Graphic Blandishment

I'm Bringing Sexy Back...

2012-01-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

So I'm bringing sexy back...sort of.

Creatively I have been languishing in limbo for far far too long. That combined with financial concerns and the creative demon that demands to be fed, I am diving back into the deep end of Graphic Design and into the shallow end of Illustration.

I'm taking a cue from a LOT of artists I admire and instead of starting a website, just starting a blog. Or in this case...resurrecting one.

In the upcoming weeks I will be posting my design portfolio here and updating the look of the blog and posting new works as well.

Hope that you will hang around for the ride. Thanks for reading!!!

TTFN - Scott

Smile...

2009-03-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Hello again and welcome to the rant. I don't normally apologize for my posts but the last one was just a little bit angry. It's been a very angry and frustrating time. Everyone is out of work. Both my wife and I are currently searching for work and one of my best friends just called and told me that he was laid off as well.

Times are hard, and they will get harder before they get better. SO MANY companies are going out of business. And have you been to the unemployment office? I have. It looks like a cold war Soviet Bread line. Long and depressing. So what does one do when times get hard? "Hang in there" "Take one day at a time" I have heard a lot of that lately. But it's a bit too much like an 80's afternoon special or old library poster of Garfield to me. Aside from actually finding work there is only one thing to do.

Smile, and try to Laugh. Laughter truly is the best medicine, and it all begins with a smile. I don't have anything more today so I will leave you with the wisdom of I the Late Great Charlie Chaplin...

Smile though your heart is aching,

Smile even though it's breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by,

If you smile through your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow,
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness,
Although a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time,
You must keep on trying,
Smile, what's the use of crying,
You'll find that life is still worth-while,
If you just smile.

UP NEXT: Beavis tries to redirect the blog to it's original intentions....or he re-writes the intentions. Stay Tuned!

A Pirate Looks at 37...

2009-03-05T17:42:00.000-08:00

"Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin to plunder
Im an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late"

Yeah I think this brave new world of online lightcycles and hipsters with their facebooking and my spacing is for the birds. You can keep it. I have a friend that it OBSESSED with marketing. You have to be on Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter, (Twitter? sounds like what ya used to do with a girl in the back seat of a car!) Yeah I guess I am a 19th Century guy, as I was most recently called. You know what I have to say to that???

Get off my lawn!! Pull up your pants!!! Ya damn stupid kid.....

Yeah I'm old and I have the grey hair to prove it. But that doesn't mean I can't learn the lingo and get hip with the technology, it just might take a bit longer. But ya know, In some instances I really don't care to. There are only so many hours in the day, and I have no intention spending ALL of the ones I have awake, trying to keep up with technology.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT. Sure I plan to do my best to keep up with "Skippy" and his twittering and whatever but I have something "Skippy" doesn't - A LIFE!

LIFE IS A BANQUET, AND SOME POOR SUCKERS ARE STARVING TO DEATH!!!

Real life people! Hello!!!??? Get off the computer! Put the mouse down and just walk away!

I have a family and stuff that I want to do with my spare time that does not involve having my face in front of the computer all the time. So go ahead and jump on your lightcycle and whizz past me if you want to, I don't care. There are some things in life that are worth slowing down for. I'm gonna smell the Roses before they are all digitized. And I'm not gonna miss smelling them just so I can speed along at warp speed and try to get ahead. I work hard and I play hard. But that's just it - I PLAY! Make time to play! Don't be so obsessed with technology and keeping up with the Skippy's and the Techy's that you don't take some time to have some fun and goof off. Wake up and smell the maple nut crunch! Now stop reading this, step away from the twitter and the facebook and the computer and the videa games and the x-cube and just slow down!

And PULL UP YOUR PANTS!!!! Stupid twittering idiots.........

Lonely Stranger

2009-02-26T12:18:00.000-08:00

"I must be invisible, know one knows me....Take a look, then walk away. That's alright with me." - Eric Clapton (paraphrased)

This economy SUCKS - period. Yeah I realize that's not news to anyone, but just incase you have been living under a rock and are unaware of what has been going on, I'll say it again...

THIS ECONOMY SUCKS! And it's nothing that we haven't been through before. My grandfather's generation went through it, it was called the DEPRESSION, for those reading this who were born in the 80's and are a little behind the rest of the class.

My Mom and Dad went through it under Carter. 3-4 hour lines for Gas, sky high unemployement, S&H Greenstamps. They went through bankruptcy because of it.

And as a family we have been there, lost house, bankruptcy town, etc. We thought we had most of the hard times behind us, we have already been through what we thought was the "bottom of the barrel".

WRONG!!!!!!!!

THERE IS NO BOTTOM OF THE BARREL! - YOU CAN ALWAYS FALL LOWER.

I didn't think so but it is true. I was having lunch with a friend at Burger King the other day. I had a coupon, buy one get one Whoppers. And my friend and I were discussing just that. My friend felt like "He" had hit the bottom of the barrel. He said that he felt like he not only hit the bottom of the barrel but that it had been sandblasted and that there was just nothing left.

He felt tired, and spent, nothing left in him.

I told him I knew exactly how he felt, but I also mentioned that there is no bottom of the barrel. It is in fact bottomless and just when you think you have hit the bottom of it, you fall even further down.

Aside note on what has been going on in my life that will help punctuate this a bit - for the last 3 years my wife has WORKING FULL TIME to put me through school. We have struggled and fought just to maintain the financial aid. Two weeks ago she was layed off from her job. LAST WEEK: I had to drop out of college for the 3rd (and maybe final) time. I had just aquired a freelance contract and between that and unemployment we thought we would be able to stay the course. I am only 7 classes away from my degree.

So After I got home that day from having lunch with my friend, We found out via us mail from the state of illinois that my wife's unemployment benefits were DENIED. And I do not qualify for unemployment because I have not worked for an employer in the past 18 months. That is why it is called unemployment INSURANCE. If the companies you work for don't pay into it or if you do not work, YOU ARE NOT COVERED!

The bottom of my barrel just got a HELL of a lot lower. So what does all this mean?

Hellifino. "Life is short, then you die" "Life sucks, then you suck it" "Life's a shit sandwich and sometimes its your turn to take a bite"

Yeah all that and then some. But what helps me get through times like this is the movies.

Yep - the movies. All of the answers to lifes questions can be answered in the movies. In this particular situation I turn to Batman Begins and Rocky Balboa

From Batman Begins Bruce Wayne's father and later Alfred Pennyworth ask Bruce at different times in Bruce's life the following question:

"Why do we fall?" And the answer is the same both times, "So we can pick ourselves back up again."

But the quote from Rocky Balboa shakes me to my core:

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you are worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!"

That is what it's all about. I (my family) have been POUNDED this week. But we are STILL together and we are STILL moving forward. That's it. That's all I've got for now. Thanks for reading. TTFN.

Scott

PS - Sly if you are reading this - You were my hero in the 80's and you are still my hero now. Thank you.

Digital Communication or the last argument I will ever have on Facebook

2009-01-24T18:29:00.000-08:00

I recently got into an Argument on Facebook over a subject that in fact I really don't care that much about with a person I don't even know.

It started out to be about a discussion that I feel passionately about but rarely discuss with people. - Religion.

It was more a God vs. Atheism question, but I’ll use the term “Religion” for the sake of this blog, for the record, I do believe in God, just not organized religion. A friend of mine said she was an Atheist. Most of the time people that I have encountered that claim to be Atheists actually believe in God or a so called supreme being but can’t stand Organized religion. I asked her if this was true. She said no, she does not believe in a God or any higher power.

This is where the argument began. 8-10 Facebook posts and rebuttals later and I was ready to strangle a man in Florida that just would not shut up! He couldn’t let it go. He had to have the last word. So I let him. And in the end out of anger and disgust, I deleted every word I wrote in that post.

What started out as a simple question to a friend on why she didn’t believe turned into an ugly argument on faith, values, politics and eventually the First Amendment.

I have never been so angry and ashamed in my life. Now for the one person in Florida who might be thinking “WOOT!” I am not angry or ashamed because I feel that you were right, because I still disagree with you. But it really does not matter.

I was never really angry at him or my friend. I have more on my plate right now than most people know. AND I AM FURIOUS ABOUT IT.

But what I am so angry about is no ones business but my own.

But that does not excuse my behavior on Facebook. I am ashamed that I focused that anger on a stranger, even if our opinions differ.

I don’t know him from Adam, and he has no idea who I am other than a simple disagreement/rant online. Talk about judging a book by it's cover. He could be a husband, a father, a brother, a son...the point is I don't know anything about him. And because of a simple disagreement escalating into a furious online fight, for a short time I HATED HIM. And anyone who knows me knows, I don't hate anybody. Not really.

THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNET.

We're all anonymous. But we’re all connected right? No we’re not. Not really. You cannot see a person’s face or read their body language or hear the TONE of their voice in a text message, e-mail or post on Facebook.

TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS NOT YELLING. IT’S JUST TYPING IN ALL CAPS. IT’S EMPHASISING SOMETHING BOLDLY. But people think you are yelling and angry for some reason. And I didn't start out angry...but I did get angry. Or maybe I was channeling the anger I have for other issues towards him. In any event he is a total stranger and a difference of opinion does not justify the way I felt.

If we were sitting together talking around a table drinking and eating pizza I would have never gotten that angry. But then I would have probably stuck to my principles and never discussed Religion in the first place. But it is easy and fun to do thing from behind the safety of a computer screen. We are all self righteous commentators in the digital realm.

I was born a generation too late. I once wrote a report on Communications and mentioned that I felt the internet was actually doing more harm towards social relationships than helping and when I gave the report in class they looked at me like I had lobsters coming out of my ears.

There have actually been studies that suggest that Google is single handedly responsible for the shortening of attention spans in America. I read about it in an article in Atlantic Monthly. Not that google is a bad thing, but I can honestly say I have trouble concentrating on reading books because I cannot get the information FAST enough.

We live in a fast food world. AT&T’s motto used to be “Reach out and Touch Someone” Now, or the last time I checked it is “Your world Delivered.”

It’s a phone and internet company, not a Domino’s Pizza. But the internet is making all business’ and people live in a world of instant gratification.

We don’t just want it now, we want it 15 minute ago. People break up with people via text messaging and Facebook…well after my little argument today with a total stranger, I’m beginning to think my initial thought was the correct one – it’s a big waste of time.

Digital Communication can be a scary thing. If I can get into an argument with a stranger about a topic that I rarely even discuss, then what’s next?

Digital Drive By Shootings? Digital Muggings? Digital Rape?

Actually we already have that don’t we. You can get attacked, mugged and raped and you don’t even have to pull your eyes away from the computer screen to experience it all. We’re not communicating anymore. We’re just pillaging and raping and not even slowing down to witness the carnage we leave in our wake. Why should we, it’s only Digital.

What a “World” we live in. Well it’s not my world.

You can have it.

Next: What is a VCR and How do I program one?

New Direction for the Blog

2009-01-21T16:56:00.001-08:00

So I am taking the Blog in a new and different direction. After many conversations and thoughts and input from friends I decided:

“Hey Stupid, (That’s Me.) Make your blog more relevant and less about you!” Or as my wife likes to remind me of that sometimes, “Hey it’s NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!”

Taking their caring and loving advice to heart, the blog from now on is going to be more about relevant things and less about me showing off and saying, "Hey! Look what I can do!"

I have a portfolio for that that I carry with me everywhere, not to say that I eventually won’t have one online, but that is another subject for another post.

So -"Tell us Uncle Scott! What's it all going to be about then?"

Well, as many of my friends know I have a love-hate relationship with e-mail, blogs and the Internet. Communication has become less about picking up the phone and actually having a conversation and more about texting, blogging, twittering and googling. Sounds perverse to me, but hey I’m no prude!

The globalization of our economy has dictated how the next generation will communicate and I feel, despite my own personal protests to it, that it will be through Facebook, MySpace, Youtube, Twitter and the like.

The Internet and the effect it has had on our economy have also changed the way we do business. Corporations have becomed obsessed with cutting the fat, reducing overhead and lowering the bottom line.

Outsourcing and bidding jobs to the lowest bidder in this country is what is destroying our economy. I blame WALMART, TARGET, BEST BUY and all the other BIG BOX corporations out there that are outsourcing to Third world country's paying wages of pennies per day so that we can enjoy the fruits of their labors. Don't believe me? Check out the following Documentaries:

WALMART - The High Cost of Low Price

What would Jesus buy?

Now these documentaries don't necessarily deal with how Graphic Design is becoming commoditized and globalized but they do illustrate how the globalization of our economy is destroying our way of life, the American Dream and how if things do not change the middle class will vanish and we will only be left with the bourgeois and proletarian classes...in other words - The Filthy Rich and the Just Filthy (poor). Or as I like to say the PO, cause we can't afford the O.R.

There are plenty of service industries that despite economic turmoil are still charging premium prices for their services. Need examples? Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists, Carpenters, etc. Now I am not suggesting that we should all start charging what Lawyers and Doctors charge for Graphic Design Services, but without good Graphic Design, most service industries, with the probable exception of Lawyers and Doctors would be out of business. Examples: McDonalds, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, etc.

What’s the point? Graphic Design Is VALUABLE. Do not undervalue it or underestimate the value of good Graphic Design. And therefore DO NOT Commoditize or accept the commoditization of good Graphic Design.

You want me to lower my rate to compete with a 17 year old armed only with a MAC and substandard Design Acumen? Go ahead, hire him. Save money and hire him and you’ll probably get someone who doesn’t know the difference between Helvetica and Arial and why you really shouldn’t use either.

But if you MUST ask him WHY Helvetica is the only choice. He won’t know.

Save money, Live better? I don’t think so.

I’m NOT WAL-MART. You get what you pay for.

Up Next: Communication in the Digital Age and what is a VCR and how do I program one?

Typographical Self Portrait

2009-01-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

This is a self portrait that I did for my Visual Communications class. It was created in Illustrator using only TYPE. Three typefaces specifically, Handwritten - Dakota, Mistral and Herculanum. It only contains letters, numbers and periods. No Commas, semicolons or secondary characters. And none of the type could be distorted in any way. I really had fun with this project! I think I might use it on my business cards!

Chicago Tardis 2008

2008-12-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

Andrea and Kyra in the Tardis!

The Doctor, Rose and Kyra!

Me, Andrea, Kyra and Elisabeth Sladen, aka Sarah Jane Smith!

Me, Andrea, Kyra and Colin Baker the Sixth Doctor!

I've been working with Alien Entertainment re-designing their logo for Chicago Tardis, and also creating ads for their Doctor Who Store for Doctor Who Magazine. I took Andrea and Kyra to the convention this weekend and we met Colin Baker, Elisabeth Sladen and Nick Briggs. The Banner logo behind us is MY Design. Will post more soon!

Scott

"Whatever, I do what I want!"

2008-10-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

So today I have a project that I did last semester at the academy that I decided to take to the next step. This project was originally a photo manipulation project WITHOUT text. But I always felt it needed a caption of some sort, so today I slipped away and finished it when my daughter's eyes were glued to FLUSHED AWAY. It's a Low-Res version, but all I could get Blogger to Load. Enjoy!