Doodle Discussions

Resolving the candy issue

by

Illustration Friday’s topic this week is “Resolve”, and the first thing that came to mind for me was my 18 month old daughter shoving all the chocolate kisses in her mouth before I could stop her. From across the room I noticed the pile of chocolates she found, I called to her — “Put the candy down”. She did, but throughout the rest day she continued to snag one here and one there. I know, the answer should have been… put them up where she can’t reach them. However, with this child, it’s not that easy. She’s a smart one, a resourceful one and a determined to do things her way…

So here is my version of the topic – resolving the candy issue.

resolving-the-candy-issue

My Penguin is a tattoo – now it's more than just a coloring marker!

by

I started my day today with a fantastic email from a JGoode Penguin fan. I think I now have to dub her the penguin’s biggest fan. Yay! We actually have a biggest fan- today is a historical moment for JGD…

This is a photo from her message to me…

This is the original design:

Blue Fairy Penguin
Little Blue Fairy Penguin

I personally think its pretty darn cool that someone likes my art enough to permanently attach it to their being. That’s the whole point of the penguins… find your own penguin personality! This fits right in with my newest penguin themed site, Penguinality. Here you can find the penguin you like most and then personalize it just for you. Check it out!

Now I know, some of you may wonder, as some have mentioned.. copyright issue? Sure, could be. usually you need persmission for artist use their art… but really, is it an issue? Probably more so if the tattoo owner is planning on selling her arm – which I highly doubt she is. ha!

Special thanks to Kayla for sharing this with me. It really made my day!!

JGoode Designs in the News

by

I had the privileged of sharing my designs, my business and my love for internet retailing with a few people this week. All the talking has now resulted in a wonderful story at Baby, Kids and Family and a fantastic article spot in U.S. News.

Can you believe it? Me, lil’ old me and my smiley doodles – in the news – WOW I’m so delighted!

It still amazes me every day that my images that I love to create so much are loved and appreciated by others. I never would have thought… and now, to have someone – two someones – want to share my story in official news – I’m overjoyed.. tickled pink and purple!

I couldn’t ask for a better ending to my week. This, this right here – the sharing of the inspiring smiles, is exactly why I do what I do… every day!

JGoode Designs in U.S. News

4 years ago I could never have imagined this is where I would be or what I would be doing. Thank you to all my encouraging supporters –  I love my job!

Friends

by

I’ve got a lot of different angles on friends these days. My 5 year old is just starting to make his own friends. My 12 year old realizing what a good friend really is. I have friends that I see parting ways and friends holding on dearly to whatever friend they can find… There are friends that are always there no matter how long its been since we last talked. I’ve made many friends and lost many friends over the years… moving around and growing up, changing careers and hobbies, etc. play a big role in where friendships stay. There’s also the new friends that I feel like I’ve known forever and the old friends that are so dear to me every day.

So when I thought “friends” would be a good topic for the daily design… I was amazed to find I only have 2 designs labeled “friend”. What’s up with that? How could I be so all about building relationships and now have more friend fun?

Girl's Best Friend

Wikipedia defines a friend as:

“Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more beings… A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them.”
That is only a snipped version of the full definition, which turned out to be a surprisingly long and overly technical view on “friend”. wow!

The Urban Dictionary’s topic definition of friend is:

    A real friend is someone who:a)it’s okay to fart in front of.

    b)you don’t mind talking to on the bus for atleast 20 minutes.

    c)can borrow $5 and never has to pay it back

    d)you’ll actually call up do stuff.

To me, a friend is many things…

Someone you can trust with your kids and your secrets – someone you don’t mind taking your stinky shoes off in front of – someone you can not only laugh and cry with but also celebrate, brainstorm and confide in. A friend is someone that cheers you on when you need the encouragement but also knows how to kick you in the behind when you need a reality check and a nudge.

Best Friend Panda Bears

What does friend mean to you?

if you have a friend idea, holler!

Designing with a focus

by

I just ran across a great little write up asking “Where do you find your focus”, and it got me thinking. Where do I find my focus? Sometimes I really wonder if I have a focus or even know what focusing is. Sometimes I get so caught up in thought – letting one idea lead into the next – that I literally get lost in my own mind… there is no focus there.

Then I started really thinking about the topic – everything I do is focused around the idea that I have designs I want to share. I doodle and I want people to be able to see and enjoy the images. So everything I do revolves around the fact that my drawings exsist. Any marketing or promotion or site building I may do… all points to the jgoode originals I am hoping others will see, like and maybe even pass along.

That sounds like focus to me.

In my reply to the focusing comments, I said:
“I think everyone has their own “doodle” – it’s deciding what it is and why it is important that is the difficult part. Once this is determined, putting a focus to anything else involved is relatively simple.”.

I really do think it’s that simple. You need to find a single cause, topic, product (line), point or purpose and then put all your efforts into that single item’s success. I don’t mean a single t-shirt or single image. I mean a single whatever-you-want-it-to-be. Maybe it’s your entire business model… your whole family, the entire single community you live in. Maybe your single thing is your dream to be a great – fill in the blank -.

As a magnet on my refridgerator says…

Whatever you are, be a good one.

That, in my opinion, is finding a focus.

Summertime Daisy

by

I started out as a doodler, grew into the role of a designer for clients (advertising, print media), morphed with technology into website design and development and then found myself burnt out and unable to draw a single line. That’s when I picked up a camera just so I could add a bit of color back into my day.

This design is a combination of photography and digital design.


Gerber Daisy in Lavendar

I’ve been meaning to create more art like this. I love the combination of organic and geometric with a slightly crafty feel. However, an image has to somehow talk to me for me to create something new out of an already available visual. Lately all I hear are kids and digital noise – wow the world has gotten loud. So for the time being, enjoy this rare bit of art from me. There are others.. if you look for them.

Flower Garden Pig

by

This time of year most of my neighbors have already taken a day to plant pretty little beds of flowers. I, however, have taken an hour here and an hour there to do various gardening tasks. I still have 3 backs og mulch waiting to be spread. Packets of seeds waiting to be sowed. Most importantly I now have a lovely wagon full of blooms, still waiting to be planted. It never fails… I think i’ll have time, so i run and buy a handful of flowers I can hardly wait to plant and when I get home I realize I have no time left. Lets hope that Friday will be a good weather day.

Today’s featured design is a sunny green Garden Pig. She’s a pretty little piggy inspired to help bring out the beautiful blooming in any day. She’s available on t-shirts and tanks and even a few tiles.. good for garden decor.

Garden Pig

Everything is a little more sunshiney with a pretty little piggy near by… don’t you agree?