tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26886022287991696542024-02-18T22:56:19.598-08:00VoogDesignsCartoons, Caricatures, Illustration and AnimationVoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-57822838606665292052016-12-17T05:35:00.000-08:002016-12-17T05:45:36.132-08:00Clone Wars Kenobi Print<span style="font-size: x-large;">This IS the print you are looking for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Get your Clone Wars Kenobi print to frame and display in any room so the Force is with you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is a 11x14 LIMITED print of only 100 and will be signed, numbered and shipped to your home for only $25. </span><br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-75440852564484866792015-12-14T10:20:00.001-08:002015-12-14T10:36:11.030-08:00Star Warriors T-Shirt Offer<span style="font-size: x-large;">Get your Star Warriors T-Shirt!</span><br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-56101747676860052572015-08-07T00:18:00.000-07:002015-08-11T11:48:45.677-07:00Guardians of the Galaxy Caricature Offer<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Become a Guardian of the Galaxy!</i></b></span><br />
Now you can add yourself to this team of intergalactic guardians!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-83184953856931955952015-08-01T22:22:00.000-07:002015-09-06T13:48:38.283-07:00SuperHero Sunday Sale<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Want to be part of the Justice League or The Avengers?</span></i><br />
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NOW is the perfect time to take advantage of our SPECIAL OFFER! Purchase this VoogDesigns Voucher, and get 1 FULL COLOR custom caricature at 50% OFF our regular price!<br />
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A single full-color caricature would normally cost you $50.00. But by purchasing this voucher below, you will get ONE CUSTOM FULL-COLOR CARICATURE for ONLY $25!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You choose what SuperHero character you'd like it to be.</span><br />
They make great gift ideas for family members, friends, or co-workers. It's up to you!<br />
Think about upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, promotions and parties.<br />
They're unique Creative Marketing Solutions for any business too!<br />
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After purchasing this voucher by clicking the <b>BUY NOW</b> button below, we will email you to discuss the specifications of your request. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i><b>This SPECIAL OFFER is ONLY VALID on SUNDAYS</b> </i></span>so if you need it for a time sensitive special occasion GRAB IT NOW!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-90331314908976028252015-06-21T22:00:00.000-07:002015-06-22T11:18:15.849-07:00Creativity and Children<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Father's Day 2015</i></span><br />
<i>Is it really work if you love what you do? </i>You've heard me say this before.<br />
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Most days I sit at the drawing board in my studio "working". I'll have some music or a movie playing in the background while I'm creating my newest cartoon, comic strip or piece of animation for myself or a client. Hours can seem like minutes when you are "in the zone".<br />
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Drawing takes me back to my childhood. A time where I could get "lost" in my art, and spend hours at a time creating the images I saw in my mind and transferring them to paper via my pencil. It was also great for my mom because she was able to get things done around the house and didn't have to worry about what I was up to.<br />
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A good friend of mine has a special motto, <i>"Remember your childhood... and pass it on."</i> The legacy of fatherhood is to do just that. To create productive, compassionate and contributing members of our society that help to make the world a better place.<br />
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Today is a special working day for me today because on this Father's Day I am passing on my childhood to my daughter in a unique way. She has always drawn quietly in her room (like I used to), but today we are sharing my creative space together. In my studio I am drawing on my tablet and she is drawing on hers. We are both creating!<br />
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And this is one of the reasons I am starting <a href="http://NinjaToons.com/">NinjaToons.com</a>; to bring parents and their children together through ART. I teach FUN art, not fine art. My philosophy on drawing is that if kids are having FUN drawing, they will want to draw MORE. They will look for opportunities to create custom art like this great Father's Day card my daughter made for me. This is BETTER than any store-bought card because it was created by her with LOVE! Now imagine all our kids creating special memories like this for family and friends!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEPUVJn3voKSpvy9IiWCFCL7TkRLexXs4XWgLUur3FCm7Q3JK704M5b1E63O88WuXQuDQ5YtkkdwtlDcuX0QXby4YzN9NFRBxTA1Gik35X9VM42klx_NyXIxkdbeuvg8onmUAXsMp_BCZ/s1600/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEPUVJn3voKSpvy9IiWCFCL7TkRLexXs4XWgLUur3FCm7Q3JK704M5b1E63O88WuXQuDQ5YtkkdwtlDcuX0QXby4YzN9NFRBxTA1Gik35X9VM42klx_NyXIxkdbeuvg8onmUAXsMp_BCZ/s320/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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If you are in the Ventura County or Conejo Valley and are interested in having your child enroll in my <a href="http://www.ninjatoons.com/">Summer Cartooning Camp</a>, there are a few seats still available! Class begins July 6th so please visit <a href="http://NinjaToons.com/">NinjaToons.com</a> and reserve your seat today.<br />
<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-59714359377160411362015-03-15T03:00:00.000-07:002015-03-15T04:41:33.837-07:00A Kind and Courageous Cinderella<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>"Inspiration is light a traffic light.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>When it is green, you GO."</i></span></div>
<br />
Which is why I am writing this post at 2:30am. I felt inspired to share a message...<br />
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Tonight I took my wife and daughter to see <i><b>Disney's Cinderella</b></i>, and although I approached this movie with some reservations, the fact that I am writing about it should tell you there is something great about the message of this movie.<br />
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I felt the same way after watching <i><b>Maleficent</b></i> last year. With it's unique telling of the Sleeping Beauty story, it felt less "fairytale fantasy" and more about the redemptive nature of "true love".<br />
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With <i><b>Cinderella</b></i>, the central message is to "be kind, and have courage", which I felt was delivered beautifully as Ella struggles with keeping her mother's promise through the many trials in her story. <i>So why am I taking the time to write about this?</i> Because a happy "coincidence" occurred just an hour ago.<br />
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Every Sunday morning from 1:00-2:00am I'm an adorer in my church's Adoration Chapel. It is here where I enter the "classroom of silence", and often receive clarity and insight into problems I'm struggling with or trying to gain some understanding in an area of my life.<br />
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Tonight in the Adoration Chapel I had a book with me titled, "<i><b>Nine Words- A Bible Study to Help You Become the Best-Version-of-Yourself</b></i>", and I recall reading something months ago that related to the message in the movie tonight. So as I searched through this book, sure enough one of the nine words was "<i>kindness</i>". But the epiphany occurred for me when I read this:<br />
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<i>First, kindness is active, not passive. To move toward becoming the best-version-of-yourself, you will engage life, not sit idly by and hope for change. The Holy Spirit changes you, and those changes will make you behave differently. Kindness acts; it takes the initiative.</i></blockquote>
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<i>Second, kindness takes risks for God, even in the face of hostility and danger. Kindness recognizes God's work and seeks to be a part of that. Kindness is courageous. In the same way, becoming the best-version-of-yourself will require courage and risk. Change and growth take courage. </i></blockquote>
I smiled as I read this sitting in the Chapel, because for me, this was a meaningful moment where the message was clear. <i>Be Kind. Have Courage.</i><br />
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I previously wrote about <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/03/talent-and-temperament.html">Talent and Temperament</a>, explaining that it isn't enough to just have talent, you have to hustle (work hard) while remaining humble (be kind). It takes a great deal of courage to pursue your passion, but I believe you must also do so with a humble heart.<br />
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As Daniel Pink explains in his book, <i>To Sell is Human</i>, entrepreneurs don't set out to become rich. They begin by solving a problem that many people encounter, and because their product/service solves this problem for the masses, financial abundance generally follows. They offer help, which is an act of kindness. And although not everyone benefits financially for their outreach, there are far more rewards one can receive, such as community and friendship.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?</span></i></div>
<br />
This is a question that appears on one of my coffee mugs. Pursuing your passion takes courage. Opening your heart to others takes courage. Taking risks requires courage. But if you are pursuing your passions from a place of humility and kindness to answer a problem that needs a solution, then I think you are on the right path.<br />
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Find some quiet time away from all the electronics and noise, and begin contemplating the reasons for "why" you are pursuing your passion. <i>What is your passion and what problem are you solving by sharing it with the world?</i> Is is merely for self-gratification, or are you using your gifts and talents to help others. Be Kind. Have Courage.<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-45347063743220449822015-03-12T09:00:00.000-07:002015-03-12T09:00:04.399-07:00Full-Time to Freelancing<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I’m working full-time on my job and part-time on my fortune..."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Jim Rohn</span> </div>
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For the person who is dedicated to earning a living pursuing their passion, no truer words have been spoken. Yesterday I wrote about <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/03/talent-and-temperament.html">Talent and Temperament</a>, combined with Hustle and Humility. Both are required when balancing a full-time job while living out your dreams in disguise like a superhero concealing their secret identity.<br />
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For the past 6 years I have been working a full-time job while building my freelance business as an animator, children's book illustrator, comic strip and caricature artist, and drawing instructor. My clients and my company are always on my mind. Emails, projects, marketing, invoicing, prospecting, follow-up... and then there's the actual drawing! But during the normal business hours of society, I'm like an ArtNinja, secretly planning, positioning and pursuing my passion. Mentally that is.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa42aQ9jzVo"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOpa5MuxKRzf2oBO5dwXZ9cwFMrSMng7XgRrfZM_St74k7kkb9HqffbbSIEYaGpWM5oST5LpDGWNvUuzn_4JvLsgCSUuoOYhaKw2OdDOSkj-vhTey7LPy62B0SPhdAfp0vz7MFNjcYAXm/s1600/VoogDesignsVid.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></div>
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I wanted to share something exciting that happened to me today while working my "day job", because if you are as passionate about your dreams as I am about mine, there will be times that you can get frustrated, feeling trapped in a job and not moving forward. But if your passion consumes you, and you find yourself constantly marinating on thoughts of your business, there is an answer.<br />
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The blessing and the curse of a full-time job is getting great ideas during the work day with out the ability to implement them...yet.<br />
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There is a particular business plan that I have been developing, and it's constantly on my mind. Today a solution sabotaged my subconscious filling me with excitement and energy. (This is typically when I get frustrated.) When ideas come to me and I'm stuck at work, restrained from being able to take any action, it can extinguish my inspiration. So what do I do? <i>I simply write the ideas down.</i><br />
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This is why I always recommend carrying a pen and paper with you wherever you go, because you never know when an idea for your business might ambush your attention. Even though you're unable to take immediate action on your idea while you're at work, you can write it down in that moment, so that when you are able to clock out of your full-time job, you can begin working part-time on your fortune.<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-19306132577487880312015-03-11T06:00:00.000-07:002015-03-11T06:00:09.108-07:00Talent and Temperament<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The reality of any 'animation' or 'art' industry today is that degrees really are not at all relevant to hiring. Yes, you need computer skills but beyond that there are two criteria that employers look for in the main - what can you do as an artist/animator and what are you like as a person." </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Tony White
Founder: The Animator's Sketchclub
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For those of you who have been following me, I have been saying this for the past 10 years when I realized that a degree simply says you took the classes, but not how well you can demonstrate you learned the content. That is what your sketchbook and portfolio are for. So when I came across this quote in the comments of a LinkedIn discussion <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=4796054&type=member&item=5979984857277685764&commentID=5981289640177446912&report%2Esuccess=8ULbKyXO6NDvmoK7o030UNOYGZKrvdhBhypZ_w8EpQrrQI-BBjkmxwkEOwBjLE28YyDIxcyEO7_TA_giuRN#commentID_5981289640177446912">Drawing on the wisdom of the past... why its important to put the STEAM back into STEM!</a> I felt validated.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJElPStJpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsRflBZRIQlSuz7P0beLbNJS63qTOiC5SFOPTUfStZ3NGH4dfui6yWpq2oacreNBHXUkt4PBGYibzv575wD_RKuqBbTusJLP9s-ffF27GctS0xjmJrib_Nc3Hu2g5eppAiXocQejeL97Z/s1600/TheMostImportantWord2.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJElPStJpg">ATTENTION YOUNGER VIEWERS: STRONG LANGUAGE IS USED IN THIS VIDEO</a></span></td></tr>
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The first criteria Tony mentions is your TALENT and ABILITY as an artist. It's gonna take a lot of drawings to get there. You've probably heard of the 10,000 Rule. <i>So how do you resolve to get through all the bad drawings to make a living doing the thing you love?</i> I just watched this video again to remind me of "The Most Important Word Ever" to becoming what you want to be in life. And that word is... (Did you really think I would make it that easy?) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJElPStJpg">WATCH IT.</a><br />
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The second criteria is your TEMPERAMENT. What are you like as a person? And for me, the key is to always remain humble. Throughout all the ups and downs in life, remaining humble will keep things in perspective. To be grateful in the struggles and gracious in the successes.<br />
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Talent with Hustle, and Temperament with Humility is a WINNING combination!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-6313977393017439632015-03-10T08:55:00.001-07:002015-03-10T08:57:11.521-07:00Shape Shifting<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Lines. Shapes. Volume.</i></span><br />
Every week I review with my art students the "secrets" to drawing anything. You really only need to learn 3 lines, but it's how you combine those lines that creates your masterpiece. We use these 3 lines to draw shapes, and then transform those shapes into volume.<br />
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Our recent lesson has been on Character Design, and I have the students begin with shapes to explore the look of the character they are designing. So I thought I would post a little Work-In-Progress (WIP) of my own, for a project currently in development.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzZHkDoK9YgXbOyC6kf2EQiSFVG0aavc4SuHIz4eQokxqs8N-_ZhX0AogVDMSngLucBtOPuSgViiYykdmWLNkoCCcCVs4VnVX3muqF-CLgc6NKEPwjO8d9Lc3PR6e41RueRDHjB4IpbUe/s1600/ArtNinja2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzZHkDoK9YgXbOyC6kf2EQiSFVG0aavc4SuHIz4eQokxqs8N-_ZhX0AogVDMSngLucBtOPuSgViiYykdmWLNkoCCcCVs4VnVX3muqF-CLgc6NKEPwjO8d9Lc3PR6e41RueRDHjB4IpbUe/s1600/ArtNinja2+copy.jpg" height="307" width="400" /></a></div>
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Starting in the upper left corner and moving clockwise around the page, I started with basic shapes to work out my design elements. From there, I began posing this character into the 5 poses at the bottom. There is still work to be done but I thought you'd enjoy seeing how I "practice what I teach" with this fun character.<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-89694993528201444762015-03-09T11:00:00.002-07:002015-03-09T11:01:25.500-07:00What Are You In Love With?<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, ... and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.” </span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>-</i>Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/r3nUAocC3Dk?t=30m19s"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrSDk8ela54XjoyhkobsGYQQd1wIOywx9Gyi_86IFZNbsGosmGoyNbFe1o9t_GJIEMkS_oEBxWCXPAGBpuuTP33-nF3bkj6exQl-aUQFre1eevy2q_hcoSj4Gcs1MPQyMUv7ibwFMhVqF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-03+at+8.24.21+AM.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is a beautiful and fitting quote by Fr. Pedro Arrupe that sums up what it's like when you are living with a sense of Passion and Purpose. <a href="http://youtu.be/r3nUAocC3Dk?t=30m19s">CLICK THE VIDEO</a> above as I talk about the energy you'll experience during my recent interview with Jared Tullos.</div>
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-14743982754859995402015-03-03T06:00:00.000-08:002015-03-12T00:55:42.477-07:00Overcoming ObstaclesRecently I had the honor of drawing a caricature for my cousin's husband in the Netherlands. I've had requests for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Save-the-Dates, and Employee of the Month Awards, but what made this caricature special is that it is celebrating his recovery to walk again!<br />
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So away with the wheelchair, crutches and physical therapy appointments. He's got this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MVEPD-radB0DApifsNQvxcf49XUvGt-soFktXCpvuuJ4Y96HgXwO0w3ey9RVOYb9PdJh3k2GZsANRG-fFzZht8vYyotetK9ux1HrnYjQlG8FQcEwKIdvU-03UWzrzIlsXG7nMmdm8gwV/s1600/11028498_10206165612082371_740974748_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MVEPD-radB0DApifsNQvxcf49XUvGt-soFktXCpvuuJ4Y96HgXwO0w3ey9RVOYb9PdJh3k2GZsANRG-fFzZht8vYyotetK9ux1HrnYjQlG8FQcEwKIdvU-03UWzrzIlsXG7nMmdm8gwV/s1600/11028498_10206165612082371_740974748_o.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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In life we are all going to face challenges. In the moment, we can get frustrated, depressed and even angry. But making sense of it all typically doesn't reveal itself until much later in life when you can reflect on that difficult time with from a new perspective and say to yourself, "Now I can see why that happened."</div>
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Believe me, I'm not saying it is easy while you are experiencing the "valleys" of life. But as a good friend once told me after I explained my own frustrations, "Fruit grows in the valleys, NOT on the mountain tops."</div>
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<i>What does that mean? </i>It simply means that in these moments we are meant to learn something. So <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/03/everyday-is-new-beginning.html">use the opportunity like I did</a> to find the "fruit" that is growing during your struggles.</div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/r3nUAocC3Dk?t=40m45s"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T-LsA8sCugGVHmrndVGJy_CYy0VSwSRlGho5MWmumk9KjtziEEc0ost1jem2cIfpUhunXqUvK3EqojubiGBVgPhgkIuH0ZmGpdpZwE04TKJjfJM7HENOVZ0H0c2t7ZUUur88Q5HU2nNv/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-03+at+8.24.21+AM.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-20382698869756757612015-03-02T06:00:00.000-08:002015-03-12T00:55:59.002-07:00Everyday is a New Beginning<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Life is what happens while we're "busy" making other plans...</span></i><br />
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I wanted to begin with this famous quote because it's been some time since posting my last blog entry and I apologize to my followers for that. Yes, "life" happens and if we're not careful, it's easy to overwhelm ourselves with obligations, promises and other "stuff" that isn't very important.
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It's common knowledge that it can take 21-days to create a habit (or change an undesirable trend in one's life). A former boss once said to me, "You can be busy, but are you being productive?" Recently I caught myself in this situation of overfilling my schedule with "busy-ness" which is not advancing my personal and professional goals. So I created a spreadsheet of how I spent blocks of time throughout my day, then made adjustments to it that would better insure my success of creating my preferred daily habits. The first habit I want to begin is creating drawings and writing blog posts on a daily basis.
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I know, I know... You've read this before. Probably from another blogger that is apologizing to their audience just like I am for not not providing you with usable and regular content. So writing and drawing are two activities that I would like to become daily habits for me. Even if they are brief writings like sharing a quote, or a current work-in-progress for one of my projects, it's something that I need to be consistent with to bring you a unique and valuable experience.
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So enough with that, let's get into something useful.<br />
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<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What do you want your life to look like?</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How would you envision your "perfect" day?</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If money was no object, how would you spend your time?</span></i></li>
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If we want to discover the ANSWER, we first need to ask the QUESTION. Now we can begin the conversation.<br />
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What do you do when you need to think? Do you turn on the television? Blast the radio? Enter a room of crowded people? NO. You seek out a place that is quiet. If you are interested in changing your life, and pursuing your passion, then let's start with finding some quiet time to reflect on where you are now and what you want your life to look like.
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I am speaking now from my own personal experience, which I hope helps encourage and guide you. This is what I did.
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<a href="http://youtu.be/r3nUAocC3Dk?t=9m"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T-LsA8sCugGVHmrndVGJy_CYy0VSwSRlGho5MWmumk9KjtziEEc0ost1jem2cIfpUhunXqUvK3EqojubiGBVgPhgkIuH0ZmGpdpZwE04TKJjfJM7HENOVZ0H0c2t7ZUUur88Q5HU2nNv/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-03+at+8.24.21+AM.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was fed up with where I was at professionally. I was working the graveyard shift at a job that wasn't very fulfilling, yet it did serve a purpose. That purpose was providing income and health benefits for me and my family. It also served another purpose... it helped me realize what I DIDN'T want to do, forcing me to ask myself the question, <i>"What DO I want to do with my life?"</i>
So I grabbed a composition book (you know, the ones we had in school with the black and white "cow"moulage on the cover) and began to write every idea that came to me about how I could make a living getting back to what I loved... DRAWING!
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To determine what that "something" is for you means you may need to reflect back on your childhood and remember what it is you LOVED doing. For my wife, it was riding and working with horses. For me, it was drawing. <i>What is it for you?</i>
So let's start the process together of creating the life that you REALLY want to live.<br />
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[ACTION STEP] Go to your local store today and purchase a composition book, or some sort of journal. Then TONIGHT, find a quiet place where you can reflect on your life up to this point, remembering all the moments where you were happiest; when you felt alive. (Oh, by the way, quiet means tossing your smart phone in a drawer for awhile. Sorry, but how bad do you want it?)<br />
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It's time to begin creating a NEW LIFE which allows you to be the best version of yourself. A life designed to fulfill your passion and purpose. Let's get started TODAY!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-64482836974344789622014-11-19T05:37:00.000-08:002014-11-19T05:37:30.709-08:00Vicky Voucher<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Social Networking is AWESOME!</span></i><br />
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Recently I was contacted through my <a href="http://twitter.com/voogdesigns">Twitter</a> account by a beautiful young lady in the UK. She mentioned that she was a fan of my work and wanted to know if I did commissions. So after exchanging a few emails, she received her custom color caricature today! Meet my new friend Vicky at <a href="http://aroundandupsidedown.co.uk/">http://aroundandupsidedown.co.uk/</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c0bn-ODPGkcdoawRwIEMBEM7V9RSbyUny25vUMwD_eM-2ZPs1My96mZl6CFHj102wVbEVoEZnaxvanS64FhPO0wHClfxD_DwU3ic_MrVdp82dxTfBBQ4uelpnmC9NIE7r1vQyuaIIUa3/s1600/VoogDesigns+Voucher_Vicky20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c0bn-ODPGkcdoawRwIEMBEM7V9RSbyUny25vUMwD_eM-2ZPs1My96mZl6CFHj102wVbEVoEZnaxvanS64FhPO0wHClfxD_DwU3ic_MrVdp82dxTfBBQ4uelpnmC9NIE7r1vQyuaIIUa3/s1600/VoogDesigns+Voucher_Vicky20.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
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NOW is the perfect time to take advantage of Vicky's SPECIAL OFFER in November! Purchase this VoogDesigns Voucher by November 30, 2014, and get 1 FULL COLOR custom caricatures at 20% OFF our regular price!<br />
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A single full-color caricature would normally cost you $75.00. But by purchasing this voucher below, you will get ONE CUSTOM FULL-COLOR CARICATURE for ONLY $60! You choose who you want us to draw. It can be for a family member, friend, co-worker or even yourself. It's up to you!<br />
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After purchasing this voucher by clicking the BUY NOW button below, we will email you to discuss the specifications of your request. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>This SPECIAL OFFER has been EXTENDED through November 30, 2014</i></span> so GRAB IT NOW and redeem it before the end of the month!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-89655318106804013872014-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:002014-11-16T08:55:20.223-08:00Family Time Book<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Time Management.</i></span> As some of you know, I am a very busy guy. I work a second job Wednesday-Saturday, and on these days I get up at 2:00am to manage the various drawing commissions on my drawing board. Whether it's comic strips, caricatures, or character designs, I'm drawing from 2:00am-5:30am before heading to a second job from 6:00am-6:00pm.<br />
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Monday I spend most of the day wrapping up commissions, invoicing and marketing. And on Tuesday I teach animation classes for a homeschooling association. I am also a husband and father. So the question is, <i>where do I make time for them? </i>My evenings are dedicated to time with my wife and daughter over dinner and conversation. But the big "Family Day" is on Sunday, which I call "Faith and Family Day". It's on Sundays that I devote the entire day to "Family Time".<br />
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Over the past year I was commissioned by local author, Travis Escalante, to illustration a fun little story about the importance of family. <i>Family Time</i> is a cute little rhyme book to show the true joy and happiness of spending time together as a family!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkyUvwsXBDTpEUWf140wZBFSGodSqqTz3h8aoRcKLDsc-EDN9zx1gEeRkOR12ou7iFSBib5uuMBKXE0wLGdfVlsB2p6JWPn0-7gLISyZ1AC2FEXxGF7KFIBgUSDXj18eF2zOg094Cfo2j/s1600/10494450_10204550318781048_5088639183807628793_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkyUvwsXBDTpEUWf140wZBFSGodSqqTz3h8aoRcKLDsc-EDN9zx1gEeRkOR12ou7iFSBib5uuMBKXE0wLGdfVlsB2p6JWPn0-7gLISyZ1AC2FEXxGF7KFIBgUSDXj18eF2zOg094Cfo2j/s1600/10494450_10204550318781048_5088639183807628793_o.jpg" height="202" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now you can purchase your own personalized copy of <i>Family Time </i>here! Below are two options to choose from. You can have Travis and I autograph and personalize your copy with a special dedication, OR you can request that I draw a custom cartoon of you that <i>INCLUDES YOU IN THE STORY!</i><br />
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As a freelance animator, illustrator, caricature and comic strip artist, I'd like to sincerely THANK YOU for supporting our book and helping me fulfill my dream of entertaining entreprenuership through my art.<br />
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Simply choose from the drop down menu below and then complete questions to complete the order. If you would like to have a custom cartoon of yourself, friend or family member, please email a photo of them to <a href="mailto:Michael@VoogDesigns.com">Michael@VoogDesigns.com</a><br />
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I hope that receiving and reading this book helps you discover the magic of family time!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-68952423929597995762014-11-02T20:00:00.000-08:002014-11-02T22:23:12.793-08:00The Book of Like<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All Souls Day. Dia de los Muertos. The Book of Life.</span></i><br />
Rich traditions occur in many faiths and cultures, and today I experienced this in a fun and colorful way. After attending weekly Sunday Mass with my family, we decided to see DreamWorks animated feature, <b style="font-style: italic;">The Book of Life, </b>and explain why I give it a "Liked It" rather than "Loved It" rating based on it's Style, Story, and Spirit.<br />
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Today is November 2nd, and the Catholic church observes this day as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls'_Day">The Feast of All Souls Day</a>", to remember and pray for those family and friends whom have died. In the film, Mary Beth (voiced by Christina Applegate), actually references "November 2nd" (which I thought was an odd coincidence) as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead">Dia de los Muertos</a>, or "The Day of the Dead". This is a Mexican holiday where family and friends gather to pray for, honor and colorfully celebrate their deceased family members.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The Style</i></span><br />
Often times, I determine whether I will see an animated film based on the designs of the characters from the posters and trailers. At first glance, this was not a film I was excited to see. As a matter of fact, if the character designs aren't esthetically pleasing to look at, rarely will the film hold my attention, even with a strong story. So the character designs in my opinion, were the weakest part of the film. From a design perspective, the two most enjoyable characters for me were "La Muerte", and some awesome animation with "The CandleMaker" (voiced vivaciously by Ice Cube)! The rest of the characters had a difficult time keeping my interest, and the vibrant amounts of color representing "The Land of the Remembered" seemed almost psychedelic.*<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The Story</i></span><br />
*Disclaimer: I am a Californian caucasian, and newly confirmed Catholic, so my knowledge and understanding of both these celebrated holidays is extremely limited. But this is where the beauty of the story on an educational level was so enriching. I truly enjoyed the history in this story as written and directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez, whom I have no doubt consulted talented and knowledgable cultural advisors to maintain accuracy and authenticity in this film. So I can appreciate the artistic, colorful and cultural representation of "The Land of the Remembered", as a realm full of life and vitality. This film was captivating, giving me a greater appreciation for the meanings behind these traditions in the Hispanic culture, almost as if I was in a "hip" History class! (Imagine if all classes were taught with animated films!)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The Spirit</i></span><br />
Being a man of faith, it was a pleasure to see the depth of the messages that were related to the audience. Faith. Family. Friendship. Forgiveness. Fortitude. The first moment in the film that piqued my interest was when Mary Beth, the museum guide, delved into the story of "The Land of the Remembered" and "The Land of the Forgotten". This caused me to pause for a moment and think of my own family and friends that have passed away, and it suddenly gave the movie more relevance.<br />
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I also enjoyed Manolo's journey through the realms, and the charismatic characters he interacts with. It is through his music, his feelings are explained, not just for Maria, but also in a touching testimony to a tempered Toro! He stays true to who he is, and seeing virtues like this is what our society needs more of in my opinion.<br />
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Overall, I enjoyed this film more for the message and cultural material, than for the animation. It was Education over Esthetics, and Content over Character Design, which is why I'm rating <i>The Book of Life</i>, as "The Book of "Like".<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-56599169754734010662014-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:002014-10-03T08:30:00.476-07:00Halloween Caricature Offer<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Have you ever wanted to be a Zombie, Vampire or Ghoul?</span></i><br />
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NOW is the perfect time to take advantage of our SPECIAL OFFER in October! Purchase this VoogDesigns Voucher by October 24, 2014, and get 1 FULL COLOR custom caricatures at 50% OFF our regular price!<br />
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A single full-color caricature would normally cost you $50.00. But by purchasing this voucher below, you will get ONE CUSTOM FULL-COLOR CARICATURE for ONLY $25! You choose who you want us to draw and what character you'd like it to be. It can be for a family member, friend, co-worker or even yourself. It's up to you!<br />
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Custom Halloween Caricatures are also great for Party Invitations and Creative Marketing Solutions for any business!<br />
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After purchasing this voucher by clicking the BUY NOW button below, we will be in contact with you to discuss the specifications of your request. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>This SPECIAL OFFER has been EXTENDED through October 24, 2014</i></span> so GRAB IT NOW and redeem it anytime before Halloween!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-27747713574183825722014-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:002014-09-15T13:49:14.854-07:00VoogDesigns Voucher<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Looking for a unique gift to give at a birthday, anniversary, wedding, or other special occasion?</span></i><br />
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A single full-color caricature would normally cost you $50.00. But by purchasing this voucher below, you will get THREE CUSTOM FULL-COLOR CARICATURES for ONLY $33 EACH! You choose who you want us to draw. It can be for a family member, friend, co-worker or even yourself. You can have all three people in one drawing, or request 3 individual caricatures. It's up to you!<br />
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After purchasing this voucher by clicking the BUY NOW button below, we will be in contact with you to discuss the specifications of your request. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>This SPECIAL OFFER has been EXTENDED through September 15, 2014</i></span> so GRAB IT NOW and redeem it when you are ready...there's no expiration date!<br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-7429842287931151912014-07-03T10:00:00.000-07:002014-07-15T09:10:59.233-07:00Advice to a Class from Real World Freelance- Part 4<div style="text-align: center;">
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Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Laura C. who is a first year Media and Animation student at The Art Institute of Orange County. For her report, she was required to interview someone in the Animation Industry to get an idea for the field and the types of jobs that are available.</div>
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In the next series of posts, I will share with you the questions she asked me and my responses based on my journey and perspective as a Freelance Artist. Please feel free to comment below with any questions you may have for me, and I would be happy to answer them for you. </div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Interview with Michael Voogd - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Freelance Artist</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Animator – Illustrator – Caricature – Comic Strips – Instructor</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://VoogDesigns.com/">http://VoogDesigns.com</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>How long did it take to get your business up and running?</i></span><br />
I realized the first thing I needed was a website to promote myself, and some business cards for my face-to-face meetings. After launching my website I started scanning in my old drawings just for visual stimulation to give viewers a taste of my style. Then I searched sites like craigslist.org for people that needed artist to hire. I was professional in my email responses to their ads, and always included my new website for them to view my work. I knew that if I could get them to reply to my emails, and begin a conversation with them, that I had a chance. And sure enough, within the first week I started receiving personal replies and offers. In fact, two of my current clients I found on craigslist, and I am still working with them 3 years later!<br />
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Remember, it’s all about presenting a strong <i>portfolio</i>, and NOT necessarily about having a degree! People don’t care that I have an Associates in Art Degree. What they care about is what they see in my portfolio and what they will expect their projects to look like.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Were there any setbacks?</span></i><br />
A-B-C… Always Be Closing. Or put another way, “Always Be Creating”. One thing I learned from my former sales jobs is to keep your “pipeline” full. Which means to always have projects that you are working on, while continuing to pursue new clients. If you just settle on working with your existing clients, you neglect your next paycheck, which you will eventually need. With this mentality, I have been able to avoid potential setbacks.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Is it ever hard to find new clients?</span></i><br />
Not when you follow my previous advise. There is ALWAYS a need for ART. Some people have the vision, but it’s the artist that brings the vision to life. I do believe that you should have a specialty, or the art that you prefer to create. BUT, that is when you need to decide how you want to market yourself. In the beginning, I marketed myself (and still do to some extent) in the following areas: Animator, Illustrator, Caricature and Comic Strip Artist. I also am an instructor and teach drawing classes in the local home schooling community to fulfill a need for parents that want their children exposed to art, but don’t know how to draw. <i>Versatility</i> is important. There will be times that caricatures aren’t in demand, or illustrations; in which case you’ll need to market comic strips, or logo design, or tutoring.
READ:<br />
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READ: Advice to a Class from Real World Freelance <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/06/advice-to-class-from-real-world.html">Part 1</a> | <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/07/advice-to-class-from-real-world2.html">Part 2</a> | <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/07/advice-to-class-from-real-world3.html">Part 3</a><br />
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-46025836553803663462014-07-02T10:00:00.000-07:002014-07-15T09:02:30.345-07:00Advice to a Class from Real World Freelance- Part 3<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Laura C. who is a first year Media and Animation student at The Art Institute of Orange County. For her report, she was required to interview someone in the Animation Industry to get an idea for the field and the types of jobs that are available.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the next series of posts, I will share with you the questions she asked me and my responses based on my journey and perspective as a Freelance Artist. Please feel free to comment below with any questions you may have for me, and I would be happy to answer them for you. </div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Interview with Michael Voogd - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Freelance Artist</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Animator – Illustrator – Caricature – Comic Strips – Instructor</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://VoogDesigns.com/">http://VoogDesigns.com</a></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Owning your own business sounds like the dream. What made you want to open your own company rather than taking your talents to a studio?</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>'Whether you think you can, or think you can't- you're right.'</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
–Henry Ford </div>
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Back in the late 90’s studios began changing how animators were contracted. Rather than hiring them for a period of years, they hired them per animated picture. When the film was completed, many of these animators got laid off and had to reapply to get onto the next film. In a scramble for these out-of-work artists to make a living, it became very difficult for new talent to get hired by studios when all the veterans were completing for the same jobs. At the time it was still a very young Internet and portfolios still needed to me printed and mailed. It was very discouraging and so I lost interest in my pursuit.<br />
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Between 2000 and 2009 I pretty much stopped drawing. I would doodle a little here and there, but nothing serious or consistent. These moments however, reminded me how much I loved to draw and that I was good at it. And it was during these 10 years that the Internet came into it’s own and websites were popping up left and right.<br />
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Our habits change when our thinking changes, and this “change” usually happens when you are fed up with a circumstance in your life that you want to improve. This pivotal moment occurred to me in the quiet hours of working a graveyard shift at a company that had me doing unfulfilling and monotonous work. In these hours of frustration, an idea began to take shape. <i>“What is my PASSION and PURPOSE in life? What are the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with? How can I use these gifts to live a happy and rewarding life, while adding value and filling a need in society? I want to draw. I want to CREATE! But how can I earn a living doing what I love.”</i><br />
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So I began thinking this idea through on how to practically make it happen. I realized, “<i>I can draw the images, but what niche do I want to focus on? I know how to create a website to display my artwork, but how will I attract customers? How can I advertise my services on a very limited budget?”</i> You probably already guessed the answer... SOCIAL MEDIA!<br />
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With Social Media I could have unlimited viewers! My friends and family would be happy to promote my services to their circles of followers, and best of all…IT’S FREE! My vision was coming together, but more importantly, I BELIEVED I could do it. And with that conviction, I grabbed a composition book and began writing down every idea that came into my head as to how I would make money with my art. Nothing was left off the table. I became a jack-of-all-trades so to speak.
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<br />
READ: Advice to a Class from Real World Freelance <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/06/advice-to-class-from-real-world.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/07/advice-to-class-from-real-world2.html">Part 2</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=VoogDesigns&loc=en_US">"Toon"Into VoogDesigns by Email</a></span></div>
VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-38850696261869582992014-07-01T10:00:00.001-07:002014-07-15T09:11:45.363-07:00Advice to a Class from Real World Freelance- Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Laura C. who is a first year Media and Animation student at The Art Institute of Orange County. For her report, she was required to interview someone in the Animation Industry to get an idea for the field and the types of jobs that are available.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the next series of posts, I will share with you the questions she asked me and my responses based on my journey and perspective as a Freelance Artist. Please feel free to comment below with any questions you may have for me, and I would be happy to answer them for you. </div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Interview with Michael Voogd - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Freelance Artist</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Animator – Illustrator – Caricature – Comic Strips – Instructor</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://VoogDesigns.com/">http://VoogDesigns.com</a></span></div>
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">What sparked your interest in animation? What main type of art/animation do you do?</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br /></span></i>
It was the summer of 1988, when my family embarked on a road trip around the United States. At 13 years old I already had a fondness of hand-drawn animation, but it was when we visited the newly constructed Disney MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida that I knew what I wanted to do.<br />
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The attraction was called ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’. At the time you were able to watch real Disney Animators at work from behind a glass curtain after viewing a short movie on the process of creating an animated movie. Once I stepped in, it was a slice of heaven for this young artist with a love for cartoons.<br />
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I enjoy creating 2-D hand-drawn animation, but also enjoy the visual beauty of what is now being created with CG animation. What these talented animators are able to create with computers is truly amazing. Yet, you must always remember that the software is just a tool. The computer DOES NOT animate a scene on it’s own, just like a pencil doesn’t draw a picture on it’s own. It’s the vision of the artist that uses these tools to create the illusion of life that viewers see on screen.
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<br />
Read: <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/06/advice-to-class-from-real-world.html">Advice to a Class from Real World Freelance- Part 1</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=VoogDesigns&loc=en_US">"Toon"Into VoogDesigns by Email</a></span></div>
VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-11878599563652612582014-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:002014-07-15T09:01:30.102-07:00Advice to a Class from Real World Freelance- Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Laura C. who is a first year Media and Animation student at The Art Institute of Orange County. For her report, she was required to interview someone in the Animation Industry to get an idea for the field and the types of jobs that are available.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the next series of posts, I will share with you the questions she asked me and my responses based on my journey and perspective as a Freelance Artist. Please feel free to comment below with any questions you may have for me, and I would be happy to answer them for you. </div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Interview with Michael Voogd - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Freelance Artist</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Animator – Illustrator – Caricature – Comic Strips – Instructor</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://VoogDesigns.com/">http://VoogDesigns.com</a></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>Tell me a little more about growing up an artist and your journey into owning your company. </i><i>Was you family supportive of your artistic ambitions?</i></span><br />
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From my recollection, it was subtle support. They would often praise my work and encourage me to continue, but I never felt they forced or pushed me to draw. I think they recognized that I enjoyed doing it, and allowed me to embrace that peace and happiness when I would draw.<br />
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To their benefit, drawing also makes for a great babysitter when your parents have stuff to get done around the house. It would occupy my interest for hours, allowing my mom to cook dinner and clean the house without being distracted, which I am sure she was grateful for.<br />
<br />
But as with any parent that wants the best for their children, as I got older they did encourage me to go to college and earn a degree, just in case I needed something to “fall back on”. So I attended a local community college and earned an Associate in Art Degree right after High School. Simultaneously, I attended the California Art Institute as a way to develop my figure drawing and quick sketch portfolio, which were standard requests when applying to animation studios.<br />
<br />
It was during this time that I had my first epiphany. A “degree” means nothing if your portfolio is sub-par. You can receive high grades in all your art classes in college, BUT it really is your PORTFOLIO, the proof of your work that sells you to the studios. Another way to put it is that studios will hire you more on the work in your portfolio, than the grades you received in school.<br />
<br />
There was a vast difference between art classes in a local college and that of an art instruction school. Where colleges teach Art History, Color Theory, and drawing pretty shapes with shadows and perspective, the classes at the Art Institute were not based on grades, but <u>developing your work to strengthen your portfolio.</u><br />
<br />
A few years ago, I attended a seminar by a veteran in the Animation Industry who said something in his lecture that I completely agree with. He said, “If you have been told to get a college degree so that you have something to “fall back on”, this is subliminally telling you that <u>you will not succeed</u>.” In essence, you will never put forth your entire effort because you have a safety net; something to fall back on. It’s when you don’t have a choice, when you HAVE TO succeed, that’s when you become intensely focused with unwavering dedication and determination. That’s when you succeed.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=VoogDesigns&loc=en_US">"Toon"Into VoogDesigns by Email</a></span></div>
VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-4701483740596031352013-10-23T08:00:00.000-07:002013-10-23T20:30:41.920-07:00Late Night Laughs<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Heeere's Johnny! </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Today is </span><i>TV Talk Show Host Day</i> and honors all TV Talk Show hosts past and present. This very special day is celebrated on the birth date of legendary night time talk show host Johnny Carson. <span class="Apple-style-span">For a record 29 years, 7 months and 29 days, the undisputed "King of Late Night Television" hosted 1,859 episodes </span>of The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRFHHSSMfJPwRpRLZ3PWjAdgCwid0F5xeqRyC706FAdGW7ZDfpjx4-n05nzugIWJZjHh22KZ9yrEytCIwVvDs-ttFXMJmuprfhtAav_iF7_4N16c7ZLRKkyu0t8n_MHzEdZ9DN-ungXUV/s1600/DrOz_VoogDesigns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRFHHSSMfJPwRpRLZ3PWjAdgCwid0F5xeqRyC706FAdGW7ZDfpjx4-n05nzugIWJZjHh22KZ9yrEytCIwVvDs-ttFXMJmuprfhtAav_iF7_4N16c7ZLRKkyu0t8n_MHzEdZ9DN-ungXUV/s1600/DrOz_VoogDesigns.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun caricature of one <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/voogdesigns/caricatures">Health-Conscious Host</a>!</td></tr>
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While this day is celebrated on Johnny Carson's birth date, it is intended to show appreciation to all Television talk show hosts, daytime and nighttime.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO2qTX4X4Gr0kq3h9t7DirH-Ma1litn94jZIfC3A7XnAWw_bSf024vA9hyphenhyphenLgiDKH8cUR7qx7nVgGLMqWuvRwmrG02onApjkFPy6T5vXHaQTPCOsg23WBMnKK1cKTAhh4TFKc811_Xt6wN/s1600/BecauseISaidSo17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO2qTX4X4Gr0kq3h9t7DirH-Ma1litn94jZIfC3A7XnAWw_bSf024vA9hyphenhyphenLgiDKH8cUR7qx7nVgGLMqWuvRwmrG02onApjkFPy6T5vXHaQTPCOsg23WBMnKK1cKTAhh4TFKc811_Xt6wN/s1600/BecauseISaidSo17.jpg" height="130" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad may not have a talk show, but loves seeing himself on TV and <a href="http://www.brucesallan.com/category/because-i-said-so-comics/">in comic strips</a>!</td></tr>
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Celebrate today, by having a Television Talk Show Marathon...watch them all day and night. Have a happy <i>TV Talk Show Host Day!!!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=VoogDesigns&loc=en_US">"Toon"Into VoogDesigns by Email</a></span></div>
VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-26627088849616185622013-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:002013-10-21T22:42:09.002-07:00Pumpkin Parade<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pumpkins. Pumpkins. Pumpkins!</span></i> Nothing says "October" like pumpkins! Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Filling, Pumpkin Beer, Pumpkin Cider, Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Cheesecake!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrg95B_NyfmvW5Il0WxKh-FCLqPGeqsduI01fs5VNHoNBNUH0dJ1UMnx9FVCZAoMZewdPVLwKpngCZLLsTwGJHQZP6rgJWX2Mb2q2YyE9Kb9SEywfsqLgmIs1_5ligjgT7Xh87IEj2R-2r/s1600/abecauseisaidso10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrg95B_NyfmvW5Il0WxKh-FCLqPGeqsduI01fs5VNHoNBNUH0dJ1UMnx9FVCZAoMZewdPVLwKpngCZLLsTwGJHQZP6rgJWX2Mb2q2YyE9Kb9SEywfsqLgmIs1_5ligjgT7Xh87IEj2R-2r/s1600/abecauseisaidso10.jpg" height="130" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dad" <a href="http://www.brucesallan.com/2011/11/23/becauseisaidsocomic10/">LOVES</a> pumpkins this time of year!</td></tr>
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Today is <i>National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day</i> and celebrates the Fall with this rich and creamy Jack o' Luscious dessert. Why pumpkins and cheesecake!? WHY NOT put these two favorite desserts together?! They make a delicious dessert and they're both nutritious and healthy.<br />
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Not quite the "baker"? That's OK, it's easy to indulge this special day. Go to a cheesecake store or bakery, and buy a "pumpkin cheesecake".
Or better yet, make a homemade pumpkin cheesecake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tzNPBsdD-gR5X2naiLzdZTFoX2-lqkCU5_xCu8P7KhiVVjf2G35emq2TIt7p-raxpTwlGkdqeSJYFsfc-WyiHtsEKXPWIzpcdtEq8SQtz7HbvLiWJajf_cNwPg4a1Bn02d67UZ5s3vxM/s1600/PumpkinCheesecake+Recipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tzNPBsdD-gR5X2naiLzdZTFoX2-lqkCU5_xCu8P7KhiVVjf2G35emq2TIt7p-raxpTwlGkdqeSJYFsfc-WyiHtsEKXPWIzpcdtEq8SQtz7HbvLiWJajf_cNwPg4a1Bn02d67UZ5s3vxM/s1600/PumpkinCheesecake+Recipe.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Don't have a recipe? Here is a <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1Gb9sPNhGQJNkxvXzJoSGg1TGM/edit?usp=sharing">Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe</a> to try that's fun and its easy!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-85023507504613054602013-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:002013-10-21T17:18:54.972-07:00Count Your ButtonsParental wisdom has taught us to "count our blessings" when we are feeling melancholy, but we'll save that for another day. Today is… <i>Count Your Buttons Day!?</i> Yes, as found on <a href="http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/October/countyourbuttonsday.htm">Holiday Insights</a>, we were perplexed by this wacky holiday too. So we wanted to know "Why!?" And it turns out that they don't know why either! The subject is rather ambiguous. <i>Are these the buttons that keep our pants, shirts, sweaters and jackets together, or funny slogan buttons like the type we find around election season?</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY3uEZcKDex3fVpx8I8tZwtME8MgsqGs5rVOIIbohy-rHhqtM12CPMRu-dE90elZEs8e6gpWZfZqwlfTM3TE2IV6N4Vs8OnkVd5ZQm9W8FxVYGaaBSs5BzGo1RrWCwtp9UssRy4vmRbQf/s1600/CorporateLadderUniversity37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY3uEZcKDex3fVpx8I8tZwtME8MgsqGs5rVOIIbohy-rHhqtM12CPMRu-dE90elZEs8e6gpWZfZqwlfTM3TE2IV6N4Vs8OnkVd5ZQm9W8FxVYGaaBSs5BzGo1RrWCwtp9UssRy4vmRbQf/s1600/CorporateLadderUniversity37.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ericpbutts.com/2013/08/3-words-that-will-kill-your-career.html">Some buttons aren't worth counting...</a></td></tr>
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<i>So how do you celebrate this day?</i> Whether you are a "collector of buttons" or any other obscure obsession (hey, my grandmother collected spoons!), it's suggested that if you have nothing better to do, you start counting your buttons. Otherwise, you may choose to move on to the other other holiday celebrated today… <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/10/pumpkin-parade.html">National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day!</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688602228799169654.post-27499212129561233382013-10-19T17:30:00.000-07:002013-10-19T17:30:25.054-07:00Evaluating Your Life<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Honesty is the best policy.</span></i> We usually lend this advise when we are talking to a friend who is trying to solve a problem with someone else. <i>But what if the issue we are contemplating is with ourself?</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZGxrQkSCGcP0bwLSbVH8rrxXngfeynDAgK9hnvpMZanacM40JM-pg7BdumsaZ9sU4G9xTt4hqDgT_tVRAnGDGQ9nrKyjxu_RFc7u7jcR3rUuvXMUf1XX01cMBpfbwsh2Ega0F9tC2s6b/s1600/CorporateLadderUniversity24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZGxrQkSCGcP0bwLSbVH8rrxXngfeynDAgK9hnvpMZanacM40JM-pg7BdumsaZ9sU4G9xTt4hqDgT_tVRAnGDGQ9nrKyjxu_RFc7u7jcR3rUuvXMUf1XX01cMBpfbwsh2Ega0F9tC2s6b/s1600/CorporateLadderUniversity24.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fitting "self-evaluation" comic that I did for <a href="http://www.ericpbutts.com/search/label/Corporate%20Ladder%20University">Eric P. Butts CPA</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i>Evaluate Your Life Day</i></b> sounds just a little bit too serious, and can be a bit scary. <i>What if in evaluating our own life we don't like what we find?</i><br />
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Well that's when we need to put on our grown up pants, muster up some bravado, and begin to make positive changes.
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<b><i>Evaluate Your Life Day</i></b> gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect upon our life; what we've done, and where we're going. Remember, <i><b>honest is the best policy here</b></i>. Are things going well? What's bothering you? What do you need, or want, to change? Am I where I want to be physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially? What's your purpose? What's your passion? <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/08/voogdesigns-vocation.html">Here's what I found.</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/je3rQevW-cw?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
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With a self evaluation, you can then <a href="http://voogdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/09/dont-quit-your-day-jobyet.html">make the changes like I did</a> to improve the quality of your life. Or, if things are going well, just tinker with small adjustments. <b><i>Evaluate Your Life Day</i></b> can be the beginning of a happier and healthier you!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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VoogDesignshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480402111067077204noreply@blogger.com0