The Random Drop Giveaway!

Hey everybody! I’m giving away a TF2 print I designed!

To help promote my prints and facebook page, I’ve started a contest.

PRIZE: One signed 40″ x 28″ TF2 Weapons print in your choice of Reliable Excavation Demolition RED or Builders League United BLU
Red version can be found here.
Blu version can be found here.

TO ENTER: do one (or all!) of the following
Like the Design by Ash Facebook page
Tweet the following text to your followers:

“The Random Drop Giveaway! @designbyash is giving away one free signed TF2 print! Retweet this to enter! #TF2 #Print http://society6.com/designbyash/Reliable-Excavation-Demolition_Print”

** Please make sure the link on the tweet works.

Winner will be announced Friday August 17.

NOW GO CAPTURE THAT POINT!

An update away from home

Patience is a virtue I’ve never been quite able to master.

I want many things, some material and some not, and I want them almost instantly. But where does that get me if by some chance I do happen to get these things as soon as I want them?

It leaves me wanting more.

Rather than appreciating and being satisfied with what I have, whether it be the latest gadget or the praise for a half-baked idea, I quickly move on to the next thing, convincing myself that it’s not selfishness but rather progress.

But progress is not instant. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Progress comes to those who work tirelessly, craft painstakingly, and give selflessly. These people do not take shortcuts and they don’t expect praise. They work diligently and take their time, for what value does their work have if it has been thrown together haphazardly with no regard for how it can stand the test of time? No, these dreamers work with a goal in mind and the determination to see it through to the end. And by working on it meticulously, their work will not only be more satisfying and gratifying to others, but also to themselves.

It’s not about getting the job done as fast as possible; it’s about getting it done right (though finishing it in a timely manner doesn’t hurt). I’ve been running around since graduation trying to get too much done and in a short amount of time. It’s time I focused on one thing and mastered it. Those other things will always be there as a hobby during my free time when I need a break, so long as I don’t let them stress me out.

It’s all about patience.

Pepper the Penguin: A Draft

This is really nerve-racking and really scary to do considering I haven’t written a story in years. I’ve decided I need to put my draft out there for peer review so that it can be as good as it can be. So, here’s a draft of “Pepper the Penguin and the Lunas” for you all to read and critique. Bear in mind it’s going to be a children’s story, specifically a picture book, so the text format may be a little all over the place right now. I’m currently working on the illustrations and page layouts, so I figured I’d put this out there for feedback in the meantime.

(Italics mean pages without text)

Pepper the Penguin and the Lunas
Pepper the Penguin couldn’t sleep.
He wasn’t afraid of the dark
Or the monsters under his bed (for there are none).
No, Pepper the Penguin couldn’t sleep
Because he couldn’t stop thinking of the moon.

Pepper the Penguin and the Lunas

I’ve started a new project.

Yes, I realize I’ve said this a lot in the past only for the projects to go unrealized and unfulfilled, but this time I hope it is a big enough and interesting enough project to hold my wavering attention.

I’m writing a children’s book.

I use to write stories a lot in grade school, ever since reading “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” by Beverly Cleary in fourth grade. I also did a program in high school and some of college specifically for writing children’s literature. I graduated that program and was even recommended for the advanced program, but I – scared of success and so sure of failure – opted to not take it. That was 4 years ago.

I’ve always told myself that writing and illustrating was just a hobby not a day job. I convinced myself it wasn’t worth pursuing. It’s sad the limits we set up for ourselves.

So, with some determination and perhaps your moral support, I will be finally begin the process of writing, illustrating, and publish my first ever book. A dream I’ve had for as long as I can remember.

As a preview, here are some of the early illustrations for the book. These will be a lot more detailed and textured in the final product. They’ll also of course include the words.

Gotta get back in the game!

I was messing around with the theme on here and decided I’d go ahead and post an update while I was at it.

The past couple weeks, I’ve been trying to find out what exactly I want to do with my life. I was pretty set on graphic design earlier, but after working at it for a bit at a legitimate business, I’m finding my interests shifting towards illustration and writing. Design is all about solving problems while still making something beautiful. Illustration and writing is more about story-telling. I find I’m more a storyteller than anything else. Characters and setting intrigue me. Not to mention I just love doodling and creating cute things, something I don’t get to utilize a whole lot in corporate design. I still have a passion for graphic and web design: I still appreciate beautiful and well-crafted websites and outstanding typography.

One day I’d love to blend and combine all my interets: illustration, writing, graphic design, web design, typography, and sewing and crafts. I think to do this, I need to set a schedule for myself and really stick with it. Right now my bed has become my worst enemy. Anytime I migrate in the evening from my dining room table to my bedroom (which doesn’t have a desk: only a bed sans bed frame and a nightstand), productivity goes down the drain. Perhaps one day I can invest in a couch and coffee table so that if I need a break, I just chill there instead of my bedroom. For now, I’ll have to use sheer willpower to stay in my creative area.

Proposed Really-Loose-But-Structured-Enough-to-Hopefully-Yield-Results Daily Schedule

During the day: Graphic & Web Design

Down time during the day: Illustration & Typography

Evenings: Exercise and Writing. Maybe I could even go to a cafe each night to write with a notebook to get myself away from the computer.

Weekends and nights I need a break: Piano/Violin/Guitar and Sewing & Crafts

I have no idea how this’ll go. I think I really just needed this written down somewhere so that I can hold myself accountable.

Currently Available for Freelance Work!

Preferably of the short-term variety. I tend to work well as a creative sprinter as opposed to a marathon runner.

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you are already familiar with my style. If not, please check out my portfolio here and my dribbble account here. Below are a few examples of work I’ve done for freelance clients.

If you think I’m the right fit for you, please either leave a comment on this blog post with an email address to reach you at or email me at contact@designbyash.com

Happy Birthday, Mom!

It’s my mom’s birthday and since I’ve been in a calligraphy & lettering phase, I thought I’d use that to draw her something.