Welcome to bernicegordon.com
Recently Added, Jan 12, 2011
I added a new section to the "Conceptual" category under "Illustration".
I do Logo and Icon work in my freelance, and decided to put up some of the ones I've done. I put up a couple of them here as an enticing preview. ;)
This is one of the more recent ones. While not a complete project [alterations will be requested in the near future] I liked the basic sheet of concepts I submitted for the project. Simply enough, the logo required a "Cute female Robot" with "Thick and lots of eyelashes" for the client. Working with the title of the company [fembotika], I played around with possible Font Logos, as well as character.
The Aboriginal Sports and Wellness Council of Ontario was looking for a logo that would embody their Mission Statement, while keeping with the content of their actual company title. So I selected a bunch of symbolic figures and worked them together to create a total of 26 different logos that could be applied to their industry.
To see the rest of the logos and icons, feel free to go to the New Category and check them out!
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Recently Added; Jan 10, 2011
My new submission for my “Star Wars tarot” deck project I have been working on:
This had to be one of the most obvious cards since the first one I put up. While some of the Higher Anracha are labeled with concepts that are pretty much a giant indication of the visual content [Empress, Lovers, Etc], I found that many people could still dispute my choice of character/image. Except that when it came to this card in particular, I heard no one say otherwise. Jar Jar Binks was the main primary candidate, and most sufficient for “The Fool”.
Like the originals “Fool” Card, Jar Jar is aloof and seemingly unaware of the danger that lurks right around the corner- however I substituted the cliff with the war-tank behind him. The green and watery landscape of Naboo help build that contrast to the “foreboding” dark base color the card is illustrated on- and even the sky changes color from a serene blue, to a wild yellow. A card of “innocent ignorance wile inobservance” is the main criteria, and Jar Jar’s bright body color and jolly detached attitude plays the part really well.
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Recently Added; Dec 25, 2010
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVEYRONE!
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday- and I hope everyone gets awesome gifts! ;)Tonight’s upload bring us two very different kinds of leatherwork. The first is a bag that was used in a trade for craft. I got a hand drum in exchange for work on the bag- pyrography.
I let the bag tell me what it needed, and low and behold: It was a bear on a dream catcher. Not only was the result fantastic, but when returning it to it’s owner, the observing ladies were already making bids on it. Needless to say, a success. I also received one of the most amazing drums form the exchange! I’ll be painting it with my cycle for sure.
The next was a traded request as well: For a Knife Sheath.
On of many programs available at the NCC include a Martial Art that is the first and only Martial Art coming out of Canada- and it is officially recognized by the International Martial Arts Organization. By-yearly the group of Artisans are invited to Korea to display their techniques on an international stage. This form is called “Okichitaw” and it a Martial art that combines elements of Aikido, Taekwondo and Plains Cree Fighting Techniques.
One of the disciples- the “Vice”/Assistant to the Master literally gave me the shirt of his back- that featured a North West Pacific Eagle and Raven in a medallion. I immediately wanted to repay him and he requested a sheath for his training knife. I included the 2 animals dearest to him o the sheath. He liked it, and I was happy that he did. I love trading for things!________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recently Added; Dec 24, 2010
This was a blanket I made for a friend. It’s double the size of a regular hanging wall blanket, and one of the most original designs I had come up for one of these.
As you can se, it’s an Orca! And I didn’t want to go with the traditional arching Orca with Dorsal fin erected… I wanted to have more the long, swimming and flowing body to it. Needless to say, she loved it, and I was thrilled!
I also lucked out because when I went to Vancouver, I stopped by my trusty button store that supplies me with all my shell buttons of the blankets. They are a HEAVINLY bunch, and have some of the best prices on the market! So I stocked up a ton. This was the first blanket to be dawned with those buttons!________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recently Added; Dec 23, 2010
I was running through all my work files of this year, and found that I had a bunch of crafts that I had forgotten to upload! So I figured I’d remedy this by uploading them in whole categories for the next few days.
First category: Drums!
The Eagle drum was made for a Story Teller and Performer by the name of Melvin John. He was on Breakfast Television with it, drumming a song. I was so happy to see it on TV. It was awesomely humbling.
The Second was a gift for the Best Man at a wedding. His name in Spanish means “Rabbit” and so they commissioned me to paint a North West Pacific Styles Rabbit on a drum for him.
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Recent Update. Dec. 20th, 2010
Discussing what I was saying a day ago, one of the basic issues with North West Pacific Style of art, is being granted the permission to depict “out of the norm” images. As with the dragon, I had to ask special permission to depict the following:
After already straining my capacity to do mythic creatures [see previous post with the dragon], I even thought of myself bold and somewhat rude for going back and asking to cross one of those “final” lines- asking to draw an animal that was NOT local to this continent.
Instantly, I was refused. And I admit, I didn’t put up a fight because I walked in there already feeling as if I was asking for too much and just being “greedy”.
But luck [coincidence?] would have it, as all Native centers, locals, and organizations do- they were hosting Aboriginals from other parts of the world.
You see, it isn’t uncommon to find a Band hosting someone from another country- in the NCC (Native Canadian Center- where I work) we have hosted, Ainu, Sami, Maori, and even African Aboriginals of many varieties.
That day, the local organization was hosting a small presentation of Koori folk (I think there was a Nunga amongst them as well, not 100% sure) who had come with an art-presentation group. Like most cultures, creating performing groups to travel the world and present their culture on a world stage while raising awareness of their political plights in their home country.
I hung around for the performance [obviously] and lucky for me, one of my local friends was far more pushy and persuasive than I- and somehow began to inquire with the foreign troop if they would be interested in an “Exchange”.
This is one of those concepts in Native culture which I like the most- you see, “paying a price” does NOT refer to actually paying money. It usually means having to do something a lot greater than that, and when it comes to “exchanging” or “trading”- you might actually be trading a lot more than you bargained for.
My friend enticed the Koori men to want to see some of their homeland creatures drawn out in the local art style. They then asked what would need to be done in order for them to “obtain” that, and of course as most Native cultures usually do, immediately went to speak to the Elders. A “trade” was set up where the Koori men would trade some of their art [carvings] and songs in exchange for a few images drawn in NWP style. Like the NWP culture, the rights to carve or depict a certain figure will remain familial, or even personal depending on the situation. It was then set up that I would have to “trade” something in order to be one of the artisans to depict certain figures. I accepted, and was granted to choose one of the animals- I chose Kangaroo.
One of the reasons it took me SO long to post this was because I was completing the “price” for my side of the deal, and only finished them about a day or two ago. I would have waited for the post to deliver my part of the bargain before I did, but I was assured that I could after I had sent out the package, and not wait until it arrived.
Let’s pray that it WILL arrive safely, otherwise I’m going to look like a thief!________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recent Update. Dec. 20th, 2010
Hope everyone is having a great Holiday season!
Today I come bearing an interesting image:
As many people don’t' know, part of the North West Pacific tradition of art, is asking permission. A lot of non community members think it's ok to randomly throw together something that looks "in the style" simply because they can, and the style is "cool".
This is NOT the case. Aboriginal art is very deep rooted in the cultural traditions, and many of them have specific rules as to how one draws something, portrays something, or if they even have the right to.
I lived and worked within the community for 10+ years now, and if there is one thing I am STILL doing is asking permission. This NEVER stops.When I was in Vancouver visiting some friends in the local Community, I had the pleasure of going down to one of my friend’s houses and attending a family gathering, that included a lot of members from their community.
During my attendance, I had figured that I would try and “obtain” some permission to do some artwork that breached out of the “norm”. After all, this would be a perfect time, as when the Elders and family gets-together, and they ask if anyone has something to get out in the open... now’s my chance.
Push comes to shove, I asked, discussed, reasoned, and gifted [paid the price] to get the rights to do some stuff. But there were 2 instances I REALLY had to discuss my POV and this picture is a result of one of them.
Most of the Elders were not pleased with the idea that European folklore would be depicted in this style. When I asked about some of the supernatural beings, they plainly refused. It was only after I brought up the fact that another NWP artist- who is half Irish in decent- already broke that barrier to design a “Dragon”, did some of the Elders shift their consideration. Turns out, it wasn’t that they were against me doing it; simply, they wanted me to fight for it.
That too, is a cultural mentality.________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recent Update. Dec. 3rd, 2010
The concept of transformation- and transforming into animals- is one you see regularly in the Oral Traditions or many Aboriginal cultures. Here, we see a human, transforming into a Wolf... the legs beginning to deform out of shape, and the last reminisce of the human body- the hand- is evident. The Hand is a symbol of Healing in Aboriginal cultures- Healing, Medicine, and Remembrance.
I wanted the hand evident to indicate that the transformation is a Healing one, and one of remembrance- back to a time we were inseparable form nature and from The Natural World.In the image of the Shark, some of the shapes I used in the image were to induce the "water ripple" effect- multiple lines that look akin to waves and ripples. But I also mimicked and stylized some of the shapes to be reminiscent of the traditional fishing tools of the NWP aboriginals. It gives a very all-encompassing concept, what with the shark being a predator/fisherman of its own kind.
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Recent Update. Nov. 28th, 2010
Sometimes I like to "trade" with fellow artisans designs and concepts, so that we end up drawing each others characters in different styles. It's refreshing, and lets you harmlessly play with ideas that might have not come across your own mind.
This one was traded with “Patto”.
For some odd reason, from the first time I drew her [Jessica's] “Death Spirit”, it reminded me of something African. And not because of the tone of skin, but rather its construction, skull "mask", loin cloth, and even the "tattoo" pattern on its body. It kept striking me very African in context, which is why I selected to make an African setting, as well as African decorated border.
At first, the sketch seemed as if the rabbit had passed, and almost comically; this giant, otherworldly spirit was gazing upon the cute fluffy thing.
However, I wanted to achieve another concept- not comical, but comforting. I wanted to reflect a different side to a very "tragic" concept of life. Death was, and always will be a personal thing. No one can share it with you. THAT is the most terrifying aspect of it. The fact that you are alone. You die alone.
I wanted to reflect those last moments, but this time, in a more comforting light: when death comes, you do have one companion there with you- and it's Death itself.
It forgets no one, and leaves no one behind.
Now, the image feels as if the rabbit is close to passing... and it's only comforting companion is the spirit that will take it from this world, and venture with it to the next.____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recent Update. Nov. 26st, 2010
These next two pieces have very interesting approached to them respectivly.
The Husky seemed like an obvious depiction- similar by much to a Wolf, except for small variations that would make it unique; the colors would be the most notable, but also the small turn of the ears. While traditionally, you draw the ears with the "Feather tail" point facing back, I flipped it forward to relate a more familiar concept of "floppy ear" on a domestic dog. While not a trait of Huskies, it does help that subconscious relation to “Domestic” animal, as opposed to “Wild”.
The second is a depiction of a Buffalo. In Ojibwa "Bison" is called "Mishikode-bizhikeh". This is actually a compound of two words: "Fire" and "Cow".
The reason Bison are called this is because the plains on which they live are notorious for burning up- plain fires are common, and would make the Bison flee.
From here stemmed the term; whether it was because the Bison fleeing the fire would make them seem as if emerging from the fire, or perhaps the fact that they were also engulfed in the flames while running, or simply because the local Aboriginals were associating the local environment with the type of cow - it makes for an interesting term.___________________________________________________________________________________________________
