{Digital Art Blog}

This is a great video from the Big Kids Care Red Carpet Charity...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:47:00 -0600

This is a great video from the Big Kids Care Red Carpet Charity Event I attended July 21 in Los Angeles. It’s wonderful to hear the actors/actresses and industy professionals share such positive thoughts. We are all big kids and we can do our part in caring for the younger generations to ensure a better tomorrow for everyone. I’m very grateful to have been part of this event as a design sponsor.

Find out how you can be a big kid who cares here.

I’ve been waiting for new and improved features to Gmail...

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:22:00 -0600

I’ve been waiting for new and improved features to Gmail for awhile now. I use Gmail as my main email hub and pour about 5 different email accounts into it so I only have one program to login to. It’s easy, it’s fast and it’s a huge time saver! So what’s next for the mega email client?

Priority Inboxes
Priority Inboxes. It’s a simple way to break out of the mountain of email you get everyday and take care of the most important email first and then shove all the rest aside for a more appropriate time. No more wading through tons and tons of emails or working from the time sent up.

Tackle the email you need to get to now and put a hold on the ones you have a bit more time to think about. Gmail automatically determines what’s a priority over other email based on your reading and replying methods. If Gmail messes up, you can label your own emails according to your rating system using handy plus and minus buttons. Pretty slick.

Catchy Promo
Google has released the above video to advertise the new feature. I have to say that I love companies that launchcreative videos to share their products with the world. Who knew filtering inboxes could be so fun?

Look for this new feature in a Gmail inbox near you in the coming week.

Caption this… Photo taken by me: Copyright 2010 | Digital...

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:09:54 -0600

Caption this…

Finding hidden treasures in your own town is a very rewarding...

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 03:35:00 -0600

Finding hidden treasures in your own town is a very rewarding thing about photography! I didn’t even know this little section of lovely was only about 15 minutes from my home. The point is to get out and explore. You never know what you might find. Once you get to your destination be sure to walk around. Photo opportunities lie in every corner from macros of wild flowers to old bridges.

Keep your mind open, and you may discover more about the town you call home and really spruce up your photography portfolio at the same time.

Design Like a Pro now on Facebook!

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:44:00 -0600

Design Like a Pro now on Facebook!: For those of you watching my tutorials, they are evolving! I...

AEJMC 2010 Conference attendees placed their votes for the new...

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:36:41 -0600

AEJMC 2010 Conference attendees placed their votes for the new AEJMC logo this weekend. My logo design is the first one in this video.

Composing for Characters

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:40:00 -0600

Composing for Characters: The filmmakers behind “Up” discuss the making of the...

I was in the mood to create something a bit patriotic for the...

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:12:00 -0600

I was in the mood to create something a bit patriotic for the 4th of July holiday that still followed my abstract art style. It turned out a bit impressionistic but it was fun to just paint and see what happens. Fireworks were the inspiration behind the abstract, and as always, light was a major factor as well.

Enjoy and Happy 4th of July!

This is a PSA for the Big Kids Care Charity event project...

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:26:31 -0600

This is a PSA for the Big Kids Care Charity event project I’ve been working on. It shares a very important message for kids and big kids everywhere.

About Big Kids Care:
Big Kids Care PSA for the charity event being held on July 21, 2010 at the XAI Verandah Lounge in Los Angeles California. To reserve tickets go to www.bigkidscare.org. All proceeds will benefit the SBC P.R.I.M.E Organization (501c3). Brought to you by ARC Talent Management. Directed by Dallas King of Onyx Entertainment. Featuring Patrick Gallagher, Brittany Flickinger, Gabreon Womack, Helenna Santos, Ariel Teal Toombs, James Giordano, Paul Butler, Madisen Hill, Kristen Ruhlin, Rene Cadet, Nadjah Dabney, Scott Vinci, Nya Womack, Amy Scruggs, and Invinceable.

Don’t fear technology. It can be turned off! New products...

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:45:04 -0600

Don’t fear technology. It can be turned off!

New products (shirts, hoodies, t-shirts, messenger bags and laptop cases) are now available with a fun tech quote! Share a bit of geeky wisdom aimed at those who might not be comfortable around technology. Reassure them in style. Most products are under $20.

» Start shopping…

“Aurora” combines some of my old styles with some...

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:45:10 -0600

“Aurora” combines some of my old styles with some new painting techniques. I’m focusing on textures with my newer abstracts. I still start with a base photograph and work from there to create the finished piece.

Every year, I like to donate my design services to nonprofit...

Wed, 26 May 2010 23:55:51 -0600

Every year, I like to donate my design services to nonprofit organizations or charity causes. This year, I was contacted by ARC Talent Management to design materials for their Big Kids Care red carpet charity event in LA this July. The event is a fundraiser for SBC P.R.I.M.E, a nonprofit that provides services to at-risk youth ages 13-21.

Logo process
I had a lot of fun coming up with the event logo. I work with nonprofits on a regular basis and knew that the logo had to be fun yet capture the overall impact of the event. The 3 helping figures are the essence of “Big Kids Care.” You have two bigger kids helping the little guy stuck up top of the word “big.” I love creating logos that have underlying meanings and almost tell a story. It’s a very simple logo, yet it embodies what the event is about.

I will share more about this great cause and my involvement as it develops.

"Don’t fear technology…it can be turned off!"

Sun, 16 May 2010 23:33:00 -0600

“Don’t fear technology…it can be turned off!”

Tweet...tweet! Join the conversation on Twitter.

Wed, 12 May 2010 21:55:00 -0600

Tweet...tweet! Join the conversation on Twitter.:

Get ready for t-shirt weather with super May savings at my Geeky...

Wed, 12 May 2010 21:38:00 -0600

Get ready for t-shirt weather with super May savings at my Geeky t-shirt shop! Buy 4 shirts and get the 5th one free when you use coupon code “MAYSHIRTS” now through May 28. Start shopping…right…now!

The Karma Club: Spreads Good Karma! The Karma Club launched this...

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:49:57 -0600

The Karma Club: Spreads Good Karma!

The Karma Club launched this weekend with a charity event benefiting Southern California schools and the KarmaClub.org. Performers at the event included: Josh Golden, Savannah Outen, Madisen Hill, Nikki Boyer, Tommy Fields, Ari Cruz, and Sarah Meeks-Clark.

In the above pic you’ll see the lovely author, Jessica Brody, surrounded by the cast of the Karma Club Book trailer. They’re holding up posters designed by me that were signed at the event! This is a great book for teenagers and Jessica’s cause is dedicated to helping teens find ways to spread Good Karma in their communities and around the world.

Find out more…
» View the Karma Club Book Trailer
» Pick up your copy of the Karma Club on sale now at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

I had a lot of fun creating promo items for the launch of this book and wish Jessica the best of luck as she continues to spread good karma!

WIP (Work in progress) abstract. I’m trying out some new...

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:27:00 -0600

WIP (Work in progress) abstract. I’m trying out some new techniques and brushes for my latest abstract.

I just added the Sigma 10-20mm lens to my photography lens kit!...

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:41:00 -0600

I just added the Sigma 10-20mm lens to my photography lens kit! I can’t wait to test it out (once it arrives). It’s perfect for vast landscape and wide angle shots.

{Art Break from Bristol, UK} Designers tend to be part of a huge...

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:28:00 -0600

{Art Break from Bristol, UK} Designers tend to be part of a huge club of creativity and because of that, they are a great source of inspiration for each other. In this Art Break, Tom Lane of Ginger Monkey is featured for his impeccable sense of color, shapes and style. He’s also a wonderful inspiration for any designer or illustrator with an impressive list of clients to include Sony Ericcson, Mercedez-Benz, Coca-Cola and BMW.

In this second part tutorial for designing book covers, we go to...

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:11:03 -0600

In this second part tutorial for designing book covers, we go to the next level and create a dust jacket in Indesign. Take the same design from the first tutorial and increase the file width to accomodate the inside flaps of the dust jacket. Also features some design pro tips.

» Final document size: 21 inches (wide) by 9 inches (height).
» This includes the 1” spine and don’t forget the 1/8” bleed on all sides.

See the first tutorial here!