The Great Escape

Sorry for the lapse in postin...I spent the weekend with my love, Lilian, down in Maryland. Right now I'm trying to work on some drawings, concepts, and tributes. Hopefully I can figure out how to make some photoshop tutorials, it would be different because I learned how to use it on my own...so my methods may be unconventional but helpful.

I'm trying to figure out Illustrator and Fruity Loops right now (yes I am packaged with musical talent too..lucky Lilian) I'll post whatever I create with that its just that sometimes I rather pick up my wacom and just paint in PS CS3 because i don't see all the hype and potential of Illustrator. It's a trend that I can imagine fading, the huge plus side of it is simply the expansion and contraction without image loss...but I'm not designing billboards just yet.

Note: stop over to my baby's blog for the amazing time we had in Washington D.C.

the definition

In case you were wondering, I decided I inform all of you what the name of the site actually means. Inari is a Shinto god, wiki described as "the Japanese kami of fertility, rice, agriculture, foxes, industry, and worldly success." Worldly success is what I was hoping for, even though I may not be Japanese or a practitioner of the Shinto religion. Kitsunes are Inari's pure white foxes, her private messengers.


You can interpret the name of the site as the God and the messenger, everyone has a gifted talent given to them by God I am merely the messenger trying to deliver it to an audience.

I was planning on explaining what I use in my art but since I don't have anything to show it's something that can be put off to a later time...I'm seriously tired.

If you want to implore deeper into Shinto or any other religions you should head over to Pantheon, its a huge database of articles on various mythologies and religions.

The Merchant House

iFlickr
Originally uploaded by jafeam

I actually made it to that class trip to the Merchant's House this morning. There was a complication with the transportation there, basically there was a mix up and I ended up taking the PATH while everyone had a nice and cool class bus ride. On my way there I stopped to take pictures for Lilian, so I could show her places I want to take her.

She just started her own blog, looks real nice...if anyone is reading this, click her name for the link and look forward to some nice content. Apparently she just had to make her own blog after seeing I went and launched mine, in the few hours she had to herself I must say its real frickin' nice. The name is just outstanding, Eden and Hades...wish I had thought of that.

The blog has now been changed to inari and kitsune, to better reflect my baby's blog and drop the ever-so-corny "designs" out of the name. Enjoy and look forward to some more pictures of the trip.







I just threw the last one in for the "awwww" factor.

the "other" girl in my life

iFlickr
Originally uploaded by jafeam

Here's my niece Suriya, excuse her demeanor...she's a sassy model. I couldn't help but post this picture of her giving me an attitude.

My Sweetheart Lilian

My fiance Lilian
Originally uploaded by jafeam

I expect to talk about Lilian a lot on the blog if I manage to keep up with updates, so why not test Flickr with a picture of her? Here she is, brilliant writer and my future wife. [she might kick my arse for using this picture haha] I love HAR!

Don't stare long, I'm jealous and territorial.

INARI 1.0 is finally here

this is the first version of Inari Designs, obviously labeled version 1.0

1.0, you might find that odd but I am trying to imply I want this label continue further--with the plans me and my girlfriend have, most notably become a company to suit her fashion design dreams.

I don't have an audience but my sweetheart might swoop in and hopefully contribute her own stuff. This isn't exclusively a portfolio for my artwork, I just figured its about time I started putting things together digitally and organize it. I have plans for Lilian to do some writing here, she likes writing reviews on trends and designs I suppose...cute I know.

It's damn 7 am and I have a class trip to the Merchant's House in New York, I'll be taking pictures of that. I'm about to create a Flickr account, but not having a job is keeping me from charging 24$ for Pro. ONCE I do that I'll be sure to post those pictures. Expect the name to change, I'm not sure Lilian likes the whole "design" part...I only put that in to clarify what Inari is as a name. If she can think of something that sounds better then I'll have to move all the coding over to a new domain, not too much trouble I hope. Let me see if I can sleep for an hour or so, listening to all the Lupe Fiasco [The Cool] kept me up unleashing my artistic side.

Knee Deep is Never Enough

Recently I came across a logo contest for a website, and I made a damn good attempt at creating something to win. I thought about what the logo should be for all of 3 days. At the time I thought whatever I came up with was the best thing and would..cross that...WILL HAVE TO win.

For the weeks that followed up to the deadline I was already anticipating holding that iPhone (that was first place prize) in my hand and modding it to the point where it was suitable for my beautiful girlfriend. I wanted to win her that phone because I already have one and I thought it would be nice for her to have one too (and the fact I think her current phone is pure crap).

I entered the contest and on April 30 the announcement was made for the winners. I did not even make top 5. I was so taken back by this, to firmly believe that I was going to win and come short of being considered good. I didn't understand why my logos weren't proclaimed spectacular.

My girlfriend and I were talking today about our arts (me with my art and her with her writing) and we have come into the realization that we have to delve much deeper into our work. Instead of skimming it for 3 days and labeling it a masterpiece, we have to dedicate our full attention to our art. It makes sense because the last time I pushed out my best work was when I was taking summer session art courses in Rutgers Newark. Here's a tip to all you artists: put a lot of thought and long time into your, work otherwise you would be warming up for the rest of your life.

I'll post pictures of the logos when I make a photo upload account.