'Entry 2010 - 78 - "Thy Sword, God's Word"

Upon client request: Winged, angelic knights. One or both decimating a demon.

I made a bunch of sketches before doing them. I also used a lot of different mediums to make it. Both shoes have Scriptures on the outer sides.

Right: "Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy." - Ephesians
...
Left: "The sword of the Spirit, God's Word." - Exodus

Size 11 - $80

'Entry 2010 - 77 - "Iron & 2099 Arachnid"

Since I do not make the same designs twice, when asked to do another Spider-Man pair, I chose my favorite version (the future one, not peter). Client wanted Iron Spidey especially and his tattooing group name on here too. And instead of my initials, "Artifex Jay" is listed (*fanboy favorites)

Left Shoe: Spider-Man 2099 (Future Version) on the toe. 2099. The Green Goblin and his jack-o-lantern bombs on the inner side of the shoe. "Artifex Jay" and more bombs on the outer side of the shoe.

Right Shoe: Iron Spider-Man on the toe. Doc Octopus and his tentacles on the inner side of the shoe. "Vigilante Ink" on the outer side of the shoe.

Size 9 - $80
*Made in approx. 2wks

'Entry 2010 - 76 - "Farmer's Generations"

Entry 2010 - 75 - "The Reverend Joseph A. Darby"

Entry 2010 - 74 - "Ginger Masculinity"

"And I had but one penny in the world. Thou should’st have it to buy gingerbread."– William Shakespeare

Entry 2010 - 73 - "Rakugaki"

The word of the day is Rakugaki.

Rakugaki is Japanese in origin.

Rakugaki is defined as wording and/or graffiti

*The drawing I drew has nothing to with wording
but the organic ribbon may relate a little bit to graffiti.

Entry 2010 - 72 - "Quitting Time"

In any illustration or design project I have, its mandatory to put my all into it: all my heart, mind, work and time. To be rejected over & over again sucks (especially rejection without criticism of my work), but that's apart of growing up as an adult & an artist. Whenever I enter some design competition, I work like its my last day on earth and then losing to a hoaky design makes me want to declare it "Quitting Time".

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Its Quitting Time! Quitting Time? Yes, Lady its time to Quit!

I submitted for design contests and exhibition entries during the better part of this year. Rejected back to back to back. Not to say it wasn't a good year to design/draw. Fall Semester at TTC led to 2010 being as great as was.

Fall 09 included the four months of volunteering during my first (hopefully not the last) Kuluture Klash show, my time for Exit Portfolio with one of my favorite instructors, submitting my entries for the ADDYs, discovering a relative as school, and a couple other things.

Exit portfolio re-opened the door to a former rejector, the company (I won't say) behind Charleston Magazine, the company re-interviewed me and hired me as an Intern for Illustration and Design in 2010. The beginning of 2010 was looking up! The ADDYs' entries I'd submitted, all 3 of them won and the awards showing was in 2010 where I met great designers including those from Gil Shuler Design and Hook Agency. I'd also finally paid my debt to SCAD (without losing any kidneys or unborn sons). May 2010, I graduated from TTC with an Associates in Graphic Design and a Certificate in Illustration. The same week of graduating, I was hired as a temp at TTC's Fin Aid (maestro cue The Ojays - "For the Love of Money"). And a few months ago I learned of my acceptance into the University of South Carolina, get to pursue my BFA degree after all. So, 2010 was the year to reap my efforts of 2009 & its predecessors, not the year to draw.

I dont have to have half a year of success and half as otherwise, it'll be what I make it! The world will always be a competition. If I lose or get rejected, then I'll try, try again. If I or someone says that I'm the best at what I do, then it will definately be proven by pure competitiveness AND creativity. If I quit entering design contests then what'll I quit next.

Life and a dream are tools I work with, and to quit would be a deferrment of both. Rejected designs go to straight to my portfolio. And today, I show the newest member of portfolio - The 2010 Pajama Run Entry of mine (I love this piece).

Rejection never looked so good. Wont stop, I'll draw with my tongue if I have to!

(Hey Maestro, take us out & cue Survivor - "Eye of the Tiger")

Quitting time aint upon me til after my final breath, not stopping now!