Milton Glaser Designs Season 7 Poster For Mad Men - a Q&A With The Designer.

At 84 legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser is still creating and was enlisted to design the promotional ads for the upcoming season of AMC's Mad Men. As the advertising drama moves into the late 60's, the show's creator, Matthew Weiner and the Mad Men promotional team began thinking about the appropriate advertising aesthetic as the show approached its final two years.


above: the final promotional image will appear in ads for AMC's season 7 of Mad Men.

According to the New York Times "...someone took one of Mr. Glaser’s best-known images, a 1966 Bob Dylan poster inspired by a Duchamp silhouette self-portrait, and cut out the psychedelic flowing hair with which Mr. Glaser had crowned Mr. Dylan. The hair was then pasted upside down, like a Technicolor eruption, and sent to Mr. Glaser as an inspiration."


above: The graphic designer Milton Glaser, left, in his Manhattan office with Matthew Weiner, the creator of “Mad Men,” for which Mr. Glaser has designed ads that will start appearing next week. Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

“There is a dreamlike quality to it, and believe it or not, it is related to the show, and not because it’s psychedelic,” said Mr. Weiner, dressed appropriately for the period, with a buttoned-up suit vest but also a bright pink patterned tie. “That’s not what it’s about. What it’s about is the material and the immaterial world, and that’s what I loved.”


above: Milton Glaser's 1966 Bob Dylan poster

Weiner, who rarely discloses details abut the show, added, “It maintains the idea that this is somehow going on in Don Draper’s mind, which is what the story is always about — and what the back of his head is about, on some level.”

AMC interviewed Mr. Glaser about creating the poster. Here is a reprint of that exclusive interview:

Q: You’re responsible for so many iconic images — the I Love New York logo, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits album poster, the DC Comics logo. Is there a piece of work you’re most fond of?

A: It’s a lot like having a lot of children — it’s very hard to pick the one that I love the most. But when I’m finished with a job, I’m finished with it. And it just sort of goes into the storage room, and I’m on to the next… Truthfully, I’m more interested in what I’m going to do than what I’ve already done.

Q: Were you a fan of the show before being asked to contribute art?

A: Yes! I watch it all the time. It was an environment that I grew up in. I had a lot of friends in the advertising business, and it was a growth of a particular moment in the advertising world… I used to work for ad agencies frequently — a lot more then than I do now. So I knew the world. And Mad Men is a really wonderful re-evocation of that time.

Q: Tell us about your process. Was it any different for this project?

A: I liked the show, and I like the intelligence of the people who were approaching me. And I thought, let’s give it a try. And the boundaries seemed well-established, which is to say that they wanted something suggestive and powerful and certainly vigorous in color. And it had to be very assertive. It also had a technical problem of reintegrating the figure [of Don Draper] that has become symbolic of the program and making it look as though it worked together with a totally separate piece of art, which that’s not so easy. The two things have to be harmonious and convincing as a single experience.

Q: The idea was originally to do an abstract. How did the figure of the woman that Don Draper is facing come back into play?

A: In the process of doing it, it just felt more convincing and more interesting to have some figurative element, notably the head of a woman and the wine being poured. So we moved away from the idea of having a sort of wallpaper extraction that would sort of symbolize the moment towards having a bit of narration where the characters in the image are related to a story that as going on.

Q: What was it like trying to re-evoke your style from that era?

A: Sometimes the problem you have is that you can’t do what you once did, especially at my age. But the real issue is the definition of the problem itself: This was supposed to evoke a feeling of what that moment in time felt like for people who actually experienced it, right? But most of the people who watch the show didn’t live through that era, so it’s a funny idea of simulating for people of what they don’t have any memory of and convincing them in a way that this is what it was like… It’s a complex philosophical issue.

Q: How important is it to you that a new generation of viewers connect with what the era was about?

A: Everything we know is in the brain and not actually out there. There’s no reality out there. So that era was different for everybody, but, for me… I was being influenced by very strange things like Art Nouveau and other things that seemed significant at the time because they were deviations from modernism. But it was that departure from all the modern work that was going on at the time that made my work characteristic.

Q: What do you remember most about those years?

A: I knew [Bob] Dylan, and I worked a lot for Albert Grossman who was a friend who represented the band and represented Peter, Paul and Mary. I was sort of in the middle of it. I helped Dylan find a house in Woodstock, and to some degree I was part of that in terms of the friendships that I had developed during the period… A lot of people know the Dylan poster, and to large degree because it’s Dylan, but also because it circulated by the millions with that last album of his and became — if you want to use the phrase — iconic of the period.

Mad Men Teaser for Season 7:
Don takes off with the Mad Men Season 7 premiere, Sun. April 13 at 10/9c. images courtesy of AMC and the New York Times.

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MAD MEN Caption Challenge and A New MAD MEN Yourself!

AMC has issued a caption challenge for Mad Men fans. Three fabulous retro illustrations by Dyna Moe (of "Mad Men Yourself" fame) each with five options for the best caption. Vote now for your favorite.

1.

Which caption should win?
• "Umm, guys?... Should we have invited Peggy?..." -- from Panco
• "These morning bull sessions are getting out of hand gentlemen."-- from Liza Ogilvy
• "90% of creative is horsing around." -- from mishyshelly
• "Road Tested...Sterling-Cooper approved" -- from Blonde Dynamite!
•"Forget My Old Kentucky Home, next stop the Belmont Stakes!" -- from kathiemarie
Vote here

2.

Which caption should win?
• "Could you be a dear and grab me my brandy manhattan...And a straw?" -- from TheHaphazardBlonde
• "Don't forget to vacuum under the bed."-- from Teach123
• "I knew you'd been smoking in here!" -- from Kerco
• "This is nothing. You should have been at Lutece." -- from Take_Break_Share_Love
• "Who's the comedian that called maid service?" -- from PeeJay
Vote here

3.

Which caption should win?
• "No, Betts, you can't see Russia from here. That's New Jersey." -- from elscoot57
• "Meditate on THIS emergency!" -- from Betts
• "I'll get Dick, you get Don." -- from BoredBeauty
• "You sure Sally gets her temper from Don?" -- from Kevin Ament
• "Don's a worthy target, but I'd rather be Duck hunting!" -- from Strawberry73
Vote here

Learn all about illustrator Dyna Moe here

NEW SEASON, NEW YOU

Mad Men Yourself has been updated with new clothes, new accessories and new backgrounds for the new season!

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The Coolest Coloring Books For Grown-Ups Part III - 25 New Adult Coloring Books for 2012-2013

My previous two posts, The Top 30 Coolest Coloring Books For Grown-Ups and The Coolest Coloring Books For Grown-Ups, Part II. Twenty New Ones for 2011-2012 still receive plenty of attention (and most are still available for purchase). But hold onto your Crayolas (or colored pencils or Sharpies) because I've got a slew of new and awesome coloring books for grown-ups that range from erotic to artsy, for 2012-2013. These make fabulous holiday gifts for friends, co-workers and even for yourself.

Draw Me a House:

Cicada Books' Draw Me A House is a playbook for budding architects and anyone interested in the built environment. Illustrated by Thibaud Herem, it celebrates the primary delights of architecture, inviting people of all ages to color in, think about, doodle and engage with basic architectural elements. Both educational and entertaining, Draw Me a House takes the reader on a journey through architectural styles from Gothic church spires to contemporary eco-design, and out the other side to the world of outright fantasy. From completing the columns on the Parthenon to thinking up an alternative top to the Chrysler Building; from drawing a deluxe doghouse to designing a transport system for the year 2040, this book will serve as a springboard for the imagination--a fresh and playful source of stimulation and inspiration. Printed on a heavy, creamy uncoated paper that begs to be doodled upon and colored in, and sporting a laser-cut cover that highlights its tactile appeal, Draw Me a House is a book that will delight children and adults alike.
Draw Me A House: A Book of Colouring in, Ideas and Architectural Inspiration

The Thrill Murray Coloring Book:

Be it in Ghostbusters, Lost in Translation, lost in translation or now, Moonrise Kingdom Bill Murray has become a favorite of the modern screen, the heartbeat of any DVD collection This a collection of images, assembled in a coloring book inspired by the great man himself.
Thrill Murray (coloring book)

The Lowrider Coloring Book:

Paint your own lowrider just the way you like it! Impalas, Cadillacs and Rivieras. In the Lowrider Coloring Book, you will color the classic and most popular Lowrider models. Lowrider culture reaches back to 1930s Los Angeles, where it became popular for style-conscious Latino-Americans to load their cars with sandbags to bring it closer to the road. Style was everything, and when lowered cars were banned in California in the 1950s, it became necessary to find a way to raise and lower the car simply to avoid fines. The solution was to use hydraulics from old fighter planes left over from World War II. The rapper Kid Frost showcased lowriding in the early 90s hit Lowrider, and since then, the cars are closely associated with hip hop culture. Today, lowriding is bigger than ever with thousands of enthusiasts in most parts of the world. All strive to outdo each other with the most elegant varnish, interior, hydraulics, chrome and rims. The custom cars you'll be coloring in the Lowrider Coloring book were converted by some of the best and most legendary enthusiasts.
Lowrider Coloring Book

Coloring for Grown Ups:



Ryan Hunter and Taige Jensen are New York based filmmakers, comedians, writers, actors and illustrators. They have created a hilarious coloring book/Adult activity book (and offer online downloadable pages) taken from pop culture such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad and more. The pair first came to prominence via their YouTube channel POYKPAC, which has attracted over 70 million views to date.
Coloring for Grown-Ups: The Adult Activity Book

The A to Z Coloring book of KINK:

Written & illustrated by an ex-professional dominatrix, the A to Z of Kink: A Fetish Compendium features sex-positivity, even sexier limericks and original fun n' filthy illustrations for you and your lover(s).

Printed professionally on acid-free paper, this alphabetical guide is sure to please. Great for fetish aficionados, queer-os, perverts, kinksters and more! 8.5" x 8.5".
Buy it here

Colour Me Good by author/illustrator Mel Simone Elliott (aka I love Mel) has three of my favorite coloring books for this year:

Ryan Gosling Coloring Book (swoon):

Colour Me Good Ryan Gosling

Ginger Coloring Book (from Molly Ringwald to Damian Lewis):

Colour Me Good Ginger

The Hip Hop Coloring Book (appropriately badass):

The Hip Hop Coloring book by Colour Me Good.

Babes and Bongs Coloring Book:

Babes and Bongs is a hand drawn coloring book by Stewart Prather which celebrates two things - women and smoking paraphernalia. A finely detailed assortment of waterpipes, hookahs and handpipes are featured alongside a bevy of ladies, many of which are inspired by vintage photographs. All were hand drawn by SGP using Micron drawing pens - no tracing or photoshopping of imagery. Sixteen heavy stock pages are suitable for crayons, pencils or markers (including Sharpies!).

Babes and Bongs is a labor of old-school, hand drawn, heavily detailed waterpipe love. No nip slips or explicit nudity - just tasteful images of pipes and the ladies who love to hold them.
Seventeen 8 1/2" x 11" Comb-bound pages.
Buy it here

Ooh La La - A Burlesque Coloring Book:

Ooo La La! is an adult coloring book by Kira Scarlet of Scarlet Tentacle that features fourteen sexy, curvy burlesque dancers, all dangerously curvy and delightful.

This first printing of the burlesque coloring book series measures 8.5 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide - approximately the size of a paperback book. There are thirteen pages of designs for you to color, plus the wrap-around cover image.
Buy it here

Hip Hop Coloring Book by Creative Shields:

Bed-Stuy-based artist James “Creative” Shields recently released “The Hip Hop Coloring Book Vol. 1,” a 28-page children’s book that aims to teach kids about two of his favorite topics, creativity and the history of hip hop.

“It’s a mix of classic activities and creative exercises, all intertwined with the history of hip hop,” says Shields, 26, from his art store in DUMBO. “People forget that hip hop as a culture is not just about money and ego. It’s an art form that can provide kids with self esteem and identity. It promotes individuality.”


The coloring book, the first of five volumes, took Shields nearly a year and a half to complete. It features a list of seminal artists from early years of hip hop including Grandmaster Flash, Curtis Blow and DJ Kool Herc.
James Shield's Hip Hop Coloring Book Volume 1

The Cleveland  Architecture Coloring Book:

“The Cleveland Architecture Coloring Book” will be the second edition of a very successful experiment. The first publication of the book sold out in only one month, but the kids want more! Smith is fundraising money to produce the second edition by the holidays, and we couldn’t think of a better present for an aspiring architect. The volume itself contains 30 buildings just ready for coloring, and supplemental information about the architect, the year, and the location of each project. Students and visitors alike can check off where they’ve been along their architecture scavenger hunt while learning about the city’s famous structures. With less than a week to go, time is running out for funding, so check out the project’s Kickstarter here.

Asphalt Fiends:

This year SIN Customs had the wonderful opportunity to create a coloring page for the 2012 Asphalt Fiends coloring book. The coloring book features some of the best low brow artists in the world just check out this list of contributing artists...
12 Artists include: John Detich, Eric Foust, Grant Cushman, Ryan Curtis, Dustin Weisgerber, Kris Chisholm, Shawn Spiwak, Max Grundy, Andrew Wright, Paul Kester, Nate Greco, Shawn Dickinson, ZAKKA, Mike Learn, BigToe, Chad Lampert, Joey Finz, Mark Thompson, Bruce Gossett, Chad Scheres, Scott Fisk, Jeff Gaither, Johnny Jalopy, Corrie Erickson, Jim Hively, Ben Mitchell, BOMONSTER, Del Swanson, Sara Ray, Sinclair, Arlo Dillman, & Ger Peters. With a special front cover by Zombie!

Proceeds from the Asphalt Fiends coloring book go to help Helping Hannah's Heart a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation that helps families who are dealing with the financial burden that comes from having a child with Critical Aortic Stenosis or related Congenital Heart Defects.
Buy the Asphalt Fiends coloring book here

A Coloring Book by Mike Perry and You:

Artists of all ages will jump at the chance to color within the lines of illustrator Mike Perry's most popular images, printed here in black and white. This collaborative coloring book offers page after page of imaginary cityscapes, spacey scenes, anthropomorphized food, and more.
A Coloring Book by Mike Perry and YOU

We Shall Never Forget 9/11 - Vol. II: The True Faces of Evil - Terror Graphic Coloring Novel - Terrorist Trading Cards

Terror parental guidance is suggested as the book is about the real world. It is about being human: Good vs. Evil. There is no fantasy in this book. Designed as a consumer friendly, family publication for use with children and adults, this excellent graphic coloring novel helps expand understanding of the factual details and meanings in the War on Terror. Printed just days before the Al Qaeda Benghazi Terror Groups went after and then murdered our US Ambassador Stevens and US Security Citizens in Libya. A novel that is accurate, timely and describes terror as it exists today. The Evil Terrorists defined. This is a book for adults and older children. Inside this edition are several pages of perforated, removable card-stock terrorist trading cards. Inspired by real people, real life and reflecting the truth, Vol. II presents terrorism in direct open simplistic terms: what it is, what it looks like and what it means. In this book you will find names, dates, numbers and locations exposing the men, women and governments behind terror as we begin to hold them accountable.
Buy We Shall Never Forget 9/11 - Vol. II: The True Faces of Evil


Paul and Friends: Life is Better in Color (Volume 1):

Paul and Friends: Again (Volume 2):

'Paul and Friends' believes in giving back to the community. You are the reason we can follow and pursue our dreams. You cheer us on when we're running well. You cheer even harder when we fall. Illustrator Paul Thomas Evers' grandmother had Alzheimer's and he and his family took care of her till she passed away. He saw how devastating this disease is to those who have it and to the people who love them. That's why it's so important for us to do my part in the fight against Alzheimer's. The earnings from these books will be donated to the USF Health Bryd Alzheimer’s Institute to help heal the mind, body, and soul of those affected by Alzheimer's.

Paul and Friends: Life is Better in Color (Volume 1)
Paul and Friends: Again (Volume 2)

Color My Boobs! A Titillating Coloring Book for Adults by D.D. Stacks, Billy Armstrong and Chad Powers II:

A fun, interactive gift book for adult, this coloring book is filled with every variety of alluring, healthy, happy female pulchritude: big, bigger, buxom, cantaloupes, torpedos, milk jugs, side boob, underboob, and much more. Showcasing the work of two talented artists, these line drawings also feature character boobs: a showgirl, pirate, cheerleader, goddess, hot teacher and much more.
Color My Boobs!: A Titillating Coloring Book for Adults


Color Me Manga Graffiti:

A coloring book with drawings by the Japanese female graffiti artist Shiro. Her cute and funny characters and graffiti styles appeal to children and the young at heart. Her cheerful mix of Hip Hop flavor and manga-inspired characters offer inspiration in fun coloring designs for people of all ages. Her motto in life is: "Love life and live it to the max! We exist RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE!”
Color Me Manga Graffiti


Classic Movie Posters and Vintage Travel Poster & Luggage Sticker Coloring Books:


Many designers have a fondness for vintage travel posters, luggage stickers  and classic movie posters. Here are coloring books that allow you to color your own.
Color Your Own Classic Movie Posters (Dover Art Coloring Book)
Color Your Own Old-Fashioned Travel Posters and Luggage Labels (Dover Art Coloring Book)


Other Coloring books worth checking out:

Hot Rod Tattoos Stained Glass Coloring Book (Dover Stained Glass Coloring Book)
Drawing, Doodling & Colouring: Fashion
Body Art: Tattoo Designs Coloring Book (Dover Design Coloring Books)
Kokeshi Dolls Coloring Book


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Looking for more?
Don't forget the previous 50 Cool Coloring Books For Adults I have posted. You can find them at the two links below:

•The Top 30 Coolest Coloring Books For Grown-Ups


•The Coolest Coloring Books For Grown-Ups, Part II. 20 New Ones for 2011-2012.

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