IMP (I Make Pretty!) - The Blog of Justin B. Evans

The Third Antarctic Journeys

2009-04-05T10:06:00.007-04:00

Mike's new blog is up! It's actually been up for a couple weeks now but I've been making some final tweeks to the look and functionality of it. So check it out! He needs all the love and readers he can get! Next on the agenda, getting Project BM started with the enhanced BWISH...

Ooh urbany...

2009-03-21T00:16:00.008-04:00

I submitted this photo to Wired as part of a little photo contest thing based on the theme of "Shadows". Everything was decided in early February but I just learned about it. I didn't win anything but I did get picked ninth in their list of photos that "deserved more attention". You can see the Wired list here. Just thought that was kinda neat!

I bet I could be more successful with my art if I applied myself s'more. It's just tough being productive when you work so hard in other areas, y'know?

The Second Antarctic Journeys

2009-03-13T07:39:00.005-04:00

For Mike's birthday, I decided to do a redesign of his blog. I wanted to do something very different from my typical web design and utilize textures and do something more "collage-y". I think it turned out pretty well and even better, he liked it! I need to make some minor adjustments to the colors and "logo" but this is pretty much what's getting coded.

Even though it was a birthday present, maybe he'll pay me in the form of a script so I can get started on "Project Synth"... version 3? We need to start being more productive. I'd like to start that sometime in the next week or two (After TSAJ and the new BWISH are coded). You hear that Mike? I'm setting a deadline for March 27th for your script! The pressure is on!

BWISH Studios v12.0

2009-03-07T09:56:00.007-05:00

So in preparation of massive incoming BWISH updates, I've gotten the bug to give BWISH yet another redesign. Working on it I realized this is the 12th redesign BWISH has gotten in 10 years. That's right, 10 years. 2009 is BWISH's 10th anniversary. Wow. I still need to find out the actual date it launched (as zap.to/bwish...). It was sometime in the summer, I know that much at least.

So I've created a new design that I think is a bit more unique and lends itself to being expanded a bit better than the current one. The current one was way too inspired by VALVe/Steam, and I think this one is slightly more unique (Although it is inspired by various elements from designs we've done at work... shhh!). And no, there isn't a Caution Man revival on our hands... At least, not quite in the way you might expect.

So what do you think? Yay? Nay?

You got Flickr in my Sandvich

2009-02-02T07:35:00.005-05:00

I play entirely way too much Team Fortress 2 (Steam ID: Teslae, TF2 Name: Graedus, typically play on LotusClan servers. Play with me!). Because of this excess of play time, I've accumulated a lot of screen shots. I've also recently gotten into using Flickr for various things. As a result, I've created a gallery for all my relatively interesting Team Fortress 2 screen shots.

I'm trying to work my way up to the #1 rank on the LotusClan servers but I'm having some trouble breaking that 100 mark...

Refreshed

2009-02-01T11:31:00.002-05:00

Finally got around to updating IMP to match the little facelift given to the rest of the site. Actual content updates coming soon!... as usual. Crap, gotta post something of value. Um. Um... Go Cardinals?

Woop de woop

2009-01-06T16:02:00.003-05:00

Yeah, I know I'm pretty awesome with the whole updating thing. IMP and other junk got put on hold during the whole holiday rush deal. I think I should stop promising things until I actually have stuff done.

...Having said that I expect to have a slew of new stuff this weekend!

2009 is going to be the year of the BWISH. I hereby declare 3 new comic projects for 2009, along with a steady stream of fresh arty goodness, most likely on a weekly schedule.

RSS Feed & Update Promises

2008-11-22T09:46:00.004-05:00

So I have some big plans for what I want to turn IMP into, so I've temporarily removed IMP and this is now a general news/updates/general rant/etc. blog. If you were subscribed to IMP's RSS you should probably update it to point to the new feed located here.

Check back later this weekend for the unveiling of the real "IMP (I Make Pretty)" along with actual content updates!

*11/24 Edit*
I'm is almost set up. Just got some finishing touches for it. It won't be very interesting until I get some content in it so it may take a couple days afterall for it to get fleshed out before going live. So check back... later this week?

Final Super Last Chance!

2008-10-25T09:29:00.004-04:00

Today is officially the last day for the NES Mario sprite sculpture on eBay! Bid on him now! After this I will be putting most, if not all, future "products" in a fixed price store to open shortly.

One more time!

2008-10-19T09:48:00.003-04:00

I've listed the NES Mario sculpture on eBay one more time. Got a lot of watchers but no bids! Aiee! So yeah. Bid on it! Once Mario sells I'll be listing some of the other sculptures. And once my current "stock" runs dry I'll start taking suggestions for new sculptures to make (Commission based? Community poll? Who knows!).

So check it out and tell your friends!
Wooden sculpture of NES Mario sprite

Last Day!

2008-10-18T09:44:00.003-04:00

Last day for the NES Mario sculpture on eBay. So quit watching it and start bidding on it!

Sprite Sculpture Away!

2008-10-08T22:43:00.000-04:00

I've decided to start selling off some of my left over sprite sculptures from my Senior Thesis project. I'm starting off with the NES Mario sculpture and have put him on eBay. So... I think you should bid on him right now.

No More Picks

2008-09-28T08:50:00.001-04:00

So... The suicide pool was cancelled because of most people forgetting to submit their picks. Also, I went 8-15 with my picks so... I should probably stop! Oh well. Go 'skins!

NFL: Week 2 Picks

2008-09-14T12:54:00.004-04:00

Last year this idea was kind of a bust, and I'm already failing this year, but let's have some fun and make some picks for this week. I wonder if I'll be able to keep this up this year? I do have some incentive to keep it up this year, as I do have to make picks for work's suicide pool.

Bold = Win
* = Suicide pool pick

---

Chicago v Carolina
Tennessee* v Cincinnatti
Green Bay* v Detroit
Buffalo v Jacksonville
Oakland v Kansas City
Indianapolis v Minnesota
New York v St. Louis
New Orleans v Washington
San Francisco v Seahawks
Atlanta v Tampa Bay
Miami v Arizona
San Diego v Denver
New England v New York
Pittsburgh v Cleveland
Philadelphia v Dallas

Go 'skins!!!

Caution Man

2008-08-30T23:50:00.001-04:00

I had a random spot of inspiration and gave the Caution Man page on BWISH a splash of color and interesting-ing-ness... ness.

So... How about that Rain Thief? Mike is missing in action and I need words in which to make pretty! Ahh! So um, at this point it'll come out when it comes out. Sound good? Good.

Launched

2008-08-24T10:48:00.003-04:00

Huzzah! The new site is officially live. Take a look around. There's really not much new in terms of content (Shocking!), but there are a couple of things. There's a couple of random new pieces of digital photography and I threw in some new photos in the senior thesis gallery.

The main purpose of this updated was to make it easier and quicker for me to update, implement some fun Twitter functionality, and give the site a much need facelift (the previous site was so... boring and dark). So I hope you enjoy it.

Next on the plate, finish up the official Rain Thief page and get it started once Mike finishes up his rewrite (We've been retooling it, hence the delay. Plus we're lazy...).

So yeah, welcome to the new site. Be sure to check back during certain times of the day; there might be a little surprise!

Sprites away!

2008-08-09T01:39:00.003-04:00

Out of curiosity, if I were to sell some sprites, what cost would you give them? I know I want to sell a few and will probably start with ebay to get a few real numbers, but I'm just curious what other people would say they cost.

Wii Fit

2008-08-05T22:51:00.003-04:00

So yesterday was my birthday. I am now a quarter century old. That pretty much makes me a dinosaur at this point. No gray hair, but I'm definitely starting to see the wrinkles forming. Gasp!

One of my birthday presents, generously given to me by my parents, is Wii Fit. I've always been intrigued by it but never had enough desire to buy it myself. I gotta say though, it's pretty sweet. I've been pleasantly surprised by the variety of "games" in it, and you get a pretty good workout from some of the strength training and yoga poses.

I'm curious to see how this affects my current health crusade. It's almost got me thinking about DDR again... but no! I must resist. The wife has already shared her thoughts on DDR many many... many times.

On a side note, the justinbevans.com redesign (Total redesign!) is about 80% complete. I expect a weekend launch along with some Rain Thief visible Rain Thief progress.

Refresh

2008-06-08T08:45:00.005-04:00

So I've been kinda busy with work and 2weeker and kind of ignored this place. 2weeker 2.0 is almost finished (Total makeover!) and I've gotten redesigns on the brain. I recently launched a refresh of BWISH Studios which I urge you to check out. Once 2weeker is finished (It should be done tonight and ready for launch) I can proceed with work on The Rain Thief and the preview seen in the above image above. I got the idea for the refresh while working on 2weeker and decided to mock it up quickly as a little break.

Ok, back to 2weeker...

2weeker

2008-03-29T21:28:00.002-04:00

And now 2weeker is live! Check it out! Let me know of any bugs or issues you come across.

And don't miss my previous post which contains equally important... stuff.

Artist Spotlight: Jason R. Talley

2008-03-29T11:30:00.005-04:00

Maybe I'll start a new "feature" on this thing where I occasionally spotlight an artist I particular like, know, or admire. Maybe not. Regardless I just finished updating a site I created and maintain for a friend of mine from the Corcoran, Jason Talley. You can view his site right here.

There's not really much to say about him, because his work speaks for itself. Here's an example of what he does:

---

Next on today's agenda... finish 2weeker!

Passion

2008-03-09T11:01:00.002-04:00

The transition from tablet to mouse feels... unnatural. But whatever, at least I'm drawing! I've been working on a drawing for my friend Jon that I've promised him... 2 years ago? I am awesome. This will be my first official completed... anything by using a tablet. The learning curve wasn't as bad as expected. After using it for a good day or so I'm able to move around without hesitation which is neat.

I had always been put off by tablets, mostly because of the disconnect from the actual work. I always thought that the experience with paper/canvas/whatever was essential, interesting and helpful to any work. I still think that way you can't ignore the power of erasing with degrading your surface, and the history window. Oh my God, the history window. I love you.

I've mentioned this before but I always feel like I lose the passion for drawing and art in general when I'm not doing it. I always have a hard time getting over that initial bump to start working on something, but once I do I can't stop. Passion is the most important thing anyone can have for, well, anything. Without passion for what you do what's the point of doing it? What's the point of looking at something that had no passion going into it? There is none.

Passion is something I need to work on. I know it's there, but it's just hard to bring out for some reason. I feel like something holds me back. Maybe it's the pressure to create something great? Maybe it's the intimidation of letting myself down? Maybe it's the fear and frustration of having the inability to create what I imagine?

Working on this drawing for Jon was fairly emotional. This was the first drawing I've worked on extensively in... a long time, and I'm using a tablet really for the first time too. There were learning curves everywhere. I eventually fell into a frustrated funk last night and went to bed. I ended up waking up this morning and starting the drawing over. Again, I ended up frustrated. I ended up taking a step back and thinking about what I was trying to do.

Art should be fun, not a chore. I let go of hesitation and fear and just started drawing again. I got excited. I was happy. I was actually making something that was turning out, dare I say, well thus far?

I'm on an emotional art high (What the hell does that mean...?) but unfortunately I have to stop and take a shower and eat some breakfast and get out and do some stuff today. I'm looking forward to working on it later tonight.

Once again I am excited about art... AND actually following through with making it!

---

2weeker status: 35%

BRAWL

2008-03-09T10:55:00.000-04:00

1976 9839 2754

Anyone care to Brawl?

2weeker Screen Shot

2008-03-07T09:11:00.003-05:00

Here's the more or less final mock up of the 2weeker site, which includes the updated logo based on feedback from Mike. Besides a few textual changes and perhaps some color "2weeking", what do we think? Yay? Fail? Whatever? Heartburn?

2weeker Logo

2008-02-17T09:02:00.005-05:00

This is my first mock up of the 2weeker logo. I really like the colors of it. It's very modern/Web 2.0. Blue is a very calming color and green helps represents change, growth, money... all that good stuff.

What do you think?