Creating graphic design for the arts is a bit like tightrope walking.  Like designers, artists are creative too and they usually have some very specific ideas.  This can be good.  Sometimes not so much.  In addition to being a designer, you will also find yourself in the role of consultant.  This can also be good.  Sometimes not so much!

Regardless, the designer must always remember the #1 rule: Do not overshadow the art. The art and the design must sing together much like a canvas in its complimentary frame.  When I designed the website for artist, Daryl Zang, we kept the presentation very minimal and clean. The website palette was selected from the artist’s own palette and I designed the navigation buttons using Daryl’s artwork.  Artist websites and promotional materials don’t have to be boring for sure and the designer need not feel like they must abandon creativity for the sake of the client, but the focus is on the client’s artwork… not your design, not flashy elements. One little caveat here… this rule might be broken when designing posters and CDs for music clients. Music is a different genre from the visual arts and an edgy complicated design is often just what the project entails to promote rock n’roll or heavy metal artists.

Just like any other business or corporation, all business collateral should be consistent.  Business cards, brochures, web site, letterhead and letters of authenticity should all have a similar look and feel.  Consistent use of fonts, color palettes and paper selection are all considerations. This establishes visual recognition.  But again… never should the branding be so loud that it competes with the artwork.  Simple, creative and relevant gets the job done.  Branding creates a signature for the artist much like a signature piece of art work but in a ‘business kind of way’.  The main mission in creating design for an artist (or sculptor, photographer etc) is to showcase the art and to create business collateral for distribution… usually to make a portfolio, brochure of works, hard copy artist statements and resumes etc. This mission is a bit different when designing for a gallery or art organization.

While galleries also display and focus on the artworks of it’s stable, galleries are art market oriented.  For this reason, the designers frame of reference will differ from that of creating design work for individuals.  First and foremost, the difference here is commercial. SEO and advertising on a website will hold a major focus in the information architecture and design work. The designer must also keep in mind the genre of the artworks being sold.  If a gallery is selling 19th century American Art, a European styled font and contemporary design may not be the best choice.  Graphic design for galleries and organizations will focus on the work of all its represented artists and no one artist is treated differently (better or worse) than the others.  The idea is to create unity.  Palette selection and fonts are the identity of the gallery, not taken from any one artist’s oeuvre, and the gallery’s presentation materials should allow the artwork of its members to shine.

Graphic design for an exhibition or installation is again a different type of animal then the two examples above.  Exhibitions always have themes and the successful translation of that theme into the design work can promote the show in a very creative and unique way.  For instance, graphic designer Peter Good, of Cummings & Good, created 20 posters over 20 years for the Manchester String Quartet. Incorporating scanned textiles, a hand embellished violin and musically referenced illustrations into his poster design, Peter was able to keep the design fresh and punctuate the yearly event with style and class.  The website for Cummings & Good displays many fine examples of incorporating a theme in great design work.

In addition to the design of the project, some other things to keep in mind are color accuracy and photographic content.  Artists who spend considerable amounts of time mixing the exact perfect color deserve to have that color displayed as accurately as possible in both web presentation and in print.  This means color optimization across platforms and browsers and an accurate color representation in CMYK as well.  Not always an easy trick.

Photographic content is another consideration.  Sculptures are 3 dimensional objects and the proper photograph taken from the right angle can really speak volumes and capture the attention of a buyer or curator in a second.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  I’ve actually seen photographs of sculpture that were more impressive then the actual sculpture.  Photography of painting should be accurate and clean enough so that brushstrokes and details can be detected and used successfully in ‘detail’ presentations.  In all cases, photographs should be taken at high resolution for print purposes.  These same high resolution photos can be dumbed down for display online at 72 dpi but always start with the highest resolution possible.

So in closing, my advice for designers and artists who are looking at promotional graphic design is:

1. Be creative but never overshadow the artwork.
2. Keep branding simple but memorable, use elements of the artists own work to create a unified front.
3. Remember when promoting a gallery, both art and the market are principal.

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My son points out to me that the word extraordinary is a study in contradiction.  To look at the word itself you’d think it would mean extra ordinary, or really really average.  Ok, having said that, I still like the word and I like the way it sounds… “How extraordinary”, “There was an extraordinary turn of events.”  It’s something or someone above and beyond what we expect.

I’ve had the fortune to meet a few extraordinary people.  Extraordinary people are few and far between.  I’ve met incredibly talented people, smart people, funny people… but the extraordinary person is unique.  The characteristics of an extraordinary person are also very personal.  When we meet someone whom we think is remarkable, it is because they are embodying and doing all the things we wish we were doing.  The interesting thing about these people is that they aren’t remarkable because of some gift from god.  They are remarkable because they have chosen to be so.  These are the people who continually challenge themselves and commit to meeting their goals. Through a determined mindset and lots of hard work (and perhaps a little cosmic luck) they are able to accomplish an awful lot in a very short time.  They envision a life beyond what is average and will settle for nothing less.  Are you that type of person?

This blog is about considering new and extraordinary ways of designing our lives.   It’s about putting a seed into the universe, wishing on a star, daring to be remarkable.  Here are 10 characteristics that contribute to the extraordinary (much better than really really average.)

1. Listen more than you talk. Seriously, it’s amazing what will happen and what you’ll learn if you just stop the excessive stuff coming out of your mouth.  Sit back, relax and really listen to what people are trying to tell you.  When you find yourself alone, listen to the sound of silence.  You’ll learn a lot about others and about yourself. There was a story I heard once where two gentlemen were meeting for the first time at a party.  The first gentleman, upon introduction, spoke about his plans for the future, his artwork, his ambitions. The second gentlemen simply listened while the first man talked on and on.  At the end of the meeting, our boisterous gentleman remarked to an shared acquaintance  “What an extraordinary person that was.  He knew exactly what to say.”
2. Be polite. It goes without saying.  But there is much a gal or guy can do that goes beyond simply having good manners. It’s the extra step that makes people extraordinary.  Jackie Onassis would write people hand written thank you notes, followups and note cards.  That kind of thing makes an impression.
3. Don’t be a couch potato. Ok, I’m not going to tell you to stop watching TV completely.  For me, this would just be impossible.  I love to be able to relax with TV brain candy at the end of the night and I’m an avid CNN’er.  BUT… once in a while, turn that thing off.  I swear,  you will find yourself doing and thinking about all kinds of things you previously didn’t have time for.  Try it, just for a week and let me know how you make out.  I’ve also found that the absence of noise from the television makes for a much more relaxed and stress free environment.
4. Find new ways of doing things. Yup… think outside the box.  Instead of making up excuses why something can’t be done, figure out how it can be done.  I once remarked to my friend Balam that he “certainly thinks outside the box.”  Balam replied “Is there a box?”
5. Work hard and keep a hold of your goals. Hard work will never let you down. Striving to meet your goals requires more than a 40 hour work week.  Passion for something brings with it the sacrifice of weekends, holidays, and evenings off… but if you are going after your goals and pursuing a dream, it’s a labor of love.  I know people like Tim Ferriss embrace the 4 hour work week, but even Tim will tell you that “work” is something you don’t necessarily like to do.  Several months ago I was very sick with the flu.  Not being able to get out of bed, I had a lot of time to think.  In conceptualizing the things I wanted and the goals I had, I asked myself how badly did I really want these things?  Was it worth 20, 30, 40 more hours of effort per week?  Did I really have the desire and time to devote myself to these goals? Well, here’s the answer… I started this blog and bought a guitar.
6. Dare to break rules. You’re going to find an awful lot of people who will tell you why your goals or dreams shouldn’t, wouldn’t, won’t, or can’t come true.  Much like a stop sign, rules and limitations are put into place to control and divert traffic or make the masses conform.  Never mind them, show them they are wrong.
7. Be personally responsible. Everyone makes mistakes and if you make a mistake, buck up and admit it.  Apologize for it and try to fix it.  Extraordinary people don’t see themselves as victims in life’s game.  They take responsibility for their successes and their failures.  They create their own life path.  Start right now!
8. Travel and experience other cultures and places. I don’t think this is really a prerequisite of an extraordinary life like hard work or goal setting.  But to me, travel is really an element that enables us to bring something new to the table.  Visiting new venues and experiencing new foods, cultures and people expand our minds and feed our eyes.  Travel is inspirational.
9. Commit to what matters to you and rid yourself of what doesn’t. This means people, appointments, goals, junk and a myriad of others things.  Make a list and decide those people and things that matter most to you.  Get rid of everything else… including the toxic energy sucking people in your life.
10. Take the time to dream. Dreaming is nutrition for the creative mind.

Good luck!

Rock on!

I’m not sure if Balam Soto is a genius or just motivated beyond the standard human condition. I do know that Maestro Balam is fearless and that his story is not only inspirational but perhaps one of the more intriguing artist stories you might read this season.

Quiet and unassuming, Soto’s persona is one of kindness and grace but when it comes to his work the man is a warrior. Only twelve years ago, this Guatemalan artist made his way from a small village in Central America to Hartford Connecticut. He knew no English but he knew he wanted to be an artist in America. He had never taken a cab or used a computer. Twelve years ago Maestro Balam Soto had never even owned or held an actual paintbrush or swiped color against the tooth of a canvas.

Flash forward: In April 2008, Balam was honored with a Diploma of Recognition as a “Maestro” by the National Constitutional Assembly of Guatemala for “being a valuable and outstanding Guatemalan with international success.” The Casa de la Cultura of Guatemala in New York has also honored “Maestro Balam Soto for his brilliant artistic career in the visual arts” and he has received a Diploma of Recognition from the Consulate General of Guatemala in New York. Maestro Balam is now a successful full time artist, webmaster, lecturer, educator, husband and father with concurrent art exhibitions and plenty of requests for interviews.

“I knew when I was a little kid that I wanted to be an artist. The economy in Guatemala was very tight so I would make art with mud, stones, leaves and trees,” says Soto. “In Guatemala everything is very lush and I remember I would direct my friends to help create circles and designs with the flowers and leaves.”

With the unfolding of a creative mind, Soto grew older and in school he came across a painting shown in a book. He thought, “Wow, this would be amazing to do.” He had no idea how to begin. “I had no clue how to stretch a canvas or get paint.” In examining the picture in the book… “It looked to me like some cloth on a frame, but in Guatemala cloth and paint was extremely extremely expensive.” Soto began to save his money and was finally able to obtain some tempera paint from the local store. Now he needed canvas and a frame. He cut up his mother’s bed sheets and went to his Grandfather to get help building a frame. “I also knew I needed a brush and they were real expensive. I would have to save for another year if I wanted to buy one. I remembered I had worked with bamboo and I thought ‘I could probably use that for the handle of a brush’ so I got the bamboo and hollowed it out. But now I needed something to apply the paint with. I thought ‘Ahh… I can use my hair. I cut off my hair and taped it to the bamboo.’” That was Maestro Balam’s first paintbrush.

Balam attended the University of Guatemala and was presented with the opportunity to go to the Rain Forest. “I love the rain and so I decided I was going to go and move to the rain forest for the rest of my life.” It was there that he met his future wife Shelli. “We fell in love in the rain forest,” says Soto. “But Shelli lived in Wethersfield, CT and I had to make a choice between the rain forest which I loved and the woman I loved. I chose the woman.” It was Soto’s in-laws who presented him with his first set of art supplies. Balam spent the next 2 years painting in his in-law’s basement.

It is not just Soto’s talent and fierce pursuit of art that makes him unique. It is also his love of learning that propels him to embrace all that is available to him. “The first time I went to the library in the US, I was amazed. There was ocean of books waiting for me,” reflects Soto. But Soto didn’t read or speak English. A friend provided him with a book of archeology. It was a very thick book… and all in English! But Soto had always wanted that book and so he spent days and months with his English to Spanish dictionary translating the archeology book. That was how Soto learned English.

He further developed his English skills by taking classes at an English as a Second Language course. “I remember I really wanted to do that. But I was afraid to take the bus. But I took the bus to the class and was the only student to show up. That teacher loved to teach and for 6 months, every single day, I went to that class.” The teacher was a retired Electronic Engineer and he saw that Soto had a different way of thinking. The teacher knew about computers and showed Soto the technology. “How do you make all this stuff happen using just 0’s and 1’s? How does this work?” asked Soto. Again teacher and student embarked on the learning of a new language…computer programming. Today Soto is experienced in web design, flash, php, Unix, Linux, networking, database construction and programming. He has received a diploma in Computer and Industrial Electronics. This technology has become a part of his artistic palette.

Life is a journey and it is the steps we chose to take, or not take, that define our life. As humans we develop and Soto was developing at super human speed and loving every minute of it. After some time, he began to feel disconnected from the art he was producing. “I began to feel like I was going to die if I continued to work with oils… both in a creative way and in a health way.” He began to go for walks and picked up found objects with which to make art. He also discovered acrylics. “I really liked this medium. Water for mixing, Water for cleaning up. They were less expensive and they allowed for some interesting effects.”

“There is a tremendous amount of effort that goes into making art. And while some may not understand that process, when they look at the art… they feel it,” says Soto.

Maestro Balam now creates mixed media paintings, murals and installations in a unique style of modern art. He utilizes both traditional mediums and digital technologies in his creations. This blending of art and technology define his style and he is one of the few artists to embark upon this type of groundbreaking work. In fact, most things about Soto’s work are unique to what we might call Western Art. This combination or juxtaposition of medium, application, and theme are all a direct result of Soto’s Mayan ancestry.

Themes that reoccur in Soto’s work include the sun, the rain, Mayan spirits and saints such as Maximón (pronounced “Mashimon”.) The artist uses turquoise, jade, glass, beads and wood in his creations. “In my culture of Guatemala the idea of spirit is very different. We have so many spirits… there is the spirit of a mountain, the spirit of water. As I grew up my grandmother taught me about Mayan mythology. She lived in a very traditional house. She cooked on a fire in the fireplace and at night she would talk to me about these things. It would be so dark and her face would only be lit by the light of the fire. She told me about this magical world and how spirits interact with humans, and so when I say I’m connected to my roots it comes out in my art.” There are so many languages (influences) that come into play in art and while some art works can be technically perfect in execution they may lack spirit. “There is a tremendous amount of effort that goes into making art. And while some people may not understand that process, when they look at the art… they feel it,” says Soto.

How we see and think about mythology is timeless and yet it evolves while still remaining the same. The way Soto uses color, the way he paints (he paints on the floor), and the way he explores ideas are outside of the western mind. And from the mind of Balam Soto comes the notion of Modern Thinking, a phrase he has developed to explain his philosophy and his mission.

Soto explains the concept like this:

“Technology has completely changed our mode of thinking in modern times; it has created a concept that I call modern thinking. To explain this concept, I first need to define the traditional model of thinking that we used before the advent of modern technology, in particular before the development of the Internet. Growing up in a small town, I knew one tiny piece of the world and nothing more. Information came to us very late and through one channel, if it arrived at all. Even recently before the Internet, people’s access to information has been severely limited. This model has changed drastically for those who have access to modern technology, including the Internet, radio, television, etc. Information comes to us rapidly and through several channels. As a consequence, it expands our concepts, ideas and potential. Modern thinking is dynamic, upgradeable and modular… using an analogy, it’s similar to open source software.”

As humans we are constantly developing and evolving. As a people our potential is astounding. Art reflects society and how we have changed… it reflects how we think. Study of art history will show that 200-500-1000 years ago, art reflected a very different perspective from society and thought. Life went on at a much slower pace. Today we are influenced by communication and globalization that comes to us very quickly. Art will and should reflect these new sensibilities. “It’s a philosophy really. I’ve been studying Socrates, Plato, Nietzsche and of course the Mayan philosophies to have a sense of what that is all about. The more knowledge you have of all these things the more meaningful your art and your life become.”

Soto’s tangible expression of modern thinking is his development of an interactive “artware.” His vision of virtual reality and spiritual reality is somewhat one in the same. These things are untouchable. Through the use of technology it is Soto’s mission to create an artistic platform whereby one can interact with art. The possibilities are staggering.

“Modern thinking is dynamic, upgradeable and modular… using an analogy, it’s similar to open source software.”

Everything continues to inspire Maestro Balam for he truly sees with fresh eyes. He thinks outside the box. “Is there a box?” he asks. It is this kind of attitude or clairvoyance that can set our world on fire with remarkable and beautiful things. Knowing someone of this caliber can cause us to reach higher, do more, learn languages, study literature, create art, and never say we don’t have time to fulfill our dreams.

Maestro Balam Soto is an artist, designer, computer programmer, curator, educator, and lecturer with a trail of credits and exhibitions to his name. Upcoming shows include venues in New York City, West Africa, and the Tri-state area. Please visit his website www.balam.us for more.

This article was originally published by INK publications in November of 2008.

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It was in Chris Guillebeau’s Manifesto, A Brief Guide to World Domination, where I read the notion of imagining your perfect day. It is felt that doing this exercise will help clarify ones dreams and goals and then better enable us to make solid plans toward living the kind of life we have always wanted.  Yes, it is possible to live a life designed by you rather than by others. I, however, was having somewhat of a difficult time with this exercise. It seemed that in envisioning my perfect day, I couldn’t get past breakfast!

I’ve been a pretty avid planner for most of my life.  I make lists and schedules and all that.  Back in the 80′s, I discovered Covey’s Franklin Planner system and since that time I’ve always written about and maintained a set of goals for myself which would outline monthly, yearly and five year ambitions.  I pretty much nailed the five year goals (writing them down really helps) but thinking about just one perfect day was beyond me.

How exactly did this work?  Is the exercise to envision a realistic perfect day?  Or could I go crazy and think about my fantasy day where I’m an international espionage agent?  Just to be sure I was covering all my bases, I considered both scenarios.  I’ll update you on another post about my perfect day and how I put those dreams into practice.

It was surprising how much I learned about myself.  I have done this type of thing before but on a bigger scale.  Thinking about a perfect day requires a far more specific process than planning a five year business/personal plan.  Both exercises are advantageous and worthwhile practices.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a silly exercise; it’s harder than you think and you’ll find you have some work to do.   It requires time, effort and concentrated thinking.  The same was true when several years ago my best friend asked me a very simple question, “Lisa, What do you want?”  The question was surprisingly difficult to answer.  As a mom and a wife, I wasn’t in the practice of actually thinking about what I wanted.  If I had a dime for every time Laura asked me that question, but I was finally able to come to some conclusions and I’m much (much) happier and fulfilled today then I was 8 years ago.

In “A Simple System to Achieve Your Goals,”  Paul Meyers recommends we ask ourselves questions and visualize hour by hour what our perfect day would look like.  (You can get Paul’s word document for an ideal world here which includes a worksheet and Paul’s guiding hand to help.)  Perhaps you are the kind of person who needs to brain storm with a written list….go right ahead and do that.  Or maybe you are better at drawing out the possibilities in a sketch book or mentally visualizing your perfect day.  Do what is most comfortable for you.  Open your mind to all the possibilities.  Don’t be afraid to consider the ridiculous.  To start you off, consider some of these things:

Who would you hang out with?
What would you have for breakfast?
Where would you live?  What would it look like?
What kind of items would you surround yourself with?
What would you wear?
Where would you go?  Would you take a vacation?
Would you work?  What would your job be?

Perhaps more telling for me, was the question: What wouldn’t I do?  What wouldn’t I have?  You can bet my house would be free from all that clutter in the basement.  I’d rip apart that old porch hanging off my house and put down a floor of white pebbles, beautiful flowers, and a outdoor table for my morning breakfast.

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
-Michael Althsuler

Of course, we are taking about change and removing ourselves from our predisposed comfort zone.  If you are comfortable and happy living the life you lead at present, this exercise probably isn’t for you.  If you are seeking some changes in your life, then that is what this is all about.  Making a list or envisioning a perfect day isn’t going to do much for you unless you actually put these things into practice and take the steps (even if they are baby steps) toward reaching your dreams.  And yup, there might also be risk involved.  When Laura asked me 8 years ago “Lisa what do you want,” it resulted in my separating from my husband.  That was just one of the decisions I had to come to terms with in my own way.  It was scary and very frightening but in order for me to breathe, it was something I needed to do.  Now having said that, I’m not advocating that you go out and do socially irresponsible or hurtful things just because it might bring you closer to your dreams.  There is no carte blanche for being an asshole.  Designing your perfect day is very personal endeavor and if you are looking to improve your life and make a happier reality, then this type of exercise is something you will return to time and again.  The idea is to become more and more fabulous over time.

In closing, I also want to point out that while designing your perfect day seems egocentric the long term benefits are not.  In removing the clutter and toxicity from your life, you will free up valuable time and energy that you can devote to pursuits in serving others.  As designers and artists, we spent a lot of time in seclusion.  It’s my belief that most people like to help and devoting time to others is a wonderful and rewarding way to give back, meet new people and expand the breath of your life.

What can Design do to Help Fulfill Govenment Promise of Change? AIGA
The AIGA XCD Center for Cross-Cultural Design
Americans for the Arts
United We Serve – President Obama’s Service Initiative, June 2009

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I learned over at Samantha Warren’s BadAssIdeas.com about the Designer’s Resource Toolbox. Being completely inspired by this, I put together my own Designer’s Toolbox. Samantha’s article can tell you how to shop for toolbox items, how to collect found objects and implement these unique pieces into your work so that your designs are fresh and original. She includes a link to a tutorial by Natalie Jost on creating original digital textures using photos, scans and patterns.

I’ve taken my toolbox idea a little bit further and you can get really creative with this sort of thing too. For myself, I went and dug out one of my dad’s old toolboxes.  I included found objects from around my home and office. I didn’t go on a shopping or sight seeing expedition (which would also be nice)  but instead I collected bits of sea glass, postcards I’ve collected, notebooks, postage stamps and other various things I’ve had hanging around.  Although these items are rather random, I  just couldn’t part with them. I think every artist or designer studio must have little samplings of keepsakes in it, so why not collect them up and make a resource toolbox for yourself too.  Find yourself a really special box and paint the outside of it.  Make it really personal. I know, every time I open my toolbox it makes me happy and it has never failed to inspire me in some way.

I thought this was a great way to include the both the digital world and the offline world in one’s work. Just another example of living with art and design.

Cheers!

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Welcome to the new blog at LisaMikulski.com.  I’m so excited to get started to bring you articles and considerations for living a life of art and design.  Please bare with me as I prepare outstanding and unconventional info and tips on how to live a life of connectivity and inspiration as you either embark on your career as an artist or designer, or perhaps reinvent yourself to embrace technology as a part of your lifestyle or new marketing plan.

My mission here is to assist and inspire you.  Topics I will be covering include articles and full pdf downloads of:

• How to create your online presence.
• Making a digital portfolio
• Battling burnout
• New ideas in technology and how to use social media
• Artist and gallery reviews
• What is Art Management and how it can help you
• Living a life style of art and design

While I spend some long nights and weekends preparing this blog and top notch content for you, please take a look around at my pages and my links.  And if you should find some glitches, please please let me know.  Thanks so much for visiting and please add my RSS  so you can get the latest updates.  Meanwhile say hello in my comments section below and if you have suggestions for content that you’d like to see here, let me know.

Peace and love