City Shots
As much as I love to ride my bike everywhere I go there are some days that it is just too cold, too wet, and just too much to ride everyday. I have been teaching at Ivy Tech and recently found out that taking First Ave is an absolute nightmare with all the construction right now. I changed things up and took Garvin to get to the north side. Taking this new route I noticed on almost every block there was a closed down and abandoned small business. This evoked an abundance of emotions and concerns. So, I decided to start developing a concept.
Franklin & Garvin
Sometimes I know I have something to say, but I have no idea what I want to say or how I want to say it. Instead of sitting and stewing, I decided to figure it out along the way. I have begun photographing abandonded and closed down small businesses in Evansville neighborhoods. While doing this I noticed there are still some small businesses operating in these neighborhoods. So, I decided to add those as well. And now that I have started, a full idea of what I want to say and how I want to say it is starting to develop. I promise to keep you updated.
Virginia
Stringtown
Virginia
Heidelbach
A New Skyline
Photographing the fall of 420 was a unique experience. I had never seen a building imploded with my own eyes before and now I still have not seen a building imploded with my own eyes. I had a camera in front of my face the whole time. Being behind a camera changes the experience dramatically. To best describe it I compare it to shooting live video at a basketball game. In college I worked for ESPN3 at UE. I found myself in a rolling chair on the sidelines of the basketball court quite often. When shooting the game it is all about keeping the camera on the action. So, if a ball or a 6′ 7″ athlete comes barreling towards you the camera stays on the action. It was borderline abuse how many times I got hit with a ball, but ending up with a player in your lap is a whole other experience. The camera sometimes seems like it is a separation between you and what is happening. It feels uniquely different than just being a spectator.
After shooting the fall of 420 I wanted to make sure I went back and captured the new skyline from the same spot I documented its destruction. This cold Saturday morning sets a serine sense of calm in comparison to the implosion. Also, 12 hours before this shot was taken our neighbors in Kentucky experienced devastating tornadoes while less than 200 miles away this idyllic shot of Downtown Evansville remains untouched.
Making Mockups
How do you best display how patterns and surface designs might look in real life? Mockups! If you want a mockup to use for anything you create digitally there are tons available. Some are free, some cost money, some are exactly what you need, and some are sorely lacking. What is the best way to deal with this? If you know how, make your own mockups!
The first image is an abstract surface design I created titled Earth, Fire & Water. It is one of my favorites that I have recently created. Sometimes it is hard for those I share my work with to imagine how what I have created might be used in real life. As previously mentioned sometimes it is hard to find the right mockup to display work, but there are really great stock images out there. I found this second image on Adobe stock and it was exactly what I wanted to use to display my new work.
I will not bore you with the process of creating a mock up in photoshop, but instead allow you to enjoy the final image.
Earth, Fire, & Water
Before
After
Mock 2 - Composite Image
Want to take creating mockups to the next level? Create a composite image too! A composite image is combining 2 or more images to create one seamless scene.
The surface design “Fall Flowers” is a design that would look great on all types of fabrics. The model used in this project is wearing a dress that I imagined would best display this design.
I found a dramatic background, worked some photoshop magic, and voila! Tommy Art & Design advertisement. Enjoy!
Fall Flowers
Before Image 1
Before Image 2
After
Illustrating Women of Strength
Illustrating strong women is my niche. I am a man raised by strong women and in my world all my real life heroes are women.
Most of my art is not about appeasing anyone other than myself. Illustration is my escape from the world, my therapy. In this therapy I choose to celebrate women.
I have a secret obsession with fashion and makeup design. Not so secret anymore. I love the decadence and exaggerated expression of it all. Most things in life where decadence is concerned I am vehemently vocal about my disapproval. In the case of fashion design I allow myself leniency from my internal narrative.
I love the fierceness of this illustration. She appears to possess a quiet defiance. A sense of calm you do not want to disturb.
YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME
Helping The Changemakers
From time to time I assist some of the change maker groups at UE with a little design work. This semester a group is converting an unused room to a zen like relaxation room equipped with calming music, aromatherapy, and VR. I am not sure what the VR is like, but I know it has something to do with breathing exercises and meditation.
I am always excited to help out these teams. This semester they asked that I draw up a mockup of how the room might look when completed. It was a little last minute this semester, but I was able to provide them with a rudimentary visual.
Student Media - The Crescent Magazine
This is my second semester leading The Crescent Magazine at UE as the Student Media Advisor. Converting the publication to an all digital format has been a large undertaking and still we will have one print issue a year. WHEW!
The Crescent Magazine is a publication created by UE students. We just finished the latest issue. Check it out below. Also visit the website and follow us on social media.
Urban Seeds
Working with Urban Seeds as board member on the executive committee and as a professional is a complete labor of love. The societal issues we attempt to combat are very import to me and to our community. I have been working with the team to create videos sharing the boards personal reasons on why they work with Urban Seeds and what it means to them. This is a sneak peek! I will have the rest finished in the next couple weeks. In the mean time Visit the Urban Seeds Website to learn more and donate to support our efforts.
SUPPORT LOCAL CREATORS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
If you truly want to make a difference in our community support local creators. Below are ways to support my endeavors. Tommy Art & Design offers Illustration, Web Design, Photography, Video, Graphic Design, and more. I create lots of patterns, graphics and illustrations available on a variety of products. AND I am always available for commission. If you don’t support me please support other local creators. Walmart and Amazon does not need your money.
CODE47
T-Shirts, Hoodies, Tank Tops, Crewneck, Sweatshirts, Long Sleeve, T-Shirts, Baseball T-Shirts, Stickers, Phone Cases, Laptop Cases, Kids T-Shirts, Kids Hoodie, Kids Long Sleeve, T-Shirt, Onesie, Mugs, Wall Art, Notebooks, Pillows, Totes, Tapestries, Pins, Magnets, Masks
SLOTH STYLE
T-Shirts, Hoodies, Tank Tops, Crewneck, Sweatshirts, Long Sleeve, T-Shirts, Baseball T-Shirts, Stickers, Phone Cases, Laptop Cases, Kids T-Shirts, Kids Hoodie, Kids Long Sleeve, T-Shirt, Onesie, Mugs, Wall Art, Notebooks, Pillows, Totes, Tapestries, Pins, Magnets, Masks
T-Shirts, Hoodies, Tank Tops, Crewneck, Sweatshirts, Long Sleeve, T-Shirts, Baseball T-Shirts, Stickers, Phone Cases, Laptop Cases, Kids T-Shirts, Kids Hoodie, Kids Long Sleeve, T-Shirt, Onesie, Mugs, Wall Art, Notebooks, Pillows, Totes, Tapestries, Pins, Magnets, Masks
T-Shirts, Hoodies, Tank Tops, Crewneck, Sweatshirts, Long Sleeve, T-Shirts, Baseball T-Shirts, Stickers, Phone Cases, Laptop Cases, Kids T-Shirts, Kids Hoodie, Kids Long Sleeve, T-Shirt, Onesie, Mugs, Wall Art, Notebooks, Pillows, Totes, Tapestries, Pins, Magnets, Masks
Canvas and Photo Quality Prints
On Tee Public and Redbubble there are every day use merchandise like phone cases, pillows, mugs, stickers, and more. All products sold with my illustrations and surface designs on them help us and gives you awesome looking stuff to wear and use!