Billion Dollar Maybes.

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

2011-06-03T12:18:00.001-07:00

Saturday, June 25th 2011
from 6-10 pm
Yogawood - 688 Haddon Ave., Collingswood NJ

Please come join myself and many other talented local artists for a very important evening. I'm hosting a non-profit art auction to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis research. With the help of NF Inc. and the kindness of the local community, we will be showcasing our art and all proceeds from the evening will go towards the cure. We're still accepting late submissions for artwork and catering services. This entire event is being driven by the kindness of others, so please help if you feel inspired. For any questions, please email me via the link above. Thank you and we hope to see you there!

-c

WE ARE DREAMERS.

2010-04-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

Show announcement:

This Saturday, May 8th-- Come see my new series, "We are Dreamers" at Bija and Wake Up Yoga from 6-9 pm! Directions HERE.

Along with the opening, there will be free wine and snacks, as well as live musical accompaniment by The Potts (myspace), a fantastic violin and guitar duo from South Jersey. And as always, there is no cover to get in. So come out, support the arts, and come have a good time with us! There will be an after-party following the reception... more info on that at the show. For free street parking info and any questions, send me an email. See you there!

-c

In recent news...

2010-02-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

There's been a lot to report lately, so I'll start at the beginning. I was recently awarded the Phillyist Framed 2010 first prize in a group show for my piece 'The Big U' pictured above. This led to an interview with Phillyist.com which you can read right HERE.

Just a few moments ago, I got off the phone with Mr. Mark Perry from the SS United States Conservancy who was kind enough to ask me a few questions regarding the image I captured of the ship and my feelings about its fate. The ship is a work of art and an important piece of history and it's in danger of being scrapped... it's really a sad state of affairs and I encourage you to check out their website http://ssunitedstatesconservancy.org and see what these folks are doing to preserve this beautiful ship for future generations to enjoy.

On another note, I just had my show opening on the 12th featuring live music by The Gentlemen's Club who I really owe a debt of gratitude to. They drove a long way on lousy icy roads to rattle the walls of that place, and they certainly did just that. I also have to thank everyone else who made their way from near and far to be there, despite conditions that more closely resembled Dante's Inferno than they did South Philly.

I'm also currently being featured on Blood Orange Review as the 'featured artist' for the current issue. Really cool stuff there... check it out. There's a lot of talented writers whose work is being showcased as well.

Well, that's what's going on here. There's a bunch more stuff in the works that I hope to report on soon including another show that I hope to announce in the spring. It's all happening, folks! Stay tuned and thanks for reading~

-C

02122010... It's coming!!

2010-01-30T09:32:00.001-08:00

It's been the world's worst-kept secret for a while now, but I'm happy to announce I'll be returning to the scene of the crime... February 12th, 2010 @ 12 Steps Down in Philadelphia, I'll be hosting the opening for my new show "Roads less travelled." It's a brand-new collection of work featuring a ton of stuff I've been working on over the last few months, much of which nobody has seen yet.

If that's not enough to get you in the door, how about a live rock show by The Gentlemen's Club? They'll be taking the stage to set the mood for the evening.

NO COVER.
CHEAP DRINKS.
NEW WORK.
LIVE MUSIC.

9th and Christian Streets, folks. Hope to see you all there!
02122010

'Tis the season...

2009-12-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

(Sara bundled up for the Christmas tree hunt...)

UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES... Just in time for the Winter season, I've added some new work to the gallery. 5 pieces, to be exact. And details on the upcoming art show will be announced soon. Just getting some special details ironed out. Keep checking this space for all the juicy info.

In other news, I'm nearly 250 days into my photo project. Things are getting interesting. I'm looking for a venue to showcase a best-of retrospective on the past year in photos. If anyone is interested, has a space, or wants to collaborate on a show, get in touch with me :)

And lastly, the official holiday cards '09 are being printed as we speak. To receive one, email me your address and that's it. Happy Festivus to all!

More soon. 'Till then...

-c

Reinventing the wheel...

2009-10-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

So I'm posting up a new "old" piece here. The story goes like this... I did an illustration very much like this one back in my college days. It's always been a favourite of mine, but the execution of the work showed flaws 5 years after the fact. So I had this dilemma on my hands... do I use the piece or forget about it? Neither. I just recreated it from parts of the old illustration and a truck-load of my most up-to-date photos. Now, I think I've breathed some new life into an old idea that I really enjoyed.

I can't recommend this enough to any other artists reading this... sometimes you've had ideas years and years ago that you've since forgotten about. Maybe you have some work that you aren't too likely to show to anyone because it doesn't represent you anymore. But there's no harm in recycling an old idea and updating your work. As a matter of fact, it's a great way to revisit old inspiration you haven't thought of in a while. Or, to build up your portfolio when you think you're just 'out of ideas.' No, you're not. You just had that great idea a long time ago. Consider the old version a preliminary sketch and get back on the horse, pal. There's art to be made!!

-c

Fall has arrived!

2009-09-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

Happy autumn, everyone! This is my favourite season of the year. The world around you just seems to thrive as the air begins to get cooler. You still have those warm days and crisp nights. The colors explode off of every plant like no other time of year. The reds, the yellows, the oranges, bright and vivid on every branch. With autumn comes two of my favourite holidays, as well. Thanksgiving, where you get the time to be in the company of your loved ones and stuff your face with no shame. And Halloween, perhaps the most fun holiday of all, where even adults get to masqerade like children and leave their identities behind for a night and revel in the glory of pure unbridled sin and earthly gluttony. Because life is for the living, after all!

With so much energy in the air, I always feel charged to do more work. I'm more inspired by the fun and playfulness of this time of year. It's a time for celebration, love, and enjoying life to its fullest. Plus, it's the last hurrah before the winter doldrums set in and we all find ourselves stuck indoors for 4 months. So I want to get out as frequently as possible and make the most of what's left of this beautiful weather and let the spirit of the season inspire me.

I've posted several new projects in the gallery and one new one here. I'm going to release more details soon, but I'm happy to announce I'll be having my second solo show early 2010 at the now legendary 12 Steps Down. The last show was awesome and I plan to make this one even better. More details to follow, but know I'm pulling out all the stops on this one. It'll be a time to remember.

Also, I'd like to take a second to thank all the people who have been stopping by my site and getting in touch with me lately. I really appreciate all the feedback. And a special howdy to Sugarland, Texas for having maybe the coolest name I think I've ever heard.

More projects in the works. Fluidoptics.com [LINK] is still going strong! Almost half a year of taking photos every day. Also, I'm attempting a rather big project that I hope to speak more about in the near future. News on that to follow. Stay tuned and see what ideas the winds of autumn sweep into my mind's eye!

Warmest regards,
-C

CRAFT SHOW!!!

2009-09-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

So, the weather this weekend is beautiful. And tomorrow I'll be spending the day peddling my wares at a craft show in NJ. If you're free and looking for something to do outside, come check out the vendors and get some hot apple cider and say hi! It's just over the river from Philly and there's plenty to do in and around the area.

DIRECTIONS AND INFO:
http://www.indianacrestreefarm.com/home.htm

August in bloom.

2009-09-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

My newest piece, titled 'August in bloom." I'm in a bit of a bright phase lately. It's a nice change of pace to do stuff that's just light and airy instead of the usual gloom and surrealism. More groovy stuff on the way. I'm on my way out to do another shoot right now. Maybe not as happy and fluffy. We'll see... should be fun.

-c

On the subject of productivity...

2009-08-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

The new piece above is titled "Vrksasana" after the yoga pose. I was working on some really dark Lovecraft-inspired stuff this week and I just needed to take a break and do something sunny and uplifting. So this is what came out. The lovely miss Sara and I took a hot yoga class once. It was really something. We've been meaning to do it again since but she's a busy gal and I spend about 5 hours a day in front of a computer editing my photos... so yeah. That being said, though, it was a real workout and really fun.

In other news, I'm branching out and listing myself (and my work) on lots of portfolio sites. If you check out the links section of my page, you'll notice I've updated it a bit. There are a couple new links to my Illustrationmundo and Behance pages. Go check 'em out. They're groovy.

I've also got a few new projects in the tubes. I'll be shooting one tomorrow. Arranged to have a model available and I'm trying some new stuff out. Should be pretty cool. I'd like to have it complete by the end of the week so be looking forward to that.

And as always, I'm about 125 days into my photo-a-day project and going strong. It's quite an experience and I'm having alot of fun doing it. So please check it out and spread the word.

That's all for now. More on the way, so stay tuned!

-c

How to make an infrared filter for your SLR...

2009-08-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I get into a D.I.Y. kinda mood and start researching new ways to do my work. I've always had an interest in finding a way to work in the infrared spectrum, but I didn't have the $100 or so to drop on a good infrared filter for my camera. Chances are, most of us aren't willing to shell out that much just to 'try it out'.

After browsing around online, I came across lots of discussion on this topic. And a few people pointed something interesting out... both exposed film and floppy disk film filter out infrared light. Problem was, most of these instructions were for point-and-shoot models or they were a hack job that just looked ugly. I needed something larger that would fit my lens and nicer looking. Now, I know their results worked to a degree, but who would take you seriously if they saw you shooting with duct tape and cardboard stuck to the front of your lens? I wanted to take it a step further and really come up with something that was both functional AND could pass for a Hoya R72 at first glance. So here's what I came up with...

1. Get a plain old UV filter for your lens. I had a spare 58mm Calumet filter for my kit lens, so that's what I worked with. They retail for about $13 so I wasn't too worried about breaking it if my hand slipped. Besides, these are a dime a dozen on craigslist.

2. Get a roll of 120 color negative film. I used Fuji Reala 100. Other instructions call for any exposed film, but 35mm (a) has sprocket holes and (b) isn't wide enough to cover an SLR lens. Stick with the 120.

You want an entire roll that's been exposed, so much to the photo clerk's surprise, I tore open the pack, peeled off the backing, and held the film up to the store window for about 30 seconds to be sure the film was overexposed. Make sure to tell the person developing your film that yes, you know it will all be black, and yes, that's what you intended. Otherwise you might risk them throwing the roll out thinking it was defective. Also, if they ask if you want your film cut, say no. Most processing places will happily sleeve your entire roll uncut. This will be helpful later...

3. Disassemble the filter. Depending on your brand, there will be a retaining ring in the front or back of your filter that holds the glass in place. Some are screw-off and some are tension coils. Mine is a tension coil but either one works fine. Remove the retaining ring and carefully remove the glass with a lens cloth to protect your hands and to keep the glass smudge-free.

4. Use the glass as a template. Unroll your exposed film (still in the plastic sleeve) and use a sharpie to trace around the edge. You want to trace at least two, preferably three, circles onto your sleeved film. Once you've traced three circles, carefully cut each one out so you end up with several identical discs of film.

-This is where experimentation comes in...-

Some say that two pieces of film is enough to filter your light and get that groovy IR effect. After trying this out myself, I found that I was still getting a little too much residual light for my taste. So I opted for a third layer to darken things down even further and allow only IR light to pass. If you find that two layers work for you, keep it. If it works, it works. If you don't mind a longer exposure however, do what I did and go for three layers.

5. Replace the glass in your filter ring and sandwich your cut discs of film on the rear side of the filter assembly. Do this carefully and keep the cut discs of film in the plastic sleeve until you place them to avoid fingerprints. Just be sure not to leave the sleeve material in the filter assembly or you'll end up having to remove it later and that's just a pain. Once your discs are in place, put the retaining ring back (carefully) and make sure your pieces of film are held down.

And you're done!

When complete, your filter should look like the one at the top of this article. Looking through the filter, you shouldn't see any light. That's a good thing because your camera will. Now screw your new filter to your lens and go take some pictures. Remember, your exposure times will be LONG. And since this is D.I.Y. and not an exact science, your results will be slightly different than others. Just experiment with your camera's settings and find what works best for you.

ENJOY!

-c

So I had this dream...

2009-07-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

New work. Adding it to the library soon. Simply titled 'falling.' Everyone's had this dream before. Some say it represents feeling uneasy or unsure of something. Others say it serves as a warning. Like maybe you noticed something unsafe during the day and your subconscious is telling you to take caution. And then there's the scientists who say it's either A: genetic memories passed on to us from our tree-dwelling ancestors or B: a drop in blood pressure as you drift off that gives you the 'woosh' sensation. Whatever it is, it's one of those memories we all seem to possess for inexplicable reason. Things like this intrigue me.

If anyone has had any unusual dreams they'd like to share, I'd like to illustrate them :) Please send emails or leave comments!

-c

The winds of change.

2009-07-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a little while since my last post. Things have been a little chaotic. If we speak regularly, you know what I'm talking about. But thankfully, as it always does, things are turning positive and I'm keeping myself motivated and busy with (another) round of mailers and some new work.

Long story very short for the uninitiated:
economy sucks. things went south at work. my position was eliminated. i'm doing just fine (seriously) and it's actually giving me a nice little break before i start the next phase. the end.

Anyway, life goes on and I'm now living just downtown from my previous residence. The dear Miss Sara and I have moved in with each other and things are going well. The big Birthday Season is approaching fast (myself, sara, her dad, emily, and my brother all in 2 weeks...) so starting next weekend, the party is on. God help us all.

Well, more news later. Just wanted to update quick since I've been a bit of a digital ghost as of late. Hope all of you out there are doing splendidly and I hope to see alot of you the weekend of the 1st. Drinks and merriment fer' sher'.

-c

So I had just bought some loose-leaf tea...

2009-06-10T20:50:00.000-07:00

... and was taking a nice walk through the Italian Market with Sara when suddenly, our path was blocked by a filming crew. And who was standing 5 feet away?

Weird. And awesome. I kinda wanted to yell something about LA Confidential being the coolest movie ever... but I didn't. He smiled a lot and waved to people. It made my day a little more entertaining. The end.

Studies...

2009-06-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

I'm trying some new shooting techniques out today. This was my first successful test shot of Ophelia (click for a bigger image):

I'm about to get in my car and do a little location scouting. And i'll most likely be stopping at the art store while i'm out, too. So by the end of the day, i'm probably going to be making a big giant photo post. YAY! i'm feeling inspired.

Neat things...

2009-06-04T11:12:00.001-07:00

random shot from this past weekend. i like mild summer evenings where it's daylight 'till almost 9pm and you can watch the moon rise while it's still sunny. there's just something cool about that.

anyhow,

there's no real point to this post except to highlight some things i've been eyeballing lately:

must own one of these... that'd be so much fun to shoot with! how did i NOT KNOW that this existed??
http://www.holgamods.com/xt/xt.html

next on my reading list.if anyone already read it and wants to pass it along, let me know!

Opteka 42" 5-in-1 reflector disc
i want to shoot more stuff using reflectors and natural lighting and this would be such a great addition to my kit... and they're only about 30 bucks on amazon. might have to get one.

I've had a weird obsession with terrariums these past few weeks. i'm gonna make a trip to the thrift store this weekend and see if i can find a cool jar and make one. not only would it look awesome just as decoration, but i've got this idea in my head about making tiny landscapes and photographing them... so i'm gonna make one to start and see how that goes. :)

there's an antique store down the road from me and they have a giant bin full of old antique keys. all shapes and sizes and levels of deteriorating. they're awesome. i might go grab a few of these to shoot, also.

and while i'm thinking of it...
i want to scour craigslist for old frames people are tossing out. i'm such a sucker for old weathered stuff like this. it just has so much character to it. my mind has this way of making up a story for anything old like this and how it came to be in someone's house or on a shelf in the thrift store or in a basement...

on another note, this is Sara's new furry companion, Oona:
she's a little monster. but adorable nonetheless.

that's all for now. this was a just-for-smiles post. :)

-c

Memorial Day weekend...

2009-05-26T21:56:00.001-07:00

So sad it's over. What a nice weekend it turned out to be. The lovely miss Sara and I spent a few days in Jersey exploring our back yard and soaking up some sun. Here's a special bonus round-up of photos from the weekend that I wanted to elaborate on... For more photos, check out my big 30th day post at my other site, www.fluidoptics.com

Saturday was beautiful and I shot lots of photos walking around philly before heading to jerz:

It was one of those days where the clouds almost literally seemed painted onto the sky. Absolutely beautiful. Before going to to a nice sushi dinner, the lady and I took our friend's dog for a walk in the park (we were dog-sitting this weekend, too.)

He's a handsome little fella. Hyper as hell, but a sweet dog. The following day, we went out to Jersey in the morning and spent a large portion of the day taking walks, playing with the dog, barbecuing, and getting the pool uncovered (I CAN'T wait to swim...). Later in the evening, there was a great summertime thunderstorm that rolled through and eased the humidity just in time for bed...

On monday, we took a little road trip out to Wharton State Forest and explored Apple Pie Hill, one of the coolest places in the NJ pine barrens (google it). It's hard to find and you have to drive down 3 miles of unmarked dirt roads, but if you can get there, it's worth the trip. You can see both Philadelphia AND Atlantic City at the same time from the summit. The view is amazing.

The view below your feet, however, is a little more terrifying...

After exploring the surrounding woods and taking some dance shots (which you can see on Sara's blog here) she decided to take me to Batsto Village since I've never been there. It's a colonial town on the other side of the park about 20 minutes away and it's been preserved to look just the way it did in the mid 1800's. Seriously... this place was cool. And kinda creepy and ghost-townish. But mostly cool.

We also found this little guy hanging out on an outhouse that had a loose board on the side...

That evening, we watched a movie, had more barbecue, and then spent all day today lounging around the house because of a sudden change in the weather. Overnight, it went from 90 degrees and sunny/overcast to being around 55 degrees and rainy. Go figure. But all things considered, it was an awesome weekend filled with exploration and fun. I can't wait to do more sightseeing this summer. There are so many places I'd like to check out and I think a little roadtrip is in order (weird NJ being the tourguide...). But that's another story. Hope you all had a great weekend too! Get out there and enjoy the sun :)

And again, thanks for reading! ENJOY~

-c

Walkabout. A love note to my city...

2009-05-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

So, three weeks have passed since I started the photo-a-day project over at www.fluidoptics.com and I'm having a blast. I haven't missed a day, and I don't intend to. It's filling me with ideas and inspiration that I would have never found otherwise. It's my version of keeping a sketchbook. On my free days, I like to take a little stroll around different parts of town and explore all the hidden nooks and crannies everyone takes for granted or completely passes by. That's where I found my friend here:

He came out from behind some nearby cars and watched as I shot some photos of an abandoned building. I'm a fan of cats, and having the company while shooting didn't bother me in the least. Then as I stood to walk down the street, I noticed I wasn't alone.

To my surprise, this fella quickly became my shadow and followed me around for the next 20 minutes or so, pausing to get my attention every time I would stop for a shot, often times even jumping into the frame. When I checked my photos this evening, he showed up in 23 shots.

In the end, he became distracted by some sort of rodent in a nearby garden and took off. But before he disappeared, he came back once more to rub against my leg and then sprint after his dinner.

I like these seemingly random occurrences that come out of nowhere and make your day a little more interesting. And these walkabouts through the forgotten passages of this city are full of fun surprises. It makes me thankful that I live where I do. Philadelphia really is a beautiful and unique city that's so rich with history and stories that are kept alive through the years by the very streets and bricks this city was built upon. Every broken bit of pavement and crumbling wall has a story. The pulleys that still hang from the roofs of old houses; the bent railing on a church that's flanked by new construction; a tiny yet vibrant vegetable garden tucked into an alley; lost earrings and puzzlingly discarded clothing showing up in the most unexpected of places.. presumably misplaced near the swingset after a drunken late-night rendezvous gone awry. You could write a compelling story about any of these things and that was just a single day's discoveries. You never know what these roads will toss at you next. And that's what keeps me motivated and excited to wake up and do this every day. It's always such a fun adventure.

I love this town.

Blessings.

2009-05-09T00:59:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Two of my favourite people in the world just welcomed their gigantic baby boy into the world earlier today. I'm the proud godfather of little Silas! And how appropriate that this Sunday is mother's day. Congratulations to all three of you. You're awesome folks and you're going to be the best, most loving parents to this loud and HUGE little dude. What a set of pipes he had over the phone! Incredible. My thoughts and prayers and well-wishes are with you guys. I love you both and I can't wait to meet him! Oh, and be sure to tell your folks I said congratulations to them as well! I gotta pay them a visit next time I get back home... Now get some rest. You deserve it.

Thank God the week is over... seems like it's been a long one. And the rain FINALLY broke today. What a nice change of pace. Gonna be spending the weekend with Sara. Must. Shoot. Photos. Go on over to www.fluidoptics.com and check out this week's treasures. Lots of location scouting this past week... gonna do some composition work on my days off here. New illy(s?) by tuesday night, so come back soon.

So much excitement. Must rest...

Peace, love, and babies.

-c

7 days of rain and counting....

2009-05-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

Well, i'm officially tired of this dreary weather. it's taking a toll on my good mood. but despite the gloom, i'm happy to say that my new project over at www.fluidoptics.com seems to be doing quite well. Thank You to all who are checking it out and sharing your thoughts. if you haven't checked it out, please do.

in other news, today i built myself a light box for some upcoming work. this is what a lightbox looks like:

you take a big sheet of foam board, cut it into equal squares, tape the edges up and then add some lighting. and before you know it, you're shooting small objects with crystal clarity on a little seamless backdrop. interesting, no? it's gonna be awfully useful. i'm experimenting with some new techniques i'm kinda developing. time will ultimately tell if it's a successful experiment, but it's certianly something to do and so far, the results are kinda cool.

i'm writing addresses on labels for my mailers right now and getting prepared to send out booklets and make the appropriate calls to some local art directors. keep those fingers crossed... you may see my work in print in the near future.

the stock photo idea has come up yet again and this time i'm giving it some more serious consideration. the photo-a-day project has got me shooting alot more and i think it'd be worthwhile to see what, if anything, i can do to make it profitable. if anyone knows a stock service that pays fairly and sees a good return, let me know. i'm shopping around.

well, that's all for now. still waiting on news of my godson's grand entrance into this world. could be any moment now. i'm excited. in the meantime, more work... more ideas... more to come. stay tuned!

-c

Fluidoptics.com

2009-04-29T00:02:00.001-07:00

As some of you may be aware, I've started a new project. Think of it as a real-time sketchbook. It's my photo-a-day blog where I will post a new image from my daily travels, no matter the circumstances. I'm sticking to it. And it won't always be good, but I promise it will at the very least be interesting. Please go to www.fluidoptics.com and subscribe to the RSS feed here. And as always, thank you all so much for supporting my craziness. It means the world to me.

-C

New Hope, old friends...

2009-04-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

Spent the day in New Hope, PA today with the lady and good lord, what beautiful weather we had. It was 85 and sunny. Tomorrow (today?) it's going to reach 90. It's like summer came out of nowhere... and I love it. We met up with some old friends of ours for dinner while we were there and enjoyed sangria and fondue in a cute little open-air patio restaurant we like to go to. Overall, it was a perfect day. We got there just after 1pm and stayed 'till 11. It just so happens it was the shad festival this weekend, too, so it was full of excitement and business. That also meant there were lots of little street vendors and interesting people everywhere you turned. So much fun... can't wait to go back when it's a little less crowded and go for a walk along the river and maybe take a train ride.

In other news... I'm just a short while away from being first-time Godfather. I'm waiting on news, but some very close friends of mine are due to have their first any time now. So here's wishing them all the best as they welcome their colossal bundle of joy into the world :) Send 'em some good vibes. My prayers and best wishes are with you three!! Godspeed and I can't wait to meet the little fella!

That's all for now. Gotta get up early and shoot photos in the park while the weather is so nice...

be excellent~

-c

Portraiture..

2009-04-24T01:45:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post before falling asleep. Got an email from Jonathan Barkat (my mentor, www.jonathanbarkat.com) a few minutes ago with a couple portraits he took of me this past week. Gotta hand it to him... he knows how to shoot a photo.

There were suggestions that I was doing a vincent gallo impersonation...

It's in the mail...

2009-04-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

The next round of mailers are all ready. All that's left is to stamp 'em and drop them in the mailbox. This time, I think I'm going to be more forward and make more follow-up calls about a week or so after they're out the door. I'm targeting a more local area this time around, as well. My goal is to sit down with some art directors and get some time face-to-face to introduce myself and my work. Let's hope this works! Pray for Mojo.

I'm also re-doing the album artwork for The Gentlemen's Club's debut album, Black Light Sex Rock (http://www.myspace.com/thegentlemensclubmusic). They're releasing a special-edition version of the album with all new tracks and I was asked to re-boot the artwork to go along with it. It's turning out well. Here's a preview of the cover:

I wanted to go with a lighter, kinda retro pin-up feel for this version. It's fun and playful this way, I think. And as always, the lovely lady Sara looks stunning.

This weekend looks like it's going to be beautiful. They're forecasting mid 80's and sunny. So I think the lady and I are going to go out to New Hope / Lambertville and spend the day amongst the new-age hippies down there. I love that place. I'm sure it will be crowded, but it'll be well worth it. Plus we can bend some elbows at Triumph Brewing Co. and enjoy some tasty food while we're there too. Yum.

Well, that's all for now. Time to go to work. Go get some fresh air.
Be excellent.

-C

It's in the details.

2009-04-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Working with my new camera has been great. I've already taken a ton of pictures... I'm definitely going to need a new hard drive soon. I took this photo last night when I was about to go to sleep. The cat joined me while I was looking at some shots I had taken earlier in the evening. Then she did this whole thing here. Neat, huh? The noise reduction on this thing is amazing.

ISO - 1600; F/3.5; 1/21 sec.; 18-55 kit lens at 18mm

I might start a new project... I'm still debating whether or not I'd keep up with it, but I've always wanted to do a photo-a-day project. I've got a new camera. I've got a camera phone if I don't have the slr with me. So in theory, I could easily upload a photo a day somehow. Might be interesting. Would that be something worth viewing? Please discuss.

-c

Armed and dangerous...

2009-04-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

I am no longer a photo-less photo-illustrator. I made the big leap and dished out the funding for some new gear and good lord, I'm happy about it. First and foremost, I must thank Stacey who sold me an incredible camera at a very fair price. I can't thank you enough for your honesty and for helping a fellow artist out of a rough situation. It's greatly appreciated. The camera has found a great new home.

That being said, I'm naming the new camera Stacey, out of gratitude.

Now on to business... I have had plenty of time to think about future projects in the past 3 months while my poor old camera lay dying. I'm still debating getting the old fella repaired to be used as a backup body. I'm going to have to check out service prices, though. I just made one invenstment and I have a few others ahead of me so it's one step at a time. But in the meanwhile, mailers are being finalized and I'm going to be making some calls in the very near future to sit down with some art directors. Let's hope for positive news :)

Also, I'm currently looking at getting involved in craft shows and doing another gallery show in the near future. More news on that as it develops. But after having so much fun at the last show, I can't say no to doing it again. This one will be better-promoted and (hopefully) in a larger venue. The goal will be to pack the house. I wanna party.

Well, I'm off to go hunt down a movie. Then it's back to the city to get down to work. I'll be visiting pierre's costume shop in the morning. Promises to be fun!...

-Craig

Longwood gardens...

2009-04-18T12:11:00.001-07:00

This place is kinda awesome. beautiful weather 2day. enjoying some much-needed relaxation with sara. good times =)

Concentric lines.

2009-04-06T16:25:00.001-07:00

I made this today. What did you make?

I have been experiencing a case of ups and downs lately that has left my head a bit dizzy. Most everything is going well, as usual, but every so often you find yourself quite disappointed with the trivial misdeeds of other people. Why some people choose to do certain things will never make sense to me. Thankfully, in the long run, none of the negative stuff matters and I'm left with the good. I had a great talk with a good friend of mine today and he gave me some perspective on things that I really needed. Don't sweat the small stuff. Karma will work its ways.

Speaking of good, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming weekend with Sara. Every year we have a great easter. We still paint eggs the night before and her folks still have fun with us and hide them around the lawn in the morning. It's childish, but we're still big kids on the inside. That's part of being a happy adult, I think. Never losing your ability to have fun and actually play. I'm not going to pretend to be holier-than-thou or anything.. I enjoy being an adult. I look forward to beer night every week. I like knowing my car insurance is lower. Whatever. There's something to be said for just getting out and having fun for the hell of it. No rhyme or reason.

------------------------------------------------

So I haven't bought my camera yet. Which sucks. I'm making due with a point-and-shoot at the moment. Why haven't I bought the camera yet, you ask? Because Canon just announced their new Rebel T1i is coming out in early may. Which also means, buying a rebel now would be foolish 'cuz the price is going to drop significanly in a short while. So I have to hold out a little longer. It's torture. It really is. But I'm saving money, which is a good thing.

I'm also looking into new computers. This one has served me well for the past several years, but it's getting to a point where i need to retire the old champ and use it as a backup machine. I'm shopping for new systems. I think the smart way to go in my case would be an affordable desktop unit with (perhaps) a little netbook for on-the-road work (the netbook being a later investment). Desktops these days are really cheap. See: www.slickdeals.net or woot.com. Good deals to be had there.

Well, it's about time to work on my new mailers. I'm making mini-portfolios :) Got myself a bunch of nice paper and ink for the printer and I'm ready to rock. More on that later...

The cat is watching you.

Kill it with fire!!!

2009-03-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Good lord this is terrifying. mcd's needs to rethink their marketing approach. this wont sell hamburgers...

Bad photoshopping...

2009-03-20T20:41:00.001-07:00

Come on now. hes holding 2 pens. and 1 is half erased. yes- this is a real ad. ugh.. really? nobody noticed b4 this went 2 print? wtf people.. stop it.

Hello, you!

2009-03-13T01:23:00.001-07:00

it's been a brief while since i updated, so here we go.

ANYONE WHO BOUGHT PIECES AT THE SHOW... it was taken down this afternoon so you can contact me to pick it up. if you've already arranged to pick it up at the bar, it's there for you. just ask whoever is tending and they'll take care of you. otherwise, drop me a line and we can arrange something.

in other news, considering how great this first show went, i'd like to make this a seasonal thing. maybe try and get another show in before summer... that'd certainly be nice. so time to do research in that department.

i've also been thinking of getting a table at a craft show. it's not terribly expensive and i'm sure i could sell quite a bit. at least enough to recoup expenses. so i'm going to make calls over the next week or two and see if anything is coming up in the warmer months ahead!

finally, i have two major projects i'd like to get underway. i'm going to make booklets this time around instead of mailers. i think they're more interesting and less likely to end up in the trash. i'm also going to take a more aggressive approach to getting some freelance work. i'm going to be personally contacting art directors in the local market and trying to arrange a portfolio review. scary stuff... but it must be done. the second project is more design-ey and could go well with my craft show... i'd like to start producing my own line of t-shirts and such. i got a friend in the 'biz who gave me a good price on printing up my designs so if i can nail down a show, i'll be (hopefully) selling some badass merch, too. how's that for sweet? more news on that to follow.

be excellent.

-c

We know who we are, so we don't need names...

2009-02-23T19:41:00.001-08:00

Firstly, let me direct your attention to my FACEBOOK and TWITTER pages. please click and add me. thank you. now for the news...

...i shall have this. i shall create with this. it will be my new tool, my new eye, my long-awaited replacement and upgrade. in other words, i'm ordering this thing in like 2 days. it's gonna be such a relief to be holding a camera again. i've been without my own camera for almost 2 months now, which breaks my heart. i did so much work with borrowed equipment but it's totally different to be working with gear you know and love and are entirely familiar with. speaking of which, thank you SOOO much to everyone who helped me out by lending anything and everything to get me through the slump. i know some awesome folks.

in other news, the lovely miss sara and i saw coraline on saturday. it was so good, we're gonna go again with some free tickets i won and we're gonna enjoy it all over. this time, in magical 3D as well!

it should be noted, this is NOT a children's movie. as cute and charming as it looks on the surface, there are scenes in this movie that will haunt you. that being said, it IS cute and charming, but with a bleak and spooky interior. i highly recommend going to see it while there's still a chance to catch it in 3D. the movie looks absolutely breathtaking on the big screen and is WELL worth your hard-earned recession dollars.

finally, i found out today that i sold another piece in my show! HOORAY! kinda came out of the blue too... but i'm always happy to give my work a permanent home and i'm truly humbled when someone wants to invest in my creations. like any artist, my work means alot to me and to know others appreciate it really makes me feel all warm and mushy inside. seriously. everyone who's got some of my work hanging on their wall or saved as their desktop or whatever, thank you. thank you thank you. you're all awesome.

more work on the way. trying to plan new shows for the spring.
also, making up new promo materials. stay tuned! there's so much more to come!

be well~

-craig

To whom it may concern...

2009-02-14T22:26:00.001-08:00

My friday the 13th show was, by all accounts, a huge success. I can't express my gratitude enough. To all who made it out, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You're all amazing. I had the greatest time and I truly hope you all did too. It was so nice to see so many happy faces in the same room. At one point, and i'm not kidding, i got a little overwhelmed and had to step aside and take it all in and talk myself out of shedding a few tears of joy. I really can't tell you all how much I appreciate it. Just know it's not at all taken for granted and I'll remember this forever.

Today, the lovely miss Sara and I went out for dinner at a beautiful asian-fusion restaurant and celebrated ... well... everything. It's been a great few days. (Have I mentioned she's an angel? It's true.) Happy Valentine's Day to all and I really honestly hope everyone is reading this and feeling a bit of the love in the air. I know I am.

Be well~

-craig

Absurdities...

2009-02-07T01:46:00.000-08:00

Spread the word!

A gentle reminder...

2009-02-05T09:51:00.001-08:00

on the corner of 9th and Christian Streets, Philadelphia

FRIDAY THE 13TH OF FEBRUARY, 2009
opening reception 7-9 pm

Festivities continue throughout the evening.
Free food, cheap drinks, and my first solo exhibition.

Come one, come all! This upcoming Friday the 13th, I'll be debuting a collection of new and less-new work at our beloved 12 Steps Down in the heart of the Italian Market. It's going to be quite a time and it's FREE. As in, it doesn't cost a dime. There will be plenty of free food, good company, and a bunch of my work for sale at incredibly modest prices. Come get your buzz on and give some artwork a happy home. And bring your friends!

The Zeitgeist...

2009-02-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been quite a week. I had the great misfortune of walking into work on friday to see countless people I know and care about standing silently in the lobby holding boxes full of their belongings. The silence was louder than anything I've ever heard before. It's such a haunting scene... not a word was spoken. And for the first hour I was there, I didn't know who was next. It could have been any of us. Nobody was safe. The economic turmoil had at long last hit home.

That being said, my deepest sympathies go out to everyone affected. Nobody feels good about what happened. Those of us that made it through don't feel much better. We're left with survivor's guilt and the terrible memory of the friends who sat beside us every day who are no longer there.

I can't even begin to describe how awful it is to see this happening to our country. Everyone knows at least a few people who have been hit like this. You see it every day on the news. CNN is keeping a running tally of layoffs nationwide. The numbers are terrible. Those of us who are employed, be thankful and do everything you can to make yourself valuable. Those who are in more dire circumstances, keep your heads up and know that someday (hopefully soon) things will improve.

God help us all.

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

2009-01-24T10:55:00.001-08:00

on the corner of 9th and Christian Streets, Philadelphia

FRIDAY THE 13TH OF FEBRUARY, 2009
opening reception 7-9 pm

Festivities continue throughout the evening.
Free food, cheap drinks, and my first solo exhibition.

Come one, come all! This upcoming Friday the 13th, I'll be debuting a collection of new and less-new work at our beloved 12 Steps Down in the heart of the Italian Market. It's going to be quite a time and it's FREE. As in, it doesn't cost a dime. There will be plenty of free food, good company, and a bunch of my work for sale at incredibly modest prices. Come get your buzz on and give some artwork a happy home. And bring your friends!

About typography...

2009-01-21T18:10:00.000-08:00

This is an example of what I call "crap font." Someone got paid millions to do this. *sigh*

It's not a vacation...

2009-01-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

... until you get a picture with foul-mouthed birds.

Jealousy.. you has it.

2009-01-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

Day the first...

2009-01-11T19:19:00.000-08:00

Day one here on south beach has been delightful. We had a great flight in, watched Wall-e on the plane, checked in and went to Oceans Ten for a fishbowl of red bull-vodka. Afterwards, we took in the sights and walked the beach and elsewhere. Now we're pooped and researching places to visit after breakfast. It's a toss-up between the butterfly conservatory and the erotic art museum.. decisions, decisions..

We have arrived...

2009-01-11T13:20:00.001-08:00

Greetings from Craig & Sara in Miami!!

On our way to Miami.

2009-01-11T06:48:00.001-08:00

On our way to Miami. Be back in a few days with a tan. Pictures will be posted along the way... bon voyage!

Thinking out loud...

2009-01-08T18:29:00.001-08:00

I've got a few thoughts crawling around on the floor of my head... most notably, concerning the idea of getting involved in producing stock imagery. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it's a good way to build more portfolio work. On the other, I'm concerned about selling away work like that. Is it worth it? Would that make me a sell-out? Where does a 'commercial artist' draw the line between doing work for financial gain and artistic integrity? Just wondering. Please discuss. I value opinions.

Of recent developments...

2009-01-07T23:06:00.001-08:00

So I'm here bored and blogging on my phone from work. I've done a bit of research and after a few hits and misses, I've decided two things- 1: I'm going to bite the bullet and purchase my new camera when the lady and I return from miami. And 2: I've gotta make a big comeback with my show next month. More details on that as they happen, but I'm definitely going to be showcasing some new landscape work. Please send good vibes and inspiration. Your karma will reward you.

In memoriam...

2009-01-05T17:33:00.000-08:00

while shooting some new work today, my camera made a funny flick when the shutter fired... i reviewed the pictures and saw that more than half the image was black. my shutter failed. the timing is broken and it's going to cost more than it's worth to repair and mail it. i'm upset and a little bit freaked out right now. i'm struggling to find solutions and replacements. if anyone knows someone selling a CANON camera body, please let me know.

mournfully,

craig.

One of those...

2008-12-11T11:24:00.001-08:00

I've had this nagging mental itch for a couple days now. It's that feeling you get when you walk out the door and as you're halfway down the street, you remember you forgot something but you can't remember what. That's how I've felt. Anyway, I'm sure I'm just in the usual holiday creative slump and it's got me a little down. I've got another round of postcards ready to be sent out right after the holidays. And in the meantime, I should keep doing personal work and taking care of loose ends. This time of year always makes me feel kinda detached from the whole art scene, mostly because there's so much going on that it's hard to devote the usual attention to it. On a positive note, however, I'm printing my holiday cards as I write this.

One task at a time...

Does anyone else just hate feeling sidetracked like this?

-craig

Incredible edible evil...

2008-12-04T01:16:00.001-08:00

I did a new piece today which has been uploaded to the gallery. It's mostly a study of shape and form but with a humourous twist. 'Cuz let's face it, not everything has to be terribly serious all the time. It's an homage to one of my favourite snacks. Have a look. Hope you enjoy!

-Craig

2008-11-27T13:32:00.000-08:00

Happy turkey day from Medford!

Giving Thanks.

2008-11-27T00:47:00.001-08:00

I've just added two new images to the library. The first is a landscape i did recently... it was for a contest i'm still awaiting the results from, so cross some fingers and so forth. The other is a piece i did today after having recently been reading lots of Lovecraft and having rather bizarre dreams as a result. I thought the two images provide an interesting contrast in terms of my polarity. So please enjoy!

Also, it's early thanksgiving morning. Today is one of my favourite holidays not just because of the gluttonous aspect of it all, but because it's just one of those days that gives you no excuse not to take stock of all you've been blessed with. Even in today's economic peril, we can still find things to be grateful for.
..So, take a moment today and let someone know you're glad they're around.

And make sure to call your Mom and tell her you love her. She likes hearing from you.

-craig

In a moment of inspiration...

2008-11-20T01:12:00.001-08:00

as those who know me are already aware, i have a distinct fascination with all things spiritual and arcane and... well, unusual. symbolism is something i've always admired greatly. and i have a certain 'thing' for eastern philosophy and aesthetics. so i got out the ol' calligraphy set today and came up with my own rendition of a traditional chinese 'chop' or a Baiwen seal. you'll probably be seeing it on my work from hence forward. just thought it was kind of a cool thing, so there it is.

also, if anyone knows anything about making rubber stamps, i'd like to talk. thanks.

-c

Yes, he did.

2008-11-05T11:41:00.001-08:00

it's a new day in America.

today i'm proud to be a citizen of this nation. centuries ago, we massacred the native inhabitants of this country and slavery was commonplace. just a few decades ago, racism was rampant. one of the great modern peace leaders was struck down. then came the cold war era and just eight years ago, we began the great decent that was the bush administration. little by little, the tide began to change. ideas evolved and today, on this historic day, we can finally leave the ghosts of the past behind us. america has elected the first black president in an unprecidented landslide victory. it's a different time and attitude in the same old place. today, we can look forward to a future where the lower class and minorities in this country can TRULY believe that they, too, can grow up to become president. ideologies of the past are irrelevant. america and the rest of the world have spoken and we've laid the groundwork for a fundamental change that will pave the way to the future.

this is a bbc article that really sums up what today means to the rest of the world:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7711321.stm

this is a blog written by one of my favourite people that sums up EXACTLY how i feel:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=71848725&blogID=446534926

i urge you to read and celebrate what's happened here. and also, i must say, Sen. John McCain took the defeat like a man and stepped down with class and dignity. his concession speech was delivered remarkably well. despite the negative campaigning, he took the high road in the end and earned the respect of myself and, undoubtedly, many others.

it's been an exciting election season and in a way i'm glad it's finally over. part of fme will miss the lunacy of some of it because it made for some great entertainment. but i look forward to the future and i'm happy to know that today america has spoken and i think this will open countless doors and change the way we think all across the nation AND the world.

congratulations, President Obama.

-craig

Happy Samhain

2008-10-31T01:20:00.001-07:00

...or Halloween. whichever suits you. :) in the spirit of the season i present you with this:

in other news, remember to vote this tuesday. if you're registered, do it. i don't care who you're supporting as long as you're making your opinion heard. it's a luxury we're afforded in this country that many around the world simply don't have. so go out and do your civic duty and let's have our voices heard. the nation is in some trying times and we're all eager for new leadership. let's make a difference. it's been a strange and, at times, alarming election season and i think i'm going to miss the craziness a bit once it's over.

also, when walking home from work, a van turned the corner ahead of me. i heard LOUD bass-thumping disco, yes, disco music blaring out the windows. as the van passed me, i saw it was a police wagon... a police wagon. i laughed the rest of the way home.

finally, the world's largest pinata is being constructed a few blocks from my apartment. it looks not unlike the trojan horse dressed in drag.

i think art bell was right when he said 'the quickening' is upon us. strange things really do seem to be occurring more and more frequently.. hahaha

be safe out there tonight!

-craig

61 degrees and falling.

2008-10-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

it's a chilly one today. i always loved this time of year... i always feel most inspired around the fall. maybe it's the colors changing or the 'electric' feeling that just seems to hang in the air. it seems like everything in nature just tries to cling to vibrancy a little more just before the snow. it's like last call at the bar... everyone wants to keep the party going but the guests know there's only a little time left so they party a little harder to make up for it.

the other day i saw Choke. i'd been waiting a year to see it since it was announced, and if you're reading this you probably know how much i love chuck palahniuk's work. the movie did not disappoint. it certainly did the book justice. with a running time around 1:45, they managed to include almost the entire storyline without editing much. and all the dirty awful objectionable parts made it in. so go check it out and have yourself some guilty laughs.

that same day i took a trip to borders to buy some books and do some research. i ended up buying a couple resource texts about the buiness and contact info, etc.. book stores are a GREAT resource for freelancers. your market is publishing, right? so why not go right to the source and read a few mastheads? all the info you want is right under your nose, quite literally. bring a notebook and a digital camera and get your research on!

a little thing i'm trying with my new batch of mailers is including reply cards. i've heard mixed opinions of them (people rarely use them, they might just end up in the trash, people would rather email, blah blah...) but i thought i'd give them a shot. i made reply mail cards complete with stamps and a comment section and a simple checkbox system in case the recipient is pressed for time. check the appropriate response, toss it in the outgoing mail. 'nuff said. i'll let you know how many i get back.

finally, i've been working on some new pieces when i haven't been doing mailer and promo stuff. i'm trying to get in gear to participate regularly in illustration friday (http://www.blogger.com/www.illustrationfriday.com). check it out. it's a fantastic idea and i've been wanting to get involved for a while. i'm also working on my company's christmas card and some personal work too just to keep myself sharp. here's the newest illy i put together. personal piece, mixed media, digital, etc...

-craig

storm grey is the best grey.

2008-09-24T11:52:00.001-07:00

i cannot recommend calumet enough. their prices can be somewhat high, but their house-brand products have never let me down and they're always far more affordable than name-brand equivalents. and you're not sacrificing quality, either. case in point: i just purchased a slick new backdrop support set and a seamless roll of storm grey background paper. it's awesome. and they're great for used equipment too. i'm thinking of upgrading my camera system through them... but that's another story altogether.

in other news, my first round of cards are in the mail. now the waiting process begins. in the meantime, you can't do much else but wait by the phone and do more illustrations 'till somebody calls. i've also gotta update my -actual- portfolio with new prints and so forth, so it seems the to-do list never ends.

this past weekend i spent alot of time outdoors. sunday i went up to bushkill falls with the family for my grandma's birthday. it was a blast. if you're into that kinda thing, it's really beautiful. it's like a big chasm opened up in the middle of the poconos and a big waterfall and some rapids just kinda happened. seems kinda out of place, but that's part of what makes it so cool. it's a really clean park too. and a real nice walk. then on monday i drove back down to philly to work with my mentor. we went out to this amazing remote stretch of forest in the NJ pine barrens called 'apple pie hill' to shoot photos off the top of this fire tower in the middle of the woods. the view is unreal. you can see 35 miles in each direction from the top. on a clear day you can see both philadelphia and atlantic city at the same time. it's wild. go check it out, but be aware that the surrounding area really gives you the 'deliverance' vibes. kinda creepy in a way but at the same time it's one of the coolest views i've seen in some time.

lastly, as promised, this is specially for simay... i shot some photos of Ophie last night. here they are: http://www.craigbillow.com/extras.html
enjoy!

-craig

the recovery process...

2008-09-11T11:22:00.001-07:00

my envelopes have finally arrived and this time they fit. thank god. i've been a little under the weather for a few days (i'm blaming hay fever) but i'm back on my feet and ready to rock. in the process of calibrating my printer for the moab paper last week, i burned through the little 'starter' cartridge that came with it. so i gotta go get a real color cartridge and then print the crap outta these cards.

i'm also trying out a couple different label designs for the front of the envelopes. i want something funky and cool that ties my work, the website, and the mailer all together. if i've learned one thing so far, it's that as a freelancer you're essentially selling yourself. not in a prostituting way or anything, but in the sense that you're an inventor and you're branding your product. image matters and a clean, well thought-out finished product will do much better than something half-assed or something that makes the person seeing it ask, 'what was he thinking?'

so that's my mission for the next two days between the day job and sleep. i'm going to take the weekend off to spend some much-needed time with the lady. we've both been a little off lately and we owe it to ourselves to have a nice romantic relaxing weekend out of the city. and sunday night, it's back to printing labels and sticking stamps. looks like i've got my work cut out for me!

-craig

PS- simay, i'll be posting an entry just for you this evening when i get out of work. i promised photos of the kitty and i plan to deliver. :)

chaos...

2008-09-08T21:52:00.001-07:00

so my replacement envelopes arrived in my area on saturday. i missed the delivery and they were supposed to be delivered today between 10 am and 2:30 pm. so i waited around all day. no buzz at the door. so around 3, i went downstairs to find a note on my mailbox saying i missed their delivery, despite my being home all afternoon. i can't figure it out either.

at roughly 6:30 i spoke to my buddy dan, with whom i had plans to hang out with. when he arrived at 7, i talked him into coming down to the UPS station in south philly so i could get my package which was guaranteed to be there for pickup. by 8pm, i was told (for the second time) that my delivery was "being taken off the truck and will be ready in a few minutes." mind you, this is an hour after i heard this the first time.

i gave up and left.

so here's my useful fact of the day....

UPS will hold a reserved package for 24 hours. this means, you can call to have your package held at the station and you can pick it up anytime within a day of its arrival. i was under the impression (and their automated service leads you to believe) that it will only be held an hour or so. this is not the case.

if you're shipping materials for your business, be aware that you don't need to spend an hour waiting to get what you paid for. you can call, have it held, and pick it up on your lunch break the following day. which is what i plan on doing.

moral of the story: don't waste time when you don't need to. make calls. that's the way the world works these days. you'll get shoved around and the guy who ordered a rug will get his delivery before you get your tiny package of envelopes. call ahead and make an appointment to pick up your delivery in-person. i don't know if this happens to everyone, but even with something as mundane as a shipment of envelopes, UPS won't deliver it without you in person to sign for it. go figure.

and in the end, dan and i had a drink and played pool and had some good food, so everything worked out.

-craig

doing your homework...

2008-09-03T10:57:00.001-07:00

so my custom envelopes finally arrived. excited, i tore the box open and opened the pack, and slid my mailer inside AANNNDDD.... the envelopes are too small. by one sixteenth of an inch. you gotta be kidding. so now i need to order another set of envelopes. not a big deal, but what a headache. and now i've got a whole stack of unusable envelopes sitting in front of me. awesome. know that old saying, "measure twice, cut once?" it applies here.

on a similar note, i also went out and got several packs of this great paper from a company called Moab (www.moabpaper.com). it's really high quality and i've seen outstanding prints on their paper. i got a bunch on a whim. as it turns out, my printer doesn't have a profile for the paper. so i spent 6 hours yesterday trying to create a custom color profile so my prints would look the way i want them to. and i'm still not done. but it's going to be worth it... it's just going to take time. the prints in the end, however, will look amazing.

the moral of this story is to do your homework. call companies to get any information you can think of before you go and make purchases like i did. it will save time. it will save money. and it will certianly save you a headache when you get into the 7th hour of stuffing small envelopes full of oversized, funny-colored prints. and when you do end up in a situation like mine, it never hurts to make that call and talk to customer service. being polite and cordial can get you far on the phone. case in point, i had to buy new envelopes, but i explained my confusion to the operator and he helped me pick the exact size i need. in the end, my shipping and processing fees (about 1/3 of the price) were waived and my new envelopes are being rush-delivered (which normally costs an additional $12) by the end of the week at no cost to me. don't be afraid to admit you made a mistake. it'll benefit you in the end.

-craig

mailers...

2008-08-29T22:13:00.001-07:00

act one of my mission has been to do a real honest-to-god mail blast. i'm in the process of assembling little press kits to be mailed out to a slew of art directors whose work in the print business i admire. i'm slowly starting to realize how involved this process is. the initial list of contacts is around 15-20 with at least another 10 right behind that. in two months i've got to repeat this process and two months after that and so on and so on...

i've found the trickiest part about doing a mailer is getting everything you need. after comparing prices on several different postcard companies and weighing the option of buying a new high-quality printer and the paper required to do it myself, i decided the economical decision for the time being was to do at least the first few rounds of mailers myself. this involved shopping for printers, buying good paper, ordering custom envelopes, buying postage, and making lots of labels. it's been a bit of an undertaking (and i'm not done yet) and it ends up being alot to think about. but this is, after all, work. it needs to be done to reach the end goal. it just sucks that i missed the UPS guy today and i'm probably going to have to pick up the envelope package at their offices.

so a little advise, in my research i came across several services i really thought were useful. i'm making a little list in case anyone reading this could use the info as well...

postcards: modernpostcard.com does an impeccable job. their paper is outstanding and their color calibration is spot on. you get what you pay for, however, and they don't come cheap. i'll be using them down the line but the budget doesn't allow for that at the moment. rough price: $145 for 300 plus tax and shipping.

printers: after trying out a bunch at local stores, i really came to love canon. i've always been loyal to their equipment and their printers seem (so far) to hold up to the same standard of quality i've come to appreciate from their cameras. check out staples, best buy, target, and wal-mart for some good back to school sales on homeoffice stuff like this. you can find a deal this time of year.

paper: believe it or not, staples does indeed make some nice paper. my test prints came out crisp and clear and looked great on their 4x6 photo paper and their matte 8.5x11 photo stock. no color loss, no tint to the paper, just good solid results.

i'm going to try this first round on a budget and so far the results are good. hopefully the recipients will agree. and as i come across more useful info i'll gladly be passing it along. until then.

-craig

the innaugural post

2008-08-26T23:20:00.001-07:00

it's 2am on a tuesday. i just finished a crapload of work on the website. i'm tired and undoubtedly a little cranky considering i've got to stay awake 'till 4am. but that's life. so... without further adieu, welcome to my new blog-ish thing. i haven't really blogged in a while and i'm just getting back into the swing of things, so please be patient with me.

currently, i'm in a transitional state where i'm doing my best to get on top of my freelance work. so i'm sure this blog is going to become sort of a transcription of the thoughts of an independent artist trying to make a living on pretty pictures. this should be interesting. see, since my graduation i've done jobs here and there, but it's not exactly paying the rent, if you follow me. therefore, i found it necessary to get out of my slump and do some real work. do more pieces for the portfolio. get a few more contracts. and eventually, i hope to have an agent to get said work for me so i can spend more time... well... doing this sort of thing. and, of course, pay the rent with the work i receive. i hope some of you continue to read my rants and follow me on this little quest i've established for myself. if you feel so compelled, please feel free to leave comments and words of encouragement. this is going to be a frequent thing and i plan to keep everyone who reads this (hopefully more than just my family) up to date and entertained with the developments of this humble artist trying to make a name for himself in a tough business. it may not always be happy; it may not always be profound or insightful; it may not even make sense half of the time, but it's going to be honest and pure and it's going to shed light on what it's like to be a dude in my shoes. and hey, if that interests you, i thank you.

it's going to be an interesting journey.

-craig