No, not cows, and not even cowboys, and get that image of chaps out of your mind! But the effect is similar. What I’m talking about is a recognizable symbol that is a shortcut to identifying a store, a company or, in this case, the Ladysmith Arts Council.
A “brand” is not just a label, a logo or a signature — instead, it is one of the most powerful marketing tools a business or organization can have.
This year, the Ladysmith Arts Council has been fortunate to have a new logo created by local artist Trisha Oldfield.
Oldfield, an Arts Council member, has forged a successful commercial and professional artist career for more than 12 years. Her images are playful, lively and engaging. You stop and look twice at Trisha Oldfield’s work.
A few swishes here and there, a zap of colour, and voila, we have a branding. The effort is much more involved than this simple description, and yet the finished product evokes a sense of startling simplicity, which in fact is the key to being recognizable. That’s what true artists do — they make visual an image that looks easy and natural.
The Arts Council’s new logo will be seen on newsletters, the website, letterhead and all promotional materials.
Oldfield has provided logo design and graphic design services in the past for clients such as Salt Spring Coffee, Thermoproof Windows and Urban Legends Salon Spa in Chemainus, Fernwood Coffee in Victoria, Heritage Business Park and Lighthouse Mortgages in Ladysmith … to name just a few. Currently, Oldfield is one of the studio artists at the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, and she is focusing on fine art and commercial illustration.
“The arts council is more than five years old in this location, and it was time we had an identifiable image that associates us with the Waterfront Gallery,” indicates Arts Council president Kathy Holmes. “And part of the branding is our identify; the logo is contemporary, looking strong in both colour and black and white. Once people start recognizing it, it lends legitimacy and authenticity to the Arts Council of Ladysmith and District. It’s important to be easily recognized, as people are visual, and this logo will allow people to see it and recognize projects that we are involved in. In addition, it will be that much easier to find the gallery having the logo on highway and directional signs.”
Holmes says Oldfield was asked to design a logo that didn’t involve the sea, an arbutus or seagulls. She explains that those images are over-used on the Island and don’t provide enough information.
Three simple letters: L A C. Holmes feels that the artist nailed it on the head.
“We are more than delighted!” she says. “Trisha understood the logo needed to identify the council with the members and that the council represents some of the best artists on the Island.”
The logo launch is exciting as it markets the Arts Council in a fresh, simple, modern way.
“We want the public to come here for art, just like a customer will go to their favorite branded store for purchases.”