June.

Sometime in June marks the first day of summer, but when you're out of school it really doesn't mean too much. Unless you've got kids, then your free time evaporates for favor of catering to their summer vacation.

I don't have kids, but being the guardian big brother of 2 siblings is kinda the same thing.

Now I've long been out of school, but what's made this summer kick off differently is I've just joined the team at Super Color Digital as Production Manager. The place is incredible! Dealing with the production of print campaigns on a grand format scale is really interesting and it is awesome to see the creative of some huge marketing clients. I've always had interest in branding and development, so being surrounded by all this work is pretty inspiring.

Let me know when you've got the need to cover an entire building with a print of your face.

May.

I was thinking recently, and you know what happened for me in May? I turned 28 and tried to play it down. And that's kinda dumb. There's still a couple good years of drunken nights left in me( Note: I do not condone excessive drinking. 'Cept on birthdays).

So May was mainly design work, and looking for work, trying to make life work. I played some D3 in safe doses, and enjoyed the heck out of Mad Men season 5. 

"Why do we do this?"
"For the sex, but it's always disappointing."

April.

The fourth month of the year is a little early to fall behind on 'at least one update a month' so hopefully that leaves enough guilt for me to keep up on doing interesting things and recording them.

I took two long drives for a short stay trips this month, which is not a common thing for me. I'm always figuring the enjoyment time's gotta out shadow the travel time, but I've come around to the perspective that it's all in the worth of the experience. There's that saying, "Time is money!" but I don't think there's an expression which gives that a correlation to experience.

My mom lives about 6 hours away so its rare I ever make that trip unless it's with my whole family. But I took that trip and made a weekend of it, just time for me and her. And it was an insightful, fulfilling quiet time. There's a lot that can't be conveyed in a phone call or in writing and it's an important thing to remember in this time of convenient communication.

The trip on following week was quite the opposite. Namco Bandai was hosting the Soul Calibur V World Finals in Las Vegas, having several international players across the globe competing for a slick $10K and plenty of prizes. Only thing they needed was The Hype. Now, 'The Hype' isn't something I can clearly define, but it's something the Fighting Game Community is very skilled at bringing. They extended an invitation out to some fine folks here in socal, to bus out the the event for a one day trip and be returned in the evening. So it was a lot of road time for a day, but I had an awesome time with friends in the community and even just representing the community, cheering on for players I previously did not know too much about. Didn't know Soul Calibur got crazy international competitors? Well, you can check out grand finals here, and see me and folks bringing The Hype.

Filthie Rich, Markman, and France's Omega DR

By the way, Namco Bandai? Thank you for the incredibly awesome Hori Soul Calibur V Stick! My stick collection's kind of reaching some serious levels now. Ahem, total of 10.

Long drives, short stays? Not too bad.

March.

Might I submit for your suggested reading:

http://artofmanliness.com/

The Art of Manliness is a site devoted to "Reviving the lost art of manliness." And that is does. More time on this site probably makes me a better person.

February.

I've been keeping at least monthly updates for awhile, so here's February. And it was full of plenty of great things.

Describing New Zealand, the words "paradise on earth" are how people commonly describe it and... well, the country is quite incredible. Being in summer weather didn't hurt, either. Beautiful, calming, and far from rat race, there is possibility for work that may move me there. George Nelson: life with the kiwis.

Shortly after returning back to California, I packed back up and head to Philly and New York. And suddenly it's winter. I took the opportunity to make this trip for my friends. Amy is Philly has been doing great things in the art world, including The Artist Rubuttal. Justin drove all the way up from NC, his first trip back up to New York since battling lymthoma. Brennan, also from NC lent us his presence; Charla seems so established living in NY and housing me for a few nights. We spent an awesome evening in Brooklyn with Kymia, checking out her winning exhibit from Work of Art. Checking out the beautiful work, and seeing her after almost 10 years since art school made me really happy!

Now back in socal, I've left FedEx Office and am working on my own on design work. It's nice. Maybe a little stressful. But definitely days deconstructed from routine, and I suppose that suits me. That's been my February. March, I've got no idea what's in store.

Beginning of 2012

My 2011 wrapped up with an excellent holidays. Christmas was full of family, and I enjoyed all the gifts I recieved, with perhaps a sleeping mask being my favorite. New Year's was a quiet one spent with mom, and a busy, loud 2012 is on the horizon for me.

Straight from winter to summer, I write this update from Auckland, New Zealand. This is my first overseas visit! The country has been incredible so far, and work may be here. Definitely a new chapter in my life, and study abroad could be a part of it.

Setting up a visit to University of Auckland next week. Bring a little American art to the kiwis!

View from the farm at Pakari Beach, NZ

Socal Regionals Bound!

Tournament season is always an invigorating time for folks in the Fighting Game Community. Folks are polishing their skills, there's a collective hype for new technology and high level play that'll be unleashed, and rivalry along with camaraderie is at it highest.

Competitive fighting games may have a fairly niche interest, but it's hard to deny the energy and intensity that builds over the course of a major tournament, that then explodes at the peak of grand finals.

Socal Regionals is one of the majors that take place here in California and is set to take place this month. With many of my peers completing and the venue being UCI, I'm wondering if I'm more excited about this than Christmas. I won't be completing this year, but will be assisting with J&J Mods table, where there'll be custom art and commissions available! Drop by and give me your favorite character that you want to see rendered by me!

Preview detail: Juri, SSFIV