Rockwell International - 03

 

All Artwork is by Grady Lyda

Creating Diagrams: It starts with the Input, also called a Ruff (above). This is a crude sketchy idea usually prepared by an engineer/requestor, showing the words and arrangement of information. Then I need to figure out how to get it to make sense and look good (below).

It is because of illustrations like these that I thought Rockwell invented the phrase "10 pounds of shit in a 5-pound bag"

Diagrams go thru many iterations while the requestor/engineer and illustrator/designer keep fine-tuning the art and words, with feedback from others in the Art Department. Above is my first draft of a complicated PowerPoint chart, and below are more versions.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead

Here is another Input, and below is the first version of my Output

Above is how the illustration appeared in the final government proposal for the IVHS (Intelligent Vehicle Highway System)

See inside this book: IVHS Interim Status Report

1994 concept for the SmartCar of the future. Are we there yet?

Prediction is difficult, especially about the future. – Yogi Berra

Change is the law of life. Those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future. – John F. Kennedy

A co-worker from our Rockwell Art Department receives an award. I'm on the left and the talented artist, Rick Olds, is behind me -- he was an old school illustrator who made the paintings that I recreated/digitized for modern times (see Rockwell International - 01)

For more like this, go to Rockwell International - 01 and - 02

Random Acts of Art - 03

All Artwork is by Grady Lyda

In 1970 when I was conceiving these futuristic outfits for my comic books, the 21st Century was still 30 years away – that time-span equals an entire human generation. This was pure sci-fi in my mind and I could scarcely imagine actually living during the Twenty-Hundreds...

...well, I'm still here. My first science fiction epic (published in 1976) takes place in 2020 – the Year of Perfect Vision: see The STAR Boundary. The design seen above-left appeared in that story. Maybe we'll see it again when Twenty-Twenty really arrives.

This is the first age that's paid much attention to the future, which is a little ironic since we may not have one. – Arthur C. Clarke

REALITY is for people who can't face SCIENCE FICTION

For more like this, go to  Random Acts of Art - 01  &  - 02  &  - 04

Advertising - 02

All Artwork is by Grady Lyda

In the world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants and the other is getting it. – Oscar Wilde

Happiness is not something you experience, it’s something you remember. – Oscar Levant

For more like this, go to Advertising - 01

Wizards & Pizzas - 02

All Artwork is by Grady Lyda

This was a novelty pizzeria dreamed-up by entrepreneur Jerry Hasson who got the idea after an unpleasant visit to a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant with his kids. I'd worked for Jerry in his previous business -- independent fashion products wholesaler (see SPIRIT Accessories  Advertising - 01 & 02) -- so I became his primary artist for Magic Pizza.  Jerry was an experienced close-up magician who was a member of the exclusive Magic Castle in Hollywood, and he wanted to recreate that entrancing, mystical environment for the general public.

The Magic Castle
Click here to see info about this place

Here's a 2011 selfie of my daughter Elora hanging out with her occasional buddy, Magic Castle President NPH

Jerry envisioned a space that could be enjoyed by adults as well as kids, leading to the creation of this unique magic-themed entertainment & dining experience, with video arcades, live magic performances, enchanting playgrounds, sports broadcasting, non-stop movies, and much more.

Official Magic Pizza brochure with artwork by me and another freelance illustrator 

 

 The sketches seen above and below served as templates for signs that were used inside the Magic Pizza restaurant. I designed the characters, and then I was tasked with painting larger versions (3 or 4 feet wide) of these portraits on plexiglass panels.

 These pictures are drawn as mirror-images because the artwork would appear reversed on the front-side of the transparent surfaces. I also designed and painted several other signs in the restaurant.

I conceived this poster to capture the spirit of Magic Pizza, and it was also a fun image for kids to color. Here are some variations...

I spent many hours trying to envision the "Merlin" wizard that would represent the restaurant. The final logo depicted a character who, coincidentally, looked a lot like the creator/president, Jerry Hasson...

Success has a simple formula: do your best, and other people may like it. – Sam Ewing

 

 

You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try. – Beverly Sills

Jerry intended to create a long-term international franchise -- a kind of miraculous little "Disneyland-in-a-Box." But his investors were focused on short-term profits that were slow in coming. Whenever I visited the restaurant it was full of happy customers, but there were not enough to justify the ever-increasing expenses. So eventually this marvelous phantasmagorical dream just faded from memory... Big bummer.

I attended the exciting red carpet Grand Opening of Magic Pizza. There was a huge expensive searchlight deployed out front to advertise this momentous event -- but the air was so crystal clear on that night, this extremely potent shaft of light was absolutely invisible. It turns out you need to have some random particles in the air -- such as fog, humidity, or smog -- to be able to observe a spotlight. But on this particular occasion, the atmosphere was so exceptionally pristine that the powerful light-beam could not be seen in the sky at all.

Our celebrity guest on that fantastic night was the immortal Lou Ferigno who played "The Incredible Hulk" on TV. I'd watched every episode of his brilliant series, and I admired that show as being extraordinarily well-written & well-acted. Unfortunately, Mr. Ferigno left early because of the underperforming searchlight, so he wasn't there when I arrived. But I'm glad he was present to mark the premier of the amazing Magic Pizza fantasy restaurant. Thanks, Lou! We will always love you for sharing that special moment with us. Cheers!

For more like this, go to Wizards & Pizzas - 01