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CLASH AT THE CARTER'S
CWHC 2007 Muster merchandise design

This design is for a silkscreen composite t-shirt that was created for my friends over at the Civil War Home Chatroom. Each year, this group of dedicated historians, writers, re-enactors, and buffs gather together on the hallowed grounds of an American battlefield for an extended-weekend of fun, fellowship, and remembrance. Truly a wonderful and diverse group, they are some of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic people that I have ever had the privilege of chatting with. Their 2007 muster was slated for Franklin Battlefield and they were interested in having a very special shirt made to commemorate the occasion. One of the groups’ organizers, Pat Jones, who is an extraordinary lady, commissioned me for the 11”x12” piece and her ideas really challenged me on a number of levels (all GOOD).

Primarily the design needed to focus on three main elements: First and foremost, the image had to center around the Carter House, which was a major player and witness to the engagement. Second, the commanding Generals needed to be featured, these of course being Hood and Schofield. Third, she suggested the impression of soldiers fighting (in the foreground) which resembled the cover of a book that the group was reading in preparation for the trip. After doing a little research (together) and tracking down some quality black and white photos, I was able to create the basis for a collage illustration that was manipulated in Photoshop to appear sketchy and rough. Once we figured out the production requirements for a multi-layered silkscreen, everything came together nicely. This was the final piece:

Photograph of shirt to come


This image was the original "base-art" incorporating two portraits of the generals, a photo of the Carter House as it stands today, and a cloned photograph of re-enactors. Once the placement of the images and collage concept was approved, this piece acted as a foundation that was made to look sketchy and rough through the repeated application of Photoshop overlays and facet effects. The artwork was then separated into 6 primary ink colors.

 


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