Thursday, January 20, 2011

Oh, look...the other shoe dropped!

Naylor Parking Lot
 Naylor Parking Lot, January 2011.

Well, the lot pictured above will cease to be a familiar sight for me as of next month. What started with a rather ominous and puzzling email sent to the evening staff, ended with our jobs cut.
I should be bummed (and I am, a little), but I'm cautiously optimistic about the future. I've got an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and re-evaluate my goals. Maybe I'll get that face tat I've always wanted.

Guess who's gotta write a resume? (raises hand)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Birthday #36

Me at Hu's Bistro
Me, at Hu's Asian Bistro - January 8th, 2011.

If I've learned anything from the previous birthday, it's that your born day is best spent away from work. That may be an incriminating statement, but I'd be saying that if I were the head sleeper at the mattress factory that resides in my brain.
Can't say that I'm in the best frame of mind right now (really, when am I ever?), but I do have to keep in mind that I've got it pretty damn good.

1.11.11. Here's to me, I guess. (Raises a can of Pepsi Max)

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Al's Resolutions and 2010 Random Thoughts

2010blogpost_resolutions

Resolutions
The usual. They revolve around health and creativity.

Health: Eating better, exercising regularly. I'm not totally committed to this mentally yet, but it's in the back of my mind. I'm mainly doing it for me, but I do have a wife and kid to be around for, so yeah...I'm doing it for them, too. I'll have to re-establish Friday as my "cheat day" and be good for the rest of the week. My father-in-law is apparently committed to "de-chunking" this year, so this may become a family thing.

Creativity: Although I've done a handful of things, I feel like I've been play-acting at the illustration thing. This year, I'm making some moves. It starts with rituals and commitment: creating something every day. Drawing something – anything – everyday. And if I'm not drawing, I should be writing, or taking pictures. On the picture front, my wife got me a Fisheye 2 for Christmas, and I'm stoked! It feels kinda weird to be using film again, but I welcome it.
Getting back to the ritual thing, I gotta straighten up my workspace regularly. A clean spot to work is healthy. So yeah...nose to the grindstone and all that.
Bonus links - Great Illustration Resources:
Escape From Illustration Island | Zero 2 Illo | Holli Conger's Illustration Tips

2010 Random Thoughts
  • Dante. Needless to say, he was the highlight of my year. He's wonderful. And my wife gets my undying love for working so hard to bring him into this world. 2011 is going to be full of discovery and landmarks for all three of us. I can feel it.
  • Online By The Numbers. In 2010, I reached my eighth anniversary of running this here blog, nine years of being on gigposters.com, and 15 years since my introduction to the web. Crazy.
  • Travel. The Minneapolis trip at the beginning of the year ruled. I saw friends, and ate a lot. I also decided that on my 40th birthday – or at least the year of – I have to be in Japan, either with the family or on my own. Goals are good thing.
    Looks like we might be heading to Calgary in a few months. Fingers crossed!
  • Masticators. I launched a food blog with two homies that love food as much as I do. We started slow, but I see us writing even more stuff and having fun in the process. Full steam ahead!
  • Jazz Fest. I had a blast. Can they top it this year? We'll see!
  • T-shirts. I predict that I'll be buying a lot more shirts. I guess that's not really a prediction. Got some good ones in 2010. Formula Werks, DDC...you'll be hearing from me.

Al's Favorite Posters/Art Prints/Whatever of 2010

2010blogpost_bestofposters

Posters:
(headliner | designer/illustrator - where applicable)
The Soft Pack - Jay Ryan
Circa Survive - Kevin Tong
Lucero - James Flames
Man...Or Astroman? - Jay Ryan
Golden Rule Poster - Studio On Fire
The National - Guy Burwell
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Jake Kelly
Cap'n Jazz - Landland
Black Keys - Tyler Stout
Aziz Ansari (the burger one) - Invisible Creature
Flight of the Conchords - Little Friends of Printmaking
The Hold Steady - Guy Burwell
Justin Townes Earle - Guy Burwell
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Jake Kelly
Ultra°off - Bomboland
A Wilhelm Scream - Derek Deal
Mondo Generator - David "DWITT" Witt
Snoop Dogg - Tricia Kleinot Make Do And Mend - Justin Santora
Squeeze - Scrojo
Bottomless Pit - Jay Ryan
Joe Pug - Modern Anthem
Mountain Goats - Rich Kelly
Del the Funky Homosapien - David "DWITT" Witt
Gene Ween - T-Bone & Aljaxx
Pavement - Lil' Tuffy
Kings of Leon - Invisible Creature
RPM Vintage Toys - Rockin' Jelly Bean
Justin Townes Earle - Guy Burwell
Isis/Baroness - Aaron Horkey
La Roux - Spike Press
Wonder Years - James Heimer
Joe Pernice - Guy Burwell

Art Prints:
The second Jay Ryan/Aaron Horkey print
The Jay Ryan/Dan McCarthy Screens n' Spokes print
"Midwestern Heart" by Aaron Horkey
"Street Ministry (RIP Guru) by Dave Kinsey
"Typographic Sins" by Jim Godfrey
The first Jay Ryan/Aaron Horkey print
"Pink Moon" by Dan McCarthy
"Treehousewarming" by Meg Hunt
"The Final Battle" by Eric Tan

Whatever:
The Richard Buckner concert ticket by The Half and Half
Jessie & Tyler's wedding stuff (click through the slide show, it's all good)