here is my submission. i think i have everything included that you wanted, except for the bikers. i think that might make it too busy/complicated -- but if you really want that included, let me know and i'll give it a shot.
This is the b/w version i built first. i will work on adding color soon.
let me know what you think and if there are any things you want changed right off the bat.
Kyle (struve entry #2) - that is for sure the right direction. Can't wait to see the color version. Can you switch the mountains around? The bigger one goes on the left. Also - since we are in the Southern Arizona desert - we have no rivers. Can you take off the river? I tend to agree with you about the bikes. I am not sure how you could work them in and keep the design in tact. Maybe you could change the river to a trail and have a couple of mountain biker silhouettes on th trail. Would like to see if you could try though. Glad you like the slogan. We truly live it. Thank you.
Very close. Like elements of both the color designs. We really like what you have done so far. Really down to tweaking the middle bike section. Can you make the trail smaller to look more like a single track trail rather than a paved highway? Could you make the trail a light tan color to look like dirt or something. I know it is probably white because the riders need to stand out - but the non-snow parts of the mountains don't have to be black either. The bikes are the size we want and is very close. Is it possible for you to make the riders look a bit more bad ass? They look like they are in clothes on there way to a picnic. We are going for people in gear that look a little bit more intense showing some speed or action.
We really liked the color banner much better than the white one and like it when you put the color around the circle rather than leaving it white. Can the only white be the snow? Really liked the red color you put under the banner at entry #4 and the way you brought that red into the "brewing co." above it.
Lastly, someone commented to me that the R's were a little hard to read in the main "Sierra Vista" at the top. I really like the wording and font though. Is there something you can do in the way of coloring - shading - outling - sizing that would address this?
Ok - we are close. Again - I have only seen one other design other than yours and will be dumbfounded if someone submits something better than yours. Thanks.
Forgot to mention that we loved the trailhead sign you put on the "trail." Brilliant. Please accentuate that as much as you want. Can make it bigger or a different color or put wording or the hiker / biker symbols on it. I know I am asking a lot and I appreciate your work.
thanks Rudkin, glad to hear you are liking the direction of the logo.
i have a couple of questions that, if you can answer them, will help me in fine-tuning the logo.
1. What color would you describe the actual mountains...or what color would you want them to be in the logo? there are no mountains where i'm from, so any guidance you can give me will help, as I have only seen teh Rokies and Application, not Sierra Nevada. I think some people describe teh Application mts. as blue, so what would you describe yours as?
2. for the bikers: is a more agressive stance what you're looking for? Would some coloration of the gear or helmet help?
3. can you think of any color tweaks you'd like to see at this time or are the colors in the first ranked logo working well for you?
I can easily define the 'rr' in Sierra more, so that is no problem. look forward to getting this just right for you.
here is a new version. I have made the bikers lean more forward to hopefully show speed and also added 'gear' to them with colored helmets, shorts and shirts. also added a few 'streaks' behind them to show speed. (its kind of hard to see at this size)
i seperated the 2 r's in Sierra to help define them more.
i made the trail smaller and dirt colored as well as added the markers to the sign and a shadow being cast from it. also don't know if its geographically correct, but i added some faint cactus in the distance...but they can be easily removed if there are no cactus where you are.
let me know if i can make any further improvements for you.
I just now saw your email with the questions. The mountains have snow at the tops - then they are mostly green from trees - with many rock cliffs visible. See picture at: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4885716
We don't have Saguaro type cactus like you put in the picture - but we do have prickly pear cactus and mesquite trees if you could put some of those in for some depth - that was a good idea.
The sign bigger and with a shadow is good - but it is a bit tall and conflicting with the mountain top - can you shorten a bit.
The riders: I like what you did depicting the gear. Much better. If you can make them in a more aggressive stance that would be great. Can you make them white people instead of black people? Could you make their shirts white, shorts black, girls hair blonde, their backpacks black, their skin a tan or flesh color, helmets black on the girl and red on the guy?
After that - i am about out of ideas - but would welcome any more ideas from you. Thanks again.
here is one with your most rescent requests. mountains are now more green..giving way into a brownish desert color. sign is smaller.
i changed the silhouettes so they now have a light skin color and added an even for forward-leaning agressive stance.
the only thing i didn't do exactly as you specified was the colors of the riders gear. i thought for the girls blonde hair to stand out most it should be against a black shirt. and a white shirt for the guy was getting lost against the skin color...so it looked like he wasnt wearing a shirt, so i made the shirt red instead and gave him dark gray shorts.
i can make them exactly like you specified in your last comment, if you still want to see them that way. but i think these colors stand out and make the riders a little more legible at the smaller size.
let me know if i can improve it in any other ways. thanks.
Kyle - you have exceeded our expectations of what could be done. Good job. This is one of the coolest logos I have seen on this site. Our ONLY possible tweak here: can you do something with the male riders shorts to make him not look like he has such a big ass? Maybe a different color or a black outline to the gray. Everything else is absolutely perfect. Mike
Thanks alot, glad you like it. Here is a new version with a smaller ass on the guy. I also added some slight gradients on both riders clothes so from front to back they go from a little lighter shade of the color to darker. this is to show they are riding towards the sun and the darker colors (shadows) will betowards their back sides. hope that comes through...not sure if teh difference is noticable at the small size, but i think it helps make them even more realistic-looking.