Recent Work: Graphic Design Samples Slideshow

One of the important things you can do for yourself while trying to stay creative in the midst of complexity is keep forging ahead. Sure it feels like your feet are being sucked into the mud as you walk, but step by step, you eventually make progress. By working on your art and craft daily, you begin to build your fortitude and mind muscle. Hey, all the resistance makes you stronger! Personally, I am battling head and neck cancer which makes doing anything full time (except resting) impossible. Not to be deterred, I find that an hour or so each day focusing on being creative really gets me out of the cycle of thinking about how sick I am feeling. I also try to take time out to really appreciate and meditate on the goodness in my life including loved ones and the whole life miracle.

I wanted to post a brief slideshow of recent work. There are logo design samples, flyer and brochure samples. Mostly, I use Adobe Creative Suite for most projects with the awesome Adobe Fireworks for web graphics. Everyone has their own tools, these are the ones I am most comfortable with at this time. Also, on a daily basis, I check out some phenomenal artists on web sites like Design Float and DeviantArt which really is a great community.

It would be great to see what others are doing with their creativity! If you feel so inclined, send along links or photos of what you are up to so your work can be seen and you can get some link lovin'.

In the near future, I want to share some original electronic music and more graphic creative on Psiplex. All expression is good and helps to break the log jam of complexity introducing us up to open waters and a new sunrise.

Current Projects: Staying Creative!

While currently undergoing radiation therapy for my head and neck cancer, I want to put my Psiplex blog to explain that it is important to keep doing what you do despite battling cancer. In a talk with another patient's daughter at the radiology center, the young woman mentioned that her Father, undergoing radiation and chemotherapy was doing just that. A tree cutter, the patient was still at the job site as much as possible even thought this type of treatment beats you down like you can't believe. The important thing is to keep your hand in some aspect of your life other than your treatment and recovery. Hats off to the tree man for not giving in and fighting back!

For me, between bouts of radiation and chemotherapy, I try to put in some quality time to keeping up with what is current in graphic design, blogging and working on some new electronic music noodlings. While there are days when very little gets done or even materializes, just putting one step forward is enough to lift the spirits.

Current projects include connecting more with other bloggers and open social networking, sequencing some original music and preparing some samples of recent design projects to be posted here. As mentioned above, the radiation and chemo can take the wind out of your sails faster than a foreclosure in Atlanta. The contant fatigue and other nasties can wear on your forward momentum, but the key is just staying positive and do one little thing toward your goals.

Eventually, I want to get back to working full time helping other cancer patients and survivors with my love of graphic design and electronic music. I can't think of a better pursuit right now and that's what keeps me going! I wish for all readers of this blog that they can find the best way to stay on their creative path despite dealing with cancer. There are many brave and inspiring folks out there who are doing just that and stir my creative fires to take the next steps. It would be wonderful to hear from readers who want to send links or share their current projects here on Psiplex.

Reality check: You didn't do it by yourself sunshine

In a discussion I had this morning about natural talent, confidence and skills that folks bring to their work and personal lives, a great point came up. That of "I got where I am by my own merits". Life's series of choices that bring us to this moment tell me otherwise. While it is extremely important to have confidence in one's abilities, it is not cool to be so arrogant to think you did it all by yourself. As a creative professional, I rely heavily on the skills of my team to make the final deadline on budget and on time. It ain't just me.

I have run across numerous type A folks who are under the spell of their own hype. Face it, if there weren't certain key people placed in your path along the way, (parents, teachers, clergy, siblings, true friends) I guarantee you thing would be different. Reality check: You didn''t do it by yourself sunshine.

The other factor to consider is the grace you are living under, grace sufficient for your life. If you are under the delusion that you are in control and are making it happen by your lonesome, you are in for a shock. Facing any kind of illness, especially a life-threatening one can remove the very physical process that make you 'you'. You are who you are by a combination of genetics, adaptability, natural process and grace. Glad you know who you are and are confident in your journey, just don't think you are running the ship and you'll have plenty of time to reflect on grace and how it works in your life.

Cheers!
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Don't Be A Stranger

When a person is diagnosed with cancer, it puts in motion a series of events that can have wide ranging consequences for personal and professional relationships. In many cases, people who are diagnosed with cancer and begin treatment face interruptions in their normal routines that span from mild to severe.

Depending on the stage of cancer diagnosed, further testing and treatment may need to begin immediately often leading to schedules that are blown off course. In a life-changing event such as this, it is easy to lose the day to day camaraderie of colleagues, friends and fellow workers. When a patient is away from their routine for some time, an awkwardness can creep in based on the right way to approach the patient's cancer battle.

This awkwardness stems from the fact that folks in a standardized routine, say, going to work or school each day, really don't want to be reminded that illness and loss of routine can happen to them. They tend to not know what to say to those who are battling cancer and thus a gulf exists in communication. One party doesn't want to be reminded of how anyone is susceptible to cancer and the survivors don't want to be left out of everyday life and cut off from communication. Former co-workers, colleagues, family and friends just 'don't know what to say' to cancer patients.

It's really simple. Acknowledge that the person battling cancer is doing so and just be yourself! The cancer patient will welcome hearing from all those who shared their world and who are genuinely interested in their recovery and future. Don't be a stranger! You will not offend anyone by honestly connecting to them and sending along your greetings. Just use common sense, be tactful and let the sunshine in – it will make a lot of difference, guaranteed! It would be wonderful to hear from other folks about their experiences with loved ones who are battling caner.

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There's a great conversation on the message boards at Cancer Compass to give you a cancer patient's perspective.
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Diagnosis: Cancer, What do I need to know?

As a creative person working hard to earn your living in a crazy, shifting economy, getting diagnosed with cancer can be devastating. It is NOT the end to your creative journey! In fact, all your previous experience in the creative fields will serve you well in your battle with cancer.

In previous posts I mentioned that as a graphic designer and electronic musician I have been diagnosed with head and neck cancer. I am able and willing to fight every step of the way and you can too. Let's start with what you need to know:

- You are going to be shocked at first - it's alright and natural to ask , Why me? which is a good first step to going down the path to being a survivor. You must trust in your will to live and to fight for yourself and for your loved ones.

- You are going to be angry. My personal bout of anger lasted about 2 solid days of being really, red hot angry at the world and at life. That's alright, go to it and go through it. Remember, it is not your fault you are ill. There are also many variables that contribute to cancer in the body that it is a numeric probability and not the patient's fault in the least. Cancer cells are the result of damaged/compromised DNA. Don't waste energy blaming- use it to arm yourself for the fight.

- You are going to need help. You will need help from family, your doctor and the cancer community. You may even find an advocate who has the same diagnosis you have and is today, completely cancer-free. In my case, I was blessed with a wonderful advocate who told me what to expect every step of the way. Such valuable information helped prepare me for the treatments, side effects and wellness and recuperation. See my post on "The Home Team" below.

- You are going to survive. You are in for the toughest fight of your life. You are going to find the strength to survive! Today, medicine is at a place where a lot of previously fatal cancer diagnoses are treatable. You can win this fight! You arm yourself with as much knowledge about your treatment as possible, keep your friends and family close and work with your medical team to balance yourself.

Here are some great resources I have found:

Cancer Compass Information

The Cancer Compass Message Boards - where you can find out about various cancer

The American Cancer Society - You can find out about community resources and more

You can e-mail me here if you have any questions

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One Love!

Staying Creative in Complexity

Keeping one's mind off what is ailing you has a lot of benefits. Lately, I have been working with my friend and entrepreneur Robert on a new idea called TxtBiz. TxtBiz is a mobile marketing sms platform for business use. There is a good explanation at this link.

Not focusing on all the complexity and aches and pains is one of my secrets to battling cancer. Just don't give it any more room in your life - make room for creativity and success.

Cheers

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New Poll

Greetings,

Wanted to see how many of you that are undergoing treatment for cancer are in need of services. There are many great organizations and cancer treatment facilities that meet the needs of many patients on a daily basis. There are also some very good cancer research foundations and funding sources. It seems to this cancer patient that there is a dearth of ground level services fall under the radar of the orgs meant to help. In other words, what if a patient, diagnosed with cancer has no insurance? No car? No way to pay for medication? No one to cut their yard or clean their house? No one to be an advocate for their treatment and sanity?

This poll is to find out where more of the funding money needs to go and how people falling in some sort of governmental grey area can be better served. In other words, where shoudl resources be directed in your particular case?

Psiplexity

In some life experiences, there is a sequence of having some part of life lived in an ordered and structured fashion. Then, at some point, due to internal or external events, that structure becomes undone. A new period of destabilization occurs. The test is, to see if the person who once defined themselves from that structured period can still define themselves after experiencing the destabilization.

Order and chaos both define life like water through a rock canyon over time. Both order and chaos achieve a path through life that defines that force as belonging to its portion. Organic and inorganic states both define these periods of structure and destabilization. Both are needed. what is interesting is what gets cut through the rock, what stays, what goes.

The Art of Elysium

This is what it is all about. If you have a gift or talent, this is the way to go. Watch some of the video and you can't help be touched.

The Home Team

My work as a graphic designer in corporate communications, freelance on-site projects and personal projects has taught me the value of having a great 'home' team'. Working with other designers, art directors, printers and publishers is critical to meeting deadlines on time and within budget. The more knowledge and skill these professionals have attained, the better the outcome. Now, as I battle head and neck cancer, the same is true with having a knowledgeable and supportive home team. Fortunately, I have been blessed with a loving and supportive family which circled the wagons and offered me a great deal of support. Friends and family have led me to find a professional and caring medical team to look after phases of cancer treatments that I must complete. This combination of physical, emotional and spiritual support has been a lifeline to wellness in my fight.

My wish for every reader of this weblog battling cancer is to have the benefit of their own home team. Once the assessment and treatment phase of your battle starts, your home team is whom you rely on to take care of the medical, financial, transportation and logistics along with adherence to the plan. Cancer treatment can be filled with complexity. The medications alone almost begs for external assistance with dosage, timing and balancing other nutritional components Having a trusted member of your home team can offset the confusion and help the patient stay on track. Additionally, some surgical procedures recommended by the lead specialist prior to chemotherapy and or radiation will need to be followed to the letter. The patient really needs to let go of details and concentrate on healing and surviving. Let the home team handle the details and lend support.

While this is an extremely generalized description, I will be happy to answer any questions at grfx303@gmail.com

Some resources I have found helpful are listed below:

American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/eto_1_1a.asp

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/support/financial-assistance

I'm too Young For This!
http://www.imtooyoungforthis.org/index.shtml

The Impact of Illness on Creativity

Nothing impacts the creative process like having one's internal CPU ravaged by some form of stressor. Whether one is battling a major illness, stress-induced crucible from work or family issues, or just plain exhaustion; remaining creative in crisis comes down to a few key points. You are either guided by a built-in desire to create, or you are just not that interested. Nothing wrong with either approach, but if creativity means productivity to you, then having an internal push can be a life-giving form of coping.

In my own instance, battling head and neck cancer, the treatment itself, consisting of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can really suppress the life force. It is all the body can do to maintain a semblance of balance and cognition. The powerful chemical cocktails and invasive treatments can rob the ability to think coherently, get around and interact with the world.

Personally speaking, I find that after going through the treatments, the urge to do something creative (outside of basic survival) is a strong signal of surviving. The urge to go towards life and work on a creative project recirculates energy back in. It helps to think about other things than the treatment and somehow give thanks by being involved in life outside personal discomfort. Here are a few points that have a made a difference in the process:

1.If you can't physically get out your paints and canvas, your laptop or your guitar, meditate on the process of creating on those mediums.This is kind of like envisioning eating the pizza before you make it or order it, kind of gets the juices flowing toward your end result.

2.Don't be harsh on yourself for not putting in an extra effort. After all, you are dealing with something so stressful or life distracting that it has also stopped other activity. Just go easy and dip your toes in the pool, don't flog yourself for not diving in.

3.Be happy at the results you do come up with- you can always come back later and add to it or reshape the result if you feel the need to advance on the project.

4.Try and share what you have created with someone who may benefit from it. Hey, it shows you are thinking about more than just what is ailing you and helps to connect you to the world and to life.

Take any thoughts and encounters you have and write them in a journal for future use. When you are feeling better, you will have a nice repository of ideas that you can expand on and use to benefit the world and yourself. Cheers!

Find out more about head and neck cancer

here

From the Labz

Being in the creative field for a nice chunk of my life, I wanted to pass on some observations. Awareness and consciousness often come from a little vibration met along the way. This post has to do with what makes us stop and what makes us go on the journey. Small vibrations lead to discovery.

The internal/inspiration to outward manifestation is, essentially, the fire that drives us to overcome daily objections. These objections range from personal and family issues, workload, acts of schlock and the whole geopolitcal gomosphere enacted on you on the daily. Through all of these need-your-attention instantly daily mini-crisis blips, you still have to feed your inner alien creativebot. What makes us remotely interesting is how we handle the business of creating.

We try and separate ourselves from droid-driven schlock meisters and corporate overlords and cubicle-induced dreck. By waging an internal revolution, artists can withstand the tsunami of schlock heaped upon them by the usual perpetrators. Getting to your own personal, sacred secret Labz where you are free to create takes an enormous effort. Just quieting the shitstorm is hard enough, but getting to the clean white space of your canvas can be awfully tough some days. You just have to do it.

The act of committing just a few moments a day to your art (even just meditating on it) is food for your creative soul. Nurturing and caring of your inner alien creativebot in the midst of some corporate-induced glack is like getting good nutrients in your system to fight the infection. By investing in your creative self, you get the equivalent of a running/cardio workout for your artistic life before you head into the valley of the shadow each day. Find that little vibration along the way, it makes all the difference.