Gordon Biersch "Art in a Bottle" Painted By Trina Merry

Beer and art – what a combination!

As a brewery restaurant chain looking to stand-out in a competitive industry, Gordon Biersch Brewery looked to body art for inspiration.

Starting in 1988 in Palo Alto, California, Gordon Biersch Brewery serves beer enthusiasts, who desire authentic, tasty beers alongside their meal.

After redesigning their beer bottle packaging (including a new bold logo), they trusted world-class camouflage body painter Trina Merry to translate their new image to customers. “The logo is so specific… I think it's a really good-looking label and I'm excited for their new branding,” explained Trina.

THE GRAND IDEA

Titled ‘Art in a Bottle’, Trina Merry painted the bodies of two people, warmly embracing, into a camouflage of a bottle of Gordon Biersch’s craft beer. This would promote Gordon Biersch Brewery’s new branding in a new way that traps viewers' focus immediately.

Gordon Biersch Brewery’s co-founder Dan Gordon, an award-winning German-style brewer, explained: “There's nothing yet here than having bodies entwined into our bottle on Billboard's located in the Bay Area. That’d be a good showstopper or traffic stopper. This is all new packaging. We wanted to kind of go in the theme of art in the bottle and this is no better way of doing it.”

THE OBSTACLE

Until it was picture perfect, Trina Merry worked for hours camouflage painting and lining up the logo. Trina said: “We're almost done with the body painting. It's really been a long and sweaty day but we've been able to stay refreshed with some delicious beer. We are at the lining up stage. I'm just making sure that all the last pieces are in place and all the lettering is lighting up well and I think we're ready to take a final shot.”

THE RESULT

A triumph.

With each stroke, the models’ bodily curves melt into the beer bottle’s frame. Meanwhile, the clever use of light and paint on the female model’s face, centers the viewer’s attention on her expressions of warmth, comfort and ease.

Trina Merry ensured the piece radiated softness and elegance rather than anything explicit. “Well, I think this is a really edgy but it's a really sexy approach to a liquor ad because they're using the human body but it's suggestive and not overt,” she added.

Check out the Behind-the-Scenes video, above, to see how we created the Gordon Biersch "Art in a Bottle" visual.