Raven Rock Ramble 2022

Artwork

Probably like many of you, I have a couple drawers full of cycling event tee shirts, few of which I actually wear. The shirts I do wear are the ones that are quality shirts with quality artwork. From the very beginning, I've sought for the Raven Rock Ramble to have the quality of shirts that the riders would be proud to wear. This effort has apparently been successful, as early-on I had folks from out of state register for the ride solely to get the tee shirt. Now, additional shirts can be ordered as an option on the Merchandise page.

Below you'll see the artwork for 2022 and prior years, along with an explanation of each. Kim Massey is the artist, taking over for Deanna Guyton who did the artwork from 2003-2016.

The shirts are printed by Joel Tillotson at Ads in Action in Apex, tillotsonjoel@gmail.com, 919-363-2204. Joel is a true artisan in his work, and works directly with the artist and me to get outstanding results each year.

--David Cole

I've had a print of Lyonel Feininger's Bicycle Race hanging in my office for years and always wanted to use it. Artist Kim Massey was up to the challenge and developed this visually fascinating artwork for the 2020 Raven Rock Ramble. Since the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19, this artwork gets passed forward to the 2022 event.

For the 20th Raven Rock Ramble I wanted to bring back the popular favorite we've used several times before, this time available in both Zorrrel quick-dry and Next Level cotton tees.

I was worried that last year's artwork was so good that it would be hard to top. But, I found this cool op art bicycle image, and Kim worked her magic to add color, typography and design elements to create the final piece. I love the colors and the sense of motion.

The tee shirts will be black, so the artwork will really pop.

The initial inspiration came from a random photo I found online of a pint glass with a design that looked like stained glass. That got me searching for stained glass bicycle art, which yielded the Bicycle Playing Card image (I really like the font), and the Dilecta poster. Artist Kim Massey skillfully combined the three to create the resulting artwork. An astute cyclist will notice the palette of the world championship colors of blue, red, black, yellow, and green. Pretty cool, yes?

For years, riding partner Hal Drumheller has encouraged me to use artwork featuring the Flemish Lion. Artist Kim Massey took that idea and ran with it, yielding a stunning coat-of-arms type design, to be printed on a gray shirt. New for 2017 will be the option for men's and women's Gildan SoftStyle tees, as well as the usual Zorrell quick-dry tees.
It's back! By popular demand the now-famous bicycle design that premiered in 2004 will make a repeat appearance in 2016. Of course, we'll still be using the Zorrel Boston and Zorrel Marathon quick-dry tees.

I was intrigued by the art deco designs shown in the opening and closing of the Great Gatsby, and similar designs.

Deanna replaced the "JG" with an "RR" inside a bike wheel, and developed a design around it. For added color, the men's tee will be printed on a bright blue Zorrel Boston crew neck shirt, and the women's tee will be printed on a bright pink Zorrel Marathon v-neck shirt.

Deanna again developed an image and typography that pops brightly.

The 2014 artwork will be printed on navy blue Zorrel quick-dry shirts, available in both men's and women's cuts. 


We're using the ever-popular bicycle design again for 2013, printed on black Zorrel quick-dry tees, and for the first time, available in women's cut v-neck sizes. 
We started with classic cycling jerseys and artwork and settled on the image on the right.  Deana developed the graphic to make it to make it printable and added the typography and other elements.  The tee shirt will be the same bright yellow Zorrel quick-dry shirt we used in 2010.  

 

Deanna originally developed this idea as a candidate in 2010 and then we refined for 2011.  The tee shirt will be a bright royal blue Zorrel Boston quick-dry.

 

An old team time trial photo suggested by Kevin Jayes was the starting point for 2010.  The riders are (subtly) male and female.  The tee shirt will be bright yellow, in choice of Hanes Beefy-Y or Zorrell Boston quick-dry.  Think of it as your own yellow jersey! 

Artwork Poster

 

The 2009 artwork was inspired by a poster I saw in Pittsburgh (right).  The tee shirt will be black.

Artwork Poster

 

 

The artwork for 2008 is derived from the world champion stripes (see Tom Boonen, right), curving like a twisting road.  The shirt color will be Ice Gray.

Artwork Poster

 

 

By popular demand I'll be re-printing the 2004 shirt, updated for 2007.  While everyone seems to have their favorite, the 2004 artwork has been very popular.

Promotional Poster

Artwork Poster

 

The inspiration for the 2006 artwork is the well known "Vitruvian Man" drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci, with a 32-spoke, 3-cross laced wheel serving as the surrounding circle.  I like the combination of body and bicycle imagery.

Promotional Poster

Artwork Poster

 

Having learned in 2004 to let the artist do her work (that is, be unencumbered by my ideas), Deanna developed this design as Matisse inspired artwork.  The curved bands on the lower right suggest a bicycle helmet, as viewed from above. 

The shirt will be a Hanes Beefy-T.  The Hanes color is called "Menthol" - what Deanna describes as a Caribbean green.

Promotional Poster

Artwork Poster

 

The 2004 design was entirely Deanna's doing, and much more interesting than what I had suggested.

Promotional Poster

 

The Art Nouveau style of the 2003 design was based on the classic cycling poster to the right.  The big difference is that bicycle was replaced by a Trek 5500.

Promotional Poster

 

The graphics for the inaugural ride were developed by Chris Cartledge of Clemson, SC.  The design was based (loosely) on the NC State Parks logo, right.