Image created for Arts on the Square
By Angie Landsverk
Ken Lambert decided to take a different approach when he created an image for this year’s Arts on the Square Poster Contest.
“I wanted it to be bold, to stand out, be layered,” he said. “I tried to pull out simple icons.”
The musical instruments, paintbrush and hand in his image tell the story about what happens at the event without going into great detail, he said.
Lambert, who works in graphic design, took a digital approach and designed the image as a poster rather than painting something that then became a poster.
“I wanted it to be more evocative of the creative process, dreamlike,” he said. “It came together rather easily. When I started sketching, it was similar. Then it was a matter of executing.”
The Waupaca Community Arts Board, the organizer of Arts on the Square (AOTS), liked his idea.
Lambert’s image is the winner of this year’s poster contest and is being used to publicize the upcoming event.
“I wanted to be atypical. We have had great images every year. I just took a different approach,” he said.
The 11th annual arts festival takes place Saturday, Aug. 19, on the city square.
It includes three stages of music, more than 40 juried artists and workshops.
“i love this event. Even though I’m a visual artist, I love the music. There’s so much great music,” Lambert said. “It’s just a perfect summer day in Waupaca, and it’s so much fun. It’s over so fast. The art is great, the music is great, and you can’t forget the workshops.”
Lambert and his wife, Margo, attended the event before he became involved in helping with it.
“We would watch the triathlon and then come down to Arts on the Square,” he said. “One of the things about this town is there so much talent and so much commitment to the town.”
He and Margo moved from the Chicago suburbs to Waupaca about 12 years ago.
After moving here, he wanted to get involved in the community and has done so in a variety of ways.
His involvement with the Waupaca Community Arts Board is one example.
He offered to do the AOTS program and has done so for about eight years.
Lambert also creates posters for other arts board events and helps with the board’s website.
He started doing artwork when he was a child.
“I always drew. I didn’t make any study of it until college,” he said.
Lambert grew up in Chicago and did not take any art classes in high school.
He was on the science tract and undecided on a major when he began attending DePaul University.
When Lambert took a drawing class as an elective, he quickly saw how the class improved his abilities.
He eventually decided to major in art and took as many art classes as he could.
Lambert also considered the practical side of studying art and pursued classes in graphic design as well.
After graduating from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in art, he worked first for a publisher, followed by at an ad agency and then for a design firm.
After that, he worked as a freelancer for about six years.
“At the time, I viewed it as the ultimate goal,” Lambert said.
Controlling his schedule was one of the motivators.
During that time, he worked on a variety of projects, including logos, business cards and websites.
“Over my career, I’ve done probably every aspect of graphic design,” Lambert said.
Following his move to Waupaca, he found a full-time position at Werner Electric Supply, in Appleton.
Outside of work, Lambert tries to draw every day.
He does so to keep his skills sharpened.
Lambert describes the talent in the area as astonishing and looks forward to AOTS.
“I definitely encourage people to go to the event,” he said. “It’s a great a town. There’s tons of talent.”