PROCESS THIS

FACEBOOK WARRIOR - PENCILS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

Welcome to my FBook status!  One of my beloved minions suggested  the HIGHLANDER WARRIOR with henchman rabbit … and that was that. God knows how many things have come to fruition from the drama on FaceBook. Come on, you can’t tell me you haven’t unfriended someone (or been unfriended) and fight the unbearable urge to re friend  – JUST TO UNFRIEND THEM AGAIN.  That’ll learn ‘em.

GET A LIFE
I had a very wise mentor  once instruct me to “LIVE YOUR LIFE” in order to be a “good” artist. He added that details make the art “great.” The man exhausted me. His critiques seemed excruciating.

I think I would advise young artists the same thing: live your life. It is always too short, so important and it contains the secret of inspiration, experience and subjects. This mean s to NOT spend all of your time studying art/design, looking at art/design, talking art/design, etc art/design.  Those things are VITAL, but so is the art of living. 

 “The well-formed life, like a work of art, communicates and worships through its way of being, a self-proclaimed morality. Just as a work of art has wholeness, a well-designed life has a wholeness that is called holiness. The characteristics of a well-designed life are those found in creation and in art: unity, variety, balance, harmony. “ –Edward Fisher

DENNIS ANDERSON
I miss “talking shop” as you called it – as I call it now. I also actually miss you swearing at me. I miss you putting me in my place. I miss hearing those three magic words so groughly coughed out in my general direction.  And I promise you, I never apologize for my work. (I will never forget that day).

1940 - 2005

EVERYBODY STEALS FROM GOD
My X Mother-in-Law (whom, during the duration of her life, I affectionately called Satan), was an artist.

Mom?

She was an amazing astounding awesome (and all other “a” adjectives) stained glass artist.

St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church
Margaret Bouchez Cavanaugh
Bloomfield Hills

She gifted me a book (Catholic in nature, mind you) called EVERYBODY STEALS FROM GOD : COMMUNICATION AS WORSHIP  written by Edward Fischer.

I can read!

He (Fischer – not God) points out that design is the most usual thing in creation and is the bases of all communication.  Communication is the most important aspect of daily life.  As we grow older, experience serves as a magnet to draw meaning from words and events, meaning that was there all along but we were not ready for. Who knew it was all so aesthetic?

“Design is the template I hold up to experience. We look at the world through templates of our own making and try to fit them over the realities of life. No fit is perfect, but even a sorry fit is better than none.” –Same Guy

There IS a God!

“Charactersitics of good design imbue nature.” –Ditto

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH
I am survivng my Interactive Design Class. Be it known that there is a reason there is “SS” in “CSS.” (A little web design humor there). CLICK THE LINK. DO IT. DAMMIT.

http://ohioart2.aisites.com/pc

27b/6 – DAVID THORNE
I am extremely emotional over this…
David Thorne is my favorite troll:
http://www.27bslash6.com/missy.html

PROCESS PROCESS PROCESS
This posted link is to a blog post covering one designer’s process. It also saves me from digging through all of my notebooks to post one of mine. Just remember : BRIEFS-THUMBNAILS-TWEAKS.

It is important to know as much as possible about your client. It is important to brainstorm and thumbnail without censoring yourself. And it is important to research (your market, your art, your industry, the clients industry) – what? You thought making a living drawing pictures is easy? HAH! I LAFF AT YOU!

http://blakemccreary.com/2011/06/logo-design-process-for-host-party-com/

BAMBI vs. GODZILLA
This is the very FIRST animation I saw from an AniFest. I fell in love with the world of illustration due to this very piece:

THE PRAGMATIC SIDE
35 Beautiful Vintage and Retro Photoshop Tutorials
I was perusing the net looking for an effect and found this fantastic page of tuts!

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/10/14/30-beautiful-vintageretro-photoshop-tutorials/

COMIC SANS
I hate it. Stop using it.
http://www.comicsanscriminal.com

WHAT THE COOL!

Child art will never be the same.

http://whatthecool.com/post/1089824121/1089824121

STUDIO 566 FARE
Or is it “fair.” Hellif I know.

THE END

OGD - THUG LIFE

The week has been pretty quiet in these here Toledo, Ohio. Quiet for me, anyway. I mean, if you don't count every little subtle nuance going down amongst friends and relations on FaceBook. Come on, you know what I am talking about. Everyone else in town is shooting each other. I guess the summer heat brings out the gangstah in everyone. My only weapon is my sketch book, the most dangerous place on Earth. Many o’ minions have stated that they hope their visages never end up in it (ok, ONE person said that). And many o’ minions HAVE ended up in it (Mostly X's).  Of course, I tell everyone it is therapeutic and I get a nod of understanding. It's a spiritual investment.

TRU DAT

I’M PIMP TIGHT
This quote comes from a peer about “FREE” work:

If you are good at something you never do it for free. This guy should get bent.

That same quote NOW through the PIMP TRANSLATOR:

Yo If you be pimp-tight at somethin` you never do it fo' free. dis here nigga should git bent Ya' dig?

YA DIG?
(Pimp Rabbit Muse found on GOOGLE)

I dig. But I sometimes question my own ability at pimp tightness - I think we all do at one time or another…

"WE PIMP TIGHT!"
I seriously GOOGLE IMAGE'd "pimp tight" and this came up...

Translation brought to you today by: http://joel.net/EBONICS/Translator

And the letter:

Whateverthehellthisis

WORD ASSOCIATION

MAGIC!

One of my latest... Doug Henning is LIVID!

BANKSY's Detroit Rat is wearing MAGIC PIMP'S star glasses!

CRAIG
Our dear friend Craig had this on his list:

PEOPLE RECRUITING FREELANCERS

Date: 2011-06-27, 12:51PM CDT
Reply to: job-z7tet-2465211908@craigslist.org

To those employers creating posts for take-home or freelance, pay-per-project jobs: please stop insulting those of us with talent and pay us what our artwork is worth. We are trying to make a living just like you, but you all think you can get by with giving us the less-than-bare-minimum needed for us to earn any kind of livelihood. If you want to pay $25 for a job, ask your nephew to create you something in Microsoft Paint. If you want talented artwork that sells your products and your business, you have to spend real money. I like to think of myself as one of the most affordable designers out there, but man, it's not even worth my time to send my samples to some of you recruiters. <http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/med/2465211908.html>.

THE USEFUL PART OF THE BLOG - SORTA...
HEY WHIPPLE-SQUEEZE THIS!

ORDER FROM AMAZON

That's "Amazon Book Store," not AN AMAZON. This book is quite possibly the BEST book I have read on the topic of creativity and ad design.  It is humorous, inspirational and intelligent. Sullivan is old hat (and a succsessful one at that) to the ad industry. In fact, there are times when his confidence seems to be the source of his advice. It is one of those books I constantly pick up and put down so much that I don’t know where it is… I also read it.

CAUTIONARY NOTE: If you are NOT a graphic designer or an ad creative, the rest of this section is going to numb your brain. You may just want to skip ahead to the cute bunny pic.

If you don’t like rabbits, skip right to the PIMP NAME GENERATOR. You can thank me later...

I have posted an excerpt from his book (taken from another blog site < http://adland.tv>). It is on my favorite topic, THE HACK. As I mentioned before, I am not always confident about my PIMP TIGHTNESS. Often times I do feel like a hack. Therefor, I tend to enjoy reading about them. Remember, rule #1 for graphic designers is: THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE BETTER THAN YOU. Sometimes it feels as though EVERYONE is better…

HACK - BY LUKE SULLIVAN

LUKE SULLIVAN’S BLOG (What can I say – I’m a fan!)

YOU CAN BE HIS FRIEND ON FACEBOOK! (I’m his Fbook friend!)

YOU CAN BE MY FAN ON FACEBOOK! (Do it! You KNOW you want to… All the cool kids are doing it…)

No... THE BOOKSTORE!

DOSTOYEVSKY QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.”
 -- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

PIMP NAME
Reverend Doctor Collins Rockefeller
http://www.playerappreciate.com/pimphandle.asp

The MOST ironic thing about these result is that when I became a mail-order reverend, I also purchased the title of “Doctor of Mythological Studies.”  I did this SPECIFICALLY so that I could have the title: "REVEREND DOCTOR."

My Inspiration: The Reverend Jim Ignatowski

Be like Me and Reverend Jim! ORDER YOURS TODAY! :  http://www.themonastery.org/
Click the button on the top right to GET ORDAINED.

MY REAL PIMP NAME
I will always be 1¢

Who is 1¢?
(Portrait by Gary Wittenmyer)

IDENTITY CRISIS
I did write a rap song under the nomenclature of NILLA WAIF… it goes something like this:

[Holla]
I’m Nilla Waif
Ay yo trip…

[Rap]
Skin aint white im veiny blue
Dats my Irish American ginger hue

mom's car is a Fords is my free free ride
only cuz – well… she up and died

She left hard for me in her will
Hold up homie, time for my pill… [PAUSE]

my 419 is worth 200 even
cant pay it so I try to believe in

Pimpin my art
Pimpin my heart
Pimpin in the Pimped Out
Pimpin Marts

I aint no 563
Fukk dat, G

I aint yo bitch
I be 5-6-6

I don’t answer yo knock. SO?
You got a problem wit dat? YO!

It ain’t about you yo psycho sycho-phant
It all about me not wearing any pants.

So just keep rollin past the door
I’m THE MAN’S underpaid in-house art whore

[Spoken]
Im the OGD – the Original Graphic Designah

I keep it real.

werd.
[Drop mic]

I got cred.

PIMPIN VECTOR PACK TO GO WITH MY PIMPIN RAP
Free vector “Pimpin Elements” for your pimpin pleasure: http://www.dragonartz.net/2008/05/29/pimpin-vector-pack/

Space Invaders?

PIMP YO ART
Serious good advice about art licensing and how to contract in order to maintain creative rights. Trust me, this issue WILL raise its ugly head.

http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/licensing-your-art-to-a-skateboard-company-or-any-company.html

About to raise his ugly head...
(From my sketchbook)

PHENOMENAL ART
I only wish I could do this:
http://www.hydro74.com/

STUDIO 566 BUZ

Ground control to Major Bun...

GO SEE THE MAN KILLING CLAM!

WIN SOME, LOSE SOME, WINSOME

Class is frustrating at best. Class is a living metaphor for life. I didn’t get taken in the 5/21/11 Rapture either. Nuff said.

disgruntled

OUT AND ABOUT IN TOLEDO, OHIO

A gaggle of police following a Rastafarian on bicycles. Notice the beautiful ply wood decor covering Ted's Hamburgers. This inventive and stylish makeover is seen throughout the city; a keen addition to our landscape during the FINKBEINER years.

I realize the image may throw a few of you off -- this isn't a flashback, it is Carnival Night! Please, don't feed  the carnies, they will follow us home. The excitement truly never ends in this town.

Normally, the parking meters will read, "FAIL." At first, I believed that it was some cosmic power prophesying my future. Then, I realized it was just a sad joke on the meter's part when it ate my change and gave nothing in return, including an hour of parking. This particular day, however, it was dEAd. A cosmic reference to my career, no doubt.

You gotta love when anyone can run at full speed with nuts in their mouth. You gotta love when any middle aged woman chases after a squirrel with a camera just because it has a nut in its mouth.

I Love this face.

ART VS. WTF IS THAT?
Andy Rooney is a trip to begin with. He must be about 172 years old by now, truly an animated fossil. God knows what the portrait in his attic looks like. Speaking of art, in this vid, Andy lets us know what he thinks of certain modern art pieces. I have to admit it, there are a few in there that I was thinking, “glorified masturbation.” (I mean, I thought that about the art, not about what I had planned for my day). Of course, I am very much in love with representational art so tend to be a bit put off when it comes to some abstract work.

I was once challenged (in terms of realism) with, “What’s the point – you may as well take a photograph.” Say that line in your head with a Turkish accent though. Well, perhaps my point is that I put my own spirit and style into the image. No matter how skilled the artist, we cannot replicate a model 100%. There are too many subtleties and nuances. So no, you may as well NOT take a photograph.  Another soul countered the anti-representational stance with: People only say that because they can’t draw.  Let us end the argument there.

I am going to buy a canvas, paint my rabbit’s feet and let him run across it several times. I will call it, “ACROSS THE GRAVE.” I bet I win all kinds of accolades from the Abstracters… Damn you Abstracters! How you mock me... Maybe I will even get a place reserved on the 7^th floor… my luck, the freaking bunny will be the more popular artist.

SPEAKING OF ART - THE MOBA

This is a MOST exquisite site:
MUSEUM OF BAD ART

I was very ill when I stumbled upon this image of RONAN THE PUG:

Erin Rothgeb
18" x 24", acrylic on canvas board
Purchased by M. Frank at a Boston thrift store
MOBA #333

"O Danny Boy..."

The artist's affection for her dog far outstrips her artistic skill. Paint is slapped on the canvas with random brushstrokes, creating matted, impossible fur. Done in such a hurry that the canine anatomy was not even considered, the artist still captures Ronan's playful sweetness. Or perhaps the pup has just lapped up all the spilled eggnog at a holiday party and is ready to attempt a clear tenor rendition of "Danny Boy."

From: Museum of Bad Art: Masterworks by Michael Frank and Louise Reilly Sacco, Ten Speed Press.

I laughed so hard at the complete RONAN EXPERIENCE that the other people in my house thought there was something seriously wrong. In fact, people were set to phone 911. I should probably add that I was on some very good medication.

ILLUSTRATION TRUTHS

NEW STORE!!!
Yes, my minions, I am working on a separate store for RAGING BUNNIES. There are a few new things, but it is mostly me transferring the RAGING BUNNIES category from STUDIO566 over to its own store.  I believe this move will prove to be a good one.

I will have to clean up the side panel of this blog, however, as it is getting really busy over there. I am planning to dump the scrolling product windows and have the store banners only. This is my glamorous life—do try not to be jealous.

CHURCH LOGOS
I am stuck on one of my logo designs. It is for a ministry – so subconsciously I may be fighting against it. In my research I found this site:

http://churchrelevance.com/resources/top-church-logos

The beautiful thing about the top logos is that most of them aren’t beating you over the head with WE’RE A CHURCH! Of course, it hasn’t exactly helped my plight. I am still chugging away at it. I plight well. I am in the part of my process I like to call the, “^&*% ^&  *$%^   #$!*.” 

Probably not a good choice... but an original by Yours Truly.

FIRST THERE WAS ADAM
One of my favorite minions sent me this link. This guy (Adam) chronicles his life experiences through his illustrations:  http://www.booksofadam.com

The post specifically sent to me was this:
http://www.booksofadam.com/2011/05/never-be-my-friend.html

Now, I must confess, I have done the same thing. I sometimes also take your photos and put them into Photoshop and have a time of it. I have many pop eyed vampires in my repertoire.  Red eyed, lip sticked, green skinned antennae repertoire. Big head/tiny body, pimply faced, large mouthed repertoire. Of course, I actually post mine then y’all unfriend me.  Some of you even send me, “I HATE YOU DON’T EVER CONTACT ME AGAIN” notes of appreciation. 

Don't ever contact me again!

STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR

As designers we often get “stuck,” or are in deep need of inspiration. Ok – as a designer *I* often get stuck and am in deep need of inspiration. Logo Bliss has a gallery of stupendous logos to peruse:

http://www.logobliss.com

More importantly, we should ALL study those logos which should never have been.

http://www.boredpanda.com/worst-logo-fails-ever

AND SO
Class logo: Product expansion into China

MY RABBIT EATING A BANANA

MY OTHER RABBIT EATING A STICK

MY GRANBUN HAPPY IN GRUNGY BASEMENT

 

NO CONSERVATIVES!

THANK GOD!

Is that a woofer or a tweeter?