An Apple a Day

"An Apple A Day"

One of the thing's visually I love to do is incorporate text with image. I always love how words can work with an illustration. It adds that something extra for the viewer to be engaged (plus I can draw my jokes and force you to read them..HA). I thought of this while eating an apple by myself and then thought of the image in my head, and laughed out loud. Come to think of it, that sounds really sad...but hey the result was funny?

2010 is just around the corner. A new year, new beginnings and a fresh start. I have so many people to thank this year and can't fit them all in this post. I just want to say to everyone who supported,motivated,angered,frustrated,took a chance,cared,loved and most importantly made me laugh, Thank You!without you I would not be where I am today. I wish everyone, especially my fellow artists a great and dinosauric 2010!!!!! (I really don't know what that means, It just sounded really appropriately cool)

The Last Shall be First

"First To Last"
Financial Post: December 19th 2009

Investing Feature this week: An old investor adage from Sir John Templeton states "buy when pessimism is at its maximum, sell when optimism is at its maximum." Stocks that are down most of the time are sure to go back up. The stocks that were last will eventually be first.Gigi Suhenic who directed me on this piece wanted me to go with the "Last to First" direction. The story of the tortoise and the hare hit me as being a great way to symbolize that idea. This illustration was a lot of fun to do. It was nice to play around with the inks for color again. It was kind of like a breath of fresh air for me to use them, since I haven't in awhile. The article is a very good read even if your not into investing so check it out here!.

In print, I love the type they used!

This is not related to this particular piece, just something I've been thinking about. I'm discovering the hard way since graduating, that many times you may get a story that you are not emotionally invested or interested in. Then when the time comes to think of an idea then illustrate, the results end up being something your not happy with. It's a lot different when I was in my last year of Illustration. Where I got to pick which article I wanted and illustrate that for my thesis, I had a choice of which stories inspired me. I guess what I'm trying to say without trying to ramble on so much (or miss Coldcase) is that it's an illustrators job to see something in a story that no one sees, to get the audience engaged and thinking. However I think it's even more important before all of that, is to see within ourselves. To put our personality, our emotions our thoughts in our process and our image. Not to just do it because you have to, do it because you want to. When that time comes and you do get an article or story that doesn't spark your fancy. It is your challenge to make it exciting to make it your own. Through challenges you face and overcome, I feel someone would grow to find inspiration in almost anything.

Wow that was really long! "Thats what sh..e." nvm.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sneak Peekin'

"2010 Sneak Peek"
Financial Post: December 12th 2009

Investing Feature this week: A sneak peek look at the markets in 2010, the outlook of some are not so good. Someone pointed out that this guy actually looks like me. I only noticed after when I was finished that yes...it looks like me. BUT I don't do or condone peeping! "The More You Know"

Sketch'a Rica

I just posted some sketches on my Costa Rica trip on my Ohger page check it out HERE!

In other news www.juansolon.com is now cleaner, stronger and 10% sexier so go check it out!! (ok maybe not exactly in those words). In other other news, balsamic vinegar and olive oil make great salad dressing.