Jimiyo Art & Palaver!

How to Win Online Design Contests

2009-12-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

Ready for the answer?

Participate.

The End.

In all seriousness, in almost all things, the first step to winning or achieving is participation. You can't expect to shoot a ball in a basket unless you first attempt to make a throw.

The idea is simple, but the motivation behind emphasizing this fact, is for one main reason:

Online design contests need good designs.

Need.

NEED.

Having worked as an art director at Design By Humans and Teefury, one fact behind the scenes that is not apparent to the public, is that it's a stressful job to oversee the scheduling of designs, especially since there is a monetary risk value attached to it.

Every shirt need not be a success, but in the long run, businesses have to thrive by creating products that sell to help it's customers get a great product and B2B partners thrive, in this specific case, artists.

Online design contest businesses like DBH and Teefury have a quota of shirts to schedule and print, so the appetites of the businesses for art are quite voracious. Voracious like a fat man at a buffet. Are you a fat man? I didn't mean anything by it. Supposedly using analogies is a very simple way of getting the message to the reader.

This situation is not specific to online designs contest, but in other business that create products in general. Art directors working for other companies that may not have such a diverse product line still have to create new designs to satisfy the needs of their consumers. And consumers... people... need variety especially in a consumerist economy.

I worked as an artist for a small NASCAR product development company for a couple years. Even at such a small company that only did a few shirts a week, the need for new art was enough to expand our art department from 1 artist up to 5 with occasional pro freelancers.

The truth of the art business is that, companies dealing in art need a pool of art that can be easily accessible at any time to fulfill the potential sales needs that arise. Sometimes in the art world, it's a shotgun approach, especially if the company is working in the mass retail market. Mass retail seems to be such a lucrative market, that they have the pick of the litter, so art businesses need to pitch multiple products sometimes over and over until the time is right to the mass retailers.

So submitting and getting printed isn't all that difficult if you follow some basic rules.

It's like a lottery, but a lottery in which you can manipulate the variables in your favor to almost guarantee a win.

How Do You Guarantee a Win?

1. Participate

2. Participate/submit often.

Not only do you fill your portfolio with designs, and learn/improve with each piece, participating and submitting helps to your name float up to the top when directors may be considering designs to print provided you have the right kind of art.

Human nature has a tendency to reciprocate friendly gestures, and when you begin to participate in an online community it will build a foundation of trust. People do business with people they trust and know.

3. Cater your product to the market. This is a major key. Businesses that sell art have their specific genre into which they are pigeon-holed. If you think of any of the major sites online, what kind of art do you think of when you hear the brands:

DBH

Teefury

Threadless

Shirt.woot

Emptees

The chances are you can easily identity the product as the brand even if it does not have a logo on it just by the type of art.

Sometimes you do have to study the company's products and design accordingly. It's not a hard written rule, but behind the scenes, the comment...

"Um... that looks too Shirt.woot,"

or similar will arise.

At both DBH and TF, we have passed on designs that are great because unfortunately they were not within the genre in which we know is successful with our consumers.

Even in my own artist experience, I tried pitching very high quality artsy designs to Shirt.woot, and at first they we impressed and printed me, but they are much more reluctant now a days to do anything outside of their genre. It's proven in my sales numbers. At shirt.woot cute sells, arty farty sinks.

4. Be nice, or really, don't be a pain in the ass.

When you are a pain in the ass, by being high maintenance, asking too many questions, etc etc, frankly, you make the job of the AD much more difficult. The likelihood they will want to work with you again is not great unless you have great artwork and you are worth it.

Being nice also helps. Or just being business like and straightforward helps. Here is my art. Want or no want? Thank you. Neeeext.

The easier it is to work with you, the better.

5. Be your own marketeer.

In the online world, every artist can create an appreciable effect on sales by marketing to their fan base.

You don't have to have a fan base, but if you are going to be a full time artist, you better get one, or you wont be an artist for long.

Even if you can't make a dent in the sales volume by your promotions because it doesn't reach anyone, at least it will make you seem like you have your shtuff together, and provided you continue to promote, stick and move, you will most likely learn how to best market your art.

Behind the scenes we occasionally see the effects of this. Our perception is molded by your actions and efforts.

During the DBH 10K contest, we noticed the artists that were the best at promoting themselves were the ones who were able to generate traffic and votes, and concurrently, typically this correlates somewhat to sales. Only somewhat because if you build a product that is generally widely appreciated, it will sell on its own.

But seeing the numbers, we do get impressed with the ability of the artist to market.

The foundation of growth for online contests like DBH, Threadless, and Shirt.woot is that it requires that the artists all promote their works for the sites to get more fans and consumers. It's almost like a MLM. They thrive on concurrent marketing by the artists.

Help us, help you, help us, help you.

...

In the online design contest realm, the easier you set yourself up as a supplier the more likely you will get picked up, and have subsequent designs be printed.

It's not that difficult and only takes persistence, so take a stab!

Check the sidebar for a list of the most prominent contest sites and the main blog for reviews of the types of shirts being printed.

Submit to DBH

Submit to Teefury

Comments are appreciated!

Short Story 12.09.09

2009-12-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Staples: "Would you like to sign up for our Rewards Card, it will save you 10%"

Jimi: "No thank you."

Staples: "All we need is your name and phone number."

Jimi: "I'm moving."

Staples: "Staples is located all over the United States."

Jimi: "The world's going to end in 2012, I don't care to save money."

Staples: "I don't know where they get those theories."

Jimi: "I'm just kidding, it was a movie, I'm just seeing about your objection resolution."

Staples: "Even if the world does end in 2012, it will be OK, we will all go to Heaven."

Jimi: (Chuckling, thinking, hrm, is this guy Mormon, Baptist, or Crazy?) "Oh yeah?"

Staples: "Well, if you accept Jesus as your personal Christ and Savior. Although it is also a journey..."

(It's tending towards the Baptist phrasing with "as your personal Christ and Savior," and the caveat of believing in Jesus as a prerequisite for entry to heaven. )

Jimi: "Well thanks."

____________________________

Can you imagine the two stories?

Jimi: "Yup, that fateful day, I went to get a CAT6 cable I was saved from damnation!"

Staples: "Yup, that fateful day, instead of selling Staples Rewards card, I saved a soul from damnation! Praise Lord!"

____________________________

Critique:

As a sales technique, using the phrase, "as your personal Christ and Savior" is very confusing and off putting to someone who is not familiar with Christianity. The phrasing needs to be reworked to be more palatable. Just a FYI for those of you considering witnessing to people, read a sales book, and think about marketing. Even if its salvation, you have to be very human in pitching someone a product per say, especially if it's more than just a CAT cable. Winning someone to your side is a very delicate process.

Good Finds Week of 23rd

2009-11-23T11:54:00.001-08:00

1. New Moon Summary in Doodle Form

From iQuitt on DBH

2. Mildly NSFW (Not Safe for Work)

3. Homebrew Pikachu Ski Mask

4. Dog in Leather Jacket

5. Aaron Horkey - One of my favorite artists EVER! Found some super hi res images of his work.

Top Five John Lock Images Found on the Internet

2009-11-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

1. SOURCE: Chris Oatley - Nifty little progress blog along with it.

2. SOURCE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/freeekdue/2112409035/

3. SOURCE: http://artsammich.deviantart.com/art/LOST-Animated-John-Locke-134578179

4. SOURCE: http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/iLost-Locke-Wallpaper-john-locke-589608_1920_1200.jpg

5. SOURCE: http://linkognito.com/images/05-14-08/locke.gif

Someone Else's Dream

2009-11-18T08:09:00.000-08:00

I'm a curator (actually the Art Director since everything that prints is approved by moi) at Teefury. (BTW, I'm also AD at Designbyhumans.com)

I recently found Tom Ledin's work while trolling the internet and I picked up his design.

It became one of the top selling designs ever at Teefury.

We interview our artists, and one of his answers is something that sparked my interest.

The dream is simple: Art, Food, Fun, and Sleep.

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Tom Ledin, "I would become a full-time artist, and rent a really big studio, that I could fit a nice big halfpipe in. Then I would make art, art, and more art with a skateboarding break every hour or so. I would also probably put a futon in there, because skateboarding makes me sleepy. In reality, I'd probably make a little art in the morning, then skate, then get a burrito, and then sleep the rest of the day. God that sounds so good."

Reading Tom's dream, I thought to myself:

Nice dream.
I want a similar reality.
It would be possible to attain that reality... maybe.

Then I thought:

I have not had a dream for myself for a long time.

It's easy to lose touch with our dreams especially with work and the typical drudgery of life. I think that's why we love movies, art, music, etc. They all represent the dreams of others, another life, much more exciting than ours. It is simpler to adopt someone else's dream when we do not have a clear vision of our own. Throw in busy work provided by a job (which is essentially helping to achieve someone else's dream), we start to falsely believe that our busyness correlates to us striving to achieve our own dreams, but rarely does earning money for the exchange of time show up on the list of anyone's life aspirations.

Introspection has reminded me of my goals. I haven't necessarily been derailed from my dreams of being an independent artist as taking the job at Teefury and Designbyhumans was part of the plan of getting a boost in savings for future cash flow, as well as earning more internet respect and clout.

I still create art although not as prolific, and I've been able to do some small works for major companies that should continue to build on the perception of the "jimiyo" name.

Still, there's something awry.... or not. I'm not sure.

Maybe it's that I hold having a dream and trying to attain it in such high regard, that I have to feel that something is wrong if I'm not always struggling to achieve something grandiose and extraordinary...

Certainly, there is always better, but when is enough. Is complacency such a deplorable frame of mind?

If everything was perfect, I'd own a business that would require ONLY art from me, maybe a little marketing because its fun to figure out what makes people react, beyond that, in a fun studio, where I could take a break to jam on the guitar or play a quick round of Call of Duty without fear of being judged as a lazy worker, nice lunch meetings to shoot the shit about business and ideas, Starbucks coffee, Sushi/Thai/Mexican for lunch, and after the day's work is done, total disconnect from work to be with loved ones.

"...God that sounds so good..."

Anyways. I need to brainfart some more so I can plan out some paths for myself in the next upcoming years.

Have you been derailed or preoccupied with busyness that you haven't taken the time to visualize your dreams? GET SOME!

Make Your Own Kind of Music

2009-11-15T14:50:00.001-08:00

I've become a Lost fan. Used to think this song was creepy, but now... not so much.

LOL 4

2009-11-13T07:13:00.001-08:00

LOL 3

2009-10-30T23:19:00.001-07:00

LOL II

2009-10-20T20:52:00.001-07:00

LOL

2009-09-21T09:43:00.001-07:00

Interview

2009-08-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

> Would you share with me what were some of your initial
> experiences with art?

I've been drawing since kindergarten. My teacher that I totally loved used to reward me with a happy face. A little positive reinforcement goes a long way. I doodled through highschool, and it wasn't until the last two years of my college education that I started to get serious. I sometimes wonder if what could have been if I would have just concentrated just a little harder when I was younger. I would be like... totally crazy awesome word is born destroy everyone, but maybe it is good that I am not, keeps me humble.

> When did you decide to be an artist, and how did you know?

I've always had an affinity for art. It has just always been my identity.

As far as career, working sales for two years after graduating college made me hate life. I had saved enough money to just drop out the rat race, and attempt to get an art job. I quit, and I got an art job two months there after. Boom Shaka Laka!

> Where did you grow up?

I done grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennnnnneeesseee! It's 30 minutes from Nashville. So it's probably easier if I say, I done grew up in Naaahshvillllle, Tennnnnneeesseee!

> What was your family unit? Did you have brothers or
> sisters?

Like 50 Cent and his crew, we just have a small unit. Two brothers, one older at 34, one younger at 22. I am the middle child. My parents are still married. I feel blessed about that.

> Did you have artistic peers growing up? In high school? In
> college?

Not much. My family, nor friends did art. Even in college, there wasn't really anyone who really stood out as an artist. (I went to a regular school)

Then ENTER. THE. INTERNET.

BLAM!

gfxartist.com
conceptarts.org
cgtalk.com
the now dead eatpoo.com
polycount.com

If it had not been the artist communities online, I would be suxorz today.

Get online. There are hundreds of readily accessible artists everywhere. You can make friends.

And unlike burn out, dope smoking art students in college throwing their parents money away, the level of skill, quality, and professionalism of those artists you can find and interact with online is unbelievable.

> Were there teachers that influenced you? How so?

Hrm... not really. Most of them were there to get a paycheck.

Although one time... Guanping Zheng aka Mr Ping of my digital animation class said,

"You will be good one day, if you continue to practice."

How lamely awesome is that? He was pretty much saying... yeah kid, you got raw talent, but dont get cocky, you aint in the big leagues yet, and hopefully you don't become a drunk or go knock up some girl and have to get some crappy 9-5 that sucks your life force and determination.

> What was the most important thing you learned in school?

That it takes more than just the classes in school to get you out there in the art world. You have to bust your hump after school, out of school, and forever and forever.

Being an artist is a journey. You cant ever stop.

Nor should you want to.

> Do you have mentors or other working artists who influence
> you today?

Well, not directly. I have the internet to critique me. They are more than willing to bash you.

I'd recommend it. People on the internet don't care to be gentle. Learn how to eat critiques.

> Would you say your occupation is the same as your career?

hrm...? no.

My ultimate goal is to be a famous artist so I can sustain totally on the income I can produce from my art.

Right now I am an Art Director for a couple websites. It helps me gain alot of noteriety which helps build my artist persona. Eventually, once I accomplish my goals with being an AD, I will transition or concurrently focus on building my personal brand.

> Did you have any benchmarks in your career? By the time
> I’m X, I’ll have done Y?

Not really. Just keep banging out art. Although having things to strive for like... winning contests, getting published, etc do help.

> Were there any gatekeepers in the art world for you, people
> who either let you in or barred the way as you were coming
> through?

Chinese voice. There is only one gatekeeper grasshopper. It is you.

This is how it goes.

I tried getting an art job. I wasnt good enough.

I got better and better. I got so good at marketing myself and my type of art, that the offers now come to me.

Chinese voice. When you cannot obtain the object of desire, make it come to you.

The philosophy has worked. The last two art jobs, pretty much landed in my lap. I didnt even need to interview. And even the other day, Billabong contacted me through email to see I would be interested in freelancing with them.

WAT!? MADNESS!

> Is there any professional organization that you joined that
> you found particularly helpful to your career?

Scoff. Professional organization is for the Union workers.

Naw. Just kidding. I've never joined an organization before. I bet it helps though with networking... although... why would someone give you a lead when they might find the lead useful themselves?

Really... I hate organizations. "Whosoever be a man, must be a nonconformist."

They just help to create groupthink.

Groupthink is for those who cant lead themselves.

> What do you think are the major turning points in your
> career?

I won a contest at designbyhumans.com. That yanked me out of obscurity into design contest famedom.

> What’s been your interaction with or relation to the
> public over the years?

Man. These are alot of questions man....

I am somewhat the persona associated with teefury.com and designbyhumans.com as "jimiyo"

It's interesting how being semi public figure will affect how people view you. Some people criticize me, some people lurve me. I've lost somewhat of my own personal voice, cause I have to keep a professional, entertaining, positive, upbeat persona online. I think it's actually caused me to become much better in human relations. Because I know how to handle possible landmines, and I also try to be intentional in my interactions to make it a win win.

> What kind of control do you think you exert over your own
> destiny as an artist?

Chinese voice. The movie Matrix is... a true story. You. Control. Everything.

> What are you own criteria for success as an artist?

I continue to create the art that I want to create.

Getting an art job is nice, but its still a job. Theres still gonna be THE MAN, who tells you how and what to draw. That suxorz.

> Has money or critical success influenced your artistic
> decision making?

No. I took my first art job at $10/hour yo. If I would have been like... oh, my sales job got me 55K+, and you want me to do art for $10 and hour?

I wouldnt be where I am today.

> Are you satisfied with your career as an artist?

Chinese Voice: Never be satisfied. Always strive to become better.

> What do you think is your greatest disappointment in your
> professional career? What has been you greatest success?

Chinese voice: There is no disappointment if you learn from every stumble.
Chinese voice: The greatest success is moving forward.

> What advice would you give someone who wanted to be an
> artist today, as opposed to when you started?

It doesnt take long to get good. Just like anything, it takes practice. Start today, tomorrow you will be better.

Srsly though... you know when its in you. You wont even have to ask yourself, do I want to be an artist, cause you wont have time to question if you want to be or not.

All the Jokes from the Last Few Weeks

2009-08-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Whilte trying to figure out who the celebrities were on Wotto's design

[2:45:52 PM] jimiyo: man. kurt was an attractive young man for being so emo and crap

[2:46:02 PM] Michelle: yup lol

[2:46:04 PM] jimiyo: so broody

[2:46:13 PM] jimiyo: its like

[2:46:17 PM] jimiyo: you WANT to cheer him up

[2:47:14 PM] jimiyo: this becoming successful in my career is really dampening my ability to be a tormented artist.

[2:47:24 PM] jimiyo: its probably hurting my chances with women too.

___________

"The person is angry they are unable to read arent they? Although they
may be satiated by the pretty pictures, they hate themselves for not being able to read the phrase "Safe Unsubscribe" at the bottom of every email. I clicked it for them."

________

Photo Shoot at the office the other day. Im lonely... not really.

________

Approved a Zombie Salvador Dali design at the printer's the other day. I like to think that the Hispanic workers adore me.

_______

_______

_________

[4:31:00 PM] jimiyo: hey michelle
[4:31:02 PM] jimiyo: tell me to stay strong and that
[4:31:07 PM] jimiyo: all of it is only in the mind
[4:31:17 PM] jimiyo: and i also
[4:31:26 PM] jimiyo: need some sort of patience

[4:31:35 PM] Michelle: hey jimi

[4:31:37 PM] jimiyo: and then give me a valium

[4:31:40 PM] Michelle: stay strong

[4:31:44 PM] jimiyo: yes

[4:31:47 PM] Michelle: it's all in your head bro

[4:31:47 PM] jimiyo: i will try michelle
[4:31:49 PM] jimiyo: yeah?
[4:31:56 PM] jimiyo: youre prolly right

[4:31:57 PM] Michelle: hell yeah man

[4:32:00 PM] jimiyo: huh
[4:32:05 PM] jimiyo: you are so wise

[4:32:06 PM] Michelle: relax, and you'll be fine

[4:32:12 PM] jimiyo: cool
[4:32:15 PM] jimiyo: i feel better
[4:32:17 PM] jimiyo: LAOLOLOLOL
[4:32:19 PM] jimiyo: srsly
[4:32:21 PM] jimiyo: that was good

[4:32:23 PM] Michelle: excellent :)

[4:32:26 PM] jimiyo: now
[4:32:30 PM] jimiyo: to BELIEVE it
[4:32:35 PM] jimiyo: wheres my valium!?!??

Jimiyo Vectors moved to The Golden Black

2009-08-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

http://thegoldenblack.com/products/artists/jimiyo/

I've moved all my vectors from YWFT to The Golden Black for a few reasons. YWFT raised their percentage of the profits due to the "economy" and to "use the money to advertise." To cut profits to artists where it costs them barely anything to maintain the servers and delivery service, I thought was a little greedy. Also, their usage agreements specifically called against using the vectors for apparel, which is ridiculous since I am known as an apparel designer. Why guide my market to a product they arent going to be able to use as they wish?

Anyways... Happy to be working with Chris Parks and all the other hot artists that are offering their vectors through thegoldenblack!

brainfart august 2009

2009-08-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

I slipped, cracked my head, and my dreams escaped into reality.

The spector of fear and insecurity vaporized like mist in the sun.

I stumbled weak and weary like a feeble old man up the mountain, only to find when I reached the summit that my shadow stood 50 feet tall, cast on the mountain behind me as I basked in the setting orange sun.

Reborn again like a child with renewed confidence, with vigor I aspired to reach the next summit.

Nothing is impossible.

..........

disclaimer: The following is very emo. It only comes out on occasion. It was a real feeling so, I suppose there might be some validity in it, or at least there are some issues I need to work out and perceptions I need to dispel...

If I ever come back to religion, get married, and have kids, it means I finally forgave myself and stopped thinking I (and everyone else in a way) was a burden to my parents and others, and that I was worth having existed.

I was somewhat tipsy when I had this revelation so it must be true.

I hope I believe this one day, cause it's tough believing nothing matters, especially myself.

But that lacking makes me put forth extraordindary efforts, so... as a source of utility, if my inseurity causes efforts that actuate some seemingly real meaning or worth, at least I found a way to circumvent, at least good enough to fool myself, my core issues, the burdens I carry.

...........

Haven't thought through it, so this is a unsubstantiated theory but

Often times when you raise someone up, give them power, teach them, they will turn on you. Not all, but over half will become proud as they learned from your mistakes, having taken a shortcut through your wisdom, and will mistakenly predict their ability to abscond beyond your level.

Easy for grasshopper to become an equal master, but to go beyond, not so much.

But Master having learned through mistakes has a deeper knowledge of how to learn, how to stick and move, grasshopper, not so much.

Good Luck grasshopper.

............

That flamboyant seemingly gay Target clerk, the one with the Gidget hair, thats like a helmet from all the hairspray, and brittle from the burgundy hair dye, might be a little offputting, but I have to say, he's the most fun and interesting clerk in comparison to the dull blank faces that could care less.

..........

Sourkrawt, milk, beer, coffee: All things I really used to enjoy, but as I have gotten older, make me poop not nice.

.............

She said, "Still hangin on to that huh?"

I spent 7 months out there, those are the only words that I remember of all the words that she spoke to me, that and her quirky smile. The words were probably the best words uttered in passing that seemed to say alot about my loser tendencies. I've since reformed. I don't hang on to much anymore, unless it serves to entertain me.

..............

The Japanese have a saying, "Gambate," which essentially means, try your hardest, do your best.

Although I've been far removed from my Japanese heritage since the age of 5 when my family moved to America, I think it's safe to say that the phrase is as ubiquitously used as something like "drive safe" or some other form as salutations provided it's used in the right context, whether it be going to school, going to work, etc.

People who are satisfied with the status quo baffle me.

It is through selfishness and fear that most people disenfranchise themselves out of an opportunity.

In most all things if you give it your all, you will get back more than if you just putz along and do Just what's necessary.

...........

Once past the tipping point, nothing exists to dispel regret if the tipping is the wrong way. Typically there is ample evidence along the way that one is about to reach the pinnacle of a decided fate. If only they had stopped before the summit. If only they had listened to the obvious warnings.

It is by mere seconds, the details, in which fate is sealed. A minute early, a minute late, could mean a minute saved from a car accident. Some things cannot be controlled as things occur as they will, but other fates are wholly controllable.

What small thing are you doing or not doing today, that will eventually cause the levee to break bringing forth a destiny to which you quietly submitted and contributed everyday for the longest time?

...........

Although difficult, in the end, it will all seem worth it. Whether it was or not, after the investment, you won't allow yourself to think otherwise.

What difficulty or challenge are you not accepting today, that might all seem worth it tomorrow?

...........

If the end of the world was immeninet, I suppose that I'd like to spend it with you, provided we exclude family from our list of obligatory people to hang out with before the world blows up. We wouldn't even have to make out.

............

Truth is, I relish my small successes, partially as I feel a sense of accomplishment, but a small part of me, maybe a large part of me, really enjoys the revenge of living well and quietly proving myself to all those persons who doubted me, slighted me, or even in their own quiet manner seem to say that their way was better, that they had made better life choices.

In the late 90's, I failed out of engineering school. I hated it from the beginning. Soon thereafter, I transferred and I was set free. I studied art and mass communications and I excelled.

After I transferred, I was a food server at a quaint little Japanese restaurant. It was year 5 or 6 after highschool graduation, and I was still going to college, working and paying for college as I went.

I remember a most humbling experience. A couple of recently graduated and employed acquaintences from the engineering school showed up. I served them, they asked me what I was up to, with a that's nice kind of sentiment and tried to quiet their thoughts that seemed to scream, "awkward, we went into college at the same time, you are a failure!"

As I walked away, they talked excitedly about their 401Ks and other work related topics typically indicative of the new blood, the naively excited noobie to the realm of the white collar worker.

I suppose I look back on that experience now and think... IN YOUR FACE!

Some other people who are on the list on IN YOUR FACE:

jokes
jokes

Take the path less traveled by...

............

Everyone has a filter for the information they let fly out their gates. Given enough trust and proding, most persons will let you know exactly how they feel. I hypothesize that everyone has a ton of stuff they wish they could unload. A significant other is nice for most things, but then significant others can be a source of angst... or I wonder, if a relationship was based on absolute truth, even the ugly stuff, if it would serve better for each party than to keep all of it unexpressed?

(I doubt it though, people usually don't like the Truth. They liked being lied to...)

(I even like lying to myself)

..........

Most relationships typically seek a symbiotic repriocity. If there isn't equality, it is certain that it will fail...

Unless one of them has a severe lack of self esteem... Are you that douchebag with no self eseteem or self respect?

Dump the Leech.

.............

I wake to a morning sun illuminating the blinded windows in a pale beige glow.

A cup of sweet milky coffee, a ceiling fan moving a nice breeze with its soft lulling song.

I turn on a pleasant, larthargic song by Elliot Smith, No Name #3.

Somewhat apropro that it has no name, just as I feel. I am alone, and it is quiet, no bodies are stirring outside, it is if I awoke in the wilderness in a light mist waiting for the burgeoning sun to wake all the creatures for another day.

.............

Given enough time, most people annoy me to the point of wanting not to know them, but when it comes to myself, I have to deal with it.

........

Breaking free from the world of the mind is actually quite hard even though we live in the physical world all day long. Most of the life we live might just be the arbitrary world we just painted for ourselves, when in reality, it could have been a vast and wonderful expanse if only we would have just let ourselves open our eyes.

..........

Im going to live tomorrow. Maybe... Chuckle.

Hummingbirds

2009-08-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Set up my camcorder the other day on my porch. These guys are feisty.

....BTW I bought myself a voice recorder a while back. I've been recording my thoughts for a few weeks. If I ever get over my fear of sharing my thoughts, I'll post them.

I'd like to get back to writing a little more, but there's only so many hours in the day.

New Design WIP & Other stuff

2009-07-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Lots of stuff has been happening. Maybe if I ever get the time to write, I'll update the blog with words. Went to Disneyland. For those of you that know about Threadless, and Designbyhumans, this is an entertaining photo.

Got my TomTom stolen. A few weeks ago I had stopped locking my car door as an experiment. Took about three weeks for the incident to occur.

Still living without internet at home. It's much more productive it seems.

It's good to let go of work almost totally when I leave work. Without the internet, there are some difficulties, but nothing that makes not having it not worth it.

New design! Im excited about this one. It's really flowin more than my usual stuff, and it's alot more free.

Finished: Revelation 2009

2009-07-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

Sullen feat Jimiyo on Redondo Beach OTM

2009-07-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

OH SNAP! Did some work for Sullen Clothing recently. They've recently sent me this picture.

Feels like there's so many awesome things happening in freelance, as well as some possibly huge stuff with DBH/TF... Exciting times. All that hard work, making art for years without payoff seems to be paying off quite a bit, Time for some Reapin! :D

Design Update

2009-07-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Recently saw some of Aaron Horkey's work and I really want to escalate this piece towards that level of detail, although I'll probably fall greatly short from it, buts it's always good to strive for 11. We'll see. Too much detail, and it get's lost especially on a shirt, but as a poster, maybe not.

New Design

2009-07-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

New Style!

2009-07-10T07:45:00.001-07:00

Newsom Portrait Update

2009-07-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

I updated it. The last 10% seems to be the most difficult, cause I can adjust it easily, and the changes are all subtle, but noticeable to me. It's also annoying how it looks different on every monitor.

Joanna Newsom Portrait

2009-07-06T10:32:00.001-07:00

Oh snap!

(Actually not finalized. After seeing it on other monitors, I noticed a weirdness with the black.)

Process images: http://jimiyo.com/2009/Joanna/

Kabuto Design Update

2009-07-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

New Design: Kabuto Mask 09

2009-06-30T06:33:00.000-07:00