Loved the idea of painting an event mark onto local business windows. Economical, eco-friendly and beautiful - every Main Street business sported one.

Not as eco-friendly, but equally as awesome: the 63rd Maine Lobster Festival poster. Locals told me these guys are a hot item once the fest wraps up. I know this because I want one! The colors and illustration style fit the area perfectly.

Buoys are oftentimes painted with adverts (who knew!). Check out this old one: the hand-painted type is a designer's dream. Authentic and human.

Old boat textures at the fishing pier

Digging the colors created with time

Lobster trap color palette. Someone had to plan this, right?

Textures and lines become cleaned up and more refined. Here is an architectural detail from a storefront downtown. The awesome-sauce of Portland's charm lies in details like this.

I was obsessed with this restaurant's identity (and food and beer – ). The server told me their look has been around for 10 years. I love its simplicity, strong use of typography and limited color palette.

Portland Lobster Co. Identity again

...and again.

Love this wastebasket located near the USS Constitution. The color, shape and detail in typography transform a common eyesore into a work of art.

Shipyard textures. I always try to snap photos of these; sure beats stock textures, and you never know when they'll come in handy.

Tombstone designs at Granary Burying Ground: "Puritan churches did not believe in religious icons or imagery, so the people of Boston used tombstones as an outlet for artistic expression of their beliefs about the afterlife. One of the most popular motifs was the Soul Effigy, a skull or death's head with a wing on each side that was a representation of the soul flying to heaven after death." -FreedomTrail.org

New England Aquarium ads: 80 Penguins. 80 Personalities. I saw these all around Boston and loved the art direction + copywriting. It's always fun to spot regional ad work. Created by ad firm Mullen, Boston location.