Done. Lock it in.

Posted on May 12, 2012 by explosivelimes

First. You should look up all the statistics about those who go to college to get a degree in ANY creative field versus those who actually end up with a job within that field. Go for it. Google is right there. Back? Awesome. It’s astounding. Such a small percent of creatives can actually get a creative job. Most have to settle for something less than what they are capable of.

Well, good news. I got a job at Hitcents as a 2D Animator here in Bowling Green, KY. I am in the creative field! I plan on staying there as long as the Lord allows. I just finished my last day of work at Starbucks only a few hours ago.

Of course my actual degree was in Graphic Design and Photography, but animation is awesome! Have I ever shared with you that when I was younger I had a dream of becoming a Disney animator? Obviously that dream came and went, but the desire to make my drawings come to life has just become a reality.

I have a few ideas with what I would like to accomplish in my spare time now that I don’t have the need to take on an overwhelming amount of freelance work to pay the bills. Lad of Los Webisodes anyone?

…now we wait.

Posted on April 25, 2012 by explosivelimes

I applied for a job as an animator with a local web design company. I think I have a real shot at it. This was the project they had me work on to test my skills. I’m real good. Now we wait. (:

Inspirational

Image

I find these artist’s work extremely inspiration. So cool.

Free Publicity is the Best!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by explosivelimes

Draw for free. Small, simple, cute, fun drawings, for free. Drawings of people designed to inspire, encourage and uplift the viewers.

I forget what an impact such a simple thing can have. I never have more requests for commissions than when I give away small pieces of art for free on Instagram. Remind me to do that more often.

~ Jeff
explosivelimes

My Personal Mission Statement

Posted on February 9, 2012 by explosivelimes

I have a strong, burning passion to use the creative talents God has graciously blessed me with to encourage others.

I will use my art to uplift and encourage, to spread a loving and positive attitude about life, the God who made it, and the men and women He created to live it.

Goals

Posted on February 7, 2012 by explosivelimes

I have heard that it is good to write achievable goals down on paper. Somehow by writing things down they become more real, or achievable. Or maybe it simply reminds us that we have them, and therefore motivates us to take action.

In any case, these are my immediate goals. Goodnight everyone. (:

~ Jeffrey

I’m Not a Businessman. I’m a Business, Man.

Posted on February 6, 2012 by explosivelimes

One of my brothers, who is a successful salesman living in California, gave me some advice last year when my illustration work began taking off. I’m sure he learned it somewhere, but I think it really helped me think about how I see myself.

I told him I had been talking with an entrepreneur I knew who was very successful in many things. This guy knows the business side of things extremely well. There are parts of me that really admire those qualities, but that’s a side issue. What I told my brother was that this businessman was trying to tell me that I could be just like him, very successful in business, but it would take me changing myself into a businessman which would shift my focus from being a creative.

While I admire many qualities this gentleman had acquired and honed over the years I knew that I have equipped myself with different qualities that have led me along a different path. I am a creative. I create awesome things. What I lack in marketing and business I more than make up for in pure, raw, creative talent. I’m not trying to boast. God has blessed me greatly in these things, I owe Him for everything I am today. All I’m trying to communicate is that I have very specific tools under my belt, this gentleman has other tools. He is not better than me, nor I him. We could help each other, I thought. I’ll create, and he could market!

Instead I felt he wanted to turn me into another businessman and that’s just not what I am. I don’t get excited about the next big sale, or searching for people to purchase my products, or researching trends, or all the other things it takes to create a successful marketing package or whatever they call it. I create art! This is what I have been trained to do, and I can do it well.

My brother recognizes this and told me this,

‘You should tell that guy that you are not a businessman. You are a business, man.’

I can be successful. I do lack certain qualities to do everything on my own, but I feel that when teamed up with the right person who gets excited about sales, and who is passionate about the purpose of art and glorifying God through it, I could be part of something great!

I am a business. On my way to greatness. Man.

~ Jeff Dehut

The Simple Things

Posted on January 23, 2012 by explosivelimes

It’s the simple things. I am not one for making New Years resolutions, I’m not. This year, however, I decided to try something new. I made two.

The first is to keep things simple in my life. I have a very bad habit of saying yes to everything and then reaching a breaking point where I feel compelled to complete every task I set out to accomplish and getting overwhelmed in the process. I won’t do this anymore. My art is simple, so will my life be.

The second I only recently happened upon while stumbling through my thoughts the other day. I want to create more art. I want to free my mind of the silly restrictions I have imposed upon myself for no good reason.

I have another bad habit of wanting my art to be perfect. I analyze it over and over in my head before I start a project. This works sometimes, most often though I feel that I would create more art if I just jumped in and created.

I love work that has a hint of imperfection! Why, then, could I not allow myself to create that kind of art? Well, I’m going to, starting with Lad of Los. I’m away on vacation until Tuesday. Upon my return I am going to begin the next chapter of Lad of Los, imperfections and all. (:

~ Jeff

Portrait Exchange

Posted on December 14, 2011 by explosivelimes

I love drawing fellow artists in exchange for them drawing a portrait of me. I really don’t like drawing myself and I love wondering how someone else will interpret me through their medium. I work with a very talented oil painter named Jenni Dickens and we have decided to do an art trade! This is my piece of her, I can’t wait to see what she comes up with!

~ Jeffrey

(This piece was drawn with a Fine Tip Sharpie on an Index Card, then colored in Photoshop.)

A Solid Idea

Posted on December 10, 2011 by explosivelimes

The thing I need to remember is what works. The best way I have found so far to raise interest in my work is to draw for free. Weird huh? It wouldn’t make sense for a standard business model, I would guess. Want to sell more product? Give it away for free!

I suppose this works because as an artist I am not selling a product. I am a creative. I sell ideas. I sell my particular style. I am unique in the way I solve creative problems. I create in a way that no other person creates. How would people know this unless they see my work? Why would people invest in something they haven’t seen before? They wouldn’t, and for good reason.

I have raised lots of interest by drawing people on social networks, for free, or tips. Tips are great. They allow me to feel good about giving away free work, and also feed my gas tank. That gas tank allows me to drive to my ‘other’ job which actually pays the bills.

So. The thing I learned is; Do more free work, but, don’t get bogged down with it. When a paying job comes along it obviously takes priority.

With that, I leave you.

Goodnight!

~ Jeffrey