Influences

For reasons as diverse as their styles, historic and contemporary artistic influences are Piet Mondrian, M.C. Escher, Saul Bass and Gerard Huerta.

Particularly in Mondrian's Composition with Gray and Light Brown (1918) can one see interdependent alignment of elements. He is the progenitor of modern-day page layout. His fine-art roots are displayed with powerful brush strokes in Gray Tree (1911). Kevin Williams adopted the technical obsession to align elements with the diametric contrast of whimsical art.

M.C. Escher was a master of positive and negative spaces as evidenced in Sky & Water (1938), Day & Night (1938) Metamorphose II (1940), Reptiles (1943) and Liberation (1955). Kevin first saw Escher's works in a high school art class. His illusions and the work of Saul Bass inspired Kevin to develop trademark symbols. Negative spaces can be just as much a part of the design as evidenced by logo designs for American 3D Corporation, NuFindCalifornia Anesthesia Associates and Perfect Fit.

In 1982 Kevin interviewed at the studio of Saul Bass. His trademark work is legendary. Because of caricatures in Kevin's portfolio, he was advised to consider pursuing animation. After tidying up the portfolio, Kevin headed to Huerta Design Associates in Los Angeles and was hired on the spot as a hand letterer.

The entire body of work by Gerard Huerta is impressive. Yet Kevin was humbled at the sight of Gerard's triple-outline swash logo for Huerta Design Associates. The firm was run by Gerard's three uncles. Before computers made their way into every design office, Kevin was taught some Huerta methods of hand lettering such as creating handmade French curves. Gerald's Chicago (1980) thumbprint album cover is another favorite piece because it is reminiscent of Escher - only with typography.

Kevin is deeply grateful to the people who influenced his career: Hector Huerta, Manuel Reyes, James Potocki and Raymond L. Young.

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