Art Lessons From God » design

How to Convert Your Creative Daydreams into Actual Results

tsnipes — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 05:24:57 +0000

In our last post, you honored National “Write the Vision” Month by writing down ALL of your creative desires on paper. This was the first step. Below are the next steps in “Writing the Vision and making it PLAIN”:

Convert your “creative desires” to Goals, and your Goals into RESULTS!

Remember: Goals are DREAMS with DEADLINES

From the major list of creative desires you previously created, identify two or even three of those desires that you feel are achievable within the next 90 days to six months.

Here’s a tip on how to filter through to the goals that could work compared to ones that may not be the best to target now:

Use the “S.M.A.RT.” approach:

The creative goal must be SPECIFIC:What are you going to do? Don’t say “create more art”, but say “produce one new painting each month” or rather than “Sharpen my design skills” commit to something specific like “take a minimum of three Photoshop tutorials”.

MEASURABLE: If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. “I want to get back into my art” is not a measurable target. “I want to practice in my sketchbook a minimum of 5 nights each week” is more like it. The key is to be specific and to set milestones. This determines what you may need to tweak if you have trouble meeting the target.

ATTAINABLE: Creative goals that are within reach. Don’t say your goal is“to be the number one artist in my region”. Think about what you really can be the best at as well as what is an obtainable target. Launching a new comic book in a month may be are hard target to reach in that time frame. Completing concept sketches for that comic in a month may be more obtainable.

REALISTIC: Set goals that take some effort, but are do-able.

TIMELY: I believe this one is the most important. Assign specific completion dates to your creative ideas. Work your way backward from the completion dates to the present in order to determine what actions need to be taken to accomplish the goal.

So, that’s it!

Try this exercise as a method in identifying achievable targets and goals.

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Road Show Behind the Scenes Sketches

tsnipes — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 03:37:56 +0000

Take a look at the concept art created for our recent blog post:

[View as slideshow]

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Business Card Makeover by Christian Designer

tsnipes — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 04:50:16 +0000

I enjoyed seeing this “Business Card Makeover” so much that I had to share it with you!

John Clement is a graphic designer and the founder of J. Sharp Studios in Greenville, SC. As a follower of Christ, he has a heart for seeing up and coming business owners with a professional image. I did a brief interview with John about the recent job he did for his newest client, “Fit for a King” spa (don’t miss the Before and After pics below):

1. John, tell us how you met this client?
“I met this client through a friend. They didn’t start out as a client. I was actually looking for a place that could help with a razor bump problem and my friend introduced me to the owner of this business. After talking with her, I found out that she was a new business in need of my services…and that’s how she became a client.”

BEFORE

2. You did such a great job in taking this client’s image to another level. What was the drive that motivated you?
“First, thank you for the compliment. I try to make my clients look good to their client so that maybe my client will bring me more clients.
My motivation is just creating from a blank canvas and ending up with a masterpiece for my client.

I love the look on a client’s face when they see the finished piece and they say ‘John, you captured who I am and what my business is in this piece…’ Whether that piece be a logo, a business card or website, that’s my motivation right there.”

3. Would you say that the following scripture applied to the use of your talent for this job, and if so, how?
“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10
“Tony, I would absolutely say this scripture applies. God has truly gifted me and I know it is gift given to serve others. I want to always use my gifts and talents to serve others so that my talents aren’t taken from me and given to someone else…..like Tony! (Love ya man!)

But all of our gifts, no matter how small we think those gifts may be, must use them in excellence and to the glory of God.

Thanks for the opportunity, Tony.”

AFTER

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Help Me Choose A New Logo (or not!)

tsnipes — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:23:34 +0000

I am considering modifying my logo (pictured on the left). The plan is to still keep it simple, but change it from the Papyrus font to something else that still communicates traditionalism and new media by showing a hand-held artistic font on top of the URL.

Not sure if I should even change it, but if I do, I’ve created two modifications of the original that I’m debating between.

Give me your feedback on either Version A or Version B by leaving a comment for A or B (or let me know if I just need to keep the current logo):

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God Speaks to His Artists

tsnipes — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:00:07 +0000

Many of you have let me know that one thing that you desire is to hear from God on what He wants you to do with your gift.

The method of receiving the answer is easy, following through and doing it is what I’ve always found to be the challenge: Your one-on-one quiet time alone with God is the key to hearing His voice:

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The Enemy desires to keep you too busy to take time out to spend quietly in the presence of the Lord.

This is an age old strategic tactic: Cut off communication and the supply chain from “Head Quarters” and you have no strategic direction and no resources.

Here are a few things every artist and designer needs to remember in order to counter this attack:

God is as real as your prayer life.
Appointed time alone with God creates the environment for divine direction.
Setting aside one-on-one time with God is a challenge because of its potential.
Maintaining appointed time alone with God has to be worked at.

RESOURCES that can help you maintain your quality time with the Lord:

Our very own Visual Journal, Sketchbook and Devotional, designed with artists’ and designers’ quiet time in mind: “By Design”
A life-changing resource I recommend that draws you closer to the Holy Spirit: “Experiencing God”

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