were a bit too light, and eventually arrived at RAD, the skeletal, drag-racing warrior you see before you! The mascot and logo was prepared for both limited color silk-screening and full-color printing, to maximize the usage.
Client Testimonial:
If you were closer, I’d hug you!!! We absolutely love it.
-Steve Kanner
Commando Racing Gear
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
Click here to see more of my Logo Designs
Graphic mascot illustration I created in Manga Studio and Photoshop of any angry wolf head, created for Great Dane Graphics.
Custom illustration I created of an angry Jaguar head for sports mascots provided by Great Dane Graphics. Since much of my artwork is lineart driven, it’s fun to sometimes deviate from that style and explore digital painting a bit more. It can be tricky to translate my style into digital painting, but I tried my best by giving this jaguar a lot of character and attitude. This design was created in Adobe Photoshop and Manga Studio 5, and will be used for T-Shirts and uniforms. Available for licensing from Great Dane Graphics.
Custom mascot character design I created for a vinyl wrap for a bus, and other apparel for a club in Norway, depicting an angry gun-toting gangster. The client approached me looking for a character and logo design for their club, and wanted something intimidating but also kind of fun.
I created this graphic for the “Crooks,” and provided the final graphics in different pieces and colors, so they could get as many uses from it as possible.
Cartoon mascot illustration of a Bear playing playing basketball I created for Great Dane Graphics and their children’s sports line. The graphic will be used for T-Shirts and other products for kids’ sport teams. The client wanted these designs to be fully rendered digital paintings, without lineart, which is not the typical style I work in. I’m happy with how they turned out.
T-Shirt illustration I created of Tennessee Volunteers bloodhound mascot building a brick wall made from its rival teams, for PCI Printing. Set up for Direct-To-Garment printing.
Client:
Great Dane Graphics
Description:
Cartoon mascot illustration of a tiger playing basketball I created for Great Dane Graphics and their children’s sports line. The graphic will be used for T-Shirts and other products for kids’ sport teams. The client wanted these designs to be fully rendered digital paintings, without lineart, which is not the typical style I work in. I’m happy with how they turned out.
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Click here to see more of my Illustrations.
Client:
Great Dane Graphics
Description:
Cartoon mascot illustration of a bulldog playing basketball I created for Great Dane Graphics and their children’s sports line. The graphic will be used for T-Shirts and other products for kids’ sport teams. The client wanted these designs to be fully rendered digital paintings, without lineart, which is not the typical style I work in. I’m happy with how they turned out.
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Click here to see more of my Illustrations.
Client:
Evolution Media
Description:
This is a mascot and logo I designed for the MMA fighter Umaer “THE HONEYBADGER” Haq. Basing the mascot on the fighter’s nickname, I set out to create something that was high contrast and colorful that would be printed on the fighters shorts, used on banners, and on his website.
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Client:
Justin Nicholson
Description:
T-Shirt illustration I created of a Pelican on the beach for Mike’s Beach Bar. This was a direct-to-garment design, which I really enjoy, because there’s no limit to how many colors I can use.
Check out more of my T-Shirt designs here.
Click here to see more of my Illustrations.
Client:
Fit-Out Apparel
Description:
Custom t-shirt design illustration of two MMA fighters in a comic book style, designed for the MMA apparel brand, Bad Matchup. We’re both very pleased with how this turned out.
Check out more of my T-Shirt designs here.
Check out more of my T-Shirt designs here.
Client:
Snap Fitness
Description:
Custom mascot character design I created of a friendly marijuana seed for a lifestyle brand in Australia. Designed for T-Shirts, stickers, and other products. This character is named Seedy, and he’s a pretty cool guy once you get to know him. Just don’t ever lend him money.
Click here to see more of my Logo Designs
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Client:
So Pro Gaming
Description:
Logo design I created for the professional gaming shop SoPro Gaming, featuring an alien mascot character jamming on his keyboard.
The client wanted a mascot that was a bit unusual and help make his brand more recognizeable. We tried out several different mascot sketches before landing on this one with an alien
Click here to see more of my Logo Designs
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
Client:
Ron Clark Academy
Description:
T-Shirt illustration I created for the Ron Clark Academy featuring their dragon mascot and the four different seals of the school.
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
Check out more of my T-Shirt designs here.
Client:
Ron Clark Academy
Description:
Custom mascot illustration of a dragon I designed for the Ron Clark Academy. We started with a few thumbnail sketches, and initially started off with the dragon looking more cartoonish, but decided instead to make the mascot fierce and intimidating. The logo was designed in several different variations, from simple to complex, so it could be used for many different types of applications.
Click here to see more of my Logo Designs
Client:
Darin Jones
Description:
I was hired by an apparel brand creating a series of T-Shirts featuring the unofficial mascot of Stanford, the Stanford Tree! I was asked to design a tough, rampaging tree stomping on its rival mascots. If you want a drawing challenge, try making a tree look mean. It’s not easy! Trees are usually pretty pleasant.
Check out more of my T-Shirt designs here.
Mascot character design I created of a Zombie lacrosse player for Great Dane Graphics.
I had created a set of zombie sports characters before for these guys and they were a big hit. We decided to approach this batch in a different style – more of a digital painting than the previous comic book style. That was a bit different for me, but I’m pleased with how they turned out.
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Mascot character design I created of a Zombie baseball player for Great Dane Graphics.
I had created a set of zombie sports characters before for these guys and they were a big hit. We decided to approach this batch in a different style – more of a digital painting than the previous comic book style. That was a bit different for me, but I’m pleased with how they turned out.
Click here to see more of my Dark Illustrations
Check out more of my Mascot designs here.
Mascot character design I created of a Zombie basketball player for Great Dane Graphics.
I had created a set of zombie sports characters before for these guys and they were a big hit. We decided to approach this batch in a different style – more of a digital painting than the previous comic book style. That was a bit different for me, but I’m pleased with how they turned out.