30 Day Challenge

I've seen this 30 day challenge on many other people's blogs and I've decided to jump on the band wagon. Feel free to do the same and send me a link to your challenge. I'm going to do theses at whatever pace they come, I'm not trying to finish them in 30 days, but if I do good for me. Photo by Matt Stevenson.

1. Five ways to win your heart
2. Something you feel strongly about
3. A book you love
4. Bullet your whole day
5. Things you want to say to an ex
6. Your view on mainstream music
7. Five pet peeves
8. What you ate today
9. How important you think education is
10. Put your music player on shuffle and write the first ten songs that play
11. Your Family
12. Five guys/girls you find attractive
13. Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it
14. What you wore today
15. Your zodiac/horoscope and if you think it fits your personality
16. Something you always think "what if. . ." about
17. Something that you are proud of
18. A problem you have had
19. Five items you lust after
20. Your fears
21. How you hope your future will be like
22. Your Academics
23. Something that you miss
24. Five words/phrases that make you laugh
25. Something you are currently worrying about
26. Things that you like/dislike about yourself
27. A quote you try to live by
28. Somewhere you would like to move or visit
29. Five weird things that you like
30. One thing you are excited for

Casey Caplowe of GOOD

I attended a design lecture presented by AIGA SF last Thursday. Casey Caplowe the co-founder & chief creative officer of GOOD was the speaker. GOOD is doing a lot of Good shit, pun intended. You should check out their site and projects. But, without recapping the lecture I wanted to talk about one bit of information that I walked away with. My brain latched onto one quote that Casey threw out there, and it really resonated with me: Fail Harder. Fail Faster. Try to fail, and you won't.

This quote rocks. Don't just sit there, if you are afraid to fail you will never succeed. We were all put on this earth to be creative, that is why we have thumbs. So get out there and paint, draw, snap photos, decorate, sing, write, design, inspire.

Meeting my Teacher

A few months back I took a blogging class called Blogging Your Way with Holly Becker of Decor8 and Leslie Shewring of A Creative Mint. The class was fantastic! It was an online class so I never actually met the teachers.

Lucky me because Holly Becker just wrote a new awesome book called Decorate and she is doing a book tour! I just started reading this book and it has already inspired me to start sprucing up the rooms in my home. Last Thursday Holly was in San Francisco at Anthropology giving a mood board demo with Leslie and signing copies of her new book.

It was really amazing to meet both of the teachers of this online class. Holly lives in Germany so I never in a million years thought I would actually get to meet her. She was so personable and friendly. What a true inspiration.

A few other really exciting things have been happening in my life. My college roommate is getting married this coming Sunday in New Hampshire! I was worried to buy tickets for this even because I have been in-between jobs, but one day I just decided to go for it and make plans to attend. It's hard to be on the left cost, when a lot of your friends and family are on the right cost. I have missed a few of my friends weddings due to cost and limited vacation time, and I decided that I didn't also want to regret missing this one. Aimee (the bride) was my college roommate for three years and brought a lot of fun and excitement into my workaholic life. I leave tomorrow for an entire week back east which will include a stop in Vermont to see my parents, a stop in Boston to visit friends that I miss so much, and then off the the wedding in New Hampshire.

Also, I landed a very exciting new job as an Art Director with a startup company in San Francisco. I can't talk about the details yet, but stay posted for more info. I'm bursting with excitement! I really love when I take a leap of faith and everything just falls into place and works out. I'm going to try to take a million pictures of my trip and post them so you can all see New England.

Happy Fourth of July!

Red, white and blue, BBQ's and freedom. The fourth of July. I went to a BBQ early in the day and saw some amazing fireworks at night. I wanted to share a gluten free party recipe with you today. This is the second time I have made these Goat Cheese and Basil Stuffed Tomatoes and they were a big hit the first time. I wanted to make something red white and blue for the holiday, and I got 2 out of 3, so I'm happy.

Ingredients

24 Cherry Tomatoes
8 oz of garlic herb goat cheese
3/4 Cup Minced fresh basil
dash salt
dash pepper

Tools

mellon baller
sharp knife

Prep a platter with a few paper towels to place your tomatoes on.

1. Cut a small portion of the top (where the stem comes out) of the tomato. This will be the bottom and really helps the finished product stay together. Then cut a larger portion of the other side so you have a place to scoop out the insides through.

2. Use your mellon baller to scoop the guts out. Make sure not to go through to the other side or your filling will fall out. Discard guts.

3. Place all of your tomatoes upside down on your paper toweled platter. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator. Let chill for at least an hour before filling.

4. Make your filling. Chop up your basil and mix with room temperature goat cheese with a fork. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Fill each tomato with cheese mixture

6. Remove from refrigerator at least 15 min before serving. Enjoy.

My Stay in Crested Butte, CO

My visit to Crested Butte, CO was very beautiful and relaxing, Zen even. It reminded me a lot of Amsterdam. The people were relaxed, on their own time clock and there were cool bikes everywhere (Just like Amsterdam.) There were wildflowers all over and the hiking was serene. 

I was fortunate enough to get a chance to paint while I was on this little visit but I didn't paint scenery. I was inspired by the calm funky relaxation of this tiny town and painted patterns. I felt good to put brush to paper while being outside. I might even turn some of these patterns into a licensing collection.

Here are a few pictures of my niece, the main reason I went to Colorado for a visit. River is 6 weeks old in this picture. She's cute, my visit was lovely and I got in some much needed relaxation. I can't wait to go back. 

Vacation Time | Las Vegas, NV - Crested Butte, CO

I started a new job about 8 months ago at Flip Video after working at Gladstone a Biomedical Research Company for nearly four years. Very unexpectedly Flip Video was downsized into nonexistence on May 19, 2011. This was sad news because I loved my job as a Graphic Designer and Online Merchandiser, but with every ending comes a new beginning. I soon found a new job for Recurly as their "Manager of Design and Creative Goodness." I'm very excited to start my new job and was lucky enough to take a few weeks off in-between jobs.

I took a one week staycation in San Francisco tying up loose ends, doing some freelance work, hanging out with friends, flying over San Francisco with a new coworker . . .

This flight was amazing. I have never been in such a small plane before, so I was a little nervous but once we took off the flight was really relaxing and beautiful. I got to see San Francisco from a new angle. My favorite views were of Golden Gate Park and the Golden Gate Bridge. Thanks Tim!

I also attended one of my good friend's baby showers. Everything was so cute. I can't wait for her to have her baby so I can play with her (it's a girl).

My staycation was pretty hectic so I was glad to leave the Bay Area and make my first stop in Las Vegas for one of my best friend's bachelorette party.

We stayed at the Mirage which is right on the strip. Highlights of our trip were hanging out a the pool, shopping, clubbing, and seeing Zoomanity. There were 8 girls and we all had a bachelorette induced good time.

After a few event filled days in Vegas, I boarded a plane to Denver, CO. I got in my rental car and drove for about 5 hours to Crested Butte, CO where my little brother and his girlfriend live with their new baby River Wilson. My mom had also been staying in Crested Butte to visit and help with the new baby. More on this leg of the trip later. . . for now bed time.

Happy Friday - Preparing for a trip

I am taking a trip to Las Vegas and Colorado starting next Monday. I will spend the first three days in Vegas for a friends bachelorette party and the rest of the time in Colorado visiting my brother who just had a baby girl six weeks ago, her name is River Wilson. My mom is staying in Colorado to spend time with the new baby and enjoy some nature. I am so excited to see the new addition to my family. River is my fifth niece or nephew.

I was gathering my travel painting supplies and I grabbed one of my many watercolor sketch books and found this painting I did of my brother in 2006. Charlie has been traveling around the world going to music festivals and Rainbow Gatherings until recently. It always amazes me how different all of my brothers and sisters are (all four of us). We do have one thing in common, we are all creative and were raised in a very accepting environment that fostered whatever it was we wanted to become.  I am truly thankful that my parents let me be what I always have been, and supported me through all of my crazy art projects, art school, and beyond. Happy Friday and I actually mean that. 

San Francisco Blogger Meet Up

Hi all you Bloggers out there! I'm am organizing the San Francisco Blogger Meet up on Thursday, April 21 at Smugglers Cove. This event starts at 5 (happy hour is from 5-6). Meet other bloggers in the area, have a few drinks and network. Please feel free to invite other bloggers, and bring lots of business cards! 


The address is:
650 Gough St
(between Ash St & Mcallister St) 
San Francisco, CA 94102

Erica Sunshine Lee Plays At La Barca in San Francisco

I got to see a good friend of mine play at La Barca in San Francisco the other night. Every seat in the bar was full and the music was good as usual. I met Erica about 5 years ago and have done a few graphic design projects for her band Erica Sunshine Lee. The first project I did was a tee shirt Design. And the second was for her last CD design. She plays country music and you can hear it on her web site. I often listen to her music while I paint, it's the type of music where you never have to get up to change the song. I Love hearing her play and the show was very inspiring.

Pimp My Pine Wood Derby

I just finished making my Birds and Bees show car for the AIGA Pimp My Pine Wood Derby Gala tomorrow night. I've lost a lot of sleep over this little car but I think it was worth it. 


AIGA SF will celebrate cars, their design and the need for speed with our Fall Gala: Pimp My Pine Wood Derby. The Gala will feature custom-designed pinewood derby cars created by our guests who can choose to donate them to the auction, or race them on our derby tracks for fame and glory.

The Gala will be hosted at The Forum at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on November 18, 2010. The event will feature:

• Hosted wine, beer and soda
• Silent Auction of “Show Cars”
• Live racing of “Race Cars”
• Raffle for prizes ranging from posters, restaurant vouchers and magazine subscriptions to a copy of Adobe CS5.

Brute Labs- Designing for the good of it

I attended a talk last night at Red Rock Coffee in Mountain View called Small Talks, Big Ideas: BRUTE LABS.
It was really f-ing awesome. BRUTE LABS is a small group of young people dedicated to action. They are changing the world, utilizing any resources they have and seeking the support of their peers. They use design and technology to address global challenges such as poverty, education, health care, human services, environmental improvement and much more. They organize end to end solutions, bringing together volunteers from around the world to help drive innovative new solutions for the world's most pressing issues.

I got to see a verity of projects they have worked on. It was very inspiring. . . and made me question if I can be more like BRUTE LABS. I work for a non profit biomedical research company (Gladstone) and we do research mainly for AIDS, Alzheimer's Disease, and Cardiovascular disease. So I guess in a way I am contributing to social causes, but not in the same super cool way Brute is. I guess the big difference is I don't really see many results from my labor. And I don't make enough tee shirts. Kidding.

I also donated a painting to the Hospitality House which is another non profit (http://www.hospitalityhouse.org/) They help homeless People in the Tenderloin make art and help many homeless and low-income people to be empowered to unite their voices to stimulate social change. But still where are the results from this? What changes did I make?

As creative people we have voices and if we choose to make them heard they can make a change.

Perfecting your Portfolio

I Attended a talk put on by AIGA Called “Perfecting your Portfolio.” I have been working on my portfolio for over a year and this talk was a great motivator to get my portfolio finished and stop being such a baby about it.
The three panelists were Eric Heiman of Volume Inc, Liz Mullally from Apple and Henrik Olsen of Hot Studio. Here are some highlights from the talk, and a few added comments by yours truly. . .

JOB SEARCHING NOW
-People are less specialized in their skill sets
-Most jobs are looking for a well-rounded designer

HOW TO PERPARE FOR A JOB SEARCH
-Research the companies you want to work for, make sure they are right for you. Don’t send an interactive portfolio to a greeting card company, that will just make you look stupid.
-Think about the type of work you do and how it relates to the company you are applying to
-Don’t waste your time applying to companies that you really don’t want to work for
-Have good core design skills, and an open attitude
-Have good people skills and business skills

HOW SHOULD PEOPLE CONTACT YOU?
-e-mail
-snail mail (make it cool or you are just wasting time and money)
-network!
-DO NOT CALL.
-Don’t send large attachments or any attachments if avoidable, they are annoying as hell.
-In your e-mail include a link to your URL, and resume
-If contacting an in-house operation go through the right channels (ie. Recruters, staff)

PORTFOLIOS
-You should have your portfolio in 4 formats: web site, PDF, interview portfolio, and a leave behind portfolio. All should carry the same look and feel. The interview portfolio will be an interactive portfolio with you and the interviewer. The leave behind portfolio needs to have more descriptions about your work because you won’t be there., doi!
-Your portfolio has 10 seconds to make an impression: GO!
-Relate your projects to their projects
-Make sure to include your perspective about your work
-Judge your portfolio by the worst piece in it, if one piece looks like crap, your whole portfolio is going to be crappy
-Self Edit, show 5 Totally Fuckin’ awesome pieces vs. 15 not so awesome pieces.
-Don’t put in boring garbage just because it got printed, nobody really gives a crap about that.
-Your Portfolio is about your potential
-Don’t let the design of your portfolio book or website be so cool that people stop giving a shit about your work. Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS).
-Don’t let the writing in your portfolio be corny, good god real people have to read this crap.
-Be clear on what parts of a group project you worked on. Don’t take credit for other people’s work because that makes you a liar, and nobody likes a liar.

RESUME
-You are a designer so make your resume clear and well designed
-Name-dropping is actually cool on your resume, unlike anywhere else where it makes you look like a real douche bag.
-Just give the facts, no body cares if you like to hike, or that you have 3 cats all named fluffy
-How should we send our resume? E-mail is probably the best way. Include a link where they can download a PDF from your site, nobody likes dealing with attachments.
-Tailor your resume to each firm
-Use common keywords in the descriptors of your resume, if you don’t know any keywords: google it dummy.
-You really don’t need objectives on your resume, they usually just make you sound stupid.
-As a new grad should you include other non design jobs? No, it’s not really needed and nobody cares that you worked at Starbucks or folded tee shirts at the Gap. The only exception would be if design is a second career and you were a rocket scientist in your former job, because that’s just awesome.
-Put your experience section before your education section.

INTERVIEW
-Don’t show up late for your interview unless you don’t want to work there.
-The interview is about getting to know the interviewee. If someone has to sit next to you for 40 hours a week, they want to make sure you don’t smell like Doritos, or have a weird tick. So let the interviewer know who you are, be confident!
-How do you talk about your work? Can you communicate effectively?
-An interview is a two way street. Ask questions about the company, show you know about the company.
-Let the interviewer drive the interview, they don’t have all day.

FOLLOW UP
-Send a awesome e-mail
-Mail a cool note
-Bribe the interviewer with cookies, beer, or cash
-Keep following up, about once a month

Hope this was helpful.

Hang Up

AIGA San Francisco presents its Annual Fall Gala: “Hung Up.” Hosted at The Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center, the event attracts 700 attendees and will feature custom-designed skateboard decks. Not only is the Gala an opportunity for the design community to come together and appreciate our creative spirit, but it is also a special evening for our sponsorship partners.

AIGA San Francisco is celebrating the art of skateboarding and are inviting artists and designers to contribute custom skate decks, which will be auctioned off at the end of the night. In addition to the silent auction, there will be a raffle — ranging from posters, restaurant vouchers and magazine subscriptions to a copy of Adobe CS4 — and a live art component.

I took home this lovely Caterpillar skateboard that I won in the auction, and this black and white deck that I won in the raffle. There were some cool boards at the event, cool people, and cool sponsors. Yesterday was a good day.

Roadworks Show

My block print is for the Roadworks show. This is a combo art show and street fair. All of the prints in this show are made at the fair by being rolled over by a steam roller. The weather was beautiful and I learned a lot about different book making and printmaking organizations in the Bay Area and learned of a few other events I would like to attend.
One of my friends from Vermont (who now lives in Oakland) came to the show and brought his cute as a button 3 year old who made a print at the kids table. It was a very relaxing event and I can't wait until next year.

UCSF Art Show

Monday's art show was a huge success. My friends, coworkers, and even one of my teachers were in attendance. A full house and live music provided a wonderful atmosphere for the sale of my first Plein Air Piece. The lucky owner of an Alisha Wilson original is pictured above. I am currently looking for my next show.

Art Show Monday October 6th

I will be showing three of my plein air peices at this show.

I hope you can all make it!

Jovica Veljovic

Tonight I went to a slide lecture by Jovica Veljovic, calligrapher, printmaker, teacher and word-renowned type designer, from Hamburg, Germany. I found his calligraphic fonts to be beautiful. I was inspired by some of the hand printed letter forms I saw. This talk opened my eyes to how in depth Font design is, and how much work goes into designing a font.

Alisha's Interview

Plein Air Art Show

Here is the info for my Art show. I hope you can all make it!!!