I am writing a book

This is my official and not so official announcement that I am writing a book.  It’s a book about my life as a designer.  I’ve experienced so much.. both good and bad that I feel I should share with the rest of the world.  Who knows.. it could be a flop.  It’s not going to be a technical how to book, just a personal journey.  I plan on sharing my views and outlook on the industry, the ways I bring in my clients, how I approach the work itself, and I also plan on talking about some of the major successes we’ve had, as well as some of the miserable failures.  Maybe others can learn from them as we’ve done.  It’s going to be a slow project for me, as I don’t have as much time to write these days as I’d like…. but it’s something I really want to do.  Who knows… I may not even have it published when it’s finished, but I do feel the need to write it.  So I hope you all stay tuned!

J.
www.jwdesigncenter.com

Hoo it’s been a short while…

I’m busy working on a coffee table book.  It is one of 6 projects currently on my plate.  391 pages all designed around professional drifting.. it’s definitely a whopper.  But it’s managed to teach me a LOT in such a short amount of time.  For one thing, I didn’t know much about drifting but mostly because I had to stand firm on my client.. Our initial quote reflected that of a 50 page book, but it’s now such a bohemoth in size that I had to go back and requote.  Once I stuck to my guns on my price and explained why the price increase, the client was satisfied, and now ..we’re both satisfied. 

 But it got me thinking….

Digital Painting

It’s 7:30am on Sunday morning.  Everyone in my house is asleep, and all is quiet and still.  My favorite time of the day.  I just wanted to sleep in today, but we’re going to a wedding this afternoon and that means it’s messing up my schedule for the day.  It dawned on me that I haven’t been to a wedding in YEARS!  Maybe i’ll come home with some new ideas or inspiration 🙂  What are you all up to today?  Anything fun?

I’m working on a digital painting piece (well … technically multiple pieces) for a calendar I’m putting together to give out at christmas time featuring some of my graphic design and illustration.  I work on that in my spare time.  I’m having a hard time on a particular piece.  I just can’t seem to get one of the colors right. 

Thank goodness it’s FRIDAY! and a tribute to Typography

It’s been a crazy hectic week. I’m so thankful it is friday. Not sure about anyone else’s week. I’m actually going to stop work tonight at 5. It’s shocking…i’ve been working 6am – midnight for about 6 days straight. All Graphic Design, All the time!

Starting my day…

It’s only 8:40 and I’m already ready for the day to be over. 🙂  It’s going to be a long one.  I have 3 new concepts to develop today, more book work to continue on with (making a coffee table book for a client), it’s a half day for my kids at school too.  I get most of my work done either early in the morning or late at night. 

 There’s a debate going on in one of the forums I belong to about whether or not the design business is a good business to delve into.  Yea the industry is saturated… but I’m a firm believer that there is plenty of work to go around. 

Dealing with a Pompous A**

I am currently working with two Pompous A**es. And it’s driving me positively insane. It’s one thing to be confident and outgoing and proud…it’s a whole new ballgame when you talk a lot of BS and don’t have diddly squat to back it up with. 1 of them is a client, can’t do much about it. Just grin and bear and do what you can. I never actually thought i’d work with someone who LIKED comic sans.. i guess i always thought it was the cliche to say. The other.. well it gets complicated. I haven’t yet found the answers. I will though.

Who am I?

I am J.  We’ll just keep it at that for now.  I am a wife, a mom, a business coach and a graphic designer.  This blog will be a personal journal of my work life.  My business is doing pretty well, it’s been a one man show up until 3 months ago.  Then I decided to hire some folks to add to my team and branch out further.  We’re seeing a lot of growth and that makes me very happy.  I act as the head designer for our firm.  I try to keep the fact that I own it to a hush because I just want to design and coach.  I don’t want to do all the other stuff, I did it for a long time…  So far, it’s been a nice break. 

Business, art and design are all a great passion for me.  I hope we’ll all become fast friends and maybe you’ll learn a few things along the way.. who knows…

 That’s probably the most I’ve ever written about me in one sitting LOL!  I love to talk about other things, but not myself.  Anyhoo… back to work!

J.