DTO

Lorem Ipsum Mecum Vade

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:50:00 +0000

I have recently come to fruition that just because something is commercial or more obvious doesn't mean that you should necessarily settle for the first thing you see. Do your research! Get creative! I have numerous resources on the web when it comes to designing. Most people usually search Free Fonts in Google and usually daFont.com will come up in the search engine. Now there is nothing wrong with daFont.com, but there are various sites out there that make their own custom Fonts. Not only are they phenomenally obscure, but you have to take into consideration that art is unique. No one piece is going to be like another. Even when borrowing characters and character designs for inspiration. Take the latter for example YouWorkForThem has just released their latest font! I have listed it for your enjoyment! Use it wisely!

LaFraiser

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:46:00 +0000

While perusing the web, I came across this really unique Tee company entitled LaFraiser. They are similar to the previous companies I've listed, but they seem to focus primarily on vector art rather than specific design. You are allowed to upload your work and compete for 1000€ ! For those who do not want to convert I have taken the liberty to do it myself 1,000.00 EUR = 1,422.48 USD. Their shirt range in price from 19€ to 24€. As an Illustrator I can say that this site is one of the best Tee companies that I have come across and you also get to keep your own rights! Be sure to check it out!

Here is a brief synopsis on the co.:laFraise is Europe's largest T-Shirt design competition. Up to 7 designs are chosen every week from over 100 daily submissions to be printed and sold from the site. Mission: We respect our designers: our shirts are strictly limited to 500 per design for which winning designers get 1000€ & keep their copyrights.

Juxtapoz 15th Aniversary Art Auction: Greg Lamarche

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:47:00 +0000

I was reading this article in Juxtapoz that I thought that I would share. Juxtapoz is a magazine that focuses on arts and culture. That's the gist of it! If you would like to know more I have included the link below.

Greg Lamarche was born and raised in Queens and still resides in New York City. Taking inspiration from the streets, and using the same fundamentals he developed during his 25+ years as a graffiti writer, he creates unique collages that blur the line between fine art and graphic design.

Greg definitely takes his time on his work. He strictly uses text from found objects and flat leaflet paper that he collects for sometimes years at a time before the final work is created. His work incorporates an array of typography and word fragments as well as elements of graffiti such as motion, repetition, multiple perspectives, bold color, wit, and fresh styles. The following is an excerpt from a Juxtapoz exclusive interview with SP One…

Elise Hennigan: Can you describe your fascination with typography?

Greg Lamarche: It definitely started with writing graffiti. The idea of making your own letters was always of interest to me. The design possibilities are endless and are a continual challenge.

Do you try to get political with your art or you all about aesthetics?

It’s more personal than anything. I don’t overtly make political statements in my work, but they are there. Whenever I do feel the need to tackle a political issue it’s usually localized or has to do with something right in front of me. Right now New York is ripe with political strife so there is no lack of inspiration on the artistic front.

How would you describe your progression as an artist?

Slow and steady.

Are you at a point now where you are trying to transition away from graffiti art?

I am not content to just do my name over and over on a canvas. Real graffiti is in the street and to me is a totally separate world. Graffiti influences my work but I’m trying to do something new.

What can we expect from you in the future?

More good work.

Keep up on the Juxtapoz 15th Anniversary Auction at Juxtapoz auction

45 Examples Of Beautiful Business Cards For Your Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Business cards are so significant when it comes to promoting yourself or advertising for others. A well designed and printed business card can impress clientele and will make an everlasting impression . A poorly designed or printed card can leave a bad impression or even worse be simply forgotten. so it’s important to design a card which is unique and stands out above the crowd.
Here is a collection of creative business cards for your inspiration, which will also assist you in designing your own business card. Enjoy!

Quite possibly the greatest illustrations ever

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:15:00 +0000

I'm not sure if many of you have heard of Drew Struzan. Does the name sound familiar? You may not know the name, but if you are at least 25-30 you will definitely recognize his work. He has done illustrations for some of the most epic movies within the last century which include, but are not limited to Indiana Jones & The Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Star Wars, Coming To America & Back To The Future . . . to name a few. These are some of the most phenomenal illustrations that I have seen. This is the true definition of an artist. This is a once in a lifetime talent. We have come to the age where most people have come to utilize technology to the point where it is almost required to do any type of design or illustration work. It all begins with natural talent. The programs, albeit amazing should be second hand to the pencil and pad. I would encourage you to visit Mr. Drew Struzan's portfolio for a great quantity of marvelous works, with the prospect to buy his original pieces. Our legacy will live on through our art. If you haven't seen these movies then you should probably watch them as soon as possible.

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Coming To America

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Batteries Not Included

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Cutthroat Island

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
The Goonies

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Back to the Future Trilogy

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Back To The Future III

(variation of the original poster)

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan Big Trouble in Little China

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Blade Runner

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
First Blood

(Rambo)

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Hellboy

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Hellboy II the Golden Army

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Hook

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Lonely Guy

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Masters of the Universe

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Meatballs III: Summer Job

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
The Name of the Rose

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Pan's Labyrinth

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Police Academy 3: Back in Training

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
"Revenge of the Jedi"

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Star Wars Trilogy

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
The Thing

One of the Greatest Illustrations in History by Master Drew Struzan
Three O'Clock High

Music Is Conducive To Producing Art

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:29:00 +0000

I have been incredibly busy so much so that I have not updated my blog in well over a month. There is simply not enough time. I have been anxiously awaiting the fall. I just recently did a design over at dA. "Rainclouds In My Room" you can peep it my portfolio. Also, if you would like to support my work I have also included the full-sized 16 x 20" print at CafePress. I am not a premium user, so I do not have the full capabilities of editing my shop. I am also in the process of designing new business cards. I have been contemplating. . . on many things, so I like to focus on my thoughts. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have a passion and to find a niche. I recently got accepted on the SPIN street team. Perhaps, you have heard of SPIN. It's a dope magazine. I utilize it to it's full extent and it's a great way to learn about new bands and stay updated on current news inside the music industry.So, without further ado, I bring to you . . .

Spin

A music magazine for a young, forward-thinking audience, Spin also covers film, fashion, art and politics with a fresh slant and irreverent attitude. Columns bring a similar sensibility to reviews of CDs, videos, movies and consumer electronics.

PHOTOS: Best of Lollapalooza 2009 Live! See Jane's Addiction, Killers, Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, Bat for Lashes, Depeche Mode, and 50 more from the Chicago music fest.
CHECK IT OUT
>>

Lollapalooza 2009's Best and Worst Moments
Still nursing our sunburns, SPIN's Lolla team weighs in with a final roundup of the festival's highs and lows.
SEE THE LIST >>

NEWS: Panic! at the Disco Play Secret Acoustic Show
Pete Wentz and Mark Hoppus are among the pleased onlookers as the band goes unplugged -- and covers Journey!
READ NOW >>

Watch: Pearl Jam Play with Rolling Stones
Ron Wood joins the Jam in London. Plus: Eddie Vedder debuts a new acoustic song. Check out the videos here!
WATCH NOW >>

TRIBUTE: John Hughes and the Soundtracks to Our Lives
The iconic late filmmaker defined the plight of smart kids railing against the individuality-crushing high-school caste system. Music was their escape hatch.
READ NOW >>

SPINearth.tv: Lollapalooza 2009 Fan Photo Gallery
Hundreds of thousands of festivalgoers converged on the Windy City for Lollapalooza 2009. Check out a huge photo gallery of the people who made it what it was: great.
VIEW PICS >>

Win the Ultimate Home Entertainment System ($4,700 value)!
Enter Redken For Men's "Hook-Up Your Pad" Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Flat-Screen HD TV, Home Theater System, and a Blu-Ray Disc Player! Did we mention there are 15 runner-up prizes such as the Nintendo Wii and Ipod classic?
ENTER NOW >>

Win A Custom Painted Honda Fury Chopper!
SPIN and Honda are giving away a custom painted Honda Fury Motorcycle with art from 311's newest release, Uplifter. Enter here to win!
ENTER NOW >>

Exclusive Video: Behind the Wilco Cover! Check out Jeff Tweedy and the band hanging out on the set of SPIN's August Cover Shoot, shot on location in Chicago by Photographer, Francesco Carrozzini.
GO NOW >>

Get Our August Issue Free!

Check out SPIN's new Digital Edition, where you can peruse our pages papercut-free, on your computer screen. Best of all, it's FREE when you register, and we'll send you one (little) email each month when the new issue is ready to read.

TRY IT TODAY >>

T-Shirt Templates Vol. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:38:00 +0000

GoMedia Arsenal has released its latest T-Shirt design templates Vol. 2.
This second volume of T-Shirt Templates comes in response to popular demand and features natural, hand-created drop shadows & HDR photography for smoother shading layers

･ Preset Shirt Colors
･ Photos of both Front AND Backs
･ Flat and loosely wrinkled versions
･ Easy to use clipping masks in place
･ Smooth, realistic lighting, drop shadow & shading effects
They also have the Ultimate Apparel Template Collection now up! Buy the ULTIMATE APPAREL TEMPLATE COLLECTION which contains the Distressed T-Shirt Templates, Advanced Hoodie Design Package, Urban Templates, T-Shirt Templates volume 2, Ladies Long Sleeve and Ladies Short Sleeve for one low price! It's a pretty awesome deal!

See more in the image gallery!

If you are in Illustrator aficionado like myself then you should find the following very helpful. GoMedia has just released it's newest tutorial Adobe Illustrator 101.

If you constantly searching for textures then you have come to the right place! GoMedia also has released a stunning set of Spray Paint Textures! Also included are these phenomenal set of hi-res textures, which include everything from wood to fabric. . . These are priceless and I doubt that you would find them anywhere else. I know because as a designer I am well connected and very resourceful. These are simply incomparable.
Take a look!

I have been aware of Go Media for quite some time and I have also been designing for quite some time. It's very seldom that you come across a site that makes it's own fonts. There are a select few on the web that come to mind, but at Go Media they have these wonderful sets of hand-crafted true-type fonts! These are pretty dope!

Thoughtful, Impactful, Meaninful Design. . . what more can I say?!

And Wearing Is Half The Battle

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:57:00 +0000

If you haven't seen G.I. Joe yet, you should probably check it out. Whether you are a die hard fan, or a casual moviegoer it's definitely a fun watch. It may not be the ideal movie going experience, or a perfect film, but it is definitely worth watching in the theatre. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I'm sure that you will do the same. I am a child of the eighties, so it was pure nostalgia for me watching remnants of the past come to life on the big screen. In honor of the film release, New Era has designed these extremely cool G.I. Joe fitteds! Check it out here! G.I. Joe!

Also, New Era is now offering designers a chance to showcase their talent. From now until Nov 3 there is a contest which allows you to design your own cap. I plan to utilize my talent to it's full capability. The possibilities are endless. What are you waiting for?!

Additionally, just in time for fall New Era has released it's new fall collection. These are truly stunning and innovative whether you are a fashion designer, a graphic designer or an interior designer. There designs are truly unique and definitely worth supporting. I am very excited for this line and I encourage you all to support independent labels and designers.

Also, just in are these very cool LE New Era tees. There are some great designs. I really enjoy the particular style of some of their more creative tees. They also come in multiple colors and range in the price range from $28 to $16!

Last but not least, take an additional 30% off already reduced items! Take advantage... while supplies last

This Just In…Shop New Arrivals from New Era!

Michael Jackson Portrait by Andy Warhol Up For Auction

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Andy Warhol 1984 portrait of Michael Jackson up for auction
by Debbie Tuma
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Saturday, July 4th 2009, 4:00 AM

In a silent auction at Vered Gallery in East Hampton the star painting is an Andy Warhol orignal painting of Michael Jackson painted in 1984.

Related News
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The King of Pop Art's portrait of the King of Pop is being auctioned off at a Hamptons gallery.

Andy Warhol's "Michael Jackson" painting went on the block yesterday at the Vered Gallery of East Hampton. The auction ends July 12.

The 30-by-26-inch, synthetic polymer painting on canvas is a portrait of a smiling Jackson in his red military uniform from his album "Thriller."

"We estimate this painting, created in 1984, will sell for $1 million to $10 million," said Ruth Vered, who owns the gallery with her partner, Janet Lehr.

Lehr said the painting, which originally came from the Warhol estate, was consigned to the gallery by a New York private collector.

The portrait is stamped twice by the estate and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. It has been exhibited around the world, from Rio de Janeiro to Tokyo, to Las Vegas, she said.

"This auction is an unparalleled moment," said Lehr. "Warhol in the Hamptons is so important because he's a monumental figure who had a spectacular oceanfront estate in Montauk. So we have the meetings of the world's greatest artists in the fields of art and music."

Vered said three years ago, her gallery had an exhibit of 20 of Warhol's famous athlete paintings, including Muhammad Ali, Pele, O.J. Simpson, Chris Evert and Jack Nicklaus.

"But now I wanted to have the legendary Michael Jackson," she said.

She said her gallery holds auctions only twice a year, and a percentage of designated lots benefit diffrent charities.

This year, Vered, of Tel-Aviv, said she is donating part of the proceeds to Shderot, a town in Israel that was bombed for about eight years by the Palestinians.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/michael_jackson/2009/07/04/2009-07-04_for_cool_few_million_you_can_own_pop_portrait_of_artist_as_young_man.html#ixzz0RJ2Dn172

Batman: The Dark Knight Sequel (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:31:00 +0000

SuperHero Hype has just announced that the next Batman sequel in the Nolan series is set for 2011. This is the most exciting news that has dropped since BFTC! I absolutely cannot wait. After the first two were so phenomenal, the third has to be astounding. More information below.

Source:Courier-Post January 25, 2009

New Jersey's Courier-Post talked to Batman Begins and The Dark Knight executive producer Michael Uslan, who expects the third installment of the Christopher Nolan-directed films, starring Christian Bale, to hit theaters in 2011:

Uslan will be onboard as executive producer for the "Dark Knight" sequel, which he estimates will be theaters by 2011. As for the identity of the next round of Batman's supervillains and love interests, Uslan remains tight-lipped. "It's one of those deals where if I told you, I'd have to kill you," he says with a chuckle.

In related news, while The Dark Knight did not receive the Producer of the Year Award at the Producers Guild of America Awards on Saturday (it went to Slumdog Millionaire), the movie did receive awards at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday - Heath Ledger won for Best Supporting Actor and The Dark Knight also won Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture.

In other news, the first review of Batman: Arkham Asylum has been posted in Spin Magazine. The following review is by Dan Ackerman (a regular contributor to Spin)

Batman Out Of Hell by Dan Ackerman
It’s enough to make a man hang up his cowl.

Few iconic characters have been treated as shabbily by the video game industry as Batman, who’s been subjected to a painful procession of strength-sapping clunkers. The superhero’s digital mojo is so low that the producers of The Dark Knight didn’t even negotiate an accompanying game, normally a given for a genre. (Even 2008’s lackluster The Incredible Hulk got one) But by selectively ignoring the inessential history preferred by previous movies, cartoon series and comic books, Batman: Arkham Asylum has steadily built up buzz since the project was announced last year; despite the lack of a major film tie-in or A-list celebrity involvement (though much of the cast will be familiar to those who watch the cartoons). The game is easily one of the year’s best.

The sterling effort is long overdue. Though games and comics share similarities in their reliance on outlandish character design, far-flung plots and staccato snippets of dialogue, previous attempts to translate Batman to the digital realm have failed because publishers have refused to recognize that the two formats are very different beasts. How so? Most comic book tales follow the ebb and flow of traditional fiction narrative, with character-driven story arcs that build to a climax, punctuated by superhero throw downs. In contrast, video game story telling generally serves as mere background for setting up the basic mode of play (first-person shooting, puzzle solving, etc…) But Asylum, inspired in part by a 1989 graphic novel by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean reconciles these two formats’ disparate aesthetics, striking the right balance between narrative depth and a fun interactive gaming experience.

The plot places a rogue’s gallery of villains (Joker, Harley, Killer Croc & others) together in the titular loony bin. Problems start when the Joker (voiced by Mark Hamill) busts his fellow inmates out during a riot. It’s up to Bruce Wayne’s masked alter ego to recapture them one by one and disrupt a McGuffin-filled plan that reveals a method behind the clown’s madness.

In the free-roaming manner of Grand Theft Auto much of the asylum’s elaborate Gothic landscape is open for Batman to explore. And as with covert-ops titles such as Splinter Cell, players must sneak past armed enemies and stick to the shadows (This bat ain’t bulletproof). Hand-to-hand combat requires a button-mashing series of combos that wouldn’t seem out of place in a straight up actioner like God of War. But you’ll need ample brainpower to follow a suspect’s DNA trail or find the many hidden clues. By nimbly jumping these different gaming approaches as well as honoring the protagonist’s four color origins, Arkham Asylum proves that a video game is capable of capturing Batman’s entertaining complexity. Justice, at last has been served.

Also, just in NewEra has released it's latest line! I own the Superman hat and I wear it quite frequently. I love art and I love comics. I wanted to buy the Batman one, but I didn't like the four-color logo. I will definitely be purchasing the black and gold edition once I accrue the income and financial means to do so. I will support D.C. for life. Batman and I are not so different. We both have a means to an end and we strive for the same ideal.

"People think it's an obsession. A compulsion. As if there were an irresistible impulse to act. It's never been like that. I chose this life. I know what I'm doing. And on any given day, I could stop doing it. Today, however, isn't that day. And tomorrow won't be either" - Batman

Shop New Era and Receive Same Day Shipping. *Orders must be placed by 2pm EST.

MyArtworkSpace Annual Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:03:00 +0000

MyArtworkSpace is extending their annual competition for all artists. There are so many resources on the internet. It's almost infinite. If you are searching for unique Artwork you will find a wide variety of one-of-a-kind art pieces. On MyArtworkSpace.com’s huge online gallery. Search their artist and gallery directories, or by medium, subject, style or keywords. MyArtworkSpace.com enables you to buy online safely and easily using our secure site. Additionally, you can contact our artists to ask questions or purchase their artwork directly.

If you are you an Artist looking for a place to sell your Artwork?
You will have access to a dynamic, full featured site to sell and promote your artwork; www.myartworkspace.com/yourname. MyArtworkSpace.com offers low price plans to meet every artist’s needs. Your artwork will rank higher on search engines because MyArtworkSpace.com is Google and Yahoo optimized. MyArtworkSpace.com is always Art Driven, Customer Focused!
*Deadline extended by popular demand*

*EXTENDED Deadline: August 20th 2009*

MyArtworkSpace.com

2nd Annual Spring Art Competition!

PRIZES

First Place: $1,000 (USD)

Second Place: $500 (USD)

Third Place: $250 (USD)

Fourth Place: $50 to Blick Art Materials

*Sponsored in part by Blick Art Materials*

For more info or to enter click here… MyArtworkSpace

The winners from www.myartworkspace.com Annual Spring Art Competition can be viewed here… http://www.myartworkspace.com/spring08winners.php

Any questions please email support@myartworkspace.com

***For all the artists that have already entered. Since the new artists entries have been given more time, if you would like to change your image entry or update your existing image. Please email the new images to support@myartworkspace.com. Please add your name, phone number and the name of the artwork in the email.

Design By Humans

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:02:00 +0000

DesignByHumans is one of the most quantitative design sites that I have come across. By quantitative I mean they have a variety of quality designs. I have tried submitting my work for their contests in the past, however, my designs were not accepted. They have a certain standard. It's best to look at the examples given on their site login and on the forums before submitting. I tend to stray away from commercial art because it does not fit my particular style, but I still have to make a profit just like every other designer. Like CafePress, you can submit Tees or you can submit your own personal art work.

What is Design By Hümans?
DesignByHümans is a place for people to submit, discover and buy amazing custom t-shirt designs created by artists from around the world. Based around an ongoing t-shirt design contest, all of the designs you see on DesignByHümans have been submitted by our community. Headquartered in Irvine, California, DesignByHümans officially launched in July 2007. To celebrate their two year anniversary they are conducting a special sale. Check it out! Support the arts!

ModernTee

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:32:00 +0000

Since I am on the subject of design and tees. I should also mention ModernTee.com I have posted a description below. The competition NEVER ends! Upload your design, let the public rate it, and they will select the best one(s) to be printed! It's basically a win-win situation!

WHAT DO YOU WIN?

• First, you'll receive a check or money order in the amount of $300.00

• Second, two free t-shirts with your design as soon as we have them printed.

• Third, if we re-print your design for a different color or for a specific print style (baby doll, v-neck, long sleeve, etc.), we'll give you an additional $300.00!

• On top of that, we'll give you a dollar per shirt we sell of your design! Up to $250.00 per month!

• Plus, you get to brag to your friends and family that your design is famous and that you've won $300.00

Eat em' up

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:47:00 +0000

It's that time again! CafePress has just released this awesome set of designs. The theme is great and I think it speaks for itself. Feeling hungry?! Check it out! If you haven't already you should sign up for CafePress. They have a variety of different types of designs to choose from and you can also submit your own. Read my previous post for more information. You obviously have some design skill, put it to use. Find a niche and start creating some shirts and jackets. You can make potentially $75 to $100 a month doing what you already do in your spare time!

Make Your Look the Hot New Trend. Shop Back to School at CafePress.com

To degree or not to degree? That is the question

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:27:00 +0000

Do you need a degree to be a designer?

There are many available options to take in the “design” field. Graphic Art is the term I use to describe my work. There’s often a fine line to distinguish the difference between graphic art and graphic design. Graphic art is more centered on visual development and graphic design focuses more on typography and layout. One of the fastest growing fields for graphic artists is Motion Design (aka – motion graphics). The exhilaration that comes from seeing your art come to life is indescribable. I have taken it upon myself to focus on learning After Effects, Maya & C4D specifically for this purpose. Ringling describes Motion Design as the following: “You see it everyday, but you probably didn’t know it had a name. You see it when you go to the movies, or watch TV, or surf the web, or even go shopping. It is the mysterious title sequence that sets the mood for the latest sci-fi movie. It’s the beautiful animated graphics that introduce the events for the Olympic Games. It’s the cool interface on that website that you use to make your own snowboard designs. It’s the fun, colorful interpretation of music and dance to interest you in the new iPod at the Apple store. Anywhere there is a screen, you’re probably seeing creative work called Motion Design.” Fundamentally, you should have an understanding of all aspects of design whether it’s web, print or motion. Ultimately, you’ll find your niche but you’ll need an underlying base in design principles first.

School is a great option, but it is not always necessary. It’s an amalgamation of motivation, knowledge and ability. All three are essential and rely on each other. There is no one without the other. One of my favorite quotes comes from Henry Hazlitt who said, “A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means.” -Henry Hazlitt School will provide the knowledge to improve your ability. The advantage of school is that you can learn cardinal design principles and be critiqued by professionals in an acknowledged environment, but you will always augment when you are surrounded and challenged by others who are in the same field. This is where inspiration comes from. There are also numerous advantages to learning on the web for anything especially when it involves specific software. The people that you meet while in school will go on to be in your industry and can prove to be an invaluable resource when seeking recommendation for employment or verified integrity to establish with clientele. School can also help you form discipline, but if you are not disciplined enough to be motivated without someone else then you should revise and make certain that this is what you intend to do or else you will fall short of your goal and abdicate. Another one of my favorite quotes is from Walt Disney who said, “The difference in winning and losing is most often... not quitting.” -- Walt Disney, Animator, Film Producer If you have a strong desire to achieve an ideal then you must focus and maintain.

You could have all the knowledge available to you, but that may not necessarily mean that you are a great designer. Motivation is the key to gaining knowledge. Not school. If anyone has seen Ratatouille then you can attest that not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. “You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul. What I say is true - anyone can cook... but only the fearless can be great.” Chef Gusteau You can also improve your ability by participating in online art communities and blogs. You do not have to go to school to be in the “design” industry, but it will be much more difficult. No one said it was easy. It is my personal conviction that you have to put in work in order to get anywhere in this world. This is the advantage that we have with competition in an open free market. I know people are successful without having gone to college, but it was not an overnight process. There are designers that have generated a substantial income for themselves without an art degree. Albeit not attending college is probably not the norm or what may be suggested, going to school does not necessarily guarantee success either. Like any major, people often graduate and do not find jobs specifically related to the field in which they graduated. I know people who have BA and a steady work history who are complacent with earning an average wage simply because they can not find work in their field.

I was enrolled in classes in school first at a private unaccredited college and then at a public uni. I learned everything from values to Illustrator. My experience, however, was that I learned principles in class; but not really the software. Learning software on your own or with the aid of tutorials will be essential even after you have graduated. The classroom was more about giving me projects and critiquing them. If you intend on being a designer then I would recommend you find your niche and then focus on what it is that you love to do. To have a future in web, which is always evolving, you will need to constantly gentrify the current knowledge that you have. “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt Software is constantly expanding so even if you find your classroom setting practical it will not assist you in the long term without constantly learning. You’ll need to learn how to keep up with software on your own. There is no rest when technology is involved.

Overall, there are accredited colleges like Ringling and Art Institute which I would say would be well worth the time and experience for anyone who has the time and value. However, due to finite resources this option may not available to everyone so it is best to learn on your own. A strong portfolio will speak louder than a résumé or degree.

“Believe you're worth more; push on and stay strong. If you're hungry and motivated you won't starve for long.” Y Society

CafePress Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:51:00 +0000

Extra, Extra! Read all about it! Today is the last day that CafePress is having their big sale! CafePress is a site that basically lets you design your own tees. They pay per sale. They also have these format templates that you can customize with your own specific designs. You can make a reasonable amount of money providing you have the talent and the ambition. It is entirely on you. In gist, they allow you to open up your own store and sell merchandise either art or tees and they are separated by category. The process is facilitated by their GUI which is very user friendly, albeit it does take some time to adjust to. They have topics ranging from politics, to logos. What are you waiting for?! Go utilize your design skills and sign up now!

Shop or Create What's On Your Mind at CafePress

Get FREE shipping on orders over $65 from CafePress! Use coupon code "FreeSummer"

The Key To Financial Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:39:00 +0000

The Key to Financial Freedom for Artists, Actors, Writers & Musicians
Author: Valery Satterwhite

Well-meaning, yet woefully misguided, advice from parents, teachers and other loved ones such as "You'll never make a living as an artist" has become the foundational belief and mantra of the artist's Inner Critic. What's worse is that this also woefully misguided Inner Critic loves to be right and will serve up proof and evidence of this belief and beat you up with it day in and day out to make sure that you do, or not do, what it takes to keep this foundational belief in place. Acting upon the Inner Critic mantra of "You'll never make a living as an artist." your thoughts and actions create the outcome of the starving artist. And the Inner Critic is pleased. This supreme inner entity, this 'knower of all', is doing its job of keeping you safe and small and right!

Except for one thing.......he's WRONG!

Think about it. Look around you. Instead of focusing upon your lack of desired financial resources look to all the actors, artists, writers and musicians who are making boat loads of money! Julian Schnabel, Bono, Annie Leibowitz, Steven Spielburg, Rita Ackerman, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Stephen King, Dave Barry, Mick Jagger, Dave Matthews - the list of wildly successful and wealthy artists of every kind can easily go on and on and on.

What's the difference between the abundantly rich artist and the starving artist? One thing and one thing only: Self-Mastery.

Self-Mastery as the key to financial freedom is not some airy fairy metaphysical woo-woo concept. From the ancient Greeks to modern day philosophers to modern day celebrity icons, all have recognized that the key to whatever you want in life, including wealth, comes from within. How you show up in your life, what the foundational beliefs that motivate you are based upon, deliver the outcomes you experience.

From Socrates:

- "Know thyself."

- "The unexamined life is not worth living."

- "Give me beauty in the inward soul; may the outward and the inward man be at one."

From others throughout the centuries:

- "If money be not they servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him." - Francis Bacon, British Philosopher

- "All riches have their origin in mind. Wealth is in ideas -- not money." - Robert Collier, American Writer/Publisher

- "I have about concluded that wealth is a state of mind, and that anyone can acquire a wealthy state of mind by thinking rich thoughts."- Andrew Young, Civil Rights Activist

- "Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think." - Ayn Rand, Russian Writer, Philosopher

- "All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination, Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth." - Napoleon Hill

And:

"Wealth is the ability to fully experience life." - Henry David Thoreau

Where you hold back your fullest expression of your potential as an artist of any kind is where you struggle. Where you doubt your self, your dreams, your worthiness is where you create your poverty. Where you resist your purpose in life, the special gifts that are your birthright, is where you suffer your anxiety.

You are as free, financially and otherwise, as the extent of your ability to acknowledge, honor and master your authenticity and take full responsibility for all of your experiences, good and bad, rich or poor. Those who do not govern themselves are condemned to find other masters to govern over them, including their own Inner Critic.

"I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams." - Madonna

About the Author:

Valery is an Artist Mindset Mentor who helps creative people get out of their own way so that they can overcome the struggles that often come packaged with the life of a visual & performing artist. Clients learn how to express their full potential deliberately & responsibly to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Empower the Wizard Within to actualize full creative potential. http://www.InnerWizard.com Free tips!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Key to Financial Freedom for Artists, Actors, Writers & Musicians

Bring Me A Hire Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:50:00 +0000

Recently, I read a very interesting article in the Tampa Bay Times a local paper distributed in the area published by the St. Pete Times. In this article two employees who were laid off at their previous job discuss blogging through the recession. It's vital in this economy that we unite and form a covalent bond. We are Generation Y: The Millennial Generation. It is up to us to carry on the legacy of our past and lead this nation. We were put on this earth for a reason. There are no other options but to weather the storm. "Believe you're worth more push on & stay strong. If you're hungry and motivated you won't starve for long." - Y Society Fear begets fear. Complaining is not going to solve anything. If you have talent utilize it. Don't be afraid to take a chance. Believe in yourself. Whether you have a degree or you are a starving artist looking for work only you can make the change within. From Thomas Edison:

"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."

"Hope is the dream of the waking man." - Aristotle

"Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model." -Vincent van Gogh

"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground." - Theodore Roosevelt

"Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today." - James Dean

History tells us that the great were great for a reason. We were born to make a difference. It is kismet. Here is a brief description of their site: The unemploymentality is a transformative state of mind that is the result of a sudden loss of job. Initial symptoms include spite and resentment towards the ubiquitous “economy.” People in these early stages can often be found at bars and Speakeasys, their heads hung low over a pint. Later stages of the unemploymentality are subtle as it adapts to the individual’s social, political and cultural environment.

You may not be able to identify someone with the unemploymentality until you ask, “So, what do you do for a living?” At which point the person may rant, answer with sarcasm or avoid the question altogether. But don’t count these people out. They’re a resilient bunch. The advantages of the unemploymentality are countless hours that are often devoted to personal expression and creativity, once job boards and Craigslist have been exhausted for the day.

The purpose of this blog is to report and document the growth of the unemploymentlality, case-by-case, as it spreads across the globe in all its glory. Do you have the unemploymentality? We want to hear from you.
Laid off together, two co-workers blog through unemployment.

An Artist's Unemploymentality from Unemploymentality on Vimeo.

By Peter Couture

pcouture@tampabay.com

When the going got tough, Tania Khadder and John Henion got blogging .

After the co-workers lost their jobs with the San Francisco media company Current TV, they decided to vent their frustrations online. Welcome to Unemploymentality.com.

“We both got laid off together on the same day from the same company,” Khadder says. “We thought, ‘Why not do something other than complain to each other. Let’s start a blog.’” Now Khadder, 29, and Henion, 33, are part of what may be the economy’s few growth industries: recession blogs. As the New York Times noted recently: “We are in the worst eco- nomic downturn of the Internet age, and bloggers are making the most of it.”

Unemploymentality serves as a resource for everything from offbeat career advice (Job fairs won’t get you a dream job, but they could get you a dream date) to first-person journals (“Diaries of a Temp”) to plain old bonding.

“We kind of see it as like a tonguein- cheek look at the recession and at unemployment,” Khadder says. “We’re not covering hard news, really. Although, it is a serious topic, we’re trying to make light of it and have fun with it.”

Unemploymentality has what one expert on the Blogosphere calls an “affinity mentality,” which it shares with other well-known recession blogs such as Pink Slips Are the New Black and Tales From the Recently Laid Off.

“If a site can provide some type of positive encouragement or feedback … then you’re fulfilling a psychological need,” says the expert, David Johnson, a journalism professor at American University in Washington, D.C.

Indeed, part of the fun of Unemploymentailty comes from the bloggers’ knowledge that despite their hardships, they still have it pretty good.

“I think we definitely speak for a certain generation, almost a spoiled generation. And we’re aware of that,” Khadder says. “It’s like, I might be broke, but I’m not in danger of becoming homeless because of it. It’s more like for people in our generation, we’re just spoiled that we can’t believe that we have to go without our Netflix subscription.”

Both Khadder and Henion have become minor pundits, appearing on National Public Radio and even entertaining a book offer.

Henion finds it all amusing. “I kind of think of myself as the Happy Gilmore of writers,” he says. “I’m a filmmaker posing as writer.”

Henion contributed a multimedia documentary, Salina Street , to Unemploymentality . It’s about a neighborhood in Syracuse, N.Y., that’s seen better days. And he recently has been ge tting some freelance video work.

“Even if (our blog) does die off in a while,” he says, “while I was unemployed it gave me something to do to highlight my toolbox.”

The same goes for Khadder.

That’s because an employer came calling . Khadder is now an editor for career-related Web sites.

Her hobby is now her job.

“Basically I never thought that starting that blog would get me a job, but it kind of did in a lot of ways,” she says. “Happy ending. (pause) So far.”

© 2009. All Rights Reserved. Times Publishing Company.

Happy 10th Birthday SpongeBob!

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:48:00 +0000

From the shores of Bikini Bottom, to television sets worldwide SpongeBob has been entertaining the world for a decade. Today is a special day. It is the 10th anniversary of one of the most celebrated cartoons in recent history. Not since the likes of The Simpsons has a show been more acclaimed. While SpongeBob may be an unlikely hero I can assure you there is nothing unlikely about this sitcom. When creator Stephen Hillenburg, a former marine biologist, created the show he never imagined that it would initially go beyond a first season.

He was a marine biology teacher at what is now the Orange County Ocean Institute. He worked as a marine biologist from 1984–1987. In 1987 Hillenburg decided to pursue a career in animation, his second lifelong passion. He made several short films, two of which were awarded and played in animation film festivals internationally. His two short films The Green Beret (1991) (which was featured in an episode of "Liquid Television"; MTV misspelled his name "Hillenberg" in the credits) and Wormholes (1992) became popular shorts in several film festivals - and received various awards.

While still attending animation school, Hillenburg received a job on the children's TV series Mother Goose & Grimm from 1991 to 1993. When attending the California Institute of the Arts he made his thesis film called 'Wormholes' (which was funded by the Princess Grace Foundation). Hillenburg displayed his films at various animation festivals. Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life, met Hillenburg at an animation festival[3] and asked Hillenburg if he would be a director on the show, to which he agreed. Hillenburg joined the Nickelodeon animated series as a writer, producer, and storyboard artist. While working on Rocko's Modern Life, Hillenburg became friends with Tom Kenny, who would later become the voice of SpongeBob, and future SpongeBob collaborators Doug Lawrence, Paul Tibbit and others.

When Rocko's Modern Life ended in 1996, Hillenburg developed a concept for a new show about sea creatures, drawing on characters he created for a comic book about tidepools in 1989 at the California Institute of the Arts. He focused the show on a sponge, which Hillenburg initially drew as a natural sponge but changed to a square sponge because it looked funnier. In 1997, Hillenburg teamed with some of his former "Rocko" colleagues, who helped design the show's backgrounds and characters.

While working at the Ocean Institute, Hillenburg wrote a comic book called "The Intertidal Zone". He showed it to Martin Olson, a friend and one of the writers of Rocko's Modern Life. Olson loved it and suggested that Hillenburg rewrite it as an undersea cartoon series.[citation needed]

In 1998, Hillenburg pitched the show to Nickelodeon, using an aquarium, character models, a theme song and the storyboard that would become the pilot episode, "Help Wanted." The main character's name was originally "SpongeBoy", but since the name was copyrighted, he changed it to SpongeBob.[citation needed] Nickelodeon executives bought the pitch and the series premiered on May 1, 1999, and the following episodes started airing on July 17, 1999. He played the ukulele on The Best Day Ever. When his artistic talents lead him to a career in animation, the "SpongeBob" series was born. He left the show in 2004.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary, tonight at 9 p.m., a new special aimed at adults debuts on VH1 (which is owned by Nick's parent company).

"Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants" includes interviews with TV historians, celebrities and the show's cast and crew.

Viewers will learn the origins of the story. "SpongeBob" creator Stephen Hillenburg is a former marine biologist with a talent for art and animation. He developed most of the characters in the 1980s in drawings used to amuse and educate kids at the Orange County Marine Institute in California.
Paul Tibbitt, executive producer of SpongeBob Squarepants, recently shared his thoughts with Reuters in which he says, "The sarcasm or mean-spirited stuff that cartoons are usually about might not translate into other cultures. But happiness and optimism -- the positive traits that SpongeBob has -- translate better. I think people were just hungry for something a little more positive. But I would never have thought it would go 10 years.”

In addition, Tom Kenny who lends his voice to the character said, "“For the first year or two we were on, no one really paid much attention to us. Then about the third year, we suddenly star ted seeing the show hit the radar and grow and become a part of pop culture." As an adult, and an aficionado I can say that SpongeBob has truly captured the essence of society. The holistic approach of a character that utilizes his imagination to the fullest extent and is without finite boundaries is an accomplishment and a formula for success more enticing than a Krabby Patty! Who lives in pineapple under the sea?! absorbent, and yellow and porous is he!

SpongeBob SquarePants - Idiot Box
The Idiot Box

1. ^ "Cover Biography - Stephen Hillenburg". http://www.hwwilson.com/Currentbio/cover_bios/cover_bio_4_03.htm. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
2. ^ "Nickelodeon Taps Patrick Creadon and Christine O'Malley to Produce First-Ever SpongeBob SquarePants Documentary". Press Release (Viacom). Jan. 19 2009. http://sev.prnewswire.com/film-motion-picture/20090119/NY6023619012009-1.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
3. ^ Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies. 50

Anatomy For The Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:26:00 +0000

No matter what your profession may be, you won't get far without a portfolio. Employers are not only interested in your digital content, but they want to see what your talent utilizing pencil and paper. Even at Pixar, when submitting a demo reel they ask for your portfolio. They want to know where your ideas are coming from and how much of a raconteur you are. Today, I would like to share one of the most profound books that I have read as far as art and anatomy. The writer is Sarah Simblet and the photographer is John Davis. This book is phenomenal. It covers everything from muscular structure to portraits to posing. If you are unaware of anatomy and perception then you should definitely look into buying this. It's like having your own life sessions at any given time. The only thing that you do not have is the critique, but you must first gain the experience. I have taken numerous drawing courses throughout school and by no means am I an expert on anatomy. . . yet, however, practice makes perfect.

Product Description
In Anatomy for the Artist, acclaimed artist and teacher Sarah Simblet unveils the extraordinary construction of the human body, and celebrates its continual prominence in Western Art.

The transparent body. Using superb, specially commissioned photographs of male and female models, together with historical and contemporary works of art, and her own illustrations, Sarah shows us how to see inside the human frame, to map its muscle groups, skeletal strength, balance, poise, and grace. Selected drawing superimposed over photographs reveal fascinating relationships between external appearance and internal structure.

Drawing from life. Six drawing classes guide the reader to see the human body afresh, offering techniques and attitudes that imaginatively show how to view and draw the skeleton, head, ribcage, pelvis, hands, and feet.

Dissecting the Masters. By investigating ten Masterworks, the author demonstrates different artist's ideas and knowledge across time, ranging from Holbein's Christ Entombed, to Edward Hopper's Hotel Room. Each Masterclass presents a photographed model set in the same pose, so that anatomical comparisons can be made. Understanding anatomy is often the key to an artist's understanding and interpretation of the body. This imaginative modern reference book will enhance the drawing and painting techniques of artists at every level.
© Amazon.com

Overpopulation Equation

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:49:00 +0000

Overpopulation Equation

If 10,000 Biters use biodegradable condoms every time they make a little love, in a year we'll avert enough polyurethane to fill 223 outdoor trash cans.

Seven billion people + more on the way = …? One Mama Earth with a whole lotta people to look after. In honor of World Population Day (tomorrow) try on an eco-condom for size. It won't hurt your body or the planet - 'cuz the way things are going, we're gonna need more decimals on our calculators very soon.

The Benefits

* Subtracting consumption. Over a lifetime, the average North American will throw away 600 times his or her adult weight in garbage.
* No calculus required…just a condom. To the 38% of Americans who don't use contraception while hoping to avoid pregnancy: seriously? With biodegradable, vegan, and nontox options available, condoms are way sexier than a few years ago.
* Multiplying animal populations. Fewer people traipsing around slows environmental destruction (about 25% of the world's mammals are endangered due to lost habitat).

Personally Speaking
Cola-flavored eco-condoms: at last. (Er…)

Wanna Try?
We're not really sure why these all have to be made so far away (c'mon, American manufacturers!), but at least some are available through American retailers.

* Sheer Glyde Dams - female latex condoms made ethically in Malaysia; includes a cola flavor. Also: male condoms ($5-$10/12).
* French Letter Aphrodisiac Condoms - rose- and vanilla-scented, fair-trade condoms made from FSC-certified rubber latex; three other varieties also available ($15/12).
* Condomi Condoms - an assortment of vegan latex condoms from Germany - including XXL and fruit-flavored versions ($5/15).
* Condom Depot - not vegan, but it only stocks condoms without Nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide in conventional condoms that carries similar risks to parabens).

BLOC28

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:59:00 +0000

NewEra has just released their new line. The BLOC28 is one of the dopest sets I've seen them release, but I must say that I don't tend to deviate from the MARVEL and DC Lines with Fifty Fifty. I'm a comic book geek so I love to wear my art and show my passion while having freedom of expression. I love all their comic related lines. You should also check out the DC line and the LE they did for The Dark Knight and Wolverine: Origins. They are always looking for new talent as well, so be sure to subscribe to their news feed and check out the careers section on their site! New line just released. BLOC28 by Disney - Graffiti artists interpret Disney's icon, Mickey Mouse, on 59FIFTYs | Aroe, Chaz, Ewok + Exciting and limited edition series |

Shop New Era and Receive Same Day Shipping. *Orders must be placed by 2pm EST.

Purple Reign

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:17:00 +0000

SPIN released it's latest issue recently honoring the 25th anniversary of Purple Rain. Music is conducive to producing art. There would be no art without music. They work together simultaneously and the results are blended into a seamless form of art that is always innovative and unique. Prince is one of the pioneers in pop music. He has mastered his craft. He is a consummate artist. I have the utmost respect for his music and I think that he has revolutionized the genre. The entire album is fantastic, but it's no more apparent than in "Baby I'm A Star!" that epitomizes my fruition. "Hey, check it all out Better look now or it just might be 2 late (just might be 2 late)My lucks gonna change tonight There's gotta be a better life Take a picture sweetie I aint got time 2 waste" I realize that I can accomplish anything with diligence and dedication. Everyone should subscribe to Spin. They have a free digital subscription and this month they have put all the music covered in SPIN right on the pages of the digital edition! You can directly purchase the MP3s on Amazon they are compatible with all MP3 players and of course the iPod.

Save up to 90% on Magazine Subscriptions

The latest reviews, emerging trends, in-depth interviews,
and exclusive live music photos.

Prince And The Revolution - Purple Rain

Spin

Envato Marketplaces

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:50:00 +0000

For those of whom are unfamiliar with Envato, they are the geniuses behind Tuts+ Tutorials & Resources, Psdtuts+ Photoshop Tutorials, Vectortuts+ Illustrator Tutorials, Audiotuts+ Music & Sound Tutorials, Nettuts+ Web Development Tutorials, Aetuts+ After Effects Tutorials, Flashtuts+ Flash Tutorials, Cgtuts+ 3D and Graphics Tutorials; they also are partners with Graphic River, AudioJungle, VideoHive, ThemeForest & FlashDen. They send out newsletters periodically if you choose to subscribe. This month they have a variety of things happening please read below!

Licences are here!

There’s just so much great content on the Envato Marketplaces these days, closing on 20,000 different items. All those items means there’s many, many different uses for them. So we’ve been working to create ways for buyers to purchase different types of licenses for use. Having multiple licensing options means buyers can get exactly what they need!

Now you can buy files under:

* Standard Single Use License
This is the same license as the old default license, to be used when you wish to purchase a file to use on a single project.
* 10 Project License (for just 3 x the cost of a Single Use License)
A 10 project license means you can use the same file over and over - up to ten times - without having to buy it again and again.
* Web Services License (for ThemeForest files and FlashDen site templates)
The license is for buyers who wish to buy a site template for use on a web service such as a blog platform.

We hope you find these new license options useful, and if you have any questions please direct them to support, who as always will be happy to help!

Functional, Elegant and Free?!

So, what could possibly be better than a brand new, never before seen, classy, and smooth Flash gallery? A FREE brand new, never before seen, classy, and smooth Flash gallery. That's right, we've pulled out all the stops to bring you, free of charge, the latest and greatest creation from acclaimed author Parker&Kent. Click here for more details.

The free fun doesn't end there my friends. In addition to the free FlashDen file of the month, there are also free files on every corner of the Envato universe. Be sure to also check out the free files from ThemeForest, GraphicRiver, AudioJungle, and VideoHive.

ThemeForest Javascript & PHP Launch!

This month, we launched not one, but two fantastic new categories on ThemeForest. Ever had a need for a drag and drop commenting section? No problem! Need an event calendar for a client’s website? No problem! How about an advanced image gallery management system for your photography business? No problem! With cheap prices ranging from $3 - $12, be sure to browse our continuously expanding selection often. Why waste the day coding a component, when the work has already been done for you? Spend a few dollars and take the day off!

AudioJungle Free File of the Month

Every month, AudioJungle will be giving away a free audio file for the entire month! July's submission is an outstanding collection of eight audio logos by lyden. These audio logos are perfect for podcasts, Web site intros, TV and radio commercials, and much, much more! Don't miss out on July's Free File of the Month and keep checking back each month to see a new free file! If any AudioJungle authors out there would like to submit one of their tracks for consideration for File of the Month, please submit your entry here.

Watch What You Tweet!

noreply@blogger.com (Jdarko) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:14:00 +0000

Want a job? Watch what you tweet

Social networking faux pas are no longer the domain of college students and recent grads — established workers need to mind manners, too.

By David Phelp

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Rose McKinney recalls one job candidate who blogged and tweeted herself directly out of a job interview.

This was not an entry-level job or a rookie mistake. The potential job position was a mid-level account manager. The candidate was experienced.

“On paper she looked solid, someone worth talking to,” said McKinney, president of Risdall McKinney Public Relations in Minneapolis. “But on blog spaces and in Twitter conversations she was negative and critical of other agencies. I imagined what she would say about us and our clients.”

Electronic faux pas were once considered the legacy of college students and 20-somethings who would post beer-sodden pictures of themselves and friends on MySpace. But with the rapid advance of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter from phenomenon to near-obligation for multiple generations, employers are learning that grownups can be just as knuckleheaded as freshly scrubbed college grads when it comes to leaving digital impressions.

Amy Langer, co-founder of Salo, a placement firm for the financial services sector, had one job candidate for a controller’s position who didn’t ge t the job after the employer took displeasure with a negative political posting on the candidate’s Facebook site.

“It’s becoming part of the vetting process,” Langer said. “It makes sense. Social networking was all about personal posts, but now it’s leaked over to the professional side and nobody knows how to handle it.”

“The mistake people make is they pour too much of themselves out there,” said Gillian Gabriel, a headhunter for advertising and marketing agencies who looks at LinkedIn postings as well as Facebook and Twitter when evaluating prospects. “They talk about personal issues — divorce, sick parents, recovery programs. If someone is having a big issue in life, are you going to take that chance (and hire them)?”

Gabriel said one job candidate with whom she had contact went to her LinkedIn network after she didn’t get an agency job and described a scenario where her ideas were at odds with the agency’s.

“She made a poor decision,” said Gabriel, who was part of the candidate’s LinkedIn network. “Not only didn’t she get the job but she publicly pegged herself as a bit of a troublemaker.”

David Gerwitz, an author who specializes in technology and security issues, said social networkers need to realize that their electronic entries will last for years and years.

“Every tweet, every post is being actively indexed by different search engines,” Gerwitz said. “It’s going to be available in perpetuity.”

Sometimes it may not be what you post, but what someone else posts on Professionals is devoting its fall meeting in October to the topic.

“The biggest problem is if you are on the Internet with personal information, hiring managers are going to see it,” said Donna Ploof, a member of the chapter’s board of directors. “If you’re bragging about drinking at a party, that might not be a good thing — for yourself or your company.”

Hiring managers say they often gain access to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn through friends of friends. Often a job applicant is already linked to someone at a company where a job is being sought or belongs to professional groups to which an employer already has access.

“In the business of networking, people know people,” Langer said. “You have to decide what you want your social media face to be. It’s like talking in an elevator. You don’t know who’s listening.”

In an instance of reverse networking , McKinney had one job applicant who became virtual friends with as many current Risdall McKinney employees as possible, thinking that would give him an in when inter viewing . It had the opposite impact.

“It was too much,” McKinney said. It seemed a bit too aggressive. It was overkill. Interviewing is not a group e xercise. It requires some professional decorum.”

T he candidate was not hired for the mid-level job.

“It’s a subtle skill to job-hunt,” Gabriel said. “Every employer has 200 applications on the desk. They want to go with the option where you know you won’t have a problem.”