professional dilettante
Finally! My new business cards arrived today! They look snazzy (if I do say so myself), and the printing looks great. I got them from print100.com.
See more on the first two screwed-up batches from another printer after the jump.
Working for myself full-time has been an adjustment, but I’m working things out, and I’ve learned a few things so far:
I need an office. Working at home results in my being always at work AND always at home. I need a schedule to keep myself disciplined.
My workflow fu is weak. My workflow for my freelance work is a bit haphazard. I think that partially comes from not having enough time to examine it, as I was too busy working. With a little (little bit of breathing room this week, I’ve been able to do a little examining. It’s not pretty. But, it IS getting better.
Sitting down with an accountant can be a sobering experience. It was good, but a bit bracing in some respects. But, I have a better picture of what I need to do now, so it’s definitely a good thing. Much better NOW than later.
Okay, so more artwork! This is on the way to us now. It’s another excellent hand screened limited edition piece with a cool background. From the Coudal Partners Swapmeat site:
The Stars Motel, one of several vintage motels on Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue, was demolished last September, but its vibrant neon sign lives on in this bold daylgo-orange and black print by David Derr. David is an art director who photographs vintage signs as a hobby, then makes colorful silkscreen prints of his favorites. “I really enjoy working on the prints,” he says, but I never put much energy into selling them.” His “stars” print was printed in an edition of 35 on beautiful 100% cotton Arches Aquarelle archival paper.
Cool, huh? Actual in situ photos when it arrives, is framed, and is hung.
Stay tuned for even MORE artwork, this time: sculpture!
So, last year we remodeled a significant chunk of our house. Our little modern house was built in 1964, and the kitchen had only been semi-updated over the years (and in the 80s, to, um, not great effect), so we put in a new kitchen and did a lot of other work. I’ll post some more about that later, but, nearly a year later, we’re still working on the interior. Now, we’re down to decorating and accessorizing. Recently, we’ve acquired some swank artwork, and that’s what this post is about.
The first piece is a cool post of a book cover by Alvin Lustig. Al- who? Alvin Lustig was a great illustrator and designer in the 20s and 30s and 40s who died prematurely in HIS 40s in the, erm, 40s. I think. In any event, he was marvelously talented and died way too young. He was well-known for his excellent book covers, and he illustrated some of the best books published during that period, including F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, which just happens to be my wife’s favorite novel. Luckily, I saw on Swiss Miss that they were producing a limited-edition serious of hand-screen prints of four of Lustig’s book covers. Also luckily, it was the week before Valentine’s Day, and I was drawing a blank for a gift for The Wife. So, I ordered the Lustig Gatsby print for her, which, as one might surmise, she loved. It’s currently out being framed (still), but there’s a pic that shows what it looks like. More pics when we get it hung.
Stay tuned for more art!
So, after working as a web designer/developer in the newspaper industry for seven years, I’m changing gears. Friday is my last day at the paper, and I’m taking my design & consulting business, kudzu design full-time. Yup. I’ve got business cards and everything! I’ll even have an updated and expanded site up on the business site by next Monday (the “official” full-time relauch of kudzu design. I’ll get to spend more time working on varied design projects and less time doing the sort of administrative grunt work that I’ve come to dislike intensely. Plus, I’ll no longer be working for The Man.
My friends and family (with a few notable exceptions) have been really supportive, especially The Wife. I have some really interesting projects coming up that I’m dying to get to work on, too.
In addition to the new and exciting work to do, working for myself will also allow me to structure my workday to allow for more time with family and time for regular exercise (which I desperately need). It’s going to be a very good thing.
And I hope to blog more, too. Stay tuned…
