Crazy Goat Flyer

I might have promised to let Biku upload this image first, but she hasn't done that yet and I just can't wait. The typeface is by her (designed from scratch and in outline) and is called Kaffe, which I think is German for coffee. Although Biku also did the layout, the rest of the elements (like the wavy lines) are mine.

I asked Jamey if he would be interested in a WWII-style poster of a mechanic holding a can of oil (maybe the old kind with the spout) but it's actually for Mercury (with logo) and contains coffee.

In an unrelated note, the Marlu walk of '06 has been postponed because I doing some moving (just my stuff going to Brampton, not me) and I'll be looking for a place soon. This is in addition to my work at Hedonics and other duties. So I'll be busy.

The Real Wrap

As much as I liked the original DVD wrap for Sheltered Life, this one is just... much better. Since there were two films, I wondered how I was going to create a composite image to represent both films. "It's too bad I can't just do one cover on each side" I thought - so I did!


This has Sheltered Life on the cover. I know it's hard to imagine what this might look like on the shelf, but try to imagine the right half (roughly) as the whole front for one side, and this...


.. parts' right halft as the front for the other side. This way the cover would open the same way from both sides. In effect, no front or back.

I think this must have been printed and released by now, so if you've seen one and know me, please let me know.

By the way, in case you're wondering if the colour motif has something to do with a certain famous American gang rivalry, it doesn't. Nor do the films.

Oh yeah...

I just remembered. I have both of the DVD wraps I did for Adam Reid. Here is the first one. The background images in the background are really cool looking together, but the type covers them up. I like this one a lot, but the next one is better.

Crazy Goats Need a Home...

I'm sure Jamey won't mind a little advertising so here goes. This is a sneak preview of the baby and goat (caffeinated) that will be used in the first Mercury Espresso Bar flyer, due out soon. In case you're wondering Mercuary Espresso is a new establishment (under a month old) that is located on Queen St. between Logan and Carlaw on the south side.

The goats name is Kaffa and the baby's is Mercury Espresso. The flyer will be viewable soon on *insert subplot here* for anyone who's interested in seeing the final version - which will include some of Biku's excellent type work.

Best part is that the solo goat will be a mural in the Espresso Bar soon! Hopefully, this will be one of my murals that will actually avoid being painted over within a month. Though I won't be painting it myself. Alos hopefully, they will use some kind of stencil as I am quite proud of the new (Adobe Illustrator) techniques I have used it this piece's execution.

I strongly recommend seeing the full sized version of this one as there are many small details not noticeable at this size.

Been a while..

Oddly enough this post comes not from any particular desire on my part to post, but of Biku's. This is for Nikki, whom I promised to make a D & D portrait of. I was just going to mail to you, but Biku thought this would give everyone a chance to see it. I was hesitant (in case you didn't like it) - but here goes.

Biku is angry

If you check out *insert subplot here*, you can see what this all about. Biku's upset and won't take it anymore.

Mercenary Selected...

Communications at approximately 20:00 hours today have confirmed participation of the mercenary known in some circles as Carrot Top. Carrot Top had been in communications with operative Biku regarding participation in Rescue Mission B of Operation Apple Grab.

Operative Mongrel will resume telephone communications on 2006/01/09 with Northern Compound to determine if and when hostage release is feasible. At that time, Carrot Top will be contacted. Although activated, Carrot Top has been told to await further instructions.

Operation Apple Grab

Though I have lost interest in blogging for the time being, I feel recent events have warranted a post. Some of the details of of what's happened have been discussed in *insert subplot here*, my girldfriend's blog. Hereonafter, and in the interest of confidentiality, the rest of this post will be in military-ese. For the unindoctrinated, none of this is as serious as it sounds:

Resue Mission A: (2006/01/07)
After logistically ascertaining whereabouts of Apple, operatives Mongrel and Biku travelled to said location at apprximately 17:00 hours. Actual location, which is to remain strictly confidential, will hereafter be referred to as "Northern Compound". Previous to this, operative Mongrel had procurred locus for reployment of Apple, which will be referred to hereafter as "Homemaker".
Upon arrival at Northern Compound at approximately 18:00 hours, operatives Mongrel and Biku entered the facility under heavy trepidation. After failing to ascertain the exact whereabouts of Apple, said operatives entered into negotiations with Northern Compound. Negotiations proved to be ineffectual, and said operatives were forced to withdraw without procuring Apple - who is, in effect, a hostage.
While operatives failed to complete the mission, negotiations with Northern Compound revealed the relative good health and good prospects of hostage Apple - warranting future resue missions.

Resue Mission B: (date not slated)
Mission B involves enlisting of one of two mercenary operatives. Depending on appropriateness and availability, either one of two operatives will be used undercover to procure hostage Apple from Northern Compound. Selected were operative "Thespian" and operative "Carrot Top". Successful completion of this mission completes Operation Apple Grab and permits the execution of the subsequent 'Reployment' mission.

Reployment Mission A: "Homemaker"
While other possibilities exist, in all likelihood, Apple (formerly hostage Apple) will be delivered to Homemaker - which all parties involved in mission have decided as the best course of action.

Joining the Fray

As someone who uses computers all the time - for both pleasure and my livelihood - it is a subject that I can't help but know a lot about. I keep my ear to the ground for big changes in the industry because they can affect me and because right now there is a whole lot going on.

I am a Mac person. Having admitted that, I feel that anybody who can at least turn on a computer has an opinion about Microsoft and maybe their competitors too. Most of the technology professionals I have met are polarized as either Mac or PC users (I'm not including Linux here). Between these two factions, there has been a marked increase of waving-of-flags, shaking-of-fists, gnashing-of-teeth and drawing-of-lines-in-the-sand. There has been a marked decrease in sitting-on-fences. Blogs devoted entirely to promoting either side of the upcoming OS war are popping up everywhere. Discussions with tech-savy friends seem inevitably to veer into what Apple is doing lately and how great/crappy they are. Apple, as far as I'm concerned, is out for revenge.

I've read some of the Windows Vista blogs pro and con. I agree with the cons that Vista has 'borrowed' heavily from OS X. Complaining will accomplish nothing, of course. But suffice it to say that Microsoft is doing the latter of the two things it does best: 'bully' and 'react'. Here's why:

Microsoft (MS): (Windows 95) "Yay, we suddenly rule the world"!
Apple (AP): (NeXT OS) "whoops"!

MS: (Windows 98) "Hey look, we did it again"!
AP: "somebody please help us".

MS: (Windows ME) "Looks like we can do no wro... Dear God! Put it out of it's misery"!
AP: "tee hee". [the outburst promptly causes Apple to pass out due to malnutrition]

MS: (Windows 2000) "Whew"!
AP: "Dangit"! [again passes out]

MS: (Windows XP) "OK. Here's hoping that... Yes! It's good. That aught to hold them for a while". [and they weren't kidding]
AP: (OS 9) "Why won't anybody buy our pretty computers"?

MS: (Windows XP) "Yep, sitting pretty here".
AP: (OS X) "It sure IS pretty". [referring to OS X]

MS: (Windows XP) "Can't talk. Killing the worm threat. Die worms! DIE"! [internet viruses or Worms Armageddon? The viruses are still around]
AP: (OS X Jaguar) "Hmm, I wonder if we can make it more than pretty? Hay, d'ya'll think we can sell us some of these here eyePawds"? [for some reason Apple are country bumpkins in this quip - I'm not sure why]

AP: (OS X Panther) "Now it IS more than just pretty. Golly, those iPods WERE a good idea! Now let's open an online music store".
Google: [flexing muscles threateningly] "Google and Apple friends".
MS: (still Windows XP) "Hey, wait a minute... Aren't WE supposed to do that"?

AP: (OS X Tiger) "Yay, we suddenly rule digital music! No, of course they won't mind paying for Tiger. We released Panther, like, 2 weeks ago".
MS: (still Windows XP) "Hey Yahoo, you still like us, right"?
Yahoo: "Bah! Fat chance. We would NEVER join forces with yo... [looks over at Google] ...I mean, we would never NOT join you".

AP: (pre-OS X Leopard) "After 'Leopard'? Um.. we were thinking ..Manx".
MS: (Beta of Windows Vista) "OK, Widge... uhh... Gadgets, CHECK! Transparencies, CHECK! Hi-Res Icons, CHECK! Faster you scum! [whips cracking] My Daschund can write better code than that"!
Linux: (Red Hat) [waiting in the wings, quietly sticks pins into Windows-shaped voodoo doll]

Now, I realize that Microsoft isn't going belly-up anytime soon. But they're the richest company in the world and are on 94% of computers out there. They should be taking us to new wonderful places with technology. But instead all they seem to do is react and bully.

Program

Here's the program. It's pretty low-key, but I'm proud of it. It's a simple design that uses watermarks instead of my usual complex vector illustrations. I'm inclined to use them more often now they're so much easier to make than vectors. Yeah, I won't go into boring technical details. There it is.

Figured that out

The 'Add Image' function doesn't work in Slimbrowser, apparently. But sadly, it does cater to Internet Explorer - the status quo (and a lousy quo at that). But on the upside here is.. here is the poster! Wow! I really should have put this up earlier! I feel comfortable putting this up because I did most of the work. Biku might put up the postcard and website if she wishes because she did those.

The program will be in the next post. It's not this dramatic, but I'm actually even more proud of it.

On the downside, my Design Kumetai never really had a chance did it? Only attracted one comment - and that was from my girlfriend! So I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Oh well...

A Great Success

Been a crazy week. Apart from the preparatory work done for the shelter on wednesday and thursday, the event itself was pleasantly exhausting. I was there for about 9 hours and Biku for 7 or 8. We were told by email that the whole thing had been an utter success and that people had flipped out over our designs. I was surprised at how quick it was to dismantle the whole thing - only took about an hour and a half. I must say it was nice to do something physical for a change - I really miss that as a designer. My body held up admirably for someone who probably spends an average of 40 hours a week immobile in front of computer, never works out and eats whatever he pleases whenever he pleases. Just watch, I'll die from a massive corronary tomorrow just for saying that.

Biku only sold two tickets (apart from the ones we bought for ourselves), which is two more than I sold (she kindly asserted that we had sold one each). I now realize, as I post to this blog, that this would have been an excellent place to promote the event before it took place - but hindsight... blah, blah, blah.

I'm trying to post a picture of the event here - but the 'Add Image' button doesn't seem to be working right now. Maybe next time.

*Spock versus Kirk in-the-arena* music

I have this idea that involves any artists/designers that publish things on the web; I like to call it Design Kumetai. Basically, a moderator (me) comes up with an idea for an original piece of simple artwork/design - a new logo for Grand & Toy, for example. Artists/designers could pay a small fee ($5) to enter the competition and face off Kumetai-style on small projects with a pre-determined deadline (say, 48-hours). The exact structure of the competition could be done in several ways. But what's important is that a new piece be done every round (if tounament style) and that, if tounament style, that the tournament follow a certain type of work (logos, in this case). So if there were eight participants, there would be three rounds (each with a different logo to design), a 'pot' of 40 dollars (if an entry fee is charged) and the opportunity for artists/designers to showcase their work and engage in competition in a more direct way than they would normally get to. Graphic design is competitive, but usually in a more passive/indirect way. Of course, the winner could win all or part of the pot - the rest going to charity.

So that's my idea. I think Deviantart does something like it now, but strictly for art (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm unaware of any site currently doing this for graphic design.

Forward ho!

Sorry for the long delay but have at leasy been genuinely busy this time... My bread-and-butter client has been throwing lots of hours (hours = $) my way, which is good for someone who is in debt. Been doing volunteer work for homeless kids which feels good and lets me feel like a big shot (not to be confused with the Man). Done some very good work at bread-and-butter and can't wait to post it (once I get it, that is). My non-bread-and-butter clients (the garnish clients, as I like to call them) have mostly disappeared but I'm currently doing work for one - so that's good.

Strongly considered buying some Apple stock, but I think I'm about two years too late and many thousands of dollars short to make it worth my while. I think the Nano is going to be quite something this season, but I won't benefit from it.

Am also looking to sell my car, as I drive it about once a week now and hate even doing that. Walking around the core, I enjoy watching motorists freaking and peaking in their 50k cars (and that's only for gas) while I pass them on foot. "Suckers", I think - though they're probably thinking the same about me.

Soon there will be more artwork posted - which I miss doing - just in case anyone cares.

Yes... Um, Success

Sorry for the extended delay in posting, but I've been exceptionally busy. Well, relatively speaking in comparison to the total inertia I've enjoyed since my return from Europe. The meeting with Harold went well and I received the desired amount from the exchange. Further delving into the intricacies of freelance however has revealed one cannot, in a socialist country like Canada, escape the ravages of the tax man - so I'm a little peeved to learn I'll still be taking a major hit from him. Or her, as the case may be. Actually, I'm fairly certain I'd rather be ravaged by a tax woman if I'm going to be ravaged at all. Still, my situation is far superior to what I had previously. I need not now answer the phone, need not speak to customers at retail and am making more. Now, if only my other paying clients would contact me...

Success!... I think

The interview, or rather re-aquainting, with Harold went well on Friday. The new facilities are nicer than previous and I got the feeling things there are running more smoothly. The hourly rate was agreeable, though the terms not yet clearly delineated. As far as I could tell, it would be exactly as before except there will be no retail and the increased 'wage' will be billed monthly through my company - whatever name I decide to call it. What this all means is that I should be able to support myself now if this becomes regular income and I can keep a few small freelance clients on the go.

Here is the current logo I had been using for if my company were to ever be realized:

I used to think this was great - especially with all the time I spent on it - but now I'm not sure. I think some comments would be helpful here. So if there's anybody out there, please let me know what you think.

Getting interesting...

I am due to receive a phone call from my ex-employer today. Seems he is interested in doing the 'freelance' thing with me after all. Am going to see him assumably during the week sometime and negotiate to see if a contract can be reached. Should this go through - and if the hours are are great enough (in other words, the money is sufficient) - I should be able to support myself and start my own company based on his income with that from my other, smaller freelance clients.

I don't want to get ahead of - or jinx - myself, so I'll post again when I have more information.

Zombie Biku

Well I know you all know I'm aquainted with Biku from insert subplot here. But I bet you don't know what she looks like. Well here she is - in zombie form! Yes, she became the undead just a few nights ago and here's what she looks like now. Oh yeah, she'll deny it in her blog. But all she wants now is brains, brains, brains. All the time.

Did this one late last night from a simple sketch. The hair is entirely made up - but Biku and I think it looks kind of like her.

*****Note to self before publishing pics to web again*****
1. Save them as GIFFs, what with them being line art and all.
2. Optimize them, regardless of format, for web - before the page gets too big.
3. Keep them small enough (or crappy enough) so people can't rip you off.

I swear, only two months out of the workforce and I'm already useless. Biku/Ying, can you teach me some of this new-fangled 'graphic design' nonsense?

I'll be working on my portfolio for the better part of this week - so I can "HOORAY" find/get a job. I feel the need to post something, so here is a pic I did a few years ago. I just don't have time to make anything new right now, unless it's something that will end up in my portfolio. Eventually, I will get a website of my very own - where I can put this stuff.

I've decided to post the new Samantha pic because a: Biku recommended it and, b: I don't have anything else. Been rather busy the past few days - am going paint-balling tomorrow and will not likely post soon. Anyways, here's Sam. Extra vixen-ey with a new quip.