Throwback: Drawing Rooms

Back the 80's there was a new thing in publishing called the Advertorial which was a multi page spread art directed like an editorial piece but paid for by the advertisers.  Photographs below were from one of these that was done for the New Yorker Magazine, showcasing both a leading luxury linens company and a fine carpet company.  Geoff was hired to create his signature environments using only set paper and gatorboard, cutting it out and decoratively painting it to create a complete set from a drafty tudor castle to a cozy victorian cottage,

Throwback: Your Door

Knock! Knock!
Who's There?
Salvatore Ferragamo!

Another wonderful example of Geoff's work. Geoff was hired by the creative team at Ferragamo back in one Fall, in the late 80's/early 90's to create a series of doors for their Fifth Avenue and 56th St. location. (currently the location of Armani Fifth Avenue). Each door was standard issue hollow core door within a freestanding frame. Geoff hand painted each one to represent a unique entrance. Ferragamo shoes were cleverly displayed on or around the welcome mat. The number 717 on some of the doors reflects the address of the store in which they were shown.

Throwback: Conversation Pieces

Back in the late 20th century, Brides Magazine was a highly regarded and creative  magazine with many special features on home decor and tabletop design.  Working closely with the creative director at the time, Geoff was asked to design the layout for this 5 page spread creating painted backdrops, and some of the furniture, in Geoff's own light-hearted and fanciful style.

The photographer offered to take a portrait of Geoff, at age 36, after the shoot was finished with the original backdrop for the painted sofa, which differed from the one that was published. This is one of very few photos showing Geoff with his decorative painting.

Throwback: Lane Crawford Shoe Catalog

Back in the summer of '02, Geoff was commissioned to art direct and illustrate a catalog of women's shoes for the Hong-Kong based luxury retailer Lane Crawford. Using cut paper, and india ink brushing, Geoff create a unique image backdrop inspired by the shoes themselves. Each image was a full page and the catalog was therefore all double-page spreads. The illustrations were made in pairs that complemented each other and reflect the fabrics, stitching or ornamentation of the shoes or evocative of their purpose, like sandals for a beach. The catalog turned out to be a big success! Literally....as some the of images were later made into billboards!

Throwback: World Financial Center

Back in the early 90's Geoff was commissioned to create installation art in 20 empty storefront that were basically advertisement for other shops within the WFC mall. The common thread in each window was Geoff's signature illustrative and whimsical painting style.

For Barney's Geoff's took the store logo and illustrated the name using depictions of men's fashion and haberdashery.

The WFC flagship restaurant, the Hudson Grille, specialized in the bounty of the Hudson River Valley and so Geoff created a more rustic and 'farm-like' window overflowing with the harvest.

For this luxury stationer, Geoff created an 'over-the-top' desk laden with pens, pencils and handmade paper and envelopes. The paper scrolls in the foreground help to further underscore their specialty.

Geoff chose the highlights a shop's winter fashion by creating a birch forest vignette, surrounded by a twig and leaf themed frame.

To make a connection between a music store and the World Financial Center, Geoff came up with the clever idea of using a piggy bank being filled up with Compact-disc (in the days before digital music) coins. A sound investment, Oink!!

To add a flair of Roman grandeur for a shop featuring Italian leather goods, Geoff set the merch atop hand painted Roman columns, revealed by tied back draperies.