UMS invited me back to illlustrate and Riso-print the 2024 limited edition posters for Underground Music Showcase. An annual three-day music festival in Denver, Colorado. In the midde of the summer heat, UMS throws a huge party to celebrate local music.

Thank you to Two Parts and Youth on Record for partnering with me on this project. Printed by Odd Ones Press.

The Spectre Tarot deck is a mystic tool with 78 custom illustrated cards. The tuck box, as well as front and back of each card, is heat-stamped with holographic foil on uncoated black paper—giving it a cosmic, hand-made feel. The major arcana illustrations are gender non-confirming femmes, in a medieval glam style.︎

A special thank you to everyone who sent messages expressing interest in this deck. Photography and staging by yours truly.︎

Available Here

︎︎︎ Major Arcana

︎︎︎ Minor Arcana

In an effort to beautify things around me, I decided to make a set of custom hardcovers for George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire series. The official pulp paperback copies were used as a text block, and the covers and spines were applied using davey board and French Paper. Each piece was hand-measured, glued, and trimmed to fit. The covers feature symmetrical illustrations using motifs that reference the book title and themes found within the text. The final designs were applied using a D.I.Y. foiling process.

This is the only set in existence. Still no word from George R. R. Martin about using this work for a limited edition release. ︎

Double Dealer is a subterranean cocktail bar, hidden beneath New Orleans’ historic Orpheum Theater. The interiors are filled with theatrical misdirection and cinematic delights that unfold as guests move throughout the space. Being one of the rare underground establishments in New Orleans, we created a visual identity that plays heavily in themes of mythology, mystery, and surprise.

For this project, I created the custom Art Nouveau-inspired lettering for the logotype, built out the brand system, illustrated the mysterious two-headed figures that appear throughout the night, designed the magazine-style menus, animated coasters, and cryptic copy-writing. Designed at The Made Shop.

This project won the Visual Identity Award at the 2021 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards

Michelle Merlin, Design, Illustration, Lettering, Print Design, Interior Touchpoints, Copywriting, Mythology Weaving
Kyle Hunninghake, Print Design
Adam Blake, Creative Direction, Illustration
Marke Johnson, Creative Direction, Signage
Kim Johnson, Production Management
Farouki Farouki, Interior Design

Artcade was a gallery space filled with arcade games that were co-opted by a group of local artists. You could even win fine art as prizes. It was a treat for arcade and contemporary art lovers.

I was invited to create a visual identity for the show. The result is a playful homage to the early years of video arcades, with maximal 70s and 80s lettering and type treatments. Enjoy!

Big thanks to the team at Understudy for being so trusting and cool to work with. We love it! And thanks to Uncle Bruce for introducing me to Asteroids^TM as a kid.

Artcade took place at Understudy in Denver, CO during the 2021/2022 winter months.

Window mural by Jae Mo + Kevin Hennessy