VoogDesigns Vlog #2

Welcome to the second VoogDesigns Vlog! This post is being recorded from a secret location known as an "attic". In this vlog I discuss the importance of saving your artwork so that as your skills develop you can look back and see how much you have grown as an artist.


In the VoogDesigns Vlog I will be sharing with you my process of creating my comic strips, caricatures, children's book illustrations, animations and lessons from the VoogDesigns Art Academy every week.

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Twitter Toons

Technology. We can choose to embrace it or be afraid of it. I must admit that one can get a little paranoid with all the information that is floating around on the Internet, especially after watching a special on one monopoly in the Cyberverse, and another in the SoMe-sphere.

In life, everything is a balance and I choose to stay current and utilize the technological advances, while still taking moments to get outside and enjoy the fresh air with my family.

Recently I embarked on an adventure to learn Twitter. Like many I am sure, I had no desire to share with people what I was doing every second of the day, but was encouraged by my good friend @BruceSallan, whom I illustrate his weekly comic strip Because I Said So, to give it a few weeks and participate in his weekly #DadChat.

After reading a few books on how to most effectively use Twitter, I can now say that if I had not taken that step to learn, I never would have met a new client over 3000 miles away in Massachusetts on the other side of the country.
Meet Brad Marmo (@ReadBradTheDad) who took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with me on Twitter during a #DadChat, and after some wonderful idea-sharing, we were able to produce his very first comic strip together: There's Something About Daddy

We all have wonderful stories and ideas to share and I would love to 'toon yours. You can follow me at https://twitter.com/VoogDesigns and tweet me your ideas.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!

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DadChat Caricature Offer

Welcome DadChat Members, Bruce Sallan Fans, Because I Said So comic strip lovers and A Dads Point-of-View followers! If you are visiting this link then you likely arrived here through www.BruceSallan.com and you are in the right place!

VoogDesigns has been creatively collaborating with Bruce Sallan for over 28 Because I Said So comic strips now, and we're just getting started. For Bruce's birthday last year, we surprised him with the custom color caricature you see below. Bruce loved it so much that he asked if we would make a special offer for his DadChat Members.

 

If you have been on our facebook page, or even here on our website, you know that we normally charge $40, for a custom color caricature. But for Bruce Sallan, we are making this Special Offer and reducing our fee by 40%, which means that you can have your very own custom color caricature by VoogDesigns for ONLY $25! Use it on your website, business cards, SoMe Profile Pictures, or even print it and hang it in your home.

Here's what you have to do:

1. Send an e-mail to VoogDesigns@gmail.com with a special high resolution photo of your choice.
2. We will send you back your custom color caricature within 24-48 hours.
3. We will then send you a PayPal invoice to pay for the service.
4. Let others know about this fantastic offer!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!

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VoogDesigns Vlog #1

Welcome to the very first VoogDesigns Vlog! I don't sing or dance, but what I will be sharing with you is my process of creating my comic strips, caricatures, children's book illustrations, animations and lessons from the VoogDesigns Art Academy every week.

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Never Say Never

Lyrics. Back in Junior High my class was given an assignment to pick a few songs and analyze the lyrics. I chose a few Simon & Garfunkel songs like "I am a Rock", "The Boxer" and "The Sound of Silence". Ever since then I try to find meaning in the songs I listen to.

Recently I was listening to my daughter's iPod, looking for a song to add to a video I recorded on how I create a comic strip. The song I chose had lyrics that took me back to the last few years which were a very trying time for my family. But deep in my heart there has always been a desire to persevere and to never give up; not just in life but in your dreams. Every since I was a kid I knew that I wanted to draw.

Fifteen years ago VoogDesigns was just a dream. Now it is a reality. Through the trials emerge the triumphs. If you have a dream, never say never.


See I never thought that I could walk through fire
I never thought that I could take the burn
I never had the strength to take it higher
Until I reached the point of no return

And there's just no turning back
When your heart's under attack
Gonna give everything I have
It's my destiny

I will never say never (I will fight)
I will fight till forever (Make it right)

Whenever you knock me down
I will not stay on the ground
Pick it up, pick it up
Pick it up, pick it up
Up, up, up, up, up and never say never

I never thought I could feel this power
I never thought that I could feel this free
I'm strong enough to climb the highest tower
And I'm fast enough to run across the sea

And there's just no turning back
When your hearts under attack
Gonna give everything I have
'Cause this is my destiny

Never say never...

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Spotlight: KidGripz

Last post we spoke about DREAMS:

Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?

This post is all about how VoogDesigns is helping dreams come true for others.

My name is Donna Ontiveros, with my husband Andrew Ontiveros and sister Kathy Hillman we created a removable handle we call KidGripz.

One afternoon our 3 year old was going in and out of the house into our backyard each time pushing on the glass of our sliding glass door leaving messy fingerprints behind. It was the moment he just about slammed his fingers in the slider that my husband set out to help him. He went to his car and took out the suction cup holder from his GPS device and stuck it to our slider right at the height for a 3 year old. Watching how easy it was for my son to open and close the door safely…KidGripz was born.

Working with local artist Michael Voogd, of VoogDesigns, our first design is a lady bug. There are additional designs, including a turtle and a bumble bee.

Already looking to expand we are currently working on EzGripz. EzGripz is the same concept as KidGripz but geared toward adults. The designs would be sunflowers, teapots, etc. We see this product being marketed towards elderly adults, people with motor disabilities or anyone that requires a larger handle to hold on to. The handle can work on not only sliding glass doors but mirrored closets, bathroom shower doors and any other surface that a little extra support is needed.

Lastly is MiniGripz…MiniGripz are small suction cups with a hook that can placed on mirrored closet doors, bathroom mirrors, sliding glass doors and anywhere a hook is needed. Designs are endless anything from flowers to baseballs it can be used to hang towels, backpacks, jackets, etc.

We are currently in a contest sponsored by Walmart called "Get on the Shelf". If we are lucky enough to win, Walmart will manufacture and sell our product in their stores nationwide.

To vote, please go to:

http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/3160/KidGripz

You can also vote for KidGripz by texting:

From your mobile phone, text 3160 to 383838.

Remember, you can only vote for this product once per day* from your phone number. Any extra votes from your phone for this product will be disregarded. And please tell your friends about the product. Thank you!

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