On the Helm

More Signs!

2010-08-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

8 foot banner promoting our Summer flyer.

Mid-cap display.

Hanging sign for our organic produce section.

Hanging sign for our baked goods table.

Semi- permanent display for baseball season snacks.

Lauren's cheese section

Holiday treats with Pete.

Endcap Chalkboard Signs

2010-08-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

All of these signs were hand-painted with paint/ chalk markers and were completed in between 1 and 3 hours.

Random Trader Joe's Signs

2010-08-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

Having some fun making signs at TJ's...

Display sign for a TJ's food tasting at a local library. (That's our building as a sand castle)

Caricature of crew member during a store party.

MST3K tribute.

Caricature of Rich for his cereal section.

Self caricature wearing a banana hat.

Super Value Man!

2010-08-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Super Value Man was a character I designed to promote the unbelievable value of the products in our store. This campaign coincided with our Fearless Flyer. Super Value Man guided you through the store to the various Flyer items. He was modeled after one of our managers.

Shelf tags.

8 foot banner outside the front of our store.

Huge Sign Update!!!!

2009-06-28T15:49:00.001-07:00

It's about time I added more signs to this blog!

All signs handpainted by Colin Harris with acrylics and paint markers on masonite.
If you ever stop by TJ's in Media, most of these are still hanging in a hallway in the basement. Stop in and see em' some time!

New Item Endcap

2008-03-31T08:13:00.001-07:00

I finished my new item endcap this week which will be on permanent display. You may recognize the fellow flying as your's truly. He was inspired by one of the images on the TJ's bags, which I believe was inspired by one of DaVinci's sketches of flying machines. The sign is viewable from both sides.

Here's the front. Holding a passport in one hand, and the product in the other. The product can be switched out whenever a new product arrives. I like my scarf the best.

The whole display. I also cut out some wooden arrows which I then coated in a chalkboard paint. They were then velcro taped onto the wall. This way I can easily replace them when new items arrive. It's a great time saver and I am working on putting more of them around the store.

My skinny legs and custom hawaiin boots on the back.

Hopefully this will intrigue people to look around the corner.

Just can't stop paintin' masonite. More projects on the way. Workin' on redoing our whole coffee and tea display!

Spring Endcaps

2008-03-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

Newer endcaps for the Spring. Going for more of a caricature style. Sir Strawberry started out inspired by fellow employee Rich, (well, mainly his nose) but turned into someone else. I made these with acrylic and latex paints. The line work was done with a paint marker. I am approaching these much like I do with an ink drawing digitally painted in photoshop, (although the painting is done first and lines last). The bold black lines really hold the work together and make it pop. Which is pretty important for sign work. I'm gonna play around with this style a lot more and see where it goes.

Equipped with the infamous green box cutter of justice and Hawaiian style breast plate.

The hula dancing Mrs. Potato Head may frighten the average customer. A little strange, but I had the idea and just rolled with it. I like the phrase "for a"low"ha price" though.

Potato chip bikini?

And finally a quick coffee sidestack with an exploding coffee bean volcano.

Fearless Flyer Displays

2008-03-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is first post of my journey as a sign artist in Trader Joe's of Media, PA. I am keeping this blog so I can document my progress as well as hopefully share ideas and opinions with other artists. So here it goes!

My first large sign project at was for the arrival of the Fearless Flyer in February of 2008. I wanted to keep a theme running throughout the four endcaps. I decided on modes of transportation with a little victorian twist to accent Media, PA. I picked up the bright orange color from templates they sent to the store for featured products.

First endcap sign!

Ah you like 'a 'da juice!

Victorian airplane.

Closeup inside of the plane, some friends and design elements from the flyer itself. Forgot to get a photo of the plane endcap with the product.

More swirly clouds and water.

Sail the soup sea.

The 101 Media trolley.

Who could resist?

This first project was a great lesson in time management and cohesiveness of endcap sign versus product. Overall I was happy with the results. I thought they turned out looking somewhat like old-fashioned postcards. For the next signs I am moving in a little different direction. Update coming soon!