2022 Festival of Whales Logo Designed by:
MATT REINHART
The 2022 Festival Foundation Board has named San Clemente resident Matt Rinehart as the logo artist for the 51st annual Festival of Whales.
Rinehart’s design was chosen from among Board favorites from past years’ design contest entries. Rinehart was runner-up in the 2021 Festival of Whales logo design contest.
Rinehart said he’s lived by the ocean his entire life and had the desire to do something for his community, which, in turn, inspired his decision to submit the logo design last year.
“I always admired the event art from local artists in San Clemente and Dana Point and knew one day I would like to make something as well,” Rinehart said. “I am super excited to have finally made that a reality,” .
About the Artist
Reinhart graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in graphic design and now works as a graphic designer at Starfish Signs and Graphics in San Clemente.
2021 Festival of Whales Logo Designed by:
LYNLEA MICHAELS
From among just over 70 entries and 3,055 votes cast by the public, this year’s beautiful logo by Lynlea Michaels emerged as the official logo for the 50th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales.
“For this design I wanted to capture the energy of the ocean and the thrill of seeing such amazing animals playing and enjoying the California sun,” Lynlea said. “The groovy text and mid-century colors give a nod to Dana Point’s history as a thriving surf community and the city’s eclectic vibes. I hope you love it!”
And love it we did! Lynlea’s design came in at the top of the public voting and the Festival Foundation logo design committee’s vote. The retro feel hearkens back to 1970/1971 when the Dana Point Harbor and its whale watching tradition was just getting started, yet still manages to have a fresh and modern vibe. We can’t wait to offer it for sale on the Festival’s golden anniversary commemorative merchandise.
About the artist:
Lynlea Michaels is a local designer and artist specializing in costume design and fashion illustration. A SoCal native, Lynlea studied fashion and media in New York City before embarking on several years of world travel and exploration. She is now back in Southern California and will be pursuing an advanced degree in Costume Design from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2021.
The logo design contest runners-up were:
2nd place Matt Rinehart
3rd place Gabriella Kohr
4th place Michael O’Connell
Congratulations to all of the finalists and thanks to all who entered.
Festival of Whales Seeking Submissions for the 2024 Festival Logo
The Festival of Whales Foundation is seeking a logo design for our upcoming 53rd Annual Festival of Whales celebration, slated to take place March 1-3, 2024. The contest is open to the general public and submissions must include a dominant representation of a California gray whale/s, the majestic ocean mammals that—with their annual 10,000-mile round trip migration past Dana Point between Alaska and Baja—served as inspiration for this important annual event.
Past event logo designers have included local amateur artists, high school art students, and internationally known professional artists including John Van Hamersveld and Wyland.
Deadline extended: Submissions are due by Wednesday, November 15 by 11:59 pm and can be sent to [email protected].
Full contest overview and submission guidelines can be viewed here, and design examples can be found here. All submissions will be reviewed by a judging panel and the grand prize winner will be announced in early November. The winning logo will appear on Festival of Whales 2024 promotional materials, including merchandise, posters, flyers, tote bags, print, and digital media advertising, the official Festival program, event signage, press coverage, and more. The winner will also be invited to participate in the Festival of Whales Parade.
2023 - Suzanne Maynard
The 2023 Festival of Whales logo was designed by Rancho Santa Margarita resident, Suzanne Maynard. Maynard, a creative director, relocated to California more than 10 years ago after studying advertising at the Pratt Institute of Art & Design. When drawing up the logo design, Maynard merged the warm, colorful aesthetic of the ’70s with beachy, coastal California vibes.
2022 - Matt Rinehart
The 51st annual Festival of Whales logo was designed by San Clemente resident Matt Rinehart. Rinehart’s design was chosen from among Board favorites from past years’ design contest entries. Rinehart was runner-up in the 2021 Festival of Whales logo design contest. Rinehart said he’s lived by the ocean his entire life and had the desire to do something for his community, which, in turn, inspired his decision to submit the logo design last year
2021 - Lynlea Michaels
Lynlea Michaels is a local designer and artist specializing in costume design and fashion illustration. A SoCal native, Lynlea studied fashion and media in New York City before embarking on several years of world travel and exploration. She is now back in Southern California and will be pursuing an advanced degree in Costume Design from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2021.
Website: LynleaMichaels.com
2020 - Mika Denny
Mika Denny’s roots take her back to the Orange County coastline. With childhood visits to the Ocean Institute and residing in Dana Point during her art school days, it’s only fitting that the experiences that shaped her artistry have led her logo design to be selected for the 49th annual Festival of Whales in 2020.
“Mika’s artwork is the perfect celebratory feel to represent all the fun new additions we have planned for the Festival of Whales in 2020.”
2019 - Robyn Rogers
“Robyn Rogers’ fascination with whales began when she was about five years old. Her older brother had been preparing for a school project on whales when he had Rogers hold one end of string as he unraveled it about 100 feet – roughly the size of a blue whale. Now at 27 years old, Rogers has been announced as the artist chosen to create the official logo for next year’s Festival of Whales.”
Read the full story here: Logo for Next Year’s Festival of Whales Announced
By Lillian Boyd, Dana Point Times
2018 - Frankie Michinock
“It shouldn’t have been a surprise when Frankie Michinock, 23, of Laguna Niguel, admitted that she didn’t have a printed copy of her award-winning 2018 Festival of Whales graphic.
After being identified as one of the top five logos by the Festival of Whales Board of Directors from over 70 entries, Michinock—who is rather humble—was blown away after being named a finalist…”
Read the full story here: Third Time’s the Charm: Former Dana Hills High graduate wins Festival of Whales logo design contest
By Daniel Ritz, Dana Point Times
2017 - Alex Van Brasch
“Using his love of whales as inspiration for a design, Alex Van Brasch, a Simi Valley native, who recently relocated to Portland, Oregon, took home the top prize in the 2017 Festival of Whales logo design contest.
For Van Brasch’s logo, he said he used colored pencils and pen, and then the computer to add the text and align everything.”
Read more: Festival of Whales Logo Contest Winner Uses Passion for Whales as Inspiration
By Kristina Pritchett, Dana Point Times
2016 - Camden Butterworth
“This year’s winner is sophomore Camden Butterworth from Dana Hills High School, whose logo design will become the official brand of the event, emblazoned on everything from printed advertising, event programs and online media to souvenir logo wear…”
Read more: Full STEAM Ahead for Festival of Whales
Andrea Swayne, Editor, Dana Point Times
2015 - Alec Brady
“The Dana Point Festival of Whales committee has chosen Dana Hills High School student Alec Brady as this year’s logo design winner from entries received via an annual program charging the art departments at the school with a student art contest.”
Read more: Festival of Whales Logo Design Winner Named
Andrea Swayne, Editor, Dana Point Times
2014 - Sarah Holen
“I was ecstatic to find out that once again Dana Hill’s art department would be participating in the contest for the Festival of the Whales logo. My love for design and competition was really set free in this project.”
Read more about Sarah: Dana Point Times – Students Create Art with a Festival Focus (page 4)
2013 - Steven Kazarian
Read more: Dana Point Times – Artistic Festival of Whales Tradition Continues
Andrea Swayne, Editor, Dana Point Times
2011 - 40th Anniversary
The original version of this logo was designed in 1992 by Nestor/Johnson Design, San Juan Capistrano. This retro version of the logo ignited many a trip down memory lane for visitors that have been collecting Festival logos over the past few decades.
2010 - John VanHamersveld
American graphic artist and illustrator who designed record jackets for pop and psychedelic bands, since the 1960s. Albums include Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles, Crown of Creation by Jefferson Airplane and Exile on Main Street by The Rolling Stones. Many know VanHamersveld best for his famous “Endless Summer” illustration.
2009 - Rick Erkeneff
Rick Erkeneff is a multi-talented artist, active surfer, skateboarder, and snowboarder. He and his partner Denise operate R&D Design in Dana Point, CA and have two active daughters who are in following their father’s artistic and sports enthusiast path.
2008 - Bill Atkins
Laguna Beach artist specializing in poster design, illustration, and most recently one of two designers that created the California Coastal Commission’s new “Whale Tail” license plate.
http://www.lagunaposter.com
http://www.ecoplates.com/home.php
2007 - Howard O'Donnell
Mother Gray Whale and Her Baby
“While planning this watercolor scene of a mother gray whale with her baby in tow, I was inspired, by both personal sightings and videos observed of the great whale migration, to paint the giant mammals as they make their journey up and down the coast of the western seaboard.
I tried to capture the elegant graceful movements of a 50-ton mother gray whale and her baby as they glide effortlessly through the warm and shadowy depths of the ocean.”
2006 - Phil Roberts
Phil Roberts is an Artist, Architect, Master Painter, Surf Artist, Movie Poster Illustrator. Click on the link below to learn more.
2005 - George McGhee
Dana Point Rendezvous
“The Dana Point Rendezvous painting was inspired by several factors that involve the annual migration of the Gray Whales along the pacific shelf near the coastline of southern California…
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“The Dana Point Rendezvous painting was inspired by several factors that involve the annual migration of the Gray Whales along the pacific shelf near the coastline of southern California.
After reading about the history of Dana Point and the seaman/author Richard Henry Dana after which this beautiful city was named, I set out on a venture to find out what exactly inspired Richard Henry Dana to call these 200 foot cliffed coves known as the Headlands, “the only romantic spot in California.”
So I went out one morning for a cruise just before sun rise just to see for myself what all the excitement was about, and what an eye opening revelation.
The sunrise was spectacular with the sky’s many shades of blues and lavender, with hues of orange, red and gold dusting the clouds and ocean.
At that point it was clear to me that the Dana Headlands will be a great source of inspiration. (Especially after also spotting a pair of whales on that trip).
I’m positive that Seaman Dana encountered various forms of wildlife during his travels along the California coastlands some of which must have been the majestic Gray Whales as he approached the headlands, therefore making his voyage complete with a rendezvous with the whales and his beloved coastland.
The painting “Dana Point Rendezvous” is about what I envision, and imagine that Seaman Dana experienced during his many trips to this enchanted coastal area now called Dana Point.”
Both George McGhee and Howard O’Donnell are members of the Dana Point Fine Arts Association (DPFAA) which began as the Niguel Art Association and had its roots in a group formed by six area artists in 1968. These local artists were interested in offering South County residents greater exposure to the fine arts, and to create a venue promoting the many talented artists within the community. In May 1989, the Niguel Art Association became an official non-profit 501(3)(c) corporation. The association was renamed in February 2007 to Dana Point Fine Arts Association. The current priorities of the DPFAA remains in line with the goals of the founding artists, most significantly of which is the most active show schedule of any art association in Southern California; promoting the marketing knowledge and capabilities of our member artists; and support of the development of the local high school art program.
2004 - George Sumner
For the Love of Whales
http://www.sumner-studios.com/
As a pioneer in the “save the whales” movement in the late 60s, George Sumner has influenced an entire generation of marine artists. This environmental impressionist painter chose the theme of the incredible bonding between mother and calf immediately after birth. For the first two years after birth, mother and baby are inseparable, constantly touching and nurturing each other.
“For the Love of Whales”, a 4′ x 5′ original oil painting seeks to share a touching moment of a young gray whale calf snuggling lovingly against her mother’s warm embrace. The abundant giant kelp beds that help conceal the baby from predators symbolically form a heart shape to reflect the logo’s theme.
1992 - Nestor/Johnson Design, San Juan Capistrano
