| Phelyx is also very well known for his design work, paritcularly SHOW and event posters. Currently, Phelyx holds the record for creating the most stolen (in the Denver market) event advertising posters. This record translates to some frustrations but is clear proof of the effectiveness of his design. Here are just a few SHOW posters created by Phelyx (with additional, similar illustration at right). |
RETURN TO THE HOME PAGE
Click any sample to enlarge. Some will allow a second click, for an even larger version.
| Professor Phelyx lovingly designed an award-winning series of wine labels for Sleight of Hand Cellars |
| Click here for examples of more commercial work, including identity design, illustration, and product packaging design. |
In Lifestyles Magazine, an article by Steve Bjerklie (also writes for Economist and other
publications)
Published July 27th, 2008
Page 57-59
"Professor Phelyx had the same goal and came up with label designs for two of Slight of Hand's
wines. "Trey wanted to pay homage to old magic posters. I went to a local liquor store near where I
live in Denver and looked at dozens, probably hundreds, of labels and then made notes about
which wines the customers seemed drawn to, which wines they picked up."
"I take my inspiration from, yes, the '60s San Francisco poster artists because you almost have to,
they were so influential, but more than them from Alphonse Mucha, the Art Nouveau graphic artist."
Phelyx's designs, for Slight of Hand's Magician's Assistant rose and Levitation syrah, look like the
love children of a 1901 Houdini poster and 1966 Jefferson Airplane handbill. "Does a label sell
wine? Yes, I think so," he says."
publications)
Published July 27th, 2008
Page 57-59
"Professor Phelyx had the same goal and came up with label designs for two of Slight of Hand's
wines. "Trey wanted to pay homage to old magic posters. I went to a local liquor store near where I
live in Denver and looked at dozens, probably hundreds, of labels and then made notes about
which wines the customers seemed drawn to, which wines they picked up."
"I take my inspiration from, yes, the '60s San Francisco poster artists because you almost have to,
they were so influential, but more than them from Alphonse Mucha, the Art Nouveau graphic artist."
Phelyx's designs, for Slight of Hand's Magician's Assistant rose and Levitation syrah, look like the
love children of a 1901 Houdini poster and 1966 Jefferson Airplane handbill. "Does a label sell
wine? Yes, I think so," he says."
A memorial poster
for my friend, Amy.
for my friend, Amy.
The Droste effect is a specific kind of recursive picture, one that in heraldry is
termed mise en abyme. An image exhibiting the Droste effect depicts a smaller
version of itself in a place where a similar picture would realistically be expected to
appear. This smaller version then depicts an even smaller version of itself in the
same place, and so on. Only in theory could this go on forever; practically, it
continues only as long as the resolution of the picture allows, which is relatively
short, since each iteration exponentially reduces the picture’s size. It is a visual
example of a strange loop, a self-referential system of instancing…
termed mise en abyme. An image exhibiting the Droste effect depicts a smaller
version of itself in a place where a similar picture would realistically be expected to
appear. This smaller version then depicts an even smaller version of itself in the
same place, and so on. Only in theory could this go on forever; practically, it
continues only as long as the resolution of the picture allows, which is relatively
short, since each iteration exponentially reduces the picture’s size. It is a visual
example of a strange loop, a self-referential system of instancing…
The Archimage depicts Professor Phelyx himself, and is
an example of the Droste Effect.
an example of the Droste Effect.
| "The Enchantress" Winner of Outstanding Branding and Design January, 2013 Best Label Design |
"It was a genuine pleasure to work with Mr. Neil Patrick Harris for the 2012
Sleight of Hand Cellars label I designed entitled, The Conjurer. Mr. Harris
requested the whispering imps as an homage to a tradition in magician's
posters that dates well over a hundred years. I certainly hope he likes the
work and likeness as much as he excitedly told me he did. That's the
hazard of working with magicians. They're, er, we're highly-trained liars
and you'll just never know for sure!"
Professor Phelyx
Sleight of Hand Cellars label I designed entitled, The Conjurer. Mr. Harris
requested the whispering imps as an homage to a tradition in magician's
posters that dates well over a hundred years. I certainly hope he likes the
work and likeness as much as he excitedly told me he did. That's the
hazard of working with magicians. They're, er, we're highly-trained liars
and you'll just never know for sure!"
Professor Phelyx
In 2012, actor and magician, Neil
Patrick Harris enthusiastically
gave one of Sleight of Hand
Cellars wines, "The Illusionist"
some prime time product
placement in his hit television
show, "How I Met Your Mother".
Patrick Harris enthusiastically
gave one of Sleight of Hand
Cellars wines, "The Illusionist"
some prime time product
placement in his hit television
show, "How I Met Your Mother".
| The Magician's Assistant is featured in "The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels" by Tanya Scholes. |