On January 18, 2014, Warped Wing Brewery opened it's doors to the public. Several weeks later, I sat down in the tasting room and enjoyed my first new brew by the legendary John Haggerty, best known as former Head Brewer for New Holland Brewery and the creator of Dragon's Milk.
When we arrived the only remaining seats were three positioned by the front entrance, which we later realized were the best in the house! We got in line, grabbed beers and perched ourselves on the amazing vintage-style bar stools. From this location, you could view all of the patrons chatting and enjoying the three original brews; 10 Ton Oatmeal Stout (my fav!), Flyin' Rye IPA and Ermal's Belgian Style Cream Ale. Looking around you immediately register that the building is massive and you are only seeing a portion of it. The exposed brick walls and glass panels only hint at the history of this place. I originally visited the location when it was the Foundry Dance Club. At that time it was dark and dirty, but now the space is bright and inviting, with the impressive 10 ton box crane perched overhead. I sat there, enjoying my 10 Ton Stout, loving the twisted bird's wing logo, the environment and the experience as a whole.
Over the past few years, Mark and I have gone on several brewery tours. Some were to established favorites like Bell's Brewery and others were new discoveries, like Old Boys Brewhouse (Me at the dog themed "Old Boys Brewhouse" with my impressive flight and Mark's delicious sour!). Each location had a different personality with new tastes to enjoy. I would not call myself an expert, but definitely experienced when it comes to craft beer and breweries. That day convinced me of one thing, Warped Wing has all the components to be a successful business and a beloved brewery and I hoped to be a part of it.
I always tell young artists that it never hurts to ask. Whether it is another artist's technique, materials, or experiences, ask them! Maybe they won't respond, but perhaps you will learn something or better yet, connect with someone who inspires you. This also goes for businesses that speak to you. I sent Warped Wing a message saying I loved what they were doing and mentioned that I was a local artist who would love to work with them on a project if the occasion should ever arise. They quickly responded with a thank you and, much to my surprise, that they did indeed have a project in mind. They were getting ready to release their fourth brew, this one would be a Red IPA.
Indian art has always resonated with me, with it's lush details, symbolism and craftsmanship. I immediately began researching and taking notes.
With the general thumbs-up on the design, I began roughly sketching different orientations of the hands and the objects she held.
Once determined, I began the final drawing on a good sheet of Strathmore Bristol paper.
She would be holding a mix of traditional symbols, such as the lotus flower (which looks like an artichoke at this point!) and tools of the brewery trade, such as hops.
After the sketch was finally hashed out, it was inked and then I erased the remaining pencil marks.
The original color for this design was done in colored pencil, but due to graphic design requirements, the color was later converted and vectorized.
The release date was moved up in order to pay homage to the passing of one of the Warped Wing family members. It was a beautiful tribute to a strong young woman. So many people came out that night to raise a glass to her memory and experience Dayton history in the making.
