Opera Fairbanks: Run of the Valkyries 2015

Added some more works to the "Commercial" portfolio, one of which is this wonderfully weird imagery for one of my favorite clients, Opera Fairbanks, and their annual fundraiser "Run of the Valkyrie" event.
More below the fold... 

Probably owe some backstory on this particular main character, and maybe not a little on the other guy too. Never the less, as an illustration it certainly serves the purpose of piquing interest if not attracting attention. So meet the mighty "Schlepnir," distantly related to Sleipnir, the eight-legged steed of Odin. Rumpelstiltskin is a contemporary operette that will will be featured in the upcoming season, hence the barbarian tenor sporting an impressive beard. Observant folks can deconstruct the variation with the other reoccurring character, Hildy, which is loaded with subtle references to Nordic/Wagnerian mythology, and is tentatively slated for usage with another tangentially related campaign.

From a design standpoint, what's interesting about this year's poster/tshirt idea is how it further deviates - starting with last year's oval - from the stylistic norm of the circular logo I tend to favor. Going with a square one instead was a refreshing change of pace, oftentimes a crucial factor when constantly revisiting and revising a body of work produced for long-time clients. That and maybe getting a little weird with the concepts, which also goes a long way in maintaining creative flow.

And yep, the nuggets were approved by the editors (seen above in full-on pillage-mode), which goes to show you always trust your artistic instinct and ignore the inner editor. Excepting when it comes to Valkyrie Nuggets®™ - those will just have to wait.