Richard and Mengistu Koilor made history with the launch of Two Locals Brewery in University City on January 31, marking a significant milestone as the first Black-owned brewery in Philadelphia.
Prior to opening day, they eagerly searched for a custom t-shirt design to commemorate the occasion. Inspired by the lively and nostalgic style of "School House Rock," both brewers envisioned a fresh and funky look.
The brewery's catchphrase, "West Philly the Best Philly," seemed perfectly fitting for their inaugural branded t-shirt. Today, these tees are proudly worn by brewery staff as they passionately serve their beloved West Philly community.
Engaged by Pepper North, a prominent Canadian hot sauce company, our mission was to enhance their e-commerce presence through the design of resilient gift boxes.
Our strategic approach involved the development of a distinguished collectible illustration series for each of the three gift sets.
Working alongside Eye-Candy Design, I designed and Illustrated this bold and beautiful label for Streamliners Espresso Bar’s new Cold Brew blend.
Commissioned by Kismet Collinsville, a local gift shop, I had the privilege of creating a captivating mural for their storefront. Focused on the essence of the business, the design centered around calendula flowers, reflecting their significance in herbal practices embraced by one of the partners. The finished mural, adorned with vibrant yellow and orange hues, successfully enhanced the shop's visual appeal. Passersby were drawn in by its striking presence, and both business owners and customers praised the personalized touch it brought to the space. This collaboration was a successful showcase of my artistic skills while contributing to the unique identity of a local business.
This exclusive t-shirt design was crafted for Common Ground Farm to showcase at farmers markets. Situated in Canada, Common Ground Farm is renowned as a certified organic farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture practices. With a commitment to leaving the land enriched, they cultivate a diverse array of vegetables across 18 acres of their 40-acre farm. Their methods include crop rotation, cover crops, and natural buffers, all aimed at enhancing soil health and safeguarding the environment. Embrace their ethos with this t-shirt, a testament to their passion for organic farming and environmental stewardship.
This custom coffee tumbler was designed for Ayla's Bagels & Coffee in Woodbury, CT. In collaboration with owner Michael O'Rourke, the concept highlights Woodbury's local businesses and landmarks. Created as a love letter to the community, the tumbler embodies a sleek and sophisticated design with a touch of local charm. These tumblers will also be distributed to the featured businesses for sale to their clientele.
This piece, created in Rockport, MA during the summer of 2024, is inspired by the fruits of the season and the light pastel colors that represent summer. Measuring 10 x 10, it is painted with acrylic gouache on a wood panel.
Emily Webster, a talented hairdresser by trade, is exploring new horizons in lifestyle branding, sparking a wealth of creative opportunities. Central to her brand's identity is a charming sun and moon design crafted in a nostalgic vintage mascot style.
Each shirt is meticulously designed to capture the essence of retro charm while appealing to modern tastes, offering wearers a stylish and playful expression of Emily's evolving brand narrative.
This vibrant gouache painting, created in May 2024, finds its home within the pages of a watercolor media sketchbook. Each brushstroke celebrates the warmth and radiance of the summer sun, capturing its essence in a vivid golden tones.
Created in 2023, Paper Bag Girls represents a unique interpretation of self-portraiture. Serving as a poignant exploration, the series delves into the challenges of expressing and communicating emotions through conventional channels. There are moments when I sense a difficulty in embracing vulnerability, not fueled by fear of judgment but by a struggle to articulate feelings effectively. In navigating this internal landscape, I often find myself concealing both positive and negative emotions to prioritize the needs of others. These paintings serve as a visual contemplation on this nuanced aspect of self-expression.
Digital Illustration.
Whiskey Rocks is a country themed bar and restaurant located in Dudley, MA. In August of 2021, during its construction, the team approached me with an idea to create a mural to sit as a backdrop for their main stage. From the start their vision was clear and fun, I had a great time making this happen for them.
Custom denim jacket painting commissioned in 2020.
Gouache on paper. 11 x 14. 2021
Inspired by drunk face by Machine Gun Kelly
I am currently the Creative Designer for Watson Farmhouse Brewery, in charge of creating original illustrations and typography for its distinctive line of craft beers. I work directly with the Master Brewer, John Watson.
John Watson has been brewing beer for 26 years and in 2019 he opened Watson Farmhouse Brewery in Southbury, CT. Using his inventive concepts as inspiration, I create visual representations to be used as packaging for his brews.
Riot Time Brewing’s limited edition run of canned cocktails, inspired by summers in New England.
Over the past few months I have been working with Pipeline Media Group to create a brand identity for its newest division, Pipeline Artists. Launched on March 19th 2021, Pipeline Artists serves as a creative hub for screenwriters, authors, and film-makers. A new logo mark incorporating their existing fox head imagery was created in close collaboration with their small team of executives.
I am also one fourth of Pipeline Artists’ team of designers and illustrators, providing the site with graphic editorial content. The included project features a set of five images that serve as title cards for categories of literature available on the site.
