mattwood

Illo of the Week

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©2007 matt wood / mwcreative

Everyone wants to be green these days. Save the planet. Stop global warming. Shrink their carbon footprint. This illo was for Digital Home. The article was about how more and more new home buyers are pushing to green up their million-plus dollar houses. The focus here was on green lighting. Had to drive over to the local apartment complex and steal a couple leaves off of some bushes there. No real eco-friendly I guess... maybe I should have walked.

SEE ME!

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©2007 matt wood / mwcreative,inc

LOOK!
That what have to say to the world out there to get my work seen everyday. Do I get around to sending out postcards and emails and promotionals everyday? No. But I have web sites and every month or so I try to get in touch with people. That is what Im doing today. Ive got a spot to finish up and then I have a bunch of 'dead air'. Ive seen a little too much of that lately. So... if you're an art director who just happens to be browsing my blog today and you catch this... LOOK! and then CALL! and I will make ART for MONEY!

Monster Fun

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image ©2007 matt wood / mwcreative, inc

Playing around a little bit today...thus, the monster sipping tea. I dont take a lot of time out to play around much with images for myself, too much other stuff to do that it seems like Im shurking my responsibilities to sit and goof. Like today, I have invoicing that Ive got to get out and I have to assemble a presentation for tomorrow morning. So... I figure, HEY... I think I'll draw some monsters.
What other profession would even tollerate, much less applaud this kind of behavior?

More

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Image ©2007 mattwood/mwcreative,inc

Imagine. Two posts in one day!
Well, I just wanted to say that there are more reasons why Im blogging again. Some changes in the works for MWC. New markets might be opening up so Ive got to start thinking in that direction and begin to be a little more 'visable'. More news as it developes.
In the meantime, Im posting a piece of art here which is pretty much a piece I did just for fun but was inspired by those framed Latte, Cappuccino and Caffe Americano drinks you see at Starbucks that break down what is in each drink. Enjoy.

Back

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Image ©2007 mattwood/mwcreative,inc

So here I am again, back from nowhere figuring that I probably need to start keeping up with this studio blog thing.
Ive got a small list of things that I need to get done today. Waiting for approvals on a couple of illos that keep going through various revisions and such.
Did you know that today is D-Day for Webcasters?
Im sitting here listening to KCRW's webstream and listening to this whole thing. Seems like there are big changes coming for webcasters who stream music at any point in their broadcasts. Huge royalties rule changes are coming that will most likely wipe out a lot of webcasters who stream music. I just cant imagine that kind of cloud hovering over an entire industry. Artists have had to deal with a number of rights and royalties issues over the years... its interesting listening to the struggle occuring on the side of the 'users' vs the 'creators'.
I guess everybody has their giants to face.

Work in the New Year

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Image ©2006 mattwood/mwcreative

Happy New Year!
So what are YOU doing in 2007?
Me? Work. What else? Today Im sorting through huge collections of digital files to compile my own collection of stock image CDs. I have thousands of digital photos Ive taken over the last couple years, elements that Ive created and scans of old photos and documents I have accumulated. When Im finished, I should have a huge library of material to pull from which will be very cool and hopefully speed up my image creation time... but, you know, right now... its boring and its tedious. Welcome to the exciting world of illustration! I complain, but for the most part it, I bet it beats a career in food service!
(The image I posted here is new, it was a concept for an editorial piece on 'innumeracy' - which is basically illiteracy with numbers. People mess up number facts and actually don't see the mistake no matter how obvious it is.)

More...

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Image © 2006 mattwood/mwcreative,inc

Ive been creating a few more images as well as preparing to launch this style. This illo required that I build the business man out of various image sources. The legs are from a 1959 Wards catalog, the jacket is from 2 vintage photos I have and the head is also from an old catalog. The money images I shot myself and the hand and net are actually my own! So, yes, its true that sometimes I put a little bit of my self into my work.

Sunday Sample

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Sunday afternoon. House work is what's happening mostly. But I thought I would take a break and share a little piece of what Ive been working on. Im not sure its done yet. Im just experimenting mostly with this style. I guess these are my 'sketches'. Its almost impossible to pull a 'topic' out of thin air. So instead of wasting my time trying Im just assembling images. Well, back to the house work.

Just Faux Fun

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Just kicking around random images and melting them into art pieces in my spare time. This illo felt like a poster so that's what I made it. Obviously, if someone ever wants to use it for their actual film event... all I have to do is nix a couple layers! Gimme a call!

Manage This

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Im not so sure I am living my life. Instead, I think I am desperately trying to effectively manage my life in hopes that I eventually feel like Im living.
I dont know, does that make sense? I mean, Ive just spent a week backing up my hard drives, archiving jobs dating back to July and further, organizing all of my digital files into a form that no longer resembles a New Orleans post Katrina neighborhood. An ENTIRE WEEK!
And all the time that I am sorting and cleaning and burning CDs, Im mentally assessing my business and trying to chart a course for yet another year. What is important? What is not? How could I best be spending my time? Should I work on my art or my business? What is my business plan? Do I have a business plan? What is the MOST important thing on my list of things to do? Where IS my list, I know I it was here a second ago!
Its all management. Its not living. Its organizing and planning and executing or, in my case, thinking, rethinking and procrastinating.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldnt want to make a living doing anything else. Its just that, after a while, I hope that I finally get it all figured out to the point where Im ON the ball not UNDER it.
Well, anyway, on the more positive side, Im still experimenting with my new illustration style and generating some colorful, fun and completely non-commercial work and Im also occasionally doing some sketching as well. At least Ive managed that! But... was it the BEST use of my time... hmmm?