Salivation

While in a CVS parking lot yesterday I spotted the back of a hatchback that was both unfamiliar to me and extremely attractive. I've been a hatchback enthusiast ever since I had a 91 civic hatchback in high school which I proceeded to dump way too much money into. I haven't owned another hatchback since but they remain to produce a desire in me that no human should ever have for an inanimate object. 

The car I spotted turned out to be the one pictured above, the new Volvo C-30 hatchback and it is a beauty! The car is Volvo's attempt to attract younger customers (done) and is actually the most affordable ride in the new Volvo fleet. I can't get too excited though because affordable to Volvo is still out of my price range. Another cool feature of the C-30 is that it will be offered as a turbo diesel and of course the almighty T5 turbo. Maybe I'll be able to pick one up 10 years down the line, until then I will just have to keep drooling over the one's I spot in drug store parking lots.

See more here

It has Arrived!

After a long wait and much anticipation I finally got my bike. The bike I recieved as a trade with an awesome guy named Garrett who wanted some work done for his website azfixed.com.

I went in to the deal thinking I was just gonna be getting an average run of the mill bike that would be functional but not necessarily something to be particularly proud of. However I was pleasantly surprised by not only how cool Garrett was but also how set he was on getting me exactly what I wanted. He scored an 08 limited edition Specialized Langster frame and fork numbered 005 from the factory. From there Garrett let me pick and choose what ever parts I wished to add to the bike and even gave it a custom paint job of my choosing while adding his own flavor into it as well.

The finished product is as you can see, a thing of great beauty. The bike came out better than I could have imagined and I'm thrilled with the way it rides and looks. Heres to my new favorite toy and photo subject!

Lets talk politics

Don't worry I don't want to discuss politics in the traditional sense because I like to avoid confrontation and I'm sure one person or another would more than likely not agree with me. I have noticed something throughout the campaign season that I think everyone can agree on. 

There has been some amazing artwork produced in the last several months regarding Senator Obama's campaign. It's really refreshing to see political art that is not negative, in fact I think it may be an entirely new invention. I'm sure many of you by this point recognize the poster of Obama's face created by Shepard Farrey of Obey, I originally saw it as a backpage cover in Juxtapose as an ad placed by Farrey and Obey in support of Obama. The other poster is one created by ISO 50, one of my favorite designers and a true visual genius. Not only is the art created by Obama supporters visually refreshing but his campaign itself. His logo and branding are extremely well done and his use of it is very innovative, especially for a politician. I'm also really impressed with his website, it is well designed and completely consistent with his branding and image. 

I guess we will have to wait a few more weeks to see who will win the election for President but as for who is the more stylish politician? Obama wins in a landslide victory.

In the works

In the works, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

Here is a look at my specialized langster frame and fork after it was stripped of it's original paint job and resprayed by a very nice fellow who goes by the name of Garrett. The white is actually more of an ivory/vanilla and will have some black graphics that I designed overlayed on them. After the graphics are layed on Garrett is spraying on another few coats of clear coat to make it all gravy. I'm so excited to see the final product that I can hardly contain myself! The makeover will be rounded out by black wheels, a black crank, black handle bars, various polished aluminum pieces and me sitting on top of it all.

Oh Apple, how I love thee

Introducing the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. It doesn’t just expand the screen of your new MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air. With a built-in iSight camera, mic, notebook charger and speakers, it expands your whole experience.

So simple yet utterly genius. Unless you are doing 3-d or motion graphics there is really no need for a desktop computer anymore. I know this sort of set up has existed for some time now, but with the new power of the macbook pros and the ease and accesibilty of the new cinema display, apple has won me over yet again. Not to say I will be able to afford anything like it for a long time, but a girl can dream

Work in Progress

Work in Progress, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

Feeling much better about my capacity to produce things.

Sometimes you get so caught up in trying to produce what you think other people will like while in reality your probably best off just doing what your moved by and attracted to. As someone smarter than me once said "try to appeal to everybody and you'll appeal to nobody"

What I'm trying to say is, I'm attracted to kittens.

Can you say bad to the bone?

Chase Jarvis is the man and he re-convinces me of this every-time he posts a new video of his exploits.

Old School image takers

Brownie (A gift from my Aunt and Uncle, passed down to them from my Great Grandparents), originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

I love the embossed logo on my Brownie so much that I think I would be willing to tattoo on my body

Metallica gets epic again

Creative Block

azfixed.com shirt concept, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

I'm in the middle of an awful spell of creative block. Nothing seems to be coming naturally or smoothly and what I have been able to choke up has taken three times as long as it should and fails to knock my socks off. Lets hope the clients don't feel the same

Back at the freelance

Health Synergy, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

A recent logo project I've been working on for an accupunture office. I gave them three concepts and this is the curve ball piece i threw in. I doubt it will be chosen over the other two seeing as they were more in line with what they were after, but it's my personal favorite.

It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine

It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

I had been following rumors of a new EOS boasting a 15 megapixel image sensor to be released sometime at the end of summer and chomped at the bit over the mere thought of it. It was originally speculated that this mystery camera would be the EOS 5D MkII and boast a full frame sensor but sadly that is not the case. The EOS 50D does have several other amazing features and on the bright side can be had for about half of what a 5D can. Now I just need a few extra grand and I will have one!

New Moab Photos up on Flickr

Land of Extreme Sports, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

Check them out!

Dear Dusty

That way, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

Here is a picture of you.

Typography is fun!

azfixed.com, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

Its strange to think that I can be excited by mere letter forms, but I guess everybody has their things. Anyway, This along with a few shirt designs is going to afford me my first ever fixed gear bike, courtesy of Garrett from azfixed.com

To the limit

Maybe its that I've been watching the Olympics lately, maybe its that I've been inspired by Dusty, maybe it's that I'm tired of being Lethargic or maybe it's just my love of training montages like those I watched in Jean Claude Van Damm movies as a kid and the wonderful gem featured below. All i know is that of late, I have the desire to train for something. What that is, I don't know and it doesn't really matter. I just want to push my self physically and I think it will help if I have a goal in mind while doing so.

New Advent Full Page Magazine Ad

New Advent Full Page Magazine Ad, originally uploaded by jOn aShcRofT???.

New ad i put together for advent clothing and it also happens to be my photos. Who Knew?

Musical Enjoyment

I figured from the second I saw "Dusty Rhodes and the River Band" that I would enjoy the music associated with said band. When I saw the video, I knew it was meant to be.

Dusty Rhodes and the River Band "Dear Honey"

First Day!

My first day of work is tomorrow. Its only orientation but I'm still gonna be totally lame and lay out my clothes like you use to do for your first day of school. Come on you know you did it too!

Fixie frenzy

My YANAGISAWA, originally uploaded by nb log.

I can't exactly explain why but every once in awhile I find something that I want to be a part of so bad that it hurts and that I feel I should have been doing for years. This happened to me recently when I read an article in the PHX New Times about the increasing popularity of fixed gear bikes and the culture surrounding them. The article was centered around "alley cat" races held in the city that involve scrambling across intersections to grab your bike, darting through traffic and finding the best possible route through the city to multiple checkpoints. How awesome does that sound? I've also always been drawn to the simplicity and beauty of road bikes, particularly early and vintage models that don't have all the bells and whistles of newfangled modern technology. I've been a fixie fan for sometime I guess, I just didn't know it.

Starting to like this whole web design thing

Here is a recent project

Settling in

Tempe is great and Paige and I are loving our new apartment. Here's a view from the front door.

Forward!

So the hiring process with Go Daddy has continued to move forward. The most recent step completed was a design exercise in which I was asked to design a logo and web page mock up for the fictional Evolve Bicycle company. I was really happy with what I came up with and continue to feel good about the way things are going. Here's a look at the final product.

Holey Moley

I had a telephone interview with Go Daddy today. It went really well but I've still got a few steps of the hiring process to make it through and I'm still really nervous. I'm in the running for a better job than I ever imagined myself having so I'm in a bit of disbelief that its all happening. I just hope I don't screw this up.

Pay them bills

So my days in New Mexico are limited, as is the funds in my bank account. Relocating costs lots of money and that scares me, especially since I don't yet have a job locked down. So in short I need money so you should give me some. Well not just give it to me of course, I have lots to offer you for your money. Like wedding photography, if you give me enough money I'll take pictures at your wedding! How does that sound?

On the Hunt

I'm relocating to Tempe early next month so my wife can start school at the Aveda Institute so I'm in Phoenix for the weekend hunting for jobs. I never realized how much not having web experience would disadvantage me. Is it so bad to just want to be a good ol' fashioned designer and not a computer programmer? Well I guess it is and in that case I better learn some HTML.

Its Alive!

My Website postscriptdesign.net is up and running. Well technically the site has been up for over 5 months but over the last three weeks I've work tirelessly to give her a proper facelift. The site now boasts 3 times the portfolio pieces it did before and has descriptions of the projects with additional details. Please swing over and check it out.