Ralph Bacon illustration and design

This illustration is a perfect example of how an artist's rendering can convey a sense of how a planned project will fit into the landscape.  This was a proposal to replace an aging bridge with a newer, more attractive bridge to accomodate pedestrian traffic in a public park.  

This artist's rendering depicts the trailhead area and signage for a proposed addition to the Western Reserve Greenway Trail.  Illustrations such as this allow the promoters of the project to show funders and public entities the impact of the public improvement. 

This illustration depicts an observation deck planned to allow bikers and walkers to pause and enjoy a view of the Ashtabula River as it enters Lake Erie.  

This artist's rendering was created from engineering elevations.  The 3/4 view in perspective gives the average person a much better idea of what the final project will be like.  Often these graphite illustrations are created in the very beginning stages of a public improvement project and are followed at a later date by a color illustration.  

This graphite illustration is a wonderful example of how a picture can convey information quickly and efficiently.  By including three views of the proposed concept, this illustration provides the viewer with actual dimensions and an idea of how the final project fits into the landscape. 

This combination of break wall and walkway is intended to allow tourists and sport fishermen easy access to the lake shore and the ability to walk easily to the historic Ashtabula lighthouse. This illustration makes it clear how the project would enhance tourism in the area.  

This graphite rendering shows a birds eye view of a proposed expansion for a small marine museum and the terminus for an expanded bike trail.  This sort of view is only able to be produced by a skilled artist who understands perspective and can visualize the final look of a project from a verbal description.  

This pencil rough is a working drawing created as a part of a group of drawings to promote a bike trail expansion.  This shows the trail approaching its terminus at the Ashtabula Marine Museum.  

This artists pencil rendering was used to promote the first phase of Windows on Pairings.  This building has now been renovated into a modern, all-Ohio wine and agricultural center featuring a tasting bar, gift shop and culinary classroom.

This drawing was made to show a possible use of the land adjacent to the Windows on Pairings viniculture institute.  It shows an attractive grape arbor that could be enjoyed by the local community.  Ralph is frequently called upon to use his creative talents to imagine the form that a final project will take.  

This is am early working drawing that was made as part of the creative design process for the proposed Windows on Pairings project.  Ralph is often part of the team working on design ideas as a project moves forward.  

These rough pencil drawings are an example of how an artist's rendering can be a part of the creative process in planning a public project.  

This illustration shows a proposed public pavilion.  It has been used to acquire grant monies, and as a part of a fundraising campaign. 

This church needed to replace its missing steeple and they asked Ralph to design a modern steeple that visually ties the church to its location next to Lake Erie.  This rendering depicts the new steeple design in place on the old tower.  The steeple invokes the look of a mast with billowing sails while relating to the shape of the windows in the original building.  The open spar design allows the steeple to withstand 80 mph gusts of wind.

This rendering was created to pitch a remodel of an aging local community center.  The project is now complete and the building is used regularly for events such as weddings and parties. 

This is part of a series of drawings used to pitch the interior remodel of the Geneva Community Center.

Another view of the Geneva Community Center renovation.

The city of Geneva, Ohio has been very progressive in their approach to revitalization.  They requested this illustration as a tool to take to public forums and possible partners in revitalization.  This birds-eye view map shows existing structures and areas of planned improvement.  

This illustration show the possible remodeling and reuse of a school building as a vinifera studies institute.  It is part of a larger project designed to take advantage of the city's location in the center of a county with many wineries and vineyards.   This was used to obtain financial support for the initiative. 

This illustration was created in order to allow the city of Geneva, Ohio to pitch a project to create the country's shortest covered bridge as a tourist attraction.  Ashtabula County is home to the longest covered bridge in America and this small community wanted to create a reason for bridge tourists to visit their city.  This project was approved and built and is now a popular stop on the covered bridge tour.  The city liked the illustration so much, they even added boulders to to match those depicted in the rendering.

This ink and marker rendering is the second version of a planned bridge that is intended to provide a pedestrian and bike crossing.  This bridge is expected to withstand periodic flooding.  The illustration is being used to promote this public project. 

This illustration shows a proposed covered bridge in its planned setting.  Architectural renderings of this kind are used to obtain funding and public support for the project. 

This is a proposal for a road overpass for the Western Reserve Bikeway to allow users of the trail to cross the street without risk of riding across traffic.