I got an A!

I just completed a packaging design class, and for my final project, I had to design a multi-unit carrier that holds clear containers, and the graphics on the carrier and the labels has to relate to each other. We were instructed to take an existing carrier, add our own flair to it and create a new one. Things like net weight, nutrition facts and a bar code had to be included in the design. I studied energy drink designs and decided to convert a pack of Yoo-Hoo into a fictional chocolate energy drink. After much trial and error (emphasis on error), I was able to come up with a realistic looking design. My teacher had this to say:

You've done a great job developing your concepts for this project and creating a unified design for the bottles and carriers. I would definitely include this in your portfolio.

Great job!

I am still trying to catch up on sleep after all of this, but I'm thankful things turned out well in the end. On to the next class...

45 Minutes Just Flew By...

One night, I decided to visit winster.com, a site where you can play online games for points and prizes. I intended to just visit the site, play a game or two and leave, but I was wrong. I decided to play Slot Social, a virtual slot machine, and the more I played it, the more free spins I won. On top of that, others who are playing in the game room can trade slot emblems with you, so you help each other score. I never said "thank you" so many times in such a short period, but I thought it was great that there were so many friendly fellow players. In terms of the website itself, that layout is well-organized and compact, and I like the yellow-orange background, but I think the games should always land in the center of the page instead of being along the left side since more people have widescreen monitors now. Logging in sends you straight to your profile, a time-saver, and the navigation bar with the drop-down boxes along the top is also handy in order to go straight to the game you want. I'm a woman over 35, so I don't see myself as the typical gamer, but I think other women like me could really get into this, and you don't have to pay a dime if you don't want to. That's a big plus for me since I don't like gambling. When you can, click on the Winster banner on my page and check out the site. Just be sure not to lose track of time like I did. :-)

Wish They Were Here

I watch a lot of home decorating shows, and one brand name I have seen over and over again is Z Gallerie. The national chain has some of the most beautiful merchandise, and I've always liked the furniture and accessories I have seen from their store on shows like Clean House on Style Network. I decided to take a peek at some of their newest items on their website.

Of course, as a graphic designer, I headed straight for the art category first. Thanks to a couple of typography classes, I've developed a new appreciation for type, and the art made by Zoey Riley is a good example of how typography is an art in itself. Riley has a series of 20" x 40" canvas prints that has the name of a city and some of the well-known streets in that city. The crackled finish gives the prints an aged look, and I like that she decided to stick to the same two fonts when she mixed serif and sans serif fonts together. I find it interesting that all of the prints are on a black background except for the Miami print, which is on a turquoise background. I think the color choice was inspired by Miami's more tropical environment, and I think she made a good decision on this one. I was also drawn to the work of Kate Birch, whose two prints bear the name of "Chocolate Covered Cherry." The combination of flowers, vines, stripes and striations makes her pieces fun to study. it looks like she painted an outline of each part and went back in with a wet brush to pull some of the color into the middle. I have got to try that! After oohing and ahhing the artwork, I went to the furniture category and saw a subcategory called Affordable Chic. Of course, I had to go there - it had the word "affordable" in it. The page has some nice-looking contemporary couches, and the one that caught my eye was the Benny sofa. I have a thing for mid-century modern furniture, and this sleek tufted couch hits all the right notes with me. I can see myself putting a couple of brightly colored pillows on it and making it my own. I also went to the accessories page, and Z Gallerie definitely has the Christmas spirit. I love how elegant (and grown-up) their ornaments are. They mainly stick to red, silver and blue, and they don't look cheesy. My favorites are the starburst ornaments since they look like little sunburst mirrors (I've always wanted one of those mirrors). Of course, if you have a think for kitsch at Christmas, they have these cute little glass dog ornaments, and the dogs have one these cute little outfits. I think the Boston Terrier wearing the feather boa is hilarious!

I wanted to see if they have a store in my area, so I went to their store locations page. Oh, bummer - they're not in my state yet. If you happen to be one of the lucky ones that lives near a Z Gallerie store, I suggest that you check them out. For the rest of us, we can still shop online, and they'll even ship items in a gift box for you if you want surprise that special someone. Sounds good to me!

Delving into Web Design

I'm finishing up an introduction to web design course, and it was really intense! It's amazing how much you can learn about HTML and CSS in less than six weeks. Of course, I only learned the basics, and we used Dreamweaver as a toll to help us understand the code, but now I want to play around with HTML and CSS more so I can learn to make my own websites, especially a site for my portfolio. Each week, I was required to study other websites to learn what a well-designed website should look like. I've learned that a simpler website works the best, especially sites that have a lot of content such as retail sites. I think a good example of a simple, clean, well-designed site is http://tandaskincare.com/. The company sells an anti-aging light treatment. In other words, Tanda sells light therapy for your face. The site's header has black and shades of dark gray with white text, which I think is a good use of contrast. If you hover over the text in the navigation bar with your mouse, the words are highlighted in orange. This is called a rollover button, and I learned that this is created with a swapImage JavaScript command. I got a chance to learn how to make my own rollover buttons, and I have several in the website I made for my final project. Depending on how pleased I am with the result, I may share the link later. :-) The body of the site is a field of white, and it allows the products shown in that area to take center stage like paintings in a gallery. This is effective since the devices are red and blue at the ends, so they really stand out. The sub-navigation area is a little large, but it's at the bottom with small text, so it's not a major distraction. I'm pretty motivated about web design right now, so you may get more website critiques from me in the next couple of weeks. I don't claim to be an expert, but I hope you will also share your opinions about the websites I talk about. Thanks!

Cool Video on PBS Logo Development

As a graphic design student, I love learning how famous logos came to be. One I grew up watrching evolve is the PBS logo. I thought it was was cool that the P looked like a person's head. The Independent Lens site has three videos on it. Two of them show the different versions of the logo over the years, and the other is Herb Lubalin's explanation of how the PBS logo came to be. Hilarious narration, by the way, and I like how the graphics follow the narration. Here Lubalin's video, and enjoy!

Jackson Free Press looking for graphic designer to hire ASAP

Spread the word!

Our ad designer is looking at returning back to school soon, so we are looking to fill her shoes.  We are going to need part time/full time designers that would be able to work in the office on both advertising and editorial design for the Jackson Free Press and BOOM Jackson.  We have a pretty fast turn over rate here, so we need someone that's both creative and quick. If this sounds interesting to you, send your resume and any work samples you'd like to share to kristin@jacksonfreepress.com.

Good news, good news!

Last month, I posted about how I was freaking out about a difficult class I had to take. Well, guess what? I GOT AN A! WOO HOO! I was also inducted into the National Technical Honor Society last week, and I will be inducted into Kappa Pi Honorary Art Fraternity next week. On to of that, I was approached personally for some ongoing freelance work. I think that at this point, I can call myself a graphic designer now instead of a graphic designer wannabe. :) I am also enjoying the mixed media class I'm taking now. I haven't worked with soft pastels since high school, and I forgot how much I enjoyed them. Last week, we were asked to play around with the medium using different techniques. This assignment reminded me of my coloring book days; see the attached images. I'll be drawing something recognizable this weekend, so if I remember, I'll share the finished product with you.

The saga continues...

I just went from part-time to full-time at my job, which I am pretty excited about since that means more graphic design experience and more money. Plus, I am still in school, and I am still hanging on to my 4.0 GPA. My next class that starts this week has to do with the history and analysis of graphic design. Some of the material reminds me of my art history class, just with a spin on it, but I can tell from the syllabus that there is a lot more to it than that, and I may have to drink an extra cup of coffee each day to get my assignments done after work. I will also have to really put my nose to the grindstone on the weekends to stay ahead. This will be a challenge, but I am confident that I will prevail. Let's roll...

Phew! I've been busy...

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but it got harder to get back here after I started going back to school online in April of last year, and things got even tighter when I was working two part-time jobs in addition to that for a few months. I'm back down to one part-time job, and I just finished a life drawing class last week. I got an A! :) I am going to create a PDF portfolio of my art projects once I decide which pieces of artwork to put in it. After all, I want to be sure to include my best work. When I create it, I'll share it with you. I have been thinking about putting my portfolio on a Web site, but I haven't decided what kind of format I want. Do I want to keep it simple, or should I get one of those fancy Flash sites? I like the sleek look of many Flash sites, but sometimes they can take a while to load, and I don't know if a potential employer or client would feel like waiting for the site to pull up on their computer. The site would pull up faster on a simpler HTML site, but would it be too plain? Hmmm, what should I do? If anyone has any ideas, please share.

For all the shutterbugs...

I just finished a course in perspective drawing, and I used my digital camera more in the past six weeks than I have all year. Since I completed most of my assignments on 18" x 24" paper and my scanner is only 9" x 12", I had to photograph my work, upload it to my computer, edit it in Photoshop and then turn it in. This usually involved a lot of cropping, desaturating, removing lens distortion, converting to grayscale, etc. There were times when my image needed to be sharpened, and even when I used the Unsharp Mask at the highest level possible, the image still didn't seem sharp enough for my taste. Therefore, I came to the conclusion that in the near future, I will need to upgrade my camera. Don't get me wrong - I love my Sony CyberShot. It's my second digital camera, and it takes great snapshots. However, it is an older model, and I will need to eventually step up my game in order to submit quality work online, especially if I decide to take a photography course. I have found that ShopWiki has a pretty comprehensive list of different types of cameras and links to online stores where you can purchase a camera: digital cameras, dSLR cameras, underwater cameras, and so on. They even have 35mm cameras. Like ShopWiki says, they're not dead yet. One of the things I like about the ShopWiki site is that there is a brief description of each camera type so that you have an idea of what is available. (There is even a list of cameras that are no longer manufactured.) In the list of camera brands, there is a link that you can click on to get a list of the different models, the stores where you can purchase the cameras and the price range. For example, if I decided to get another Sony CyberShot, I can read a description of each type and click on the type that interests me. Let's say I have a lot of extra cash on hand and I decide to spring for the DSC-H5. The site lists 19 stores with a price range of $199 to $889. I can read reviews of each store to see if the store is reliable before I make a purchase. Also, six of those stores are listed as approved by ShopWiki, so I could just shop from those instead of all 19. In addition to the CyberShot, I am also going to check out the Canon PowerShot, the Casio Exilim and the Canon EOS. When I'm ready to purchase a camera, I will probably head over to ShopWiki first so that I can compare prices and possibly purchase a camera from one of the listed stores. The site looks very promising and trustworthy, so I'll be bookmarking it for future reference.

"The Relationship Conference" - 2009

If you live in the Jackson, Mississippi metro area, I encourage you to attend this special event that my church is sponsoring. From October 29 through November 1, The Life Support Center will offer its first annual “Relationship Conference” held at The Church Triumphant. This conference is aimed at educating families in the area of healthy, fulfilling, and positive relationships. This event is for families, couples, singles, college students, youth, and kids! Thursday, October 29: “Bringing Prayer Home” - A Citywide Family Prayer Night @ 7:00 p.m. with host Tammie Sykes of Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, IL. Friday, October 30: “The Naked Truth” @ 7:00 p.m. for singles, college students, and youth with Pastor Daryl Barnett from Chicago, IL of Living Word Christian Center and Lakita Garth from California. Saturday, October 31: (Prayer begins at 10:00 a.m.) “Marriage Feast” @ 11:30 a.m. with Pastor Daryl Barnett and special guests! “Family Night Live” from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Bring your entire family and have the time of your life! Special musical guests will come to make this a night to remember! Sunday, November 1: “Golden Circle Ministry” @ 8:30 a.m. for all ages 60 and above with Speaker Susan Hairston. A time for special fellowship and refreshments! “The Triumphant Family” @ 10:00 a.m. with Pastors Adrian and Tonya Ware, Pastor Daryl Barnett, Tammie Sykes and a special musical guest. Children and youth sessions will be available, so don’t worry about finding a babysitter. Bring them with you! Also, here is a list of the special guests that will be performing at the conference: Maurette Brown Clark Akintunde Johnny B. Williams Stan Jones Early registration for this exciting 4-day event is only $5.00 for individuals and $20.00 for families. Late registration is $10.00 for individuals and $35.00 for families. To register, go to http://www.triumphant.tv/. Scroll down on the home page and you will see the registration links. It’s quick and easy, so don’t delay. October 29 will be here before you know it, so register today!

"Can't Touch This"

In these turbulent times, we could all use a good laugh, right?

CAN'T TOUCH THIS by reasontolive
View more Can't T-Shirts

I was testing my Photoshop skills when I included the toilet brush, and I think it turned out pretty good. Let me know what you think. :)

NAMIWalks 2009: Help me continue to stomp out the stigma of mental illness!

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held in Jackson, MS at Mayes Lake State Park on November 7, 2009. Registration begins at 9 AM, and the walk begins at 10 AM. I am participating for the fifth time because I am a member of NAMI, and I have struggled in the past with panic attacks, depression and suicide. Because of my struggles, I have seen the shortcomings in how mental illness is dealt with in our society, and I want to help change that. I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my personal walker page to sign up. It features a link to my team's page where you can see who else is walking with me. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation. This year, the fundraising goal for my team, The Church Triumphant, is $500. If you would prefer to mail your donation, send a check or money order payable to NAMI Mississippi to this address: NAMI Mississippi 411 Briarwood Dr, Ste 401 Jackson, MS 39206 Please be sure to indicate that the donation is for The Church Triumphant NAMIWalks team so that we can get proper credit for it. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those who’s lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office. The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission. NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A+" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars. NAMI has also been given 4 out of 4 stars by The Charity Navigator for short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability. Thank you in advance for your support.

Pink Zebras and Shoe-Loving Divas

I enjoy learning how to use Adobe Illustrator CS4, and one of the things I learned how to do was create a pattern and modify an existing pattern. I took an existing zebra pattern and made the stripes pink, which I am very proud of. I was so pleased with it that I decided to make a few Zazzle products with it:

Pink Zebra by reasontolive
See other Pink Postage

Pink Zebra by reasontolive
Browse Pink Skateboards

Pink Zebra by reasontolive
Design a custom stein at Zazzle.com

Pink Zebra by reasontolive
Make your own mousepad at zazzle

Pink Zebra by reasontolive
Create custom Keds shoes with Zazzle.com

Pink Zebra by reasontolive
More Pink Magnets

Happy Birthday to My Little Diva by reasontolive
greeting cards made on www.Zazzle.com

After creating these products, I pictured a shoe silhouette in the middle of it, which I thought would be a great homage to all those Imelda Marcos types out there. Here's what I came up with:

divalicious by reasontolive
Design pet clothing on zazzle.com

divalicious_pink_zebra_pattern_shoe by reasontolive
See more Diva T-Shirts

divalicious by reasontolive
View other Diva Posters

divalicious by reasontolive
Create a Custom bags using Zazzle

divalicious by reasontolive
Browse Diva Aprons

divalicious by reasontolive
Design post cards at Zazzle

divalicious by reasontolive
Browse other Diva Buttons

divalicious by reasontolive
Browse more Diva Magnets

divalicious by reasontolive
Browse Diva Stickers

divalicious by reasontolive
More Diva Hats

So, if you're into crazy animal prints and stilettos, these are for you! By the way, it's a good time to shop at Zazzle because until August 8, if your order is $25 or more, you can get free shipping if you use promo code WEPAYFORSHIP when you check out. Some of these items would make great back-to-school gifts! Hope you like my work, and feel free to tell me what you think of my pattern.

Zazzle Friends and Family Discount This Week Only!

The Web site I use to sell my artwork, Zazzle.com, is offering a 15% discount this week, so I wanted to share it with you. Use promo code FRIFAMZAZZLE to get the discount. Be sure to look at my site while you shop: http://www.zazzle.com/reasontolive*. Thanks, and feel free to forward this message!

The person behind a favorite childhood memory

As a kid, I loved to look at the cool television graphics that promoted a broadcast station or the movie of the week. I tried to figure out how the "people in the TV" got the letters and curves to swish, spin and fly around the screen, and I thought that there was a room with a turntable that the people spun the letters on. I was so obsessed that I even drew the ABC logo on the living room wall. (Unfortunately, my mom didn't share my enthusiasm about my artwork on the wall.) Thanks to a free trial of lynda.com, I got to watch some videos about one of the people behind those cool graphics - Harry Marks. Marks, now retired, was the graphic designer behind the flashy promos you've seen on ABC, NBC, Entertainment Tonight, and elsewhere for 35 years. Go here to see a video of his work (adjust your speakers). I don't know if I would ever do broadcast graphics, but the concept of it fascinates me, and I am definitely inspired to take my skills to a higher level because of the work of Harry Marks.

A Graphic Designer's Dream

I took a big step and decided to pursue that graphic design degree that I've always wanted. As I start my online class tomorrow, I am constantly reflecting on what I want to do after I learn the necessary skills to take my artwork a step further. One of the main things I would like to do is continue to put my designs on clothing and other items for sale. I've heard that it's always a good idea to use someone else's work as your inspiration. That makes sense to me because anyone who has a goal in mind needs some type of motivation to keep him or her going. I definitely got some motivation after looking at the work of Christian Audigier. I'm sure that many of you have heard of Zappos.com. Although Zappos.com is known mostly for shoes, that is not the only thing they sell, and the Ed Hardy brand by Christian Audigier is a great example of that. In addition to cool names for shoes such as Popsicle Shoes, Snowblazer Boots and Beachcomber Metallic Flip Flops, the Ed Hardy brand also includes T-shirts, drawstring pants and leather cuffs. The tattoo-inspired art on these items is sure to make you stand out on the street. The eyewear line has a rock-and-roll feel, and the swinwear has colorful designs that really pop. I would love to do something similar to what Christian Audigier has created. Youthful, colorful, abstract, and most of all, fun!

Coloring Books for Women

As a child, my siblings and I used to love to color in our coloring books, but we weren't the only ones getting in on the fun. My maternal grandmother lived with us, and she herself took to coloring the way some women practice quilting or crochet. The magic marker was her medium of choice, and my mom always made sure she had plenty of books to add life to. She was blind in one eye due to a childhood injury, and she colored until her good eye went dim. I remember how she would outline an area first and then fill it in. Sometimes, she would only trace and not fill the area in at all. Her prerogative, right? :) My grandmother passed away nearly 17 years ago, but those memories of her coloring came back after finding out about this coloring book by Allyson Rice called The Color of Joy. Intended for use by adult women, this coloring book has detailed, whimsical illustrations that would be fun to decorate after a busy day or a stressful moment. For $22.99, you can get in touch with your inner child at any time! Go here to see the book.

The meaning behind my Zazzle gallery name

I was taking a look at my About page on Zazzle and realized that I haven't updated it in a while, and as I looked at the About Me section, I decided to go ahead and explain the meaning behind the gallery name:

Why do I call this gallery "Reason to Live"? Well, in January 2002, I attempted suicide by stepping into oncoming traffic on a busy highway. The nearest oncoming car stopped so far away from me that I realized that I wasn't supposed to leave yet. Looking back at that particular time in my life now, I realize that I was so miserable because I wasn't doing what I wanted to do but what others expected me to do. I think that in my subconscious mind, I did not see the point in living if I could not be myself. After that experience, I began to take ownership of my life and returned to my first love: art. I was going to major in art in college but I changed my major because I feared that I would not make any money in the art field. Now, I care more about doing what I love, which I believe will result in a good income if I continue to create. No, I don't have any fancy software or an art studio, but I will use what I have to make my dreams come true. Now I see that being me is a "Reason to Live."

Yeah, I know, that's the sort of thing that most people don't talk about openly. However, I feel that including this information will help someone in some way. Most importantly, I hope that my story will help prevent a person from committing suicide. There is more to life than your problems, no matter how big they seem. Figure out who you are and who you want to be, then go for it. You will be much happier in the end.

KJ McLean

Is it possible for a creative person to work, go after a new career and still continue to do what he or she loves? Well, if you look at KJ McLean, the answer would be yes. KJ is a teacher who is studying to be a dental hygienist, and yet she has made rugs, cross stitch minis and digital designs shaped like Gothic windows. I admire her tenacity for pursuing all these things at once and hope that some of it will rub off on me! To see KJ's work and what else she's been up to, visit her blogs Thinking Out Loud and A Created Life.

Lora Severson Photography

If you have a thing for rustic old barns, beautiful flowers or martial arts, then Lora Severson Photography is the place to go. Lora's photography, is quite remarkable, and you can order any of her prints as is or already framed and matted, which is extra convenient. Lora also has a lot of gift items to choose from. For example, she has T-shirts, keychains and greeting cards with sunflowers on them. Also, for that person in your life who has finally earned his or her black belt, Lora has a great selection of martial arts gifts, things that you can't find at the local discount store. (Lora herself has a black belt in Taekwondo, which is impressive.) She also has stock photography, a blog and a bunch of other options, so please visit Lora Severson Photography and check out all she has to offer.

A Bit of Nostalgia

Sometimes, I miss some of the TV shows I grew up with, and I am thrilled when an old favorite is resuscitated via reruns. However, what if it were possible to own a fictional piece of the past? Would you buy it? Well, if your answer is yes, check out MyPartyShirt.com. MyPartyShirt.com has T-shirts with cool graphics inspired by shows from the 80's and 90's. Are you a Home Improvement fan? Well, get your own Tool Time T-shirt. How about Saved by the Bell? Did you wish you could hang out at the Max? Pretend you did with a shirt that has the restaurant's logo on it. MyPartyShirt.com also has T-shirts inspired by Boy Meets World, Full House and Fresh Prince. Fun and functional. What a combo.

Check out my new header

I've been meaning to replace the Simpsons version of me with a more elegant header from some time, but since I've taken up babysitting my nephew for the past several months, I hadn't had as much time on my hands to regularly modify my blog layout. Well, I sneaked in some time early this morning before the baby got here to finally come up with something. When you get a chance, take a look and tell me what you think. I designed the header using GIMP, a free software similar to Photoshop. Today was the first time I actually got a chance to play around with it, and although the software is pretty good, I'm still stuck on Project Dogwaffle software (also free) since I have used it longer and am more familiar with it. I'll probably like GIMP more over time, at least until I can afford to buy Photoshop. By the way, I plan on posting more in the near future. It's been a challenge lately, especially when you're chasing a 1-year-old nephew around the house. I've seen a lot of artists online that I wanted to blog about, so I will do that when I get time. Don't forget to tell me what you think of the header. Thanks!

Year-End Silliness

2008 was one of the most stressful, ridiculous and exhilarating years I have ever managed to live through. I've seen things I never thought I would see in my lifetime, and I've seen things I wish I didn't have to see. I've experienced joy, disappointment, hope and frustration. After all of that, you would think I would come up with a deeply profound statement to put on my next T-shirt. Yet, this is what came to mind:

i fORGOT tO tURN oFF tHE cAPS lOCK. by reasontolive
Buy a t shirt online from www.zazzle.com
Browse more Humor Sayings T-Shirts

What did I learn from this? Well, no matter how much the economy has affected you or whether the outcome of the presidential election left you feeling elated or bummed, always hang on to your sense of humor. Happy New Year!

Raising Money for an Important Organization

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held in Jackson, MS at Mayes Lake State Park on November 8, 2008. Registration begins at 9 AM, and the walk begins at 10 AM. I am participating for the fourth time because I am a member of NAMI, and I have struggled in the past with panic attacks, depression and suicide. Because of my struggles, I have seen the shortcomings in how mental illness is dealt with in our society, and I want to help change that. I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my personal walker page to sign up. It features a link to my team's page where you can see who else is walking with me. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation. This year, the fundraising goal for my team, The Church Triumphant, is $500. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those who’s lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office. The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission. NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A+" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars. NAMI has also been given 4 out of 4 stars by The Charity Navigator for short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability. Thank you in advance for your support. PLEASE GO HERE TO DONATE

Designing Shoes

Zazzle has partnered up with Keds, and Zazzle artists can now put designs on women's and children's canvas shoes. Artists can customize everything about the shoes right down to the stitching. As soon as I got the email about it, I designed six shoes. Here they are:

nebula by reasontolive
Make custom shoes with zazzle
Browse more Digital Art Keds Shoes

lilac by reasontolive
Make your own customizable shoes online at www.zazzle.com
Browse more Digital Art Keds Shoes

plaid by reasontolive
Make your own customizable shoes online at www.zazzle.com
Browse other Fine Art Keds Shoes

parchment by reasontolive
Make your own custom shoes at www.zazzle.com
Browse more Digital Art Keds Shoes

laser beams by reasontolive
Make your own custom shoes at www.zazzle.com
Browse more Fantasy Science Fiction Keds Shoes

olive bubbles by reasontolive
Design your own shoes online with www.Zazzle.com
See other Food Drink Keds Shoes

This is only the beginning. Check back at this link in the coming weeks to see what else I have come up with. This is going to be fun!

Moran Fine Art

I mentioned in a prior post that when I paint, I prefer using acrylic paint. It dries quickly and cleans up easily. However, I wondered if I would be able to get more depth in my paintings without having to use oils. Well, I have discovered that it is possible after looking at the work of Moran Danan. Her abstract, landscape and music-themed paintings burst forth with color and richness. I noticed that she uses a lot of black and warm colors, and any cool colors she uses tend to be very bright. This combination of colors and her strokes, especially the way she paints flower petals, makes me feel like there should be smooth jazz music playing in the background every time I look at a painting. I've used similar strokes in my digital paintings, so maybe I could try that with acrylics. Please visit her gallery. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Diana Levinson

I saw this abstract artist in action on Martha Stewart about a week ago, so I just had to check out her work on her Web site. I love the colors and the movement in each piece I saw in her online gallery, which contained oil and charcoal paintings and prints made through etching and aquatint. I love the whole gallery, but if I had to choose a few favorites, I suppose they would be Meter, Naples, Diptych I, Meander I, Vertical Tangle and Page from a Sketchbook IV. Levinson also has a video of herself painting one of her masterpieces, which is fun to watch. I usually work with acrylic paint, but I am tempted to grab some oil paint and "go to town." Her work is truly amazing and inspiring.

The 30-Day Creative Challenge

I took the challenge on another forum and had a great time doing it, so I'm presenting the challenge to my readers. Here goes: For the next 30 days, do something creative at least once a day. You could draw, paint, make crafts, write a poem, sew a shirt or whatever it is you enjoy doing or will dare yourself to try. Have a mantra to motivate you throughout the challenge, such as, "Art is my life," or "I am so creative I can hardly stand it!" If you miss a day of creating something, you have to add a day to your challenge. In my case, my challenge ended up being 35 days long. So, go for it! Post your activities here by commenting under this blog entry. I can't wait to see who will take the challenge and what will be created as a result. I'll be waiting... :-)

Discovering Josef Albers

During a 30-day creative challenge, which I will blog about at a later time, I stepped up my game on abstract art and played around with shapes, colors and patterns. One of the digital paintings I created during this time is called "Shades of Gray":

shades of gray by reasontolive
Get this custom print at Zazzle

What I had in mind at the time was an infinite reflection of two mirrors facing each other, but I had no idea that a German-American abstract artist, Josef Albers (1888-1976), was known for creating art with layers of squares and rectangles. I heard about Albers' work while I was watching television, so I was compelled to look him up. Go here for a list of Web sites where you can look at or purchase reproductions of his work. I was unsure about the quality of my digital painting until I discovered Albers. Not only does this make me more confident in what I create, but it makes me want to brush up on my art history.