My dad was recently cleaning out some old filing cabinets when he came across his game day program from the 1965 Orange Bowl Classic. Alabama (YEAH!) vs. Texas (booo).

Not only is it incredibly interesting from the view of this Alabama fan, seeing the old legends of the game, but the graphics and designs in the book are absolutely CLASSIC! The ads are simple, direct, and easy to understand. Car ads are the best. What appealed to readers nearly 50 years ago, still hooks people today – style, power, and dependability. And the white space in the design is used to draw the eye to the product. Today, it’s “white space? I’m not paying for white space.”

And the illustrations in the ads and the program are awesome! Obviously no computer-generated garbage. Everything was illustrated by hand with traditional media – BY REAL ARTISTS! It is certainly refreshing to see what some talented artists can do.

Look at the attached ad from Florida Power & Light promoting Florida. No stock photography, no Photoshop. Just pure talent and time, from people who put their hearts and soul into their work. It may be hokey by today’s standards, but still it’s – CLASSIC!

I’m an artist. There. I’ve said it.

When I tell people that I am a graphic artist, the typical response is something like, “Oh that must be so much fun to sit and draw pictures all day.” Well, that’s not exactly what I do here at Patterson/Bach. But I do like to draw and paint in my free time away from the office. And I do believe that my personal creative outlet has a positive impact on my graphic design.

Personally, I am a “people-watcher.” I like to draw people – portraits, snapshots of daily life, something that has some life and emotion in it. I can see that in my graphic work as well. I am a firm believer that ads with people, or at least a human element, relate to a viewer with more impact than simply showing a nice photo of a product.

But why should YOU find a creative outlet? Whether you work in a cubicle farm, teach the next generation, or work in the great outdoors, you can improve the quality of your work by finding your own creative passion. Creativity requires “out of the box” thinking, or problem solving. Who couldn’t use a little upgrade in that area? Lack of a creative outlet can lead to various psychological states such as depression, stress, and apathy.

Draw, paint, write, play your guitar, design your own backyard oasis, restore an old car – be creative. It doesn’t matter if anyone else thinks your creations are high art or not. Being creative is not about looking for the approval of others. It is about feeding your passion, recharging the mind, and building something that is uniquely you.

Do you like to cook? Try a new recipe or add a twist to an old favorite. Do you like photography? Make a slide show or have some enlargements framed of your favorite shots. Start with what you already enjoy, then find a way to make it uniquely yours.

Having trouble getting started? Try something you’ve always wanted to try. You may surprise yourself and find that hidden passion that lets your creativity soar.

My new favorite quote: “It is better to attempt something great and fail, than to attempt nothing at all and succeed.”