Starlite Creative

Color Me Fall

Nathan McDonald — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:42:53 +0000

This past October, I had the opportunity to do a series of coloring pages for Lockwood Park Equestrian Centre and Children’s Farm. They put on an annual fall festival every weekend in October, and this year they had a coloring contest that ran each week in my local newspaper. The age range for the contest was five to twelve years old. This presented an interesting challenge of creating pages that were simple enough for a five year old, but challenging enough for a twelve year old. I’m not sure if that was even possible, but I did my best. Here’s what I came up with.

Animals, a scarecrow, and pumpkins by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Lockwood Park, Rockford Park District

Animals on a tractor ride by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Lockwood Park, Rockford Park District

Duck riding a pony by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Lockwood Park, Rockford Park District

Coming out of the corn maze by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Lockwood Park, Rockford Park District

Dancing Animals In Costumes by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Lockwood Park, Rockford Park District

Download these coloring pages for your own coloring pleasure! – Lockwood Park Coloring Pages 2011

Filed under: Coloring Pages, Illustration Tagged: chicken, corn, cows, ducks, fall, goats, pigs, pumpkins, scarecrow, sheep, tractors

Illustration

Nathan McDonald — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:47 +0000

I’ve been drawing since I was very young. My dad is an art teacher, and noticed I had a knack for drawing at the age of three. As I got older, I gravitated towards cartoons and comic book illustration for my drawing style, but it wasn’t until the last few years that I’ve invested more time in illustration. My process always involves drawing my initial concepts and sketches in pencil. Then I scan them into Adobe Photoshop to clean up, and finalize them using Adobe Illustrator, resulting in crisp, vector illustrations. I’ve selected some of my work posted below. If you want to see more, please visit Starlite Creative on Flickr.

Chimp mascot by NMCD for Sapora Playworld, Rockford Park District.

Tiger mascot by NMCD for Sapora Playworld, Rockford Park District.

Rufio dog mascot by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Canine Corners Dog Parks, Rockford Park District

Penguins by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Sand Park Pool, Rockford Park District

Owl Rocker by NMCD, Starlite Creative » T-shirt print

Squirrel cop by NMCD for t-shirt print.

Friendly lion face by NMCD, Starlite Creative

Emo donkey mascot by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Lockwood Park, Rockford Park District

Rodeo Santa by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Gig poster

See more on Flickr.

Filed under: Illustration Tagged: dogs, guitars, lions, monkeys, motorcycles, owls, penguins, santa, squirrels, tigers

Design

Nathan McDonald — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:15 +0000

My design work reflects my illustrative flavor, but branches into other styles as well. A logo especially needs to project a certain mood that might call for a less illustrative style. I actually enjoy having limits in color and space. It narrows down the possibilities for a final design, and, in my opinion, creates more opportunity. One of my favorite quotes about limits in creativity is from John Stewart (who’s show I’ve never seen, but found this excerpt in an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air). He says,

“I’m a real believer creativity comes from limits not freedom… When you have a structure, then you can improvise.”

I’ve selected some of my work posted below. If you want to see more, please visit Starlite Creative on Flickr.

Tsunami Bay logo by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Magic Waters Waterpark wave pool, Rockford Park District

Adventure Quest logo by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Atwood Center day camp, Rockford Park District

Atwood Center logo by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Environmental education facility, Rockford Park District

S'more Fun tee by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Camp Lone Oak, Rockford Park District

The Lazy Lizard sign by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Magic Waters Waterpark, Rockford Park District

Walk Around The Block logo for City of Gardens by NMCD, Starlite Creative

Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition logo by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Rockford Park District

Summer Wood logo by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Amplitheater, First Free Church Rockford

Starlite Radio tees by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Starlite Radio

22 Blackbirds CD jacket by NMCD, Starlite Creative » Starlite Radio

See more on Flickr.

Filed under: Design Tagged: album art, john stewart, logos, starlite radio, t-shirts

Songwriting

Nathan McDonald — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:00:27 +0000

If I had to choose, I would pick writing over illustrating. My personal thoughts and ideas are expressed more clearly when I write. Songwriting was an acquired skill I started developing in high school after borrowing a guitar from a friend. I loved music and singing, so it developed quickly. Ever since, I’ve been writing songs mainly for the bands I’ve been a part of over the years, and am always looking forward to new projects as they rise.

Made In The USA

I wrote this song within a few months after my son was born in 2010. My band performed and recorded it in 2011. My wife and I are the vocalists.

If Your Head Is Made Of Wax

Based on a piece of artwork my grandmother bought, I wrote this song back in 2008 and recorded it with my wife in Boston in 2009.

Blue

This is one of the only songs I’ve written in a matter of minutes. Rarely does that happen. This was recorded live in 2002 with guitar accompaniment by Dan McMahon.

Coffee

This is some music my band did for a Cumberland Farms commercial in 2011. The commercial itself won a Hatch Award that year. You can see the entire commercial here.

Go Together Remix

This is an instrumental remix of a song that my wife and I wrote together and my band recorded in 2012. We think it would be perfect for a smart car commercial!

Filed under: Music, Songwriting Tagged: songs, starlite radio