We've Moved!

Please visit the *actual* blog at:

http://sparkyfirepants.com/blog

I apologize in advance for any extra clicking you may have needed to do today. I swear it won't happen again.

-Sparky

Movin' on up...

It was inevitable.

I have a tendency to take something I'm passionate about and convert it into a global enterprise. Just ask my sister, who suffered through our simple lemonade stands morphing into lawn care and bike waxing... before the sugar was completely mixed in.

I started this blog as an outlet for my sketches, doodles, and new personal pieces (like those I put on Illustration Friday). It was fun and not too taxing. More of a hobby, really.

Along the way it grew and developed into something more, just as I grew and developed into an independent creative artist.

Now that Sparky Firepants Images is flourishing (and still growing), I'm changing the direction of the blog to one centered on helping other artists flourish as independents like I have.

Most artists I know struggle with the question of when and how to set off on their own, cutting ties to what may have been a very secure paycheck. There's no one way to do it and no two people's circumstances are exactly the same.

Most artists also have no experience running a business and typically no desire to open up that mysterious spreadsheet app. What the hell do you do with that thing, anyway?

I'd like to share my experiences as an independent artist, former Director of Operations for a nationwide consulting firm, and throw in a little bit of street smarts so that others can follow in my footsteps.

It takes more than talent with a pencil or tablet to make a go of an independent creative career and I'll do my best to show you how it can be done. I'll even let you know when I screw up so can reap the benefit of lessons learned the hard way.

I have a passion for entrepreneurship and I'm a total freak about creating systems to help manage a creative business.

For a long time I've also wanted to host the blog on my own web site, so without further ado, I'll point you to the new location. See you there!

http://sparkyfirepants.com/blog

Get Me Ricardo Montalban!

In several interviews and public speeches, Ricardo Montalbán has described "the five stages of the actor", which are as follows:

1. Who is Ricardo Montalbán?
   
2. Get me Ricardo Montalbán.
   
3. Get me a Ricardo Montalbán type.
   
4. Get me a young Ricardo Montalbán.
   
5. Who is Ricardo Montalbán?
   

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Montalban

I love his candor and ability to see humor in the arc of his career. I enjoy thinking about my own career as an artist in this way. It's kinda fun and whichever stage you're in you can figure out a course of action to get you to the next level.

For example, the answer to "Who is Sparky Firepants?" is to send out promo materials, get on Twitter, post to my blog, and meet people in my industry.

The answer to "Get me Sparky Firepants" is to be there and perform above expectations.

The answer to "Get me a Sparky Firepants type" is to be flattered, smile, and find someone who wants the *actual* Sparky Firepants.

The answer to "Get me a young Sparky Firepants" is to stay young and keep on top of what's hot and happening in the world of illustration.

The answer to "Who is Sparky Firepants" is... well, it may be inevitable. At that point, I'll be old enough to enjoy looking at the arc with a sense of humor.

Do you see this happening in your business? I'd love to hear different takes on this theme, so please comment!

What's Graphic Design got to do with it?

...got to do, got to do with it...

Thanks, Tina. I'll never think that phrase again without your smoky voice entering my brain.

Anyway.

Graphic Design and Illustration are usually thought of as two completely separate entities. I like to think that they work hand in hand.It takes the layout skills of a Graphic Designer to compose a pleasing illustration, and it takes some Illustration chops for example, to create scissors in a hair salon logo (ask Jacob Cass over at Just Creative Design).

Most artists find their niche and lean in one direction or the other, but all artists use color, layout, and some typography. It pays to hone your skills in both Graphic Design and Illustration.

Not exactly controversial discussion-generating, but it does give me an opportunity to show some examples of recent logos posted by Brian Hoff over at The Design Cubicle.

Lots of great stuff there (40+), including one by Yours Truly.

Enjoy!

We don't need no steenking paper!

I'm a geek for digital technology and I love finding ways to work without paper. The less I use my printer, the better. In fact, every time I find a way to do something in my office that I would normally need a printout for and create a workaround, I get all happy and weird.

It's probably best that I work in here alone.

I've been trying to work around making revisions to client work without printing them. The problem was, I hated going back and forth between e-mail and Illustrator or Flash to make them (most clients just e-mail changes to me so we're halfway to Paperless Land already).

I always printed them out so I could refer to them just next to my keyboard, but I hated myself for it. Not because I'm a tree hugger (vegan is enough), but I knew there just had to be a paperless way.

Simple solutions are always the best (and come to me the slowest, apparently). Working in Flash, I decided to just create a new layer and paste the edits in from the e-mail right under my art board. Of course this works in Illustrator and Photoshop as well.

I just heard someone in the back row say, "Duh." Nice. Come on out and fix my Volvo blower motor, why don'tcha? Using only an iPhone for reference, of course.

Posted by email from Sparky Firepants's posterous

Massive Excitement, Rewarding Work, and Awesome Results!

If you follow me regularly, you may have noticed that I enjoy my work quite a bit.

I'm ecstatic about a recent client's project launch. They've developed a comprehensive and very cool web site and social network for moms-to-be and new moms called Womb to Bloom (http://wombtobloom.com).

Earlier this year I worked with the creators to develop illustrations and icons for the site that fit their web design and theme of Womb to Bloom. It was so rewarding developing those images, I just can't say it enough. I am PSYCHED about my work here.

Please check out the site. Send the link to your friends and family who are moms-to-be or new moms (or dads). Or, just browse the icons and illustrations and get a glimpse of the fun that I had creating all that stuff. I hope you can feel it. If I were a dog, my tail would be wagging.

*Check out the "Dealing with Discomfort" icon (below). Yes, I had way too much fun here.

Posted by email from Sparky Firepants's posterous

After these messages...

...we'll be right back. Brought to you by:

• Co-authoring a How-to illustration book update

• Animation w/voice over for mobile phone company

• 3D puzzle card illustrations (7)

• Highlights High-Five magazine illustration (full page spread)

• Move whole kit & kaboodle to from Portland to Sandy (Oregon)

• Car search, purchase, registration, and re-title

• Halloween (three kids with sugar cravings and costume needs)

• The letter H, the number 7, and triangles

Thanks for watching, I'm so glad you tuned in. We'll be back, so don't turn that dial!