fizgig blog

2013-04-03

An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.

— —James Whistler

If you are a creative of any kind you know that art, creativeness sometimes (a lot of times) comes from others’ creations, that to see, copy and emulate what you like is a big part of being an artist. From there you move on to make it your own (if you are really good). There is something about that feeling of “wait a minute, I can do that”, about that moment when you immerse yourself in somebody else’s work, that moment when you get an idea, when you know you are a creative.

I’ve always doubted myself. My father was an old school graphic artist, sign maker. My brother is an amazing illustrator and so was my ex-boyfriend. Being near talented people is a good thing but it can be hard. It is impossible not to compare yourself to others. These days though, I believe that that doubt, comparing my work with others, was a positive. Like a catholic that has overcome guilt, a mom that has gone through the first months of nursing, like a scar that has become sexy, it is part of the process.

So like any other process it can be painful, difficult, frustrating, confusing, tiring but in the end the result might be worth it all.

Lately, I’ve been getting back to my process, to designing like “one should”, brainstorming, researching, sketching… instead of just punching the keyboard and masturbating the mouse when a client gives me a project. It has proven to be enlightening, giving me a little tickle like a forbidden kiss can, but like a love affair, finding the time and the right moments can be challenging. And the guilt comes back when it is your family that is waiting while you are in dreamland thinking of logos, type and color combinations. The boobs start to remind you you are still a mom nursing and the scars and worry lines, together with all the gray hairs coming from all parts become, well, just what they are, all sexiness aside.

2012-12-04

All work and no play make Jo a total douche!

2012-07-17

I was a hipster

Jo: So I was a hipster and I didn't know it. All those years of self doubt and now I would be cool?
Jo2: Bad timing Jo. I'm sure your suburban mommy look will be all the rage in the next 5 years...

2012-07-11

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.

— Thomas Stearns Eliot
Poet & Nobel Prize winner (1888 - 1965)

2012-06-21

I am working on a pro bono project creating a logo for a campaign and movement in Santurce, a town in Puerto Rico. As part of the research we had to look into this cool creature, the cucubano or pyrophorus luminosus that is native to the island. It is a kind of firefly but I think much cooler. Check out how it emanates light from its “shoulders” too. To see more pictures follow the link to photographer Alfredo Colón’s site. http://alfredocolon.zenfolio.com/p968839418/slideshow

Source: alfredocolon.zenfolio.com

2012-06-20

Make clever simple and simple clever

2012-06-19

Masochist

I slept about 3 hours in interrupted intervals. My head is fuzzy and I want to curl in a ball and sleep until my body wakes me up from sleeping too much. What a nice little fantasy! Then, why am I here in front of this freaking computer instead of dozing off while the baby sleeps?

I’m addicted. I have to DO. Do the dishes, do the budget, fix a website, pay the bills… I wonder what is the price I’ll pay. More gray hairs, a bunch of less neurons, one more word disappearing from my vocabulary, a nice debilitating migraine? The pathetic part is that I sit here trying to remember what I need to do and I am at a blank. After one of my clients missed an appointment, I made it to the second one of the day and then spent some time playing with code to see if I can keep teaching myself to be a bit of a better programmer, even though I (as a good designer should) have fought that urge for a long time. Apparently my geek side is coming out with older age and the ability to spend hours in circles trying to create good working code is somehow sexy to me now. Those who know me well would be confused. “Yikes, she had kids and now she is programming too! Who is this girl?”.

The landlord’s guys are installing the second screen door now (drill, drill). I guess the pillow will have to wait. Hello Vanilla Coke.

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You must bite the hand that feeds you. You are perhaps always told the opposite of this. The opposite of this is often said to you, ‘Do not bite the hand that feeds you.’ But from time to time I tell you, you must.

— Jamaica Kincaid, Grinnell College

2012-06-18

Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it’s decoration.
— Jeffrey Zeldman