TWO POSTERS COMPARED

I had done this poster for London Transport of the King's Troop who fire the cannons on the Queen's Birthday (left). I thought the image would be interesting, particularly in colour. It went out and a short time later I got a call from the Adjutant, that they had the poster in their Mess, that they really liked it. I was surprised because I had taken quite a number of liberties with the details. But they loved it and asked me to do a poster for them and the Trooping. I went along to the event and back to the Mess afterwards for lunch. It was a rainy day I remember but they were very enthusiastic. They took me round the stables. and I saw all those marvelous horses and guns.

I couldn't repeat the design and tried something different but still quite abstracted(right). I still took liberties and they still liked it. You are told that the man in the street won't like something, that the uniform is simplified, that you can't see the whole body of the horse etc etc .I remember George Him saying, "Who the hell is this Man in the Street?" It's way of discouraging innovation. The King's Troop used the poster to advertise the event and they sold it at the Aldershot Tattoo.

I find the poster still powerful (left). It's an exciting image. It has movement - it's not static at all. I did quite a bit of research in the Library for it, and then edited down what there was to be said. Research is vital for me. The successful poster must work as a whole.the image depicting exactly what was intended at the beginning. At the end, the poster must be able to be tested and nothing can be changed, in composition, colour and type. If something it is going to be exhibited, I do think about cropping the original. mainly the adjusted balance of negative and positive space, something I always stress in teaching.