Earlier last week I was alerted to the fact that Chapters has been selling a bunch of paper products with some of my iStockphoto illustrations on them. How novel! How… noteworthy (pun intended). So, of course I had to venture down to the local Polo Park Chapters to check them out.

It looks like there’s still more to come, given that part of the display isn’t filled yet and a few more licenses were purchased on the same day for retail use, so I’m hoping to see a design with my typewriter or bicycle on it. They’ve paired them with some products that have similar (but not my) illustrations and they’re looking good. Some of the colour/cropping choices aren’t what I would’ve done, but it’s great to see my stuff available to a broader market! Now if only it had my name on it…

Please ignore the poor quality of my sneaky iPhone photos and enjoy!

Oh, and if you wanted to purchase them, or see some of the other designs up close, they’ve made them available on the Chapters/Indigo website.

Just an illustration of a jellyfish… Had been working on this one for a while, but never really seemed to get my mojo workin’ with it. I like the final piece, but I feel like maybe it needs more detail or something…

Of course, if you disagree, you can purchase it on iStockphoto.

Here’s the latest illustration I have available on iStockphoto. Just wanted to do a more modern take on a traditional, hunting-style image. I like the way this one came out.

RUNNING GOALS

So most of my goals this year are running related. I think it’s easier for me to post these since they’re a bit more quantifiable than other life goals.

1. Run more consistently
Trying to build up my base mileage to a bare minimum of 20 miles per week, preferring to be closer to 30 miles per week. I was at around 25mpw before the half marathon last year, but that was short-lived. Currently I tend to do about 60 miles a month, which isn’t really enough to show improvement.

2. Run 1000 miles this year
This is simple enough and relates to the previous goal. If I can make the previous goal, then this one pretty much comes with the package.

3. Run FASTER
I’m already working on this one by mixing in some tempo, interval and 5k pace workouts. I’ve already chopped about 0.5mph off my pace time and I’m hoping to get to an average 6.5mph speed by the end of the year. Which leads me to…

4. Run a less-sucky half marathon
Yeah, I already ran one. And I enjoyed it. But man, I find my time so embarrassing that I’m hesitant to even talk about it with people. There were a number of reasons, most of them probably based on the fact that this was my first race. So this year, whether it’s the Manitoba Half or an alternate one, I want to get a better time. Even if I decide not to race, I plan to at least run the distance at a much faster pace.

LIFE GOALS

1. Have more fun
I feel like this is a constant goal for me. I always have a good time when I go out, but lately things have been holding me back. I let other people’s moods affect me too much, which in turn affect my social priorities. Me staying home and being miserable won’t make the other person feel any worse or have any sympathy for me (obviously), so why make myself upset? Life is so short, wasting my time sitting around sulking when I could be having fun is stupid.

2. Stop over-thinking everything
A big contributor to my unhappiness is the massive analysis I seem to HAVE to do for every event, every word, every action. I feel I’m able to shrug off some things, but I really spend way too much time worrying about people’s emotions and feelings. I’m not vowing to be insensitive, just vowing to spend less time thinking about other people’s motivations.

WORK GOALS

1. Draw more
Just want to submit a bit more to iStockphoto and work on more custom illustration projects (though some of that is up to chance).

2. Just get things done
I put stuff off mostly because I worry about doing the best possible job on things. I think the key is to, as Nike so eloquently put it, “Just Do It”. I have enough talent that I’m probably not going to disappoint people even if I don’t feel it’s my best work. And most clients would probably rather have their stuff done faster anyway.

3. Improve my web skills
This is kind of a given. Despite my reluctance to do them, I still continue to get web design jobs, so I might as well have an easier time doing them.

4. Be more responsive to emails/requests
Whenever I have a new client contact me, I almost always seem to sit on it for a few days. Why? Do I have some kind of problem with making money?

I feel like I may be forgetting some goals, so I may update this post or add a new one somewhere along the line. Honestly, 2010 really sucked the butt as far as personal achievement or growth goes, so let’s hope 2011 works out better! What are your 2011 goals? Feel free to post them in the comments!

Well, it’s been strangely cold and dry here in Winnipeg, even for November, so putting up this latest piece seems appropriate. If you’re into it, you can buy it here.

Well, not me, but someone will get tattooed with the above image, I assure you…

It was a commissioned piece and a lot of fun to work on. It’s rare, but occasionally it happens that a client and I have the exact same vision for a piece and for something as personal as a tattoo, that’s a great thing! The three birds commemorate the client’s thirtieth birthday and the final product may be infused with some red colouring after it’s been tattooed. I really love how this composition turned out.

A sweet little creamsicle here to tell you that I’m going to be on vacation from July 9 – 24. I’ll be around and reachable by email, so please feel free to drop me  a line!

And here’s an iPhone wallpaper version of the above, for those who want to sweeten up their summer.

Mac, over there on the left, is dumping Stacy for a newer model, despite his own advanced age. Must be a mid-product-life-cycle crisis.

Never ever break up by text message. I don’t care how steeped society is in technology these days, it’s just so disrespectful. I did this one for fun, but I think it does make a little statement. Maybe I should upload this one, I don’t know?

Alternative title for this piece? “I’m sorry, you’re breaking up.”

I am really feelin’ this guy right now. This is sort of the response I’d like to give to a lot of the stuff happening in my life right now. Argh! At first I thought he’d look better with a bite out of him, but then I decided that Sprinkles would never let anyone get close enough for that.

If for some reason you wanted this as an iPhone wallpaper (for when you’re feeling angry), you can download it here!

Just a quick post to promote a logo/graphic design I did for my cousin’s upstart cupcake catering business- Cupcake Love. Loving the kawaii style, it was a fun little project to work on.