We are thrilled to have another fantastic Dancing Horse Challenge poster (seen at the right) created by artist Robert Bevans. Mr. Bevans has generously donated a design to our cause for a second year in a row and we greatly appreciate his time and talent which adds excitement and an extra touch of class to the Ride for Life. These posters are suitable for framing and will be available for sale at the Ride for Life along with a limited number of posters signed by the artist -- a true collectible! Thank you Robert Bevans!

 

Robert Bevans, Jr. is a freelance illustrator working out of his studio in Phoenix, Maryland, which is located in the beautiful countryside of northern Baltimore County. There is a lot of equestrian inspiration nearby with the annual steeple chase circuit happening just up the road from his home and studio.

 

Bob followed in his father's footsteps and pursued a fine art education at the Maryland Institute College of Art and Towson University. In 2000, after 20 years being an Art Director and Illustrator for two Baltimore advertising agencies, and receiving three Best of Baltimore Addy awards, a move to the country presented the prefect opportunity to work on his own.

 

Also in 2000, Bob and his family experienced the devastating and life-changing effects of breast cancer. His 37 year old sister-in-law Vickie was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Bob and his wife Ali immediately began to support Vickie in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer when she decided to participate in the 60 mile - three day walk as part of her therapy. Bob did what he does best and designed a logo and a poster which he plastered along the route to keep Vickie and all the other walkers motivated. Sadly, Vickie succumbed to breast cancer in May 2002 but she is still a part of the fight as Bob has revised her walking logo and adapted it for the Johns Hopkins Breast Center's Avon Walk Team.

 

Bob is honored to have been asked to design again for the Ride for Life and has truly enjoyed putting his ability to work in a multitude of styles and mediums to work for such a great cause.

 

The 2007 Ride for Life poster was rendered in a traditional "painterly" style. The first step was to execute a number of sketches and studies in pencil until the images of the horse and rider are true to life and able to convey a sense of natural movement and energy. The final sketch was transferred to multi purpose paper and light watercolor washes were applied. Definition was then added with conti crayon and color pencil.

 

This year’s poster reflects more of the graphic elements Bob has used in his advertising work. The silk screen style image of the horse and rider is first rendered by hand with pen and ink on vellum paper to block out the light and dark spaces. The illustration is then scanned and streamlined into a vector format where the color blocks and type were added on a MacIntosh system using Adobe Illustrator.

 

Bob wishes to extend sincere thanks to the PDVA board and Pat Artimovich for  this opportunity as well as his gratitude to Ashley Duvall and Harbor Duvall printing for their amazing printing expertise that has really brought the posters and marketing materials to life.

 

Robert Bevans, Altamira Studio, Phoenix, MD. altamirastudio@comcast.net