Hey folks, this blogging thing isn’t my strongest suit. Sorry for the late updates, I’ve just been busy working on quite a few projects(such as the above).

First off, just finished designing a t-shirt for Rob, Allie & crew at the Butcher & Larder.

Also, I just wanted to thank everyone that attended this year’s Summer Renegade Craft Fair. I met a lot of great folks who responded positively to what I’m doing with Know Your Flag and I appreciate your feedback.

Speaking of feedback, I had a nice lady stop by and suggest that I offer a ‘Lady’ version of my ‘City of Big Shoulders’ poster. Well, here it is. It’s going to be printed real soon.

Adding to my new neighborhood series(Ravenswood, Logan Square to date), here’s a sneak peak at Uptown. It still needs some lovin’ but I thought you’d enjoy this little nugget…

Well, that’s it for now…or is it?

How time flies.

I have a new, slightly ambitious project planned that’ll take quite some time to finish but it’ll be worth it. I’m planning on designing a logo/icon for every neighborhood in Chicago. So, that means 217 logos total. Here’s my first logo for Bucktown(or Bocktown, if you prefer the polish version).

Well, a few things to note. Know Your Flag is proud to announce that it has a few posters for sale at the brand-new Haymaker Shop in andersonville. So stop in and say hi to Arrin and crew.

Also, just been working on some new neighborhood posters that’ll hopefully make its debut either at this year’s Renegade Craft Fair and/or the Milwaukee Ave Art Fair.

Til’ then, thanks for the love and support! I have a small, dedicated community that has sent words of gratitude, encouragement and appreciation for what I’m doing. Chicago, you sure are a thing of beauty.

Since I run this operation out of my basement, I have printed only a batch of 50 for each design. Also this coming weekend(April 9th), I will be at Baconfest Chicago selling some brand-spanking new pork-related artwork and t-shirts(which will be up after the event).

After quite a few requests(and some great support from Rob & Crew at the Butcher & Larder), I’ve reprinted the Hog Butcher for the World t-shirts. The main difference between the 1st edition and these new versions of t-shirts are larger artwork to show off all the cuts of meat/details. And the use of discharge inks for a more comfortable, softer feel.

Til’ then, thanks for tuning in!

What wasn’t as obvious and required a bit more research was ‘Tool Maker’ and ‘Stacker of Wheat’. Tool Maker was explained/interpreted in my previous post. And Stacker of Wheat revealed an intriguing bit of Chicago history.

In 1897, businessman Philip Armour had a stronghold on the grain market. Armour cornered the Chicago wheat market by purchasing as many bushels as possible during one season and would raise the price come the following season. What made his ‘cornering’ successful was due to his storage capacities. In fact, new grain elevators had to be built to accommodate the million plus bushels of wheat he’d purchase. These grain elevators were located on “Goose Island”, ‘a patch of land that for the most part was vacant except for squatters and one coal and one lumber yard‘(via

This little bit of insight to the history of wheat in Chicago helped spark a visual of an old, musty grain/feed sack. I did a little bit more prying(via eBay, of course) and bought some vintage grain sacks for some inspiration.

I envisioned the typography to evoke the look and feel of a classic grain sack. As for the central image, an illustration of a large, golden bushel of wheat to reinforce the message of ‘Chicago as Stacker of Wheat.’ To support this concept, I added two historic bits of info and placed it on opposite sides of the bushel. On the left “The World’s largest  Grain Elevator,  Armour Elevator “B”‘ and on the right “Located on Goose Island, able to hold 4.5 million bushels”.



Both which are true; “In 1893, Armour commissioned the largest grain elevator ever built on Goose Island. He used the extra grain storage facility to break the speculative hold of his competitors and would do so again in 1897-98.” via Chicago Encyclopedia.

Well folks, I promise to update a bit more often. I’ve just been a bit busy in preparation for some new artwork to debut at Baconfest Chicago along with some new t-shirts too! As always, thanks for tuning in!

Hey people! Lots of moving parts going around here. I’ve been pretty darn busy, but it’s a good kind of busy. Recently, I was accepted into this year’s Typeforce 2, a showcase of emerging typographic talents right here in Chicago. Opening night is February 18th at 6 PM at the Co-Prosperity Sphere in good ol’ Mayor Daley’s neck of the woods, Bridgeport!

Also, I’ve been accepted as a vendor at this year’s Baconfest, to be held at the UIC Forum. So, I’ve been busy sketching up several new tees showcasing the city’s love of the almighty hog. Hopefully, they’ll turn out delicious.

Carrying on, I got a batch of new tees coming in, so keep your eyes peeled! Thanks for tuning in.

Continuing from the Hog Butcher for the World post, I set out to design five posters that broke down Carl Sandburg’s poem, Chicago. As with most of my projects, I started digging around for some details and this particular design focused on Chicago’s tool manufacturing history.

A few interesting bits that I uncovered upon researching:

Klein Tools, which is now based in Lincolnshire, IL, started out in Chicago by a German immigrant Mathias Klein in 1857.

Excerpt from Klein Tools’ site – “Perhaps the only job Mathias Klein ever did “halfway” involved the first tool he ever made, which was – in fact – one half pair of pliers. A broken side-cutting pliers was brought to his forge shop by a telegraph lineman. Mathias Klein forged and finished a new half for the tool, riveted it to the old, and the lineman went on his way. Shortly thereafter the lineman returned. The other original half of the tool had now broken and Mathias Klein forged the second pliers half, producing the first complete Klein pliers.”

Low and behold, the Klein plier, which I jotted down in my sketchbook as an idea.

Continuing, the first electric circular handsaw was manufactured in Chicago by Edmond Michel and Joseph W. Sullivan in the early 1920′s. Michel originally built his own electric handsaw in New Orleans. However, when a local newspaper ran an article about his little invention, it caught the eye of Sullivan. Eventually they wound up setting up shop in the Chicago area in either late 1923 or early 1924 and by July 1, 1924, Michel Electric Hand Saw Company was incorporated. Here’s an article that I found if you’d like more details.

Digging through Google I found a great resource online, Alloy Artifacts; a site that collects and archives 20th century tools. From there, I found several other Chicago tool manufacturers such as Adjustable Clamp Company, Bog Manufacturing, S-K Tools, to name a few.

Also, I found a 1960′s reprint of a 1890′s Sears & Roebuck catalog which helped out with some visual inspiration.

With this research in hand I started sketching out a bunch of ideas and eventually settled down on illustrations of tools that would spell out Chicago. Here’s a crude, rough sketch below.

And rough inking of some initial tools I had in mind(some which didn’t make the cut).

And, presto! Design magic happens(and 60+ hours of frustration) and I finally finish and end up with this design. Screenprinted with metallic silver ink to give the sheen of metal and white ink for labeling. The final design has a C-Clamp from Adjustable Clamp Company, Adjustable Wrench from Armstrong Bros. Tool Company, Open-End Wrench from Bog Mfg. Co., Monkey Wrench from Larco Wrench & Mfg. Co., Hammer from S-K Tools, Nails from Various Manufacturers, Pliers from M. Klein & Sons, Socket Wrench Set from Indestro Manufacturing, Screwdrivers from Duro Metal Products, and a Circular Saw Blade from Michel Electric Handsaw Co. Initially, the design spells out Chicago but I also wanted it to leave the impression of looking at an open tool shed and/or garage. 

Anyways, onward to Stacker of Wheat!

Hello People! Sorry, I’ve been quite busy with the Holiday season in full swing. I do have some new work coming very soon including a Mayor Daley Legacy poster.

The 2010 Winter Renegade Craft Fair was a huge success, so a huge thanks to everyone who braved the cold to do some holiday shopping. I unveiled some new product at the fair including the Carl Sandburg tribute series(Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, the Nation’s Freight Handler and City of the Big Shoulders) and Da’ Chicago Dog t-shirt.

Again, I received great feedback from everyone and am looking to get the Carl Sandburg 5-poster series printed as t-shirts very soon along with some other super secret Chicago artwork. Thanks again for tuning in!