31 January 2014

Life of Art SitRep #208 Radiant Orchid

This week, I created Lavender Diamonds on White and White Diamonds on Lavender patterns featuring 2014 color of the year, Radiant Orchid, for my shop. Lavender seemed closer than dark pink or mauve to me as regular color names go. I'm assuming most people won't know the name Radiant Orchid off the top of their heads, though I included it in the description and tags to be covered.
Lavender Diamonds on White Journals
Lavender Diamonds on White Journals by RocklawnArts
Check out other Lavender Journals at zazzle.com
Lavender Diamonds on White Light Switch Plate
Lavender Diamonds on White Light Switch Plate by RocklawnArts
View other Lavender Light Switch Cover at Zazzle.com
Lavender Diamonds on White Desk Lamps
Lavender Diamonds on White Desk Lamps by RocklawnArts
Check out another lamp online at zazzle.com
White Diamonds on Lavender
White Diamonds on Lavender by RocklawnArts
See other White Casemate Cases at zazzle
White Diamonds on Lavender Gift Wrap
White Diamonds on Lavender Gift Wrap by RocklawnArts
Find other White Wrapping Paper at zazzle.com

Finished adding DODOcase iPad Mini Cases and Clipboards as appropriate to my existing photographs. All caught up for the moment, woohoo!

Rearranged store categories.

Rocklan Arts blogged New White Diamonds on Navy design.

Updated LOA and links files.

Read Popular Photography Aug. 2013 issue.


6 years ago on TTaT: Nothing like...

26 January 2014

On Dinner and Dying

While eating perfect just-shy-of-burnt bacon at dinner, I thought to myself, "I'd be OK dying of a sudden bacon heart attack." Then I ate another piece.


A year ago on TTaT: 4. Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator

24 January 2014

Life of Art SitRep #207 Blur

Not sure what it was this week, but I felt unfocused. Maybe all the single digit days with subzero wind chills.

Nonetheless, I did finish adding my geometric designs to new DODOcase iPad Mini Cases and Clipboards. Huzzah! Holding off on going through my photographs until I see if any more new products get added tomorrow.

Also created White Diamonds on Navy design and added it to my shop:
White Diamonds on Navy Card
White Diamonds on Navy Card by RocklawnArts
View Digital design Cards online at zazzle
White Diamonds on Navy Dinner Plate
White Diamonds on Navy Dinner Plate by RocklawnArts
Find more Navy and white Plates at Zazzle
White Diamonds on Navy Mug
White Diamonds on Navy Mug by RocklawnArts
View Navy and white Mugs online at zazzle
White Diamonds on Navy Journal
White Diamonds on Navy Journal by RocklawnArts
Check out more Navy and white Journals at Zazzle
White Diamonds on Navy Journal
White Diamonds on Navy Journal by RocklawnArts
Check out more Navy and white Journals at Zazzle

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Navy Diamonds on White design and New Flasks are now available at Rocklawn Arts! (latter will post over the weekend.)

Watched days 2-3 of Tabletop Photography Fundamentals with Andrew Scrivani on creative LIVE.

Read Popular Photography Jan. 2014 issue.



A year ago on TTaT: Blue Skies

20 January 2014

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane Archives, Volume 1

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane Archives, Vol. 111. Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane Archives, Vol. 1 by Otto Binder

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


When I read the title, I had misgivings, completely and utterly justified misgivings, but it was a gift so I gave it a shot. The cover art for this collection is more promising than any of the stories within.

It's important to note the title reads, "Girl Friend" not "Girlfriend."

Lois mainly schemes to get Superman to ask her to be Mrs. Superman, gets scoops for the Daily Planet, and tries to uncover Superman's secret identity.

Superman spends most of his time dodging Lois's affections and covering his own tracks, or enlisting the help of her male friends to "teach her a lesson" with even more ridiculous schemes that often involve property damage he has to fix later. Really? He doesn't have people to save somewhere or a disaster to avert or the maturity to tell the truth about the situation or dilemma? He mostly comes off as patronizing and uninterested in Lois.

And don't get me started on the rubber masks that not only disguise but perfectly mimic another character's appearance time and time again.

These comics were all written in the late 1950s, so the sexism is to be expected. If you can look past that, there is an abundance of silly story lines from a simpler time.


Two years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #102 Round One

17 January 2014

Life of Art SitRep #206 Coat racks, Cases, and Clipboards, oh my!

This week, I added my chevrons patterns to new Coat Racks and started adding my designs to new DODOcase iPad Mini Cases and Clipboards.
Light Blue and White Chevrons Coat Rack
Light Blue and White Chevrons Coat Rack by RocklawnArts
Check out more Light blue Coatrack at Zazzle

Created Navy Diamonds on White design for my shop:
Navy Diamonds on White Vinyl Binders
Navy Diamonds on White Vinyl Binders by RocklawnArts
Check out more Navy Binders at Zazzle

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Rickshaw iPad Mini Sleeves at Rocklawn Arts!, New Case-Mate Tough Xtreme iPhone 5 Cases at Rocklawn Arts!, New White Diamonds on Green design, and New Coat Racks at Rocklawn Arts!

Read Urgent 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents, and Other Art from Ephemera by Nick Bantock.

Reorganized gingham, meander, zigzag, polka dots, diamond patterns, graphic circles, checkered rectangles folders.

Updated links and LOA files.

Watched day 1 of Tabletop Photography Fundamentals with Andrew Scrivani on creative LIVE.


7 years ago on TTaT: Gimme some Dirt

11 January 2014

Urgent 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents, and Other Art from Ephemera

Urgent 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents, and Other Art from Ephemera4. Urgent 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents, and Other Art from Ephemera by Nick Bantock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The artist who created the Griffin & Sabine saga shares his approach to creating pieces combining multiple elements.

Highly recommended if you are a fan of his work and want to know how he creates, want inspiration, or want ideas for collage source materials. There are some application tips strewn through the book in the captions, but it's not a step by step how to book.

Even if none of those things interested you, you could still flip through and admire his art and his collection of ephemera.

It's a quick very enjoyable read.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #153 Kicking Ass and Takin' Names...

10 January 2014

Life of Art SitRep #205 Diamonds are...

This week, I created a new White Diamonds on Green design for my shop:
White Diamonds on Green iPhone 5/5S Cases
White Diamonds on Green iPhone 5/5S Cases by RocklawnArts
Browse Green Casemate Cases online at Zazzle.com
White Diamonds on Green Card Decks
White Diamonds on Green Card Decks by RocklawnArts
Look at more Green Playing Cards at zazzle

Rocklawn Arts blogged New May28th Watches at Rocklawn Arts!, New Cutting Boards at Rocklawn Arts!, New Black Diamonds on White design, and New White Diamonds on Black design.

Finished watching Lesa Snider’s Photoshop Deep Dive: Creative Cloud and watched Lightroom Essentials with Lesa Snider live.

Copyright registered my 2013 photogaphs.

Made 2014 metadata templates in Bridge. Updated some actions in Photoshop.

Recalibrated my monitor.

Read Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Quick Start Guide ebook.


A year ago on TTaT: Right On

09 January 2014

The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines

The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines3. The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines by Shohreh Aghdashloo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book caught my eye because years ago, I worked with Shohreh on a low budget indie film in LA called Surviving Paradise. She played a supporting role and I was the gaffer. Some actors never speak to the crew, but Shohreh was always friendly and respectful. We didn't have deep, long conversations, but she made a lasting impression: lovely.

In subsequent years, I've always been happy to see her working in television and film. (House of Sand and Fog, 24, The Simpsons, NCIS, X-Men: The Last Stand... I've seen her guesting on Grimm recently. Love her voice.) I find myself repeatedly saying, "She was lovely to work with." And she was.

Her book gave me insights to her life growing up in Iran but also into the life of a friend of mine from the Middle East although from a different country.

Shohreh's life has had fascinating turns, scary tests of character. Highly recommended if you'd like an inside view to life in Iran and in exile from it. Or a reminder of the power of art.


A year ago on TTaT: Well...

04 January 2014

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work1. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Highly recommended! Decisive explains the pitfalls of pro/con lists and our own biases, and offers a practical approach to decision making with their WRAP process.


Widen your options.
Reality test your assumptions.
Attain distance before deciding.
Prepare to be wrong.

The book explains WRAP in detail with lots of examples and actionable steps you can start using. Each chapter is also summed up in one page which would give you the basics. It's a nice distillation of the key concepts presented.

There's some good info in the end notes also. Well worth a look. Also check out the Clinics (more real world examples of decisions and what to look out for) and Overcoming Obstacles sections at the end of the book.

Lots of useful strategies for personal and professional decisions. Think AND not OR!


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #152 New Year

03 January 2014

Life of Art SitRep #204 Chugging along into the new year

Not chugging beverages though.

I did in fact manage to upgrade my computer's operating system at the end of last week. I was hoping it would fix a weird screen saver glitch I've been having and perk things up a bit.

Not so much.

Screensaver glitch (it comes on for about two seconds and then goes back to my desktop- sometimes but not every time), still present. Argh. And then there's the programs I've used for ages that no longer work and are no longer free if they even still exist. This "free" upgrade is becoming more costly and glitchy than anticipated. Ah well, I suppose it's a sign my computer is long in the tooth.

On the upside, Photoshop still works and I created 3 new patterns for my shop: White Diamonds on Red, Black Diamonds on White, and White Diamonds on Black:
White Diamonds on Red Journal
White Diamonds on Red Journal by RocklawnArts
Check out Red and white Journals online at zazzle
Black Diamonds on White Light Switch Covers
Black Diamonds on White Light Switch Covers by RocklawnArts
See other Black and white Light Switch Cover at zazzle
Black Diamonds on White Computer Bag
Black Diamonds on White Computer Bag by RocklawnArts
Browse more Black and white Laptop Bags at Zazzle

Started watching Lesa Snider’s Photoshop Deep Dive: Creative Cloud.

Rearranged my store some post xmas.

Made some new business cards.

Blogged my end of year Life of Art 2013 post.

Updated the copyright notice years on my blogs.


A year ago on TTaT: Low profile

01 January 2014

Life of Art 2013: the year in review

Happy New Year! Here's to a 2014 that exceeds all your best hopes!

For the past 203 Fridays, I've been tracking my efforts to create a life of art for myself. Here's a look at what I accomplished in 2013.

•I created 56 new photographs and designs which I added to my Rocklawn Arts shop, mostly designs.
Checkered Black and WhiteCheckered Red and WhiteCheckered Navy and WhiteBlack Polka Dots on White

White Polka Dots on BlackWhite Polka Dots on RedWhite Polka Dots on GreenCheckered Green and White

Black and White Diamond PatternWhite and Black Diamond PatternRed, White, Black Diamond PatternRed and White Diamond Pattern
•I added 36 new product types to Rocklawn Arts for a total of 11,162 new items and 332 new templates (up and down from 4007 and 427, respectively, the previous year). Let's start with iPhone cases:
Graft iPhone 5/5S Cases
SkinIt iPhone 5/5S Cases
Case Savvy iPhone 5/5S Cases

Case-Mate Tough Xtreme iPhone 5 Cases
iPhone 5C Cases

SkinIt iPhone 4/4S Cases
Case Savvy iPhone 4 Cases
White and Green Diamond PatternGreen and White Diamond PatternWhite and Red Diamond PatternBlack, White, Red Diamond Pattern
•iPad Cases:
Powis iCase iPad Cases
DODOcase iPad Cases
Skinit iPad Cases

Case Savvy iPad Cases
Case-Mate iPad Cases
Blue AbstractGreen, White, Red Diamond PatternChristmas Diamond PatternNavy and White Diamond Pattern
•iPad Air and iPad Mini Cases:
Case-Mate iPad Air Cases
DODOcase iPad Air Cases
Powis iPad Air Cases

Powis iCase iPad Mini Cases
Skinit iPad Mini Cases
Rickshaw iPad Mini Sleeves
White and Navy Diamond PatternBlack and White ZigzagRed and White ZigzagGreen and White Zigzag
•Other Cases:
iPod Touch 5G Cases

Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases
SkinIt Samsung Galaxy S3 Cases
Navy and White ZigzagPurple and White ZigzagWhite and Purple Diamond PatternGreen Water

Purple and White Diamond PatternLight Blue and White ChevronsLight Blue and White ZigzagLight Blue and White Diamond Pattern
Home sundries:
Light Switch Covers
Table Lamps
Hanging Lamps

Poker Chips
Wrapping Paper
Pewter Snowflake Ornaments
Black and White MeanderOrange and White MeanderLight Blue and White MeanderBlue and White Meander

Green and White MeanderRed and White MeanderRed, White, Green MeanderChristmas Meander
•Kitchen sundries:
Flasks
Candy tins and jars
Cutting Boards
Purple and White MeanderBlurred Christmas LightsPink and White MeanderLavender and White Meander
Office/Home:
Pocket Journals
Big Greeting Cards
Prints/Posters
Orange and White ZigzagChristmas ZigzagPink and White ZigzagPink and Black Zigzag
Accessories:
Men's flip flops
Women's flip flops
Watches
May28th Watches
Green and Red Diamonds on WhiteRed and Green Diamonds on WhiteRed Diamonds on WhiteGreen Diamonds on White

Light Blue Diamonds on WhiteWhite Diamonds on RedBlack Diamonds on WhiteWhite Diamonds on Black

•Took part in a local group art show.

•Went to a few museums and art/craft shows.

•Watched several Creative Live workshops. With their increased number of workshops, I've become a lot more discerning. There's only so much time, ya know?

Read 46 books, graphic novels, or book-like things. Not everything shows up on GoodReads, but most of it's there if you'd like to take a look.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art 2012: the year in review