Every ding dang dot hand done, by me. : )
At work on another new pointillist piece, hope to have it done soon!
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Category: design
concepts, theories, tips and examples
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New work on Society6
Newest upload to Society6. Click below to see product availability. Feel free to contact me if you want a product you do not see. I usually can resize to suit. Thanks!
It’s the New Year and I am feeling renewed interest in creating art. All things ebb & flow right? You just have to go with it.
Part of the inspiration has come from some client work I am doing, with someone who actually likes the art I make, and has bought a few different versions of my products on Society6. How cool is that?
I am illustrating a book cover for her life story which will be released on Balboa Press. It will be done in the style of watercolor and ink that I really enjoy doing. We started with a conversation close to a year ago where she explained what she was envisioning. We talked again this December and I got the green light. I remembered our conversation really well because the image had started forming in my mind right away.
I started by sourcing images, online and from magazines, to create a rough mock up in Photoshop so that she could see and decide if the basics were looking and feeling right. She gave me her feedback and I moved to creating a rough, working sketch. This starts to take it toward what the final image will look like. We went back & forth a little on some nuances and now I am working on the actual painting.
I can’t wait for her to see the final version and as soon as she gives me the ok to go public with it, I will post images of the whole process.
Til next time, imagine beautiful things and let the universe deliver.
xo
LuAnn
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New Logo: Asheville Rhythm
This was a joy to create and the final version is up & running!
Asheville Rhythm is directed by River Guerguergarian, and the mission is to promote wellness through rhythm, bridging musical traditions through innovative collaborations.
Check out their site here and come on out & drum!!
ashevillerhythm.org
The final version is shown here…working on some color versions next.
When you learn, teach. When you get, give.
~ Maya Angelou
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fkp Renovations underway
Every year, usually in January, I overhaul my site. I like implementing new technologies that are available so that my site can serve to show some of the possibilities in web design.
So it’s March, but that just means I have been busy!! And that is a good thing!!! Looks like this latest redesign will be up by the end of this month. I am having fun with it and look forward to unveiling the new site.
Along with the physical changes come some internal ones as well. Looking back provides an opportunity to look forward with a new perspective. I enjoy my work most days, but the times I don’t are when I haven’t created an ideal scenario for myself.
I see that I have to be more honest in my work. What that looks like is being clear on how I work best, and to communicate that. I detest rushing things anymore in life, let alone a project. I want to give everything I do my best. And being rushed by the clock is such a drag. I have long said, there are no design emergencies. Of course there are deadlines, and I’m good with that. What I’m not good with are deadlines that were set 9 months ago, and the project comes to me with 2 weeks left. What? Really? That is the kind of scenario to which I will be saying ‘no thank you’.
If you can’t say no, you can’t say yes.
What will you say no to this year? And what would you like to say yes to??
I have put together a little Kindle book with the collection of work I submitted to the PaperGirl project. Get yours here!!
In a few short years since it’s inception, PaperGirl has become a worldwide happening!! If you haven’t heard about it, check it out!! If you are an artist, you may want to participate, there’s nothing else like it!!
lotsa luv,
fk
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It’s a Wrap!!
~2012 has been a wild ride~
This has been quite a year on so many levels. So many catastrophic events and much soul wrenching news. One can only hope and pray for the outcome to be a more unified and higher consciousness.
I am now about two thirds of the way through my one year business coaching program and it has pushed my vision to grow and given me the tools to make it happen. Everything is a work in progress and I am looking forward to 2013 to put many new services and projects in place.
2012 Recap
• began building responsive sites in January, see some of them here
• gave the first fkp telelasses: Social Media in a Nutshell and WordPress: What It is, What It Isn’t
• launched fkp facebook group
• launched 50mileRadius.org
• launched regular fkp newsletters
• spoke at 2 events regarding the importance of a unique web presence
New for 2013
• maintenance programs: 3 levels to choose from to suit every budget and need level
• teleclasses: 6 throughout the year beginning in February, April, June, August, October, December
• an improved and expanded design brief
• much more in progress tba!
Happy New Year to you and your success!!
OK, so maybe this picture isn’t sexy. But what is sexy? And what does it have to do with web design?
I have been in this business long enough now to see beyond the technology and the trends, the buzzwords and the bullshit and I have seen enough ugly websites.
That’s right, I said it. Ugly websites. There is no reason for it and I’m not going to take it anymore!! Function does not have to be fugly people!!!!!!
Seriously though, I believe that each person or business owner has something unique to offer the world and that should be reflected artfully in their web presence.
Does it really have to be sexy? Yes and no. It’s all subjective of course, but jeez it couldn’t hurt could it? Now I’m not talking about using 13 year old models with heroin chic eye shadow here either. What I am talking about, is rather than vomiting up a website for the sake of having a website, take some time to really delve into who you are and how you want to present that visually and otherwise.
This is a HUGE part of what I offer my clients when we work together. What is that one thing that sets you apart from the rest? And it doesn’t have to be something groundbreaking, just that one little unique piece that only you can provide.
As the old saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression. In this day and age, more often than not, a potential client or customer will see you on the web before they ever meet you in person or step into your store or workshop or whatever the case may be. They may make their decision based on what they see. And I’m not talking about a picture of you, but who you are in your business and what that ‘looks’ like.
Just as you would take the time to find the right space for your storefront or office, how you decorate it, the colors you choose, all the little the choices you make. You must make the same investment in your online presence. Every step you take says something about who you are. What do you want to say? Who do you want to be? It’s risky but it could make ALL the difference!!!
We’re all players in this symphony of life and if you’re a tuba but you’re playing the part of the flute, sumpthin’ ain’t gonna be right in Rome, do you dig?
Go heavy, go with it…go…
(OR “Your price seems high, why should I hire you?”)
Have you heard this one? Fast, Good or Cheap: Pick 2
Fast + Good= $$$$$
Fast & Cheap= Lousy (Personally, will not do)
Good & Cheap= Will take a while (it’s worked in after everything else on our plate)
It’s been said a millions times but it is true. What you get for your money with a designer can really vary. A low cost designer is not always the best pick. The old saying, ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly rings true here.
1. Reliability/Communication
I have had clients who have come to me unable to even find their previous designer!! Some have trouble getting their designer to make site updates on a timely basis for them. Some have had enormous trouble communicating with their designer. Or they are just plain unhappy with the results of a poor choice.
At least one meeting with a potential designer is important, if not in person, at least a lengthy phone conversation. Can you talk to this person? Do they listen to you? Are they credible/established? Meaning, can you at least see some legitimate prior work on their website or a portfolio link?
LuAnn is a detail-oriented Web Designer who listened to my objectives, understood my passion for fabrics and color and delivered, on a very timely basis, a very professional and happy website. Check it out – Beeworks.biz —Barbara Hanson, August 17, 2011
2. Education/Experience
I have a history with my clients and have had most of them for 5-10 years! Why is that? I continue learning about my industry constantly, so in turn I always have something new to offer my client base. I spend an enormous amount of my time and money staying on top of the latest standards and practices so that I can give my clients the best their money can buy. I am able to educate and inform them on what makes sense for their particular situation.
Does your designer have any formal education in the field? Sure, learning how to build a website is possible without going to college, but good design and an ability to provide an aesthetically pleasing AND functional site or logo comes from spending time analyzing design history and theory.
It is always a pleasure to work with LuAnn. She handles the pressure of deadlines by producing great work while maintaining a terrific sense of humor. Quite often I consult with her on “how to” software questions. —Austin Metze, Metze Publication Design, February 21, 2009
3. Results
I have had a few clients come to me needing a boost in their search engine rankings when a prior provider did not get it done. I can take a site, given a few key criteria, and change their Google site ranking within 2-4 weeks, from obscurity to page one or two, guaranteed!!!
4. The Intangibles
When you hire someone, you are investing in yourself. What are you worth? What does your business mean to you? Do you want to cheat yourself of getting the best you deserve? Hire someone low cost and get a site that screams cheap? It certainly will not help your business!! First impressions are crucial.
If you receive a high quality site, logo or promotional materials, your business will reap the rewards, not just once, but over and over again. This is part of what is built into the price of a good designer who values what they do, knows what they can deliver and is truly a professional, meaning you get everything mentioned here.
5. Trust
Lastly, what price can you put on trust? A web designer often has access to many of your passwords and accounts. It is crucial you can trust the person to whom you are handing over that kind of information!!
Whether you are in need of a logo, a website or print collateral, take the time to plan. Research what you want and the type of person you would like to work with. It will pay off in the end!!