Botanical Archway & Morning Thoughts

As a poet and designer with a background in letterpress printing and book arts, I’ve always had a fondness for the wealth of images to be found in Dover books, of which Colored Horse Studios has a considerable collection in our pictorial archives, both in print and digital forms.

I often see the design studio as a haven for thoughtful design, with references to historical models, especially the Arts and Crafts movement and the Italian Renaissance, both of which seem to be relevant to contemporary California artisans, whether bakers, brewers, designers, winemakers, scholars, or artists. Both Craftsman and Classical typography and imagery have as reference and touchstone a humanist aesthetic, a place that touches the heart.

I have come to design through poetry, and this always sets my work apart from other graphics studios. Not only am I often involved in book projects with texts, but text makes its way into the logos and identities I create. I often think of a visual image with a companion tagline or vision statement. After 25 years as a graphical poet I find that I’m often inspired by images as I write, and have found my most fruitful writing projects to be those that are entwined with compelling imagery. I’ve been fortunate to be involved with many talented photographers and artists as I go about my daily work. You can see some of these associate creative folks on our website