GET OUT OF YOUR RUT!!

Ideas come from everywhere. But sometimes you have to go back to the beginning. Some things we do are just automatic and we don't think about them. We need to stop and examine what it is that we are doing or designing. The video link is an example of just that. It's about the design team at BMW and thinking in a new and creative way. Do we really have to use these materials?

Take the time to watch the video and then look at your projects. Did you really think about your tools and ingredients or did you just jump in with the usual stuff? How can you shake up your work with new materials to create a new outcome?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTYiEkQYhWY&feature=related

CAPTAIN NEMO'S DIVE SUIT

So here is my Halloween costume. I ran out of time to add all the details that I wanted to but the suit is pretty much done. I wanted to add some aging to the grey jumpsuit. It looks to clean. I didn't finish the electric gun either. But now that I have time I can finish it all properly. It will all go on display at my office.
So how was every ones Halloween? Did you create a cool costume?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

KEEPING BUSY

I've been busy working a lot lately. I've been working on my costume for halloween as well as the kids book.  If you haven't read my earlier posts I'm building a dive suit from "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea". The helmut is close to finish as well as the breathing unit for my costume. I've also built a trident and have started an electric gun like the one captain Nemo had. 

The helmut was built out of balsa and bass wood to create the form. Then covered in self hardening clay with plexi glass windows. Spray painted metallic and then color added for aging. Add a few brass tacks as rivets and a dryer hose as breathing tubes and suddenly you have a dive helmut. I want to add more aging and color but its basically finished. On halloween I will also crack a glow stick to put on the helmut wall below my chin to create an up light. The helmut light on top also works.  A gray jump suit and dive belts, boots complete the look. I may ad a few shells or a small star fish attached to the helmut.  It's the details that make things fun. 

As for the kids book it's just nice to be back at it. The idea has been floating around for a long time and had to come out sooner or later.  So, how are your projects going? Get to work!

I've been busy working a lot lately. I've been working on my costume for halloween as well as the kids book.  If you haven't read my earlier posts I'm building a dive suit from "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea". The helmut is close to finish as well as the breathing unit for my costume. I've also built a trident and have started an electric gun like the one captain Nemo had. 

The helmut was built out of balsa and bass wood to create the form. Then covered in self hardening clay with plexi glass windows. Spray painted metallic and then color added for ageing. Add a few brass tacks as rivets and a dryer hose as breathing tubes and suddenly you have a dive helmut. I want to add more ageing and color but its basically finished. On halloween I will also crack a glow stick to put on the helmut wall below my chin to create an up light. The helmut light on top also works.  A grey jump suit and dive belts, boots complete the look. I may ad a few shells or a small star fish attached to the helmut.  It's the details that make things fun. 

CURIOSITY

I haven't added any posts for a while because I have been very busy. I shall be adding more soon but for now I was just thinking about the nature of creativity. Creativity's true nature is curiosity. To foster creativity, foster your own curious spirit. What are you curious about? What have you always wanted to know?
Curiosity leads to a bigger world and more creativity.
The more creative you are the better your life will be. See you soon.

FOLLOWING MY OWN ADVICE

Since my blog was about creativity and the last entry was on getting started, I took my own advice and started several projects. I've started laying out that children's book that has floated around in the back of my brain. I've also gotten a jump and started building my Halloween costume. This as well as 10 hours a day in the office.

I'm building a Jules Verne style, 20,000 leagues under the sea diving suit for Halloween. I started with some bass wood and hot glue. Once I was happy with the frame I had built, I covered it in sheets of balsa wood. On top of the balsa I've added self hardening clay for substance and texture. I sealed a plastic water bottle on top with a screw top so I can put a flashlight inside the water bottle and have a working headlamp. I will next add more bass wood as piping and add some rivets and breathing hoses. Then comes some of the fun parts. You spray the whole thing with Kilz (A white prep paint) and while the paint is still wet sprinkle some fine sand in parts. This will stick to the paint and add a really fun texture when painted as metal. Like rust or bronze when it turns.

Now comes the parts I haven't decided on yet. As far as the coloring I'm not sure if I want it to be green with bronze and copper accents or copper and bronze with green accents.
I have a jump suit for the body, leather gauntlet cuffs, straps for the shoulders and boots. I'm still playing with the backpack breathing device. I think I'll build one like Captain Nemo had in the movie "The Mysterious Island". A giant seashell breathing tank. One more thing to decide is whether to build an electric style gun like the movie or an old style trident. Nemo used both at time in the movies and in the books.

I've always liked the steampunk style so Halloween will be fun. Now, what are you doing? Isn't it time to start your projects?

THOSE WAITING PROJECTS

This blog is about creativity and some people are really creative. But their abilities are about creative avoidence. How not to work or do things. Its amazing all the exscuses that people come up with to keep from doing work. Oh, my portfolio isn’t done. I don’t have the reference or the right paper, i have to make dinner or wash the car.

Folks we only have so much time on the planet. You need to get started on that project that you have in the back of your mind. It’s time to get of your duff and start. You don’t have to have and end in site but you need to get going. You can always change directions later or even start over if it really is the wrong direction. But you won’t know unless you get started.

Even if your on the right track you can get run over if your standing still. Start that project now.

A PROPER PORTFOLIO

All right, lets get back to portfolios. This is what you are using to represent you to prospective clients or employers.

Your portfolio should always be professional and clean. Purchase a standard portfolio or if you are inclined you can make your own. It should contain only your best work. It should start off strong and should end strong. I always like to see a section in the back of a portfolio with life drawing or concept roughs.

What you put in the body of your portfolio is up to you. But do not put in unfinished work. If you like a piece enough to present it then you can finish it. I like to see the work presented in a format. Meaning a consistent border or layout. I would recommend that you have titles and explanations if necessary on each piece. There will be times when you can not present your work in person and the work will have to speak for itself. Have your name and number easily found and consistent in the layout.

Always have a leave behind for clients. They may not have work for you at the moment but maybe later. A handout will keep you in there thought process.

Also as a tip I recommend that you always ask for a recommendation of an associate to show your portfolio to. Even if the showing didn’t go as well as you would like it to they may know someone who could use your work.

I have been speaking of the old school physical portfolios. Now days a professional also has an online portfolio too. But again the same rules apply. Create a format. Keep it clean and easy to use. A mistake of online portfolios is that they do not create a print page. A single sample page that can be printed with a couple of samples and your contact info to go into hard files.

Remember that your portfolio will never be finished and you can always change your portfolio. So get to it!

CHASING THE MUSE

Knowledge is power and Einstein has said that imagination is more powerful than knowledge. But where does imagination come from? Imagination is the ability to take limited and random information and make a leap into magic.

A simple process of training your mind. We all have the creative spark when we are children. It’s as we grow older that we become ridged and stifle our imaginations.

A way to restart our imaginations is to see the imaginations in others. Seek inspiration where ever you can. to that end I have a couple of fun web sites and magazines that I can recommend to inspire. Spend time in the book store just checking out the magazines to find something on your own. But while your there look for Step by Step magazine, How magazine or Cinefex just to name a few.

The web is an infinite source to inspire. some really fun web sites that I recommend are....
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/
http//characterdesign.blogspot.com
http://animationbackgrounds.blogspot.com/

Darkroastblend.com is full of random images to inspire and jog the brain into new directions. Character design.blogspot has interviews with amazing artists and examples of their work. It takes a while to load if you have a slow connection but has beautiful work to inspire.
Animation backgrounds.blogspot allows you to explore the beautiful work and varied styles of animation backgrounds. So many times we can’t focus on the amazing work because of the action in front.

Use all the sources available to you.

COMIC-CON PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Comic-con is coming up and once again I am scheduled to review portfolios. It’s a strange ritual. I see the same type of people year after year. Some portfolios are good, some are far from it.
When your showing your portfolio you should really have some idea of what your trying to accomplish. Where your going with it. What is your dream? But realize that you may end up somewhere completely different and just as fun.
At comic-con most of the people want to do comics. No surprise. What is a surprise is how unprepared most everyone is. How little research most everyone has done. They all read comics but don’t actually think about them. Who makes them, how they are made and how they will fit into process.
What are you really trying to achieve and have you really looked at the big picture? Is it really your dream? I reviewed a portfolio of a young gentleman whose work was mostly pencil layouts for comics. He copied the standard characters but what stood out were his backgrounds and layouts. His characters were ok. He was more interested in designing worlds. We ended up talking about game design and movies instead of comics and what game companies he could apply too
Do you really want to write comics or do you want to write movies. Do you want to draw comics or storyboards for movies and animation? Do you want to design characters, animation, 3D or graphics. Do you want to do all of it? Open your options and don’t close doors before you even see them. There are very few real openings in the comic industry so you need to have some other options and realize that they may actually be better

When I look at portfolios I’m looking for someone who shows thought and originality behind their work. Your book should show me all that you can do. I don’ t want to see six variations of the same thing. Show me a rough and then the final peice. Where you started and where you ended up.
It never hurts to have more in your portfolio than you want to show. Have some life drawing in the back that you can show a client if they are really interested. You can even have more than one portfolio. I had four portfolios, an illustration book, a cartooning book, a graphics book and an amusement park design book.
Learn to present your work. Buy a real portfolio to show your work. If you want to be a professional, then present your self as a professional.
Ok, that's enough for now but I’ll have more on portfolios later

CRAZY IDEAS

I recently attended a promotional marketing function at Universal studios. The speakers filled us in on the programs that they had created for the Simpsons movie. In particular the 7/11 program. They related to us how when they were looking for a hook the twelve year old son of one of the designers said that 7/11 looked like the kwik-E-mart from the show. “Gee mom, why don’t you turn 7/11 into a Kwik-E-Mart?”

In reality Matt Gronig actually modeled the kwik-E-Mart after stopping at a 7/11 in Hollywood.
It had been one of those days and Matt just needed a beer. After searching the store without finding a beer he approached the clerk who was East Indian. He asked the clerk who in the most positive, upbeat manner replied “No beer, no beer, thank you very much, come again!” Matt immediately created the Kwik-E-Mart and Apu.

The designers took a great leap and 7/11 also showed amazing courage and forethought in agreeing to completely change some of their stores into Kwik_E-Marts.

Stop and think about that for a minute. Your goal is to increase brand awareness and identity. Some crazy marketing creative comes along and wants to completely remove all of your identity and change everything in the store. They agreed.
It turned into one of the most successful promotions ever. People came from long distances to go to Kwik-E-Mart. They created special products, Krusty O’s cereals, candy, Buzz cola, special Radioactive Man comics, Duff beer and Homers pink donut with sprinkles. These products and more sold out almost immediately and people ran from 7/11 to 7/11 looking for them. People were even offering thousands of dollars for the employee costumes created for the promotions.

What you need to take away from this is that a creative idea can come from anywhere and from anyone. Sometimes when we do brainstorming sessions for clients we bring in outside people from different professions. In a toy brainstorming session we brought in a plumber. The toy company was a little upset with this.

It quickly became apparent that the plumbers mechanical perspective and knowledge of hydraulics and valves was invaluable. Add this to his own delight at being involved in the fun and being asked to think like a kid again.the session was a big success.

Another thing to learn is to be unafraid. Don’t hesitate to put out those “crazy” ideas. You may strike gold with one of those crazy ideas. You need to be realistic and have those other ideas for the clients who don’t have the courage. But if you want to really have an effect then don’t be afraid to go for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

PLAYFUL

GOT THE TOOLS?

Every skilled occupation has its tools. The dentist has his special tools, as does a plumber or chef. Why would you think that the creative fields don't need tools? The writer and the artist need tools too. I'm not just talking about the pen or computer for a writer and a pencil or brush for the artist. I'm talking about the real support tools that make doing the jobs simple.

Lets start with a basic, a reference library. Whether a writer or artist a wide ranging library is a must. You will need text and visual, the more the better. The book store is your friend, as is Google text and Google image. Start to compile personnel files on your fields and anything to inspire. I have a large personal library at home and as well as six large file cabinets filled with visual reference on everything. Also learn how to be a good researcher. You never know what kind of projects can come toward you. A secret of life is not how much you know.... but whether you can find the answers you need.

One amazing resource is the Library of Congress. When I was doing educational products everything had to be accurate all the way down to the eye color of the Presidential portraits I was doing. I discovered that the Library has a full time staff to answer any and all questions.

Compile lists! Create word lists or visual lists to use in brainstorming or to inspire. When we design toys I have lists that are pages and pages of toys that can be used as inspiration. Lists of random words can inspire new direction for your projects. Create a list of random questions for your projects.

Get as many creative tools as possible. There are many creativity products out in the market place. One of my favorite programs is called Ideafisher. An exceptional associative brainstorming tool. Another product that I recommend is Roger von Oech's, Creative Whack Pack. The simple card version can stimulate creativity and his computer version is fantastic.

Get a notebook. Far to many good ideas and thoughts are lost because we didn't write them down.

Get a calendar. Nothing motivates like deadlines. Set deadlines for yourself if you don't already have deadlines.

GO PLAY

You have to grow older, but you never have to grow up!!!
Keep the spirit of a child and a sense of wonder and that will keep creativity with you forever. GO PLAY!!

BRAINSTORMING METHODS

There are so many ways to brainstorm and all of them work. Some work better for certain jobs. But brainstorming even the smallest projects leads to better results. Don't just jump into a project and start on the first idea. The first idea may turn out to be the best even after brainstorming. But you will probably improve it by a little brainstorming.

Some methods of brainstorming are the Descriptive, the Associative, The Smash Up, The Random, Mind Mapping. The list is endless and all are interconnected. All work if you use them and all lead to better concepts. By the way, they're FUN.

Often when you are dealing with clients you will come across the classic person who knows what they want but can't articulate it. Maybe you have an idea but can't quite get a handle on it. Here is a form of Descriptive and Associative Brainstorming to help define projects. Clearly define the end goal whether its a character design, logo, product etc. and what will it be used for and how. Now for the fun part. You play a game with yourself or the client. Begin to ask and write down the answers to a series of questions. What color is is? How big is it? Obvious questions but take it so much further. What kind of mineral is it? What kind of animal is it? Who would it be if it was a current movie star? Who would it be if it was an old time movie star? What book or character in a book would it be?

Seems silly to ask what kind of animal or movie star a logo would be but people already have a mental picture of these things. By having them associate and describe there choices you define the object. If they describe their logo as a crane then you can assume they are looking for a graceful, flowing look. If they describe the logo as a bear or elephant then you can push your designs toward the solid and powerful look. If they describe their logo as Jim Carrey then you know that they want an energetic and fun look. The questions are silly and appear to have no relation to your project but will actually tell you a great deal about their expectations.

Keep going and asking questions until you really have a mental picture of what your client is looking for. What kind of tree would it be?What kind of food? What kind of car? A fast sports car or a solid work truck.

As you do this you will see the clients light up because it defines the concept for them. They will feel as if they were part of the process and it will define the job for you. The more focused you are when you start, the better to do the job. This will also save time and time is money. I assume you are in this for the love and fun of being creative but you also need to make money.

More later, Have Fun! The Director of Nonsense

The right Tools!

Every skilled occupation has its tools. The dentist has his special tools as does a plumber or chef. Why would you think that the creative fields don't need tools? The writer and the artist need tools too. I'm not just talking about the pen or computer for a writer and a pencil or brush for the artist. I'm talking about the real support tools that make doing the jobs simple.

Lets start with a basic, a reference library. Whether a writer or artist a wide ranging library is a must. You will need text and visual the more the better. The book store is your friend, as is Google text and Google image. Start to compile personnel files on your fields and anything to inspire. I have a large personal library at home and as well as six large file cabinets filled with visual reference on everything. Also learn how to be a good researcher. You never no what kind of projects can come toward you. A secret of life is not how much you know.... but whether you can find the answers to the things you
Compile lists! Create word lists or visual lists to use in brainstorming or to inspire. When we design toys I have lists that are pages and pages of toys that can be used as inspiration. Lists of random words can inspire new direction for your projects. Create a list of random questions for your projects.

Get as many creative tools as possible. There are many creativity products out in the market place. One product that I recommend is Roger von Oech's, Creative Whack Pack. The simple card version can stimulate creativity and his computer version is fantastic.

Spark your Creativity!!!

Creativity can be learned! Sparked! Nurtured! "NEVER" wait for inspiration to strike. You'll starve! Learn how to start creative fires

Brainstorming!

I'm surprised at how many people think that brainstorming is just sitting down and coming up with an idea. Brainstorming is an art in itself.
When you think about things your brain makes connections. These electrical connections form paths that then become like little roadways in the brain. People tend to get lazy. The mind tends to get lazy, so it will run along these same pathways. This leads to the same old ideas.
Think of it like the brain is a jello mold and your pouring water down on it. It begins to form channels in the jello. The more hot water, the deeper the channels get. You need to jump your brain out of those channels and into new sections, new pathways and new ideas.
There are lots of excellent techniques for brainstorming and I'll address those later but for now lets talk about how to get started. People ignore some of the basics. Research what your going to brainstorm. Do a quick google search, word and image search. First really identify what it is and what your trying to accomplish before you start. What is your end goal? A new concept? A new product? A new art piece? Whatever!
Also do not edit yourself. In early brainstorming there are NO bad ideas. As my boss says, "These are babies, allow them to grow. You never know what they could grow into."
Now that you have a goal then do a "brain dump!" With a blank piece of paper write down everything you can as quick as you can about your subject. What this does is get all the obvious things out so you can really get a fresh look at your project. This works whether you're trying to create a new slogan or a new image to paint. You may hit something, some "gold" in your brain dump which another reason to write it all down so that it doesn't get lost.
Now you can examen your list to try to make new connections to lead you to new creative concepts. Look at your list to see if there are stand outs. After you identify some of those stand outs ask why do they stand out?
Just the act of doing a brain dump, of describing and quantifying will lead you to new directions and creative concepts. This doesn't need to take a long time but will go a long way to expanding your creativity.
Now you can really begin your Brainstorming. I'll post later with brainstorming techniques to help your expand your creativity.

creative challenge

My blog is really about being CREATIVE. I myself an an illustrator and designer. I work for a company that is considered a creative think tank. The majority of our work is entertainment related and kid oriented but you never know what kind of assignment will come in. In this blog I intend to put down some tricks and insight into working in the creative fields.
As an illustrator in school I remember being told to pick a style and develop a portfolio. Pick a look! The reasoning was that when you went to an agency they could look at your book and know what type of thing you would bring in. But when I went into the world and when I review a portfolio I'm looking for a range. I want to see not a book of the same thing. I'm looking to see if they think and can do more than one thing. Todays world moves to fast and clients come in with all kinds of odd projects. A one trick pony gets real old.
I have a friend who works and teaches how to draw comics. He has a beautiful style. But just the one look. He is having a hard time because his look is somewhat dated now. Styles change. Talent will allow a person to adapt. You must never stop learning and trying new things.
To that end here's a challenge, pick up the latest Workbook or Directory of Illustration. Open the book randomly to any page. Now sit down and try to copy that style. Don't copy the work, copy the style. Try to match what ever page you hit on and make something that looks like the same family.
Remember that what your copying is someone's work and heart. ALWAYS respect others copyrights but try to learn from them. Don't just copy it but try to figure out what makes it special. Is it the color or the way they shade or the flow of the line. Try to learn and expand your own style.

The set up

In the movie The Prestige they talk about the stages of a magic trick. Well this is the beginning of my tricks on the web. nothing fancy to start. all though I have some big plans. I'll learn that later but, hey you gotta start somewhere.  Anyway my background is in entertainment marketing and design.  In the future I will post info and comments on creativity, entertainment, product design  and amusement parks. So keep watching.  The director