This is a poster that I created for the Harrah's Casino "Night at Harrah's" advertising campaign that was canvassing for a local artist to create an image for a 90 by 90 foot space on a Main St. building side. The winner, in addition to the huge canvas that would be viewed by thousands of people on a daily basis, would win $10,000! That's a lot of money, and I'm sure that I would spend it wisely. There were just over 50 entries, and sadly, the top ten were very dissapointing to me. Seven of ten of them were images that I could have pulled from a stock illustration book. I don't want to be too bitter, so I won't go into detail. I would like to think that there is a reason that I haven't won a contest yet. I'm happy for the winner, a girl that I didn't know. Winning the contest sure made her night. Anyway, I designed an art deco piece to fit with the feel of our new down town. "Playing with the Boys" depicts a young woman and several meanings. She is the center of attention to not only us as the viewers on Main Street, but also the audience of gentlemen who have come to watch, impressed by her play. With her large stack of chips, we can assume that she is doing well at the table making her even more attractive on this night. Lastly, I subtly placed two kings around an ace on the table. With those boys on the table and the smirk on her face, we can only wonder what boys she might be hiding in her hand. In all, I designed this poster with an attractive style that would be appeal to all, making this game of intellect and chance a glamorous game, but not too intimidating. The attire of the characters evokes a nighttime feel: a night out. The suits and her sleek dress remind me of New Year's with a warm glow from the lights. The woman paying more attention to her cards then her visitors, exudes confidence in every aspect of her play.
