tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227480522011-07-07T22:04:38.071-04:00abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.comBlogger1571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-62734699031532504172010-03-07T12:14:00.005-05:002010-03-07T12:21:13.113-05:00

Well, it looks as if abstractLatte has brewed its last cup. After months of trying to revive and maintain my efforts, I've decided to end the blog. Although the comment feature will be turned off, I will keep the blog online so that readers can benefit from the articles, and for portfolio purposes. Thanks to everybody who supported the blog!

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-52500680696507153142010-01-13T18:51:00.013-05:002010-01-22T19:55:20.797-05:00

...I sat there once, eating ice cream."{You should just buy a house and call it your Christmas House...}"Oh, look at this fudge shop!"Let's go to the fudge shop!""I know!""Fudge shop, now!"......................................................................................Ye Olde Dominion Wine Shoppe: a small wine store that provides small tastings with big ambiance.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-32689951040609012592010-01-13T18:42:00.005-05:002010-01-17T17:27:42.884-05:00

Snacks don't last forever. As a matter of fact, they are consumed rather quickly, enjoying a rather short existence before being replaced by something better, tastier, more enjoyable.As with food snacks, "ink snacks" has enjoyed spurts of brief existence. But it's not gone; instead, a better, more enjoyable, more versatile snack is awaiting ziplock greatness. Since another bite-sized iteration is

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-86194662968136974612010-01-04T19:38:00.007-05:002010-01-15T20:22:09.916-05:00

Whoever invented chalk certainly did not have this in mind."(for the background story behind these articles, click here)

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-25505654576997126482010-01-02T19:57:00.009-05:002010-01-22T19:55:54.358-05:00

[originally published July 9, 2009]Inspect the door in the photograph, discover its intricacies, and consider...how many times has this door been opened/closed, who constructed the door, who created the elaborate door knob, how many pedestrians has this door seen walk past it? Think about the possibilities, realistic or ridiculous. The subject of this photograph is a simple door in Harpers Ferry,

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-71696149637380007712010-01-02T10:37:00.006-05:002010-01-22T19:57:17.591-05:00

[orginally published July 19th, 2009] I'm a wino...as in "wine? oh...definitely!". That means I enjoy a new adventure when it comes to the marvelous grapes that constitute the tasting experience. A few weeks ago, a new adventure is exactly what I found for in Pennsylvania there is a vineyard called Va La... Their name is a tribute to a village called Giusvalla, located in northern Italy, the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-48143055732203993502009-12-30T20:12:00.010-05:002010-01-17T17:37:27.872-05:00

Although I've started a series of posts about interesting words and their definitions called "typographic paint", I want to revive a previous idea I had in regards to words and their definitions. So, I give you..."fifty-two {a study of words and their meanings}".I'm still going to draw the words...or maybe use collage...and possibly found letters, in order to convey their definitions. Each

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-35740548272169371182009-12-30T19:06:00.008-05:002010-01-06T19:54:58.745-05:00

...I know, I know, no posts for months. Well, I needed a break. A long break. And, I felt as if the Latte needed to be recaffeinated, which wasn't an easy task. I also had to decide if it was time to move on or time to dig in. At the end of this long and arduous thought process, I decided it was time to dig in and give the Latte a bit of an overhaul.You'll probably notice a few changes...to the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-13881567149306697522009-08-03T15:56:00.008-04:002010-01-15T20:23:39.015-05:00

See what happens when I sit still?(for the background story behind these articles, click here)

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-74817728973754607402009-07-30T15:20:00.012-04:002010-01-15T20:24:00.296-05:00

persnickety...(adj): overparticular; pretentiousex: 'His persnickety attitude created a frustrating work environment.'"[view main word list and the story behind the series]

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-60125592009798795382009-07-22T14:42:00.003-04:002010-01-17T17:29:06.494-05:00

I recently watched a video of an artist painting a portrait while listening to the subject's music, moving the brush according to the tempo of the music (view the video). It was fascinating; that exercise represents what it means to be an artist. Of course, I'm not going to sit down and write an article about Hendrix while listening to his guitar solos. But, the article did get me thinking about

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-7858415250106617682009-07-21T11:23:00.014-04:002010-05-02T10:32:09.798-04:00

If you draw, paint, take pictures, or (insert your artistic discipline of choice here) then you understand what it means to work with specific media and materials. Before an artist is truly an artist, they are a student of their chosen discipline, learning the nuances of pens, markers, filters, handmade paper, etc. And that's what words are, to a writer that is. Typographic paint.In order to help

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-77470145654039937342009-07-20T11:00:00.004-04:002010-01-17T17:29:42.592-05:00

Yes, that's right, it's the incredible 'Pour-O-Matic' 'Espresso-Matic'...a piece of illustrated machinery used for regularly distributing caffeinated fiction. From this reliable mechanism will pour thoughts and ramblings dedicated to one notion:If a coffee cup could talk, what would it say, based on what it has seen?After seeing the semi-antiquated machine (illustrated above) sit idle in a Jiffy

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-49213034045541698452009-07-11T14:22:00.008-04:002009-07-18T16:58:55.970-04:00

Far be it from me to stop inspiration.(for the background story behind these articles, click here)

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-90586644963675810442009-07-09T17:41:00.023-04:002010-01-17T17:30:02.666-05:00

Inspect the door in the photograph, discover its intricacies, and consider...how many times has this door been opened/closed, who constructed the door, who created the elaborate door knob, how many pedestrians has this door seen walk past it? Think about the possibilities, realistic or ridiculous.The subject of this photograph is a simple door in Harpers Ferry, WV; the basic function of a door

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-77723051460638852802009-06-30T15:52:00.008-04:002010-01-17T17:30:14.978-05:00

"...intermittent; familiar; connections in smoking words..."This was my submission to a "six word novel" challenge in Ficly. Although I'm no stranger to creative writing, this type of exercise was certainly nothing short of challenging. This type of work, assuming you're able to produce something you feel is solid, always generates a real sense of accomplishment despite the handful of words that

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-37325826443217935352009-06-30T14:24:00.009-04:002009-06-30T14:50:18.462-04:00

For those of you familiar with my ongoing mission to find a functional journal, I am happy to report that the latest book is working out as well as I'd hoped! For those of you just joining this article-based journey, here's a little background information to get you caught up.I'm using my journal more than I did before and I'm finding that it's very comfortable to hold and carry. I take the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-11854260271804343022009-06-29T17:39:00.007-04:002010-01-17T17:35:33.511-05:00

After months of floating between ideas for various concepts for publications, I've committed to an idea for my first book. The book will be self-published through Blurb and sold independently through local coffee shops, word-of-mouth, and Etsy. The book will be about???.......sorry, not giving away everything! I will say this...out of all my ideas for potential zines and books, this particular

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-12442158322192454652009-06-28T12:35:00.010-04:002009-07-18T16:58:32.934-04:00

"...I'm a work in progress."(for the background story behind these articles, click here)

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-62426405774731868382009-06-10T17:10:00.006-04:002009-06-10T17:56:10.799-04:00

But it looks as if this one will stick around!For those of you who follow my blog, you know that my history with journals is "interesting" to say the least (read more here). Well, my latest journal, the one I thought would certainly fit all my requirements...well, it's no longer in service. The mental disconnect isn't due to the materials but rather the size and weight. My last journal was fun to

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-48804062003310134452009-06-09T16:11:00.003-04:002009-06-09T16:16:15.459-04:00

I don’t remember where I found this picture (I didn’t shoot the photograph) but I’m glad I kept it because it’s become an interesting aspect of my journal.What I do is visit this journal page at random moments and write a phrase (typically one sentence) that describes what could be bouncing around in the elephant’s mind due to the colorful make-over. The sentence could be the elephant’s literal

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-23156623345146552072009-06-02T18:59:00.007-04:002009-06-02T19:35:38.832-04:00

As a serious writer, I love crafting a bit of typographic goodness in response to my environment (don't necessarily think green, although I do think the green movement is kick ass). Over at GOOD Magazine's online community I contribute comments and articles, sometimes quick prose and other times a more involved ideas-to-words effort.url: http://www.good.is/community/JoeBlendFor those of you who

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-7580714510247170362009-05-17T10:30:00.010-04:002009-05-19T19:13:56.523-04:00

When you take a trip, do you ever wonder who's made the same trip, or who's traveled farther than your destination...and how far? Before you head out the door or open your book to take your next adventure, check out this site from GOOD Magazine and learn about some of the world's greatest journeys:Some of the trips they've included are the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Pequod journey from

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-21509427079282897082009-05-16T11:08:00.007-04:002009-05-16T11:20:21.416-04:00

Now this is what I'm talkin' about! Practical, accessible, and creative applications for graphic design. Gone are the days of "new", "innovative", "oustide-the-box" solutions for commercial products...ok, maybe not gone, but at least there's something new to look at!So here it is, "Cardon Copy", a thoughtful solution to what seems to be an ever increasing amount of visual garbage.{from the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-19921832494682071752009-05-12T14:29:00.006-04:002010-01-17T17:31:20.630-05:00

The next time you pick up a pen to write a random list or an address, consider this: words are both visual and literary art.We use words to communicate through books, websites, and other publications; at the same time the letters used to compose the words are forms, or shapes, that have been carefully crafted to provide visual meaning. Taken a step farther, typography (or the study and design of

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-69169704303759387082009-05-06T15:31:00.007-04:002009-05-06T15:48:04.580-04:00

Since the "ink snacks" zine is being discontinued after the current edition is sold, I thought I'd post an image of the concept design. Since this is a concept piece, it was never put into production (way too expensive) but still serves as a nice piece to have floating around the portfolio.(upper-left: cover; upper-right: table of contents; lower-left and lower-right: sample spread)I posted the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-65538523722215337412009-05-05T17:35:00.006-04:002009-05-05T18:08:02.234-04:00

After having my creative attention and resources spread fairly thin over the last few months, I've decided to consolidate my personal creative efforts so that I can enjoy what's most important in life while still being creative. In addition to "ink snacks", I have several other ideas for zines but do not have the time to develop content and design/produce all of them. When I looked at the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-36417881512734085182009-04-20T16:18:00.017-04:002010-01-15T19:39:05.889-05:00

This is a newsletter that I designed for the American Red Cross; it was a monthly publication called "The Coffee Break". Again, the creative approach:concept: "Travel" (July 2008 edition)background: The newsletter was created to develop a sense of community between local American Red Cross chapters scattered throughout the continental United States. Each month, the newsletter would take on a new

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-28036832131538221942009-04-17T14:17:00.008-04:002010-01-15T19:39:22.337-05:00

This is a poster that I designed for the American Red Cross, it promotes their Safe and Well program. What follows is a detailed description of my creative approach.concept: "a human voice"background: The Safe and Well program gives disaster victims the opportunity to register on the program's website and select one or more phrases that can be displayed online, letting loved ones know they are ok

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-36037861339918658672009-04-06T15:47:00.011-04:002010-01-15T19:39:41.415-05:00

This is one of those subjects that you stumble upon and luckily notice. How this imagery found its way onto a wall in a Civil War era town I have no idea. But it makes a great narrative.subject: wall imagerylocation: Harpers Ferry, WVequipment: DSLR, 18-55mm lens with polarizing filter

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-76942147525612940512009-04-02T13:21:00.004-04:002010-01-15T19:40:07.647-05:00

After a long hiatus from serious drawing and fine art, I've completed a new piece.title: "caffeine talk"materials: pen, pencil, and paint on canvasdimensions: 10"x8"[process] Paint was applied to the blank canvas, then I used a blank piece of heavy paper to distress the base coat. A sponge dipped into dark brown paint added the darker distressed accents.The coffee cup and steam were cut from

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-32063801783154100812009-03-29T12:14:00.020-04:002010-01-15T19:41:04.596-05:00

...sell individual journals of drawings, random writing, and miscellaneous creativity (each journal should be created over several months)...create a zine that, after read and enjoyed as a zine, can unfold into a large piece of art for a frame...write a poem or piece of prose, then draw the letters/writing onto a large canvas...create the lines of a large mixed media drawing by poking holes in

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-55170618085272998362009-03-16T17:08:00.006-04:002010-01-15T19:41:54.254-05:00

Fascinated by journals and their many functions? Maybe you're a Moleskine fan? Do you like creative collaborations? Then you need to check out "Detour" (http://www.moleskine.com//events/detour/)... I'll be honest, there is a lot of work displayed but the time spent browsing is worth it. Yes, there are images of journals but there are also videos that show the respective artists flipping through

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-45464836364986510302009-03-14T10:42:00.008-04:002010-01-15T19:42:25.189-05:00

"Don't worry about your talent or capability... it is not yours to judge. It will grow and change over time. Do not ask 'why am I doing this? Is it the right thing?' It is enough to know that you want to. Just do it because you want to. It will become something on it's own. Freaking out about what you 'should' be doing does not move you forward, it only serves to stress you on what should be an

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-63178061489938243662009-03-02T11:01:00.013-05:002010-01-15T19:42:52.422-05:00

Prior to releasing their latest album, R.E.M. created a website around one song..."Supernatural Superserious". What they did was play this song live, with acoustic instruments, in various small format venues...and they recorded it. This site documents those performances...http://www.supernaturalsuperserious.com/This is one of the best examples, that I'm aware of, of an artist conveying words

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-46786776196300634982009-03-01T13:31:00.009-05:002010-01-15T19:43:32.786-05:00

I've been looking for a great site that caters to both writers and serious readers/book fans. Although EditRed is a great site for writers, it doesn't really approach books in the way that I wanted. After browsing through a handful of other websites that dealt with books and writing, I found a site that fulfills all of my literary requirements...http://www.goodreads.com/I've been involved with

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-58533735962081031202009-02-26T17:28:00.011-05:002010-01-15T19:44:16.160-05:00

I thought about publishing a new word and its definition every day but reality forced me to understand that won't happen, especially if I'm out of town. Then I thought about every week, which is when I realized that anyone could pick up a dictionary and look up a word anytime they wanted to, without ever having to read my word posts.That's when it hit me...fifty-two {a study in words and their

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-17941321884646737432009-02-19T18:18:00.009-05:002010-01-15T19:44:57.137-05:00

After a few months of planning and a decent amount of traveling, the first coffee shop has been published to the "coffee & tea" section. "The Coffee Bean" is a great place, one that I've visited many times; even if you're not in the area, their wide variety of drip coffee is available through phone orders. Although I've included a link to a second shop, "Mudhouse", the content is being developed

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-67829539287475228042009-02-19T10:03:00.011-05:002010-01-15T19:45:38.877-05:00

Although any badge displayed within this site is not an advertisement (which means abstractLatte receives NO compensation from the organization), they may not always be perceived that way. That is why I've been reluctant to include an "ad-free" badge because of the potential confusion it might create. However, I've moved passed my concerns and decided to display it with pride.Why are the other

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-1982311232456474832009-02-14T11:24:00.007-05:002010-01-15T19:46:39.698-05:00

I've spent a lot of time considering the potential of abstractLatte and where I want to take it in the future. One way that I want to develop the endeavor is to add participants; more people means more creativity, more inspiration, and more possibilities. I also want to keep abstractLatte small, around 5 or 6 baristas and perhaps a few others that work in non-art capacities (that's subject to

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-29208385639988064232009-02-13T13:44:00.006-05:002010-01-15T19:46:21.278-05:00

I realized that I don't have the time to write/design/publish more zines if I'm too busy trying to create new artwork. And I really want more time to develop my approach towards zines; I think zines have limitless capabilities if given time and creativity. So I'm making a commitment to not create any new artwork, for a while at least.What? No artwork? What happened to "books, art, and

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-47362543591396421942009-02-11T17:11:00.005-05:002010-01-15T19:46:56.237-05:00

In a recent collaboration with various artists from the HOW Magazine online forum, I submitted a piece of artwork for use in a magnet set. The project, strictly for fun and inspiration, converts submitted artwork into a series of 12 button-sized magnets. The following illustration was the piece I submitted for the set:All of the participants have sent their work, now it's time for production and

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-66835858681931955342009-02-09T19:59:00.015-05:002010-01-15T19:47:27.886-05:00

As I've said before, when career creatives take a step back from the traditional approach to their industry, great things happen. This is the case with Art Foundango, the blog of assemblage artist Randy Hill. I've been fascinated with his work for quite a while and had the pleasure of sending him some interview questions so that others could learn more about this talented artist and his work.1.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-65301125031206027592009-02-05T13:27:00.025-05:002010-01-15T19:48:02.020-05:00

I've been a blogger for over three years and an artist and graphic designer for 10 years. What I've come to realize is that in a world of multi-media, "digital this" and "digital that", and online interactivity, ideas are more important than ever before and the communication of those ideas must be handled with care.One influence in my quest for new ideas and communication efforts is the blog of

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-79243783646811861222009-02-05T12:11:00.004-05:002010-01-15T19:48:25.555-05:00

What goes through your mind when I say "journal"? A diary perhaps? Maybe daily events such as a rough travel itinerary? Maybe you think of fine artists or writers and don't see the correlation between a small book of personal notes and your personal creative activities. I can assure you there is a connection; and with a small effort any creative activity, no matter what it is, can be enriched

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-79281320169025425502009-02-04T13:41:00.007-05:002010-01-15T19:48:58.305-05:00

I find that when creative individuals take a step back from the traditional approach to applying creativity and develop their own ideas into fully branded and conceptually tangible realities, great things happen...everytime. Hanger 3 is an example of this idea...http://hanger3.com/.What I enjoy most about these necklaces is that there is a real story behind them. The token design, its lettering,

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-467059593505784212009-02-01T12:56:00.018-05:002010-01-15T19:49:28.560-05:00

Maybe blogging isn't your thing, or maybe you feel as if you don't have the coding knowledge to create a custom blog using Wordpress or other CSS-based blogging applications. Perhaps you enjoy zines or full magazines and have always wanted to publish your own?Well, there is an alternative out there that provides the ability to create a custom image for online content that is published often...

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-55535201048345980112009-01-30T16:19:00.007-05:002009-01-30T16:45:39.309-05:00

How to create a path to inspiration by going around a creative blockCreative work thrives on change and variation. Whether you're a professional artist or weekend hobbyist, creativity needs an open mind in which to work and an open mind is one that allows inspiration to enter at any time. However, inspiration is unpredictable when it's allowed to show up on its own; sometimes, it needs to be "

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-88828301132393401382009-01-29T19:08:00.013-05:002009-02-10T10:43:03.439-05:00

edit: 02-10-09The promotion ends Wednesday, February 11th 2009 at midnight! There's still time for artwork with a creative snack!Each of the next 3 artwork purchases through my Etsy shop will receive a free "ink snacks"! The artwork consists of drawings, collage, and photography. How is this possible? I've reserved 5 of the 25 copies of the January 2009 edition of "ink snacks" for promotions,

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-31435681273697168272009-01-28T09:12:00.012-05:002009-01-28T14:59:52.456-05:00

I believe in sharing experiences so that others who may be in a similiar situation can benefit from your mistakes/struggles/successes/etc. So in that spirit, I've decided to share my creation story...the message summarized in a few words, the journey to this understanding provided in detail for those interested...the message...be creative, have perspective, and enjoy life.the storyI got burned

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-11888861854740698702009-01-19T13:17:00.006-05:002010-01-15T19:49:57.268-05:00

primary use: general ink/paint applicationoverall opinion: Fairadvantages: easy to find, inexpensive, they can create interesting ink/paint treatments.disadvantages: these particular sponges can be difficult to use when applying ink/paint due to their angles and textures.misellaneous: My experience with the above types of sponges has given me mixed feelings about their use. I haven't used them

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-63787223620346675102009-01-19T11:35:00.012-05:002009-01-19T13:37:13.902-05:00

primary use: general ink/paint applicationoverall opinion: Goodadvantages: easy to cut, inexpensive, the blocks are available in a couple of sizes, they are supposedly easier to carve than linoleum.disadvantages: they crumble if you cut thin forms, the material splits easily if you are not careful when holding the cut pieces.misellaneous: they're made of an eraser-like high density rubber and

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-4173381653366749672009-01-02T18:07:00.031-05:002009-07-13T11:49:51.321-04:00

concept: bite-sized creativity (the January 2009 edition consists of prose and poetry)dimensions: 4"x4", unfolding to 17"x14"price per copy: $3.50 USD# per edition: 25 (with 5 being retained for promotions, donations, and gifts)purchase information: http://abstractlatte.etsy.com/[return to main zine page]

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-59694459056676418472009-01-02T14:40:00.005-05:002009-01-02T14:59:01.018-05:00

I thought I'd look ahead for a minute and talk about my plans for the year......the first edition of "ink snacks" is completed and will be listed for purchase on my Etsy site sometime this month. I'm also working on a couple of other zine concepts for tentative distribution in March....my first brands in the "coffee & tea" section will be displayed in February, assuming I don't run into any

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-10210201898823954532008-12-29T20:24:00.010-05:002008-12-29T20:37:13.984-05:00

Here is an illustration I created as a result of my committment to give handmade gifts this year...concept: New York Citymaterials: pen, pencil, paint, prismacolor marker, newsprint, cardboard, and photo mattedimensions: 27"x19"The photo was printed on newsprint and mounted to cardboard. The letters were done by hand using pigment liner and prismacolor marker; the letters received three

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-52566452596914623972008-12-19T14:15:00.010-05:002008-12-20T16:32:43.002-05:00

I decided to post more preview images since the first zine will be listed for purchase in January 2009, roughly two weeks away (I'll post in my blog and on Twitter on the day of official listing).Although the materials are inexpensive, it takes a while to make one zine. In order to establish a reasonable number of issues per year and zines per issue, I am going to make as many as I can over the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-42961106940600887472008-12-16T12:02:00.008-05:002008-12-16T18:29:32.526-05:00

Thought processI realized that although there is a lot of work and creativity that goes into each photograph and print, at the end of the day it's still an inked piece of paper that does not require the same types of development that film-based prints had. There are no chemicals, no physical darkroom, no lengthy process; in contrast, the digital photography development process is quite simple

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-28744760649446713022008-12-14T16:20:00.026-05:002009-01-19T13:40:56.255-05:00

primary use: drawing, general line workoverall opinion: Goodadvantages: great for final drawings, shading in small areas, multiple point sizes (0.1 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7mm) allow for great contrast in line weight within one drawing, nice control of application, waterproof, archival.disadvantages: points can be ruined if drawing on paper that has a rough surface (such as certain types of

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-46922953175881384522008-12-01T21:34:00.003-05:002008-12-01T21:48:04.986-05:00

So here's a little sneak preview (although quite vague)...What I'm showing here are the letters used to create part of the title for each issue's cover. I drew the letters on a linoleum block, cut out the type, then used small nails as handles when dipping the letters in paint and stamping them onto the cover of each issue. The beauty of this is that I get a slightly different result each time,

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-11757393224306353782008-12-01T21:20:00.014-05:002009-01-19T13:41:20.863-05:00

primary use: color applicationoverall opinion: Goodadvantages: great for two toned color, uniform application in small areas, great for bleeding if that's what you're going for, application can be easily controlled with practice, has two sizes of points (fine and broad)disadvantages: excessive bleeding can become a problem if you're not careful, not good for coloring large areas, colors don't mix

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-58923189411220037912008-12-01T20:40:00.028-05:002009-06-10T18:39:35.194-04:00

This section focuses on various types of art materials (both traditional and non-traditional) and their unique characteristics.Some specific information will include a medium's reaction to different types of paper, good and not-so-good times to use them, advantages and disadvantages to their use, etc. Some materials are my favorites while others I try to avoid; regardless, I'll cover all the ones

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-9156555198316822802008-11-30T16:54:00.012-05:002008-11-30T19:49:34.191-05:00

...but I don't want to give away too much so here's a bit of an update to hold you over.First, for those that are unfamiliar with these amazing booklets, a zine is an inexpensive booklet that is self-produced and distributed. The content, materials used, overall design, and who you distribute it to are completely up to the author. Although zines are simple and generally made of inexpensive

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-78918306633989930262008-11-26T15:33:00.009-05:002010-01-17T17:34:05.058-05:00

Among other types of content within my journal are creative excercises. Below are two examples that I keep up with on a regular basis (both pages are work-in-progress).a page of scribbles...one scribble every day or every couple of days, adding color at random momentsquotation marks...I add different styles of quotation marks, again adding colorat random moments© 2008 joe blend. All rights

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-45360946528046299102008-11-12T23:20:00.025-05:002008-11-23T15:43:14.693-05:00

I think it's interesting to think about the catch-22 that is digital fine art photography. Everyone has access to cameras and photo production, which means the people who couldn't afford to be professional photographers in the film era can certainly have their shot during the digital era. That's a good thing. Unfortunately, the mass reproduction aspects of digital photography means pricing the

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-51149700757212865212008-11-11T19:28:00.017-05:002008-11-16T12:48:37.790-05:00

It's been a long time in the making but I finally got the shop together! I'm in the process of listing pieces so check back regularly for new work...http://abstractlatte.etsy.com/.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-70617456452271368732008-11-09T00:48:00.013-05:002008-11-16T12:51:34.422-05:00

As an added feature to the blog, I'd like to give my readers a heads-up about future articles, topics, blog features, etc without posting a blog article and using up editorial real estate. To accomplish this, I've set up a twitter site for abstractLatte.News, new artwork, or even if I'll be away from the blog on vacation. It all belongs here, and feel free to comment as well.http://twitter.com/

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-23450840001254944742008-11-02T17:20:00.008-05:002010-01-17T17:34:49.871-05:00

The subject is fun, the writing is witty and at times hilarious. And if you look closely, you'll see cartoons.You don't have to be a dedicated wine connoisseur to enjoy this blog. As Good Grape put it:"Pragmatically idealistic, Good Grape is a wine blog and web site for wine enthusiasts, poets, artists, romantics, lovers, liberals and rock stars. Connoisseurs, collectors and the wine elite might

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-53620008257553098712008-11-02T16:18:00.011-05:002008-11-04T10:23:01.281-05:00

Maybe you're looking for that one element that will pull the whole project together, or maybe your project is missing something, that element of "je ne sais quoi". This resource, brought to you by The Design Bureau of Amerika, may be what you're looking for.From the website (in regards to their Photoshop brushes)..."The key to successfully using a Bureau brush set is not using the brush 'as is'.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-75489567772564598122008-11-01T15:03:00.016-04:002008-11-02T13:39:47.599-05:00

I don't remember how I discovered journals. When I finally decided to invest both money and time into one, it started out as a source for inspiration. I would cut out images and whole articles, gluing them onto the pages and adding my own notes. My journal process moved to drawings, then writing, and now it's a combination of everything.For some reason, I never finished a journal. What happened

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-43912151900816746602008-10-21T15:13:00.008-04:002009-02-05T12:10:17.533-05:00

[edit: 02-05-09] My former web space with JPG Magazine has been deleted in order to create new space under the name "abstractLatte"; I published the article in my blog so that it can still be read...http://abstractlatte.blogspot.com/2009/01/found-objects-as-art-and-fiction.html.I wrote an article for JPG Magazine's website community concerning creative inspiration and how to attain it when faced

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-29566919010498287692008-10-21T10:39:00.008-04:002008-10-21T13:22:19.773-04:00

Maybe you've received a handmade gift from someone at some point in time, or maybe you've given someone a gift that we crafted with our own hands. At the very least, you've walked past a storefront window and seen handmade items for sale. In a world that seems to be dominated by cookie-cutter commercial goods, handmade items are a fresh way to appreciate your friends, family, and life in general

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-29807759421811491862008-10-21T09:38:00.008-04:002008-10-21T10:49:36.529-04:00

For those of you that aren't already aware, Etsy is one of the best things about the internet. Their focus on the personal and the handmade is a fresh approach in a world dominated by consumer, cookie-cutter products. In their own words:"Etsy is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade.Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-91179178901813692912008-10-19T15:41:00.016-04:002008-10-19T16:27:12.057-04:00

something to considerA trio of butterflies, almost reckless in their fun, flap bold, brittle and beautiful in a game of 'let's duck and weave through the visitors, silently bumping them with a puff of air'.They chose life over looks. © 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.It was a really interesting exhibit. In a relatively small room/corridor, sealed to keep in the humidity and the flapping

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-30187078831609563812008-10-18T17:23:00.010-04:002008-10-18T18:04:22.685-04:00

So I'm browsing some blogs of interest and I came across the Operation NICE website. What a great idea! The endeavor to make this world a better place is taking a new approach on a larger scale and it's meeting this challenge with great success!Check out the site at http://www.operationnice.com/ and see how you can contribute!

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-67281305526369580512008-10-18T15:39:00.005-04:002008-10-19T15:37:33.028-04:00

I occasionally like to direct my camera towards the ground to see what I can find. It's interesting to see what objects are just lying around, waiting to be discovered; what's one person's litter is another's art.The best part about this kind of subject, aside from the discovery, is the challenge of creating a composition without disturbing the object(s). Shooting candid allows the story to be

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-85950324596982365022008-10-12T22:14:00.035-04:002008-10-19T15:37:51.170-04:00

Several months ago, I realized I didn't know what I was trying to accomplish as an artist.Over the past several months, picking up a pen to draw or planning a few hours to shoot a hundred photos seemed like old habits that were on their way out. My writing continued. And I was reading...a lot; my home library became more interesting to me than my sketchbook and that's a hard thing to accept as a

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-79333164458142031822008-09-16T19:40:00.034-04:002008-10-19T15:38:04.828-04:00

the last cigarette of the pack, thoroughly enjoyed,smoked to the filter;the last drag, intense and almost intolerable, pulled with dedication; ormaybe comfortably discarded during a brief pause, a hairline opening between lips and words as the only cue? the filter drops. ...hits the ground, bounces, for a moment,then,stops. {...as if the smoker knelt and placed it with care}; maybe next time it

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-61310729621302336682008-09-16T19:27:00.004-04:002008-10-19T15:38:31.089-04:00

Mount Vernon hedge perfume, a favorite greeting but how long will the shrubs keep their voices? Old brick and fun house mirror glass, all of it weathered, but mature. I guess the bushes will be fine.Its collective ass has been kicked by inherited or purchased neglect and its birthdays are well into triple digits but it’s still giving “meet-n-greets”. I’ve decided there’s no sense in worrying.But,

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-65423820687670490462008-09-11T19:21:00.007-04:002008-10-19T15:38:46.716-04:00

where manmade ends and the trees begin,overlapping green,floating,no obvious connection to the course brownthat protrudes fromground and trunk;staring reveals infinite nature and its accessories,a safe haven,a mature security blanket,i'm not embarrassed to be wrapped up in this because green is good;we're cousins, organic, of the earth......but...we kill them,without hesitation,while they help us

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-40119109088041218732008-06-13T14:48:00.005-04:002008-10-18T15:55:56.386-04:00

...it's been a while!Long story short, there are two things that have made me take a break from my normal routine: one, preparation for a job search due to an eventual lay-off, and two, devotion to some personal projects that I'm very interested in.As for the job search, I needed to work on my graphic design portfolio/website, which is not an easy task. It took me a while to figure out how I

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-41549484724071222072008-06-03T17:22:00.004-04:002008-10-18T15:56:42.015-04:00

I've been very busy lately and unfortunately, haven't had the time to post anything substantial. Just letting everyone know the blog's still active!I'll post more this weekend.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-54149623121401083632008-04-26T16:29:00.006-04:002008-10-18T15:57:26.858-04:00

Since the beginnings of my blog, I've slowly developed an interest in writing. It started as a need to craft better workhorse copy but is now a strong focus on the creative aspects of written and typed words. Sketching, communication, creativity, documentation, they're all reasons for my writing.Recently, I became a member of the editred online writing community. It's proven to be a good place to

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-72857656162517112492008-04-26T10:39:00.019-04:002008-10-18T15:58:24.623-04:00

Normally I post my review of a book and call it a day but in this case, I wanted to comment on both the book and its author.[the book, above-left, copyright © 2003 Mark Haddon, book design by Maria Carella]As an artist, I'm drawn to things that are visually interesting. Book design is one factor that I take into account when browsing through a bookstore; more often than not it's led to a great

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-74189961374794003362008-04-21T18:17:00.007-04:002008-10-18T15:58:44.261-04:00

{first things first}...the art journal that I was so excited about, the one with the accordion pockets...that idea didn't work out the way I thought it would. I couldn't deal with the fact that in order to draw or write, I had to remove the pages from the book which I felt took away from the experience of using the journal. And don't even get me started on how annoying it was to look through

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-72474505384060551452008-04-14T12:34:00.009-04:002008-10-19T11:01:22.333-04:00

Here are some random sketchbook pages that I've been working on recently; there are more but these are the most interesting.comments, and chalk drawings from chalk board at Caribou Coffeerandom objectssome thoughts on R.E.M.random objectswriting on a glass coaster, clocks, and construction"Caribou Coffee" and the R.E.M. name/logo/song titles belong to their respective owners, and include any

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-54635330024672814222008-04-01T20:46:00.017-04:002008-10-19T11:01:05.179-04:00

This photograph is the first formal polaroid in my portfolio. Although I love regular polaroids, and have been shooting them for quite a while, I wanted some of them to be a bit larger than the standard 3" x 3" image area. Not knowing what would result from scanning an already imperfect image, I scanned this shot at high resolution, enlarged it to 5"x5" (image area, not white border), slightly

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-69325520195740545892008-03-29T17:34:00.005-04:002008-10-19T11:00:44.308-04:00

These plants and window were actually very easy to overlook...{...the entire exhibit is essentially a manmade rainforest within a giant room; there were not only trees, water and plant life but several birds either seated on branches or flying around. The point is, with all the squawking/rustling/humidity, you could easily miss something as generic as a window.}subject: plants, flowers, and

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-1116197725002550272008-03-27T21:22:00.006-04:002008-10-18T15:57:56.531-04:00

When I saw this decoration locked up in a "cage" (in reality, it was under a deck/walkway in front of a commercial building), I couldn't believe it. As a photographer that shoots candids, I was glad that I found this before the season ended.subject: Christmas decorationslocation: Occoquan, VA© 2007 joe blend. All rights reserved.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-32588170488145571852008-03-24T21:11:00.009-04:002008-10-19T11:00:09.055-04:00

So I shot this polaroid of a low clearance sign. What I thought was interesting was the fact that it was attached to the edge of the roof of a small building that resembled a residential structure. Within a couple of days after taking the photograph I encountered a few things that related to height..."...I found out I'm actually 5' 11 3/4" tall, not 6' 3/4" as I'd previously thought, I read a

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-14424915584493835512008-03-18T18:58:00.036-04:002008-10-19T10:59:42.593-04:00

Ever since I began to experiment with polaroids and illustration, I've found myself drawing less and less. I couldn't figure it out since I'd spent the last year completely immersed in the discipline of drawing, committed to developing deliberately mature/seasoned fine art and illustration. But something just clicked a couple of weeks ago that has tormented me creatively ever since and I just

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-57677092541500030712008-02-27T18:03:00.025-05:002008-10-19T10:59:22.009-04:00

This was a pretty cool find...This is one of those places that gives you a renewed hope that the world isn't entirely cookie-cutter commercial. I don't know what the inside offered but I do know that seeing places like this makes me feel better about the world.{nothing is ever truly "new"; anything produced is always influenced, to some extent, by what came before it.}...this store, for some

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-49038790839539421252008-02-10T17:41:00.006-05:002008-10-19T10:58:58.538-04:00

You might be asking yourself "why should an illustrator care about a camera?"That's a good question, I asked myself the same thing when I picked up my polaroid camera the other day and spent $12 on film for 20 shots. I've known for a while that I wanted to use photography in my illustration work but I hadn't fine tuned the approach to the point where I felt comfortable putting some work out into

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-7019643510928089882008-02-09T11:59:00.002-05:002008-10-19T10:58:42.115-04:00

In a design forum that I occasionally visit, a topic was posted inviting people to weigh in on their creative process and what has influenced their work/approach. Here is my reply...Process/approach They teach students in art/design school about the process and how important it is to start with keywords and sketch before moving to the computer. And I agree that those things need to be taught and

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-90055661855310005782008-02-08T14:33:00.002-05:002008-10-19T10:58:20.659-04:00

Almost a year ago, I covered a 9x12 piece of canvas textured paper with gouache. This treatment was to be the background for an illustration that never saw pen to paper. I stumbled upon that piece of paper last night and decided to cut it up into various pieces based on the lines and forms created by the paint. Then they were tucked away into my journal for future, random use. Well, I couldn't

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-55199582836569742532008-02-01T16:45:00.002-05:002008-10-19T10:58:03.145-04:00

Journals have fascinated me for quite a while, it was only until recently that I made a serious effort to keep one on me at all times. So, before I talk about my current journal, here's a little background info...My wife bought me an artist journal with handmade paper about 6 months ago. I filled it up with various drawings and illustrations, then carefully cut out most of the pages as final

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-4997263004091110162008-01-23T20:33:00.001-05:002008-10-19T10:57:45.800-04:00

I thought it would be interesting to investigate the relationship between images and our perceptions of the subjects based on past interactions and general knowledge. Materials are pen on paper...© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-36501472779812808212008-01-18T17:42:00.003-05:002010-01-17T17:37:54.320-05:00

This is an illustration I created a few months ago but hit a roadblock when it came to applying color.subject/concept: the travels of a modern day pioneermaterials: pen, graphite, and watercolorThese are some character studies, some of which were used in the above illustration...More studies...© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-19850388602099123752008-01-18T16:59:00.002-05:002008-10-19T10:56:35.804-04:00

Your in the middle of a creative piece. Maybe you're constructing some crucial lines or perhaps you're applying some watercolor or oil paint. Suddenly, something happens. You don't know why but your hand moves a little too much and you realize you've made a mistake. Aaaaaaagghhhhhh! You don't even look...you know what you've done so you decide to react first and think later. Well, after "later"

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-21241209197654317972008-01-13T13:08:00.001-05:002008-10-19T10:56:17.420-04:00

Ok, so drawing daily objects while on family vacation was a little more challenging than I thought. Lesson learned. Luckily, I have a few that I can post.left: airport signage (january 4, 2008)right: wheelchair (january 7, 2008)woodburning stove (january 11, 2008)© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22748052.post-51636726009500115492008-01-03T17:06:00.001-05:002008-10-19T10:55:52.412-04:00

left: exit sign (january 2, 2008)right: starbucks espresso cup (january 3, 2008)© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.

abstractLattehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10349015891459591746noreply@blogger.com0