Okay, so today I wanted to mess around with the Kentucky Derby 2024 logo. I’ve always been kind of fascinated by the design and how it changes each year, but keeps some classic elements. So, I figured, why not try to recreate it or at least understand it better?
Getting Started
First thing I did was just stare at the logo for a good while. It’s got the horses, the roses, and that fancy lettering, all put together in a way that just screams “Kentucky Derby.” I started breaking it down in my head, piece by piece.
Breaking Down the Elements
- The Horses: These are obviously the stars of the show. They’re usually drawn in a pretty dynamic way, like they’re racing. I figured that getting the horses right would be the hardest part, so I decided to start sketching them first.
- The Roses: The “Run for the Roses” is such an iconic part of the Derby, and the roses in the logo are always a big deal. They’re usually drawn pretty realistically, so I knew I’d have to pay attention to the details.
- The Lettering: The font is always this elegant, classic style. It’s not just any old font; it has to feel special and connected to the history of the event. I thought about searching online for similar fonts, or maybe even trying to draw the letters by hand.
The Sketching Process
I grabbed my sketchbook and started with the horses. I tried a few different poses, trying to capture that feeling of speed and power. It took a bunch of tries, and my eraser got a good workout, but I eventually got something I was kinda happy with. Then I moved on to the roses. Drawing flowers is not my strong suit, but I did my best to make them look decent. The lettering was last, and honestly, I just played around with different styles until something felt right.
The Digital Experiment
After I had a sketch I liked, I scanned it into my computer. Then, I opened up a drawing program and started tracing over my sketch. This is where things got really interesting. I could adjust the lines, change the colors, and really experiment with the design. I tried different color schemes, different fonts, and even added some extra details that weren’t in my original sketch. It was like taking my rough idea and polishing it into something more refined.
The Final Result
After hours of messing around, I finally had something that looked pretty cool. It wasn’t exactly like the official logo, but it had the same kind of vibe. It was my own take on the classic design, and I was pretty proud of it. It really made me appreciate all the thought and work that goes into creating the real logo each year.
What I Learned
This whole experience taught me a lot about design and the Kentucky Derby. It’s not just about slapping some horses and roses together. There’s a real art to it, and it’s clear that the designers put a ton of effort into making it perfect. I also learned that I’m not too bad at drawing horses, even though my roses still need some work. Maybe I’ll try again next year and see if I can improve. But for now, I’m just happy I gave it a shot and had some fun in the process.
