Graphic Design

For more than 30 years, I've created graphic designs for musicians, businesses, churches, schools, sports organizations and special events. My work has included everything from logos and album packaging to concert posters, publications, apparel, banners and promotional materials.

I approach each project as both an artist and a designer. Some projects begin with an existing identity or a specific set of requirements; others begin with a blank page. In either case, my goal is the same: to find the visual idea that makes the project work—and then carry that idea through the finished piece.

The work below represents a selection of commissioned and professional graphic projects spanning more than three decades.

Adobe Certified Professional - Visual Design
Photoshop &• InDesign | 2025

For information about having me create graphics for your project, contact me.

SELECTED Graphic Design

Jerry Lee Lewis Estate
Benefit Concert Poster
2023

created for a benefit concert presented in connection with the Jerry Lee Lewis Estate that brought together performers and supporters of Lewis's music and legacy.

The challenge was to create a design to accommodate a substantial amount of event information and multiple featured performers while having the immediate visual impact expected of a concert poster. I developed the overall composition, typography, imagery and visual hierarchy while balancing the graphic elements so the poster could be read quickly and still retain a strong connection to Jerry Lee Lewis and the nature of the event.

The finished design was prepared as professional promotional artwork for print and display. It is an example of the kind of project I enjoy most: taking a lot of information, finding the visual structure within it, and turning it into something that communicates before the viewer has read every word.

 

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
32-Page Coloring and Activity Book
2009

This 32-page coloring and activity book was created around the lyrics of an Ernie Haase & Signature Sound song. I developed the visual treatment and page layouts after phone conversations with Ernie Haase as he described his vision for the project.

The book combined original artwork, illustration, typography, coloring pages, puzzles, activities and other interactive elements. Each page had to function on its own while still feeling like part of a consistent visual experience from beginning to end. This required planning the sequence of pages, maintaining visual variety, balancing artwork with areas for children to interact with, and keeping the overall design accessible and entertaining.

The finished book best demonstrates the combination of illustration, graphic design and long-form layout that I bring to a project.

"I have known Russell from a distance since 2002. Doing our first projects together let me get to know him better. As businessman, he is first rate and very timely. As a person, he is very nice, warm and so easy to work with. As an artist, he is like Tony the Tiger ... He's GREEEEEAT!"                               Ernie Haase of Ernie Haase + Signature Sound