Sensitive = GOOD

Ever since I was about 6 years old, I was considered a "highly sensitive person" (or HSP). There are books about this, one of which I read in my early 20's, in an attempt to tame this "handicap".

It pointed out that an HSP can be effected by things non-HSP's wouldn't even think to notice, or be effected by. Some examples include being sensitive to the color a room is painted (or otherwise decorated)—how that can effect and change your mood, or the layout of a city—how much grass is present, do the buildings' height block sunlight—can these things cause an HSP's mood to shift, where a non-HSP wouldn't think twice about these details.

Sometimes if I walk into a room and the art on the walls is hung at random, without thought to height from ceiling or floor, or placement in regard to each other—this can make me physically uncomfortable, disjointed feeling. Often times I'll walk into a room, or space, and feel something—maybe nothing I can put into words, other than "sensitive" to the light, or color, or sound, or smell, or number of other bodies in the room, or a person's demeanor. I pick up on all of this stuff, which is often times overwhelming.

It wasn't until a few years ago that I began understanding that my sensitivities weren't actually handicaps, they were tools—a real gift. As designers, we are hardwired to feel and sense visual stimuli. That ability is crucial to what we make, and without it we couldn't do what we are all so good at. Colors in relation to each other, how different typefaces interact with each other and with color and mood, how the placement of one small detail can effect an entire design—these are just a few things we are wired to notice and sense.

It took 30 years, but I am finally grateful for this handicap/gift. It doesn't always work in my favor in regards to life outside the studio, but when it comes to designing, my sensitivities own me.

To see more of my work, visit www.theportlanddesigner.com

Design For Fun

I stumbled upon these amazing archival pigment prints by Chad Wys at http://chadwys.com/works_kingdom.htm, as part of his Kingdom portrait photographs.

They inspired me to add my own twist, using some of the tricks that my mentor and colleague Ken Murphy has shared with me in the last few months. Finding inspiration and experimenting with the tools I learn on a daily basis are what keep me from becoming boxed into a single style, and help me to continue to grow and learn. From there, new lessons are learned and experimented with.

My first go at the Bear print said "May 2012 Bring Success", but I changed that when my brother pointed out that a Bear signifies a "down" market, while the Bull signifies the "up" market. Shows how much I know about that.

So for now, Bear Hugs for you. Many thanks for checking in on The Portland Designer blog.

To see more of my work, visit www.theportlanddesigner.com

Special Edition Blog Post: Please Donate!

Today's post is dedicated to my buddy Ian Harvie, a super talented, Maine native, trans comedian. On January 7th, 2012, Ian will be performing a show at Portland Stage in Portland, Maine, and needs your help to raise money so he can be the first trans-man to have a solo stand-up comedy special on tv!

His kickstarter pledge's are at $10,927 and he needs to reach $15,000 by THIS WEDNESDAY Dec. 15 (2 days away!!) in order to produce this show.

He will be performing with Margaret Cho, as well as several other well known comedians. You not only don't want to miss this show, but PLEASE if you can, please donate to his cause. This will make history.

To donate, or watch the video he recorded about the project, please go to: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ianharvie/super-hero-ian-harvies-standup-comedy-special-film

Plus. I've been hired to help design the set! All the more reason to get this show produced!

THANK YOU in advance if you are able to help, or at least spread the word.

Betty and Me

I recently discovered my grandmother's business cards, from when she bought and sold antiques in the 70's and 80's. This discovery was After I had already designed my own cards. As you can see in the photo, the similarities are many. I love love love discovering connections like these. Cheers to the late, and very stylish, Betty Weiss.

Thoughts about crossing over to the world of craftspeople

To craft or not to craft?
I've always considered myself just a designer. I'm an artist in some ways, but not in the sense that I can draw, because that's not one of my strengths. But I never considered myself a craftsperson.

That is until I decided to design my own holiday cards this year. After posting them on my personal facebook page, I received 3 orders from out of state for these cards, and a local order for a custom holiday card.

I was stunned. And somewhat excited. For a moment I thought "Why didn't I get a table at the MECA holiday sale? Why didn't I sign up for all kinds of holiday craft sales???" And then after I sent out the first two orders, and realized I only made about fifty cents per card, I understood why. There's really not much money in it, compared to the effort (sending to printer, driving to printer, cutting, folding, driving to staples for envelopes, buying packaging and walking to the post office). In the end, I basically don't make anything.

Money aside, it was an awesome feeling to post these, and within minutes have orders waiting. It's worth all that effort. And If I can spend the next 11 months preparing for 2012 holiday craft shows, why not?

But.. do I really want to sit at a table and socialize for hours and days at a time at craft sales? Am I a craft person at heart? No and No. It's also not very tempting to set up an online store, say on etsy. It seems like so much work to maintain! (plus the driving, cutting, folding, driving, packaging, sending, etc.)

So for now, instead of all of this tabling and holiday craziness, I've sent samples of these cards to the New Bedford Whaling Museum Marketing Director. He sent me a nice note saying he forwarded them to the museum store merchandiser. For the New Bedford Whaling Museum, I would sell my soul to the world of craft (for a minute). Fingers crossed!

To see more of my work, visit www.theportlanddesigner.com

Design Fun

After working on something semi corporate for a few weeks, I get an itch to design something that speaks more to who I am, as a person and as a designer.
The photograph behind this triptych is a shot of the Atlantic off the coast of Maine during a storm in October. We were standing at Two Lights, the wind blowing so hard and the rain coming down at a steep angle.
Designing something that speaks to me brings me back down to my core, where I find safety, quiet and rest.
Maine is lucky to have one of the most talented communities of designers in the whole world. But with that comes a competitive environment full of designers trying to "make it" and succeed, however you want to define success.
Recently, success to me hasn't been about my list of clients, or the checks being written to me. It's been more about how I feel about the work I'm creating. Sometimes the work I do doesn't speak to me on a personal level, it's more about meeting a client's need. The work that I connect with, the designs I create on my own time, for me, for fun, are where I feel most successful. That's a good place to be.

To see more of my work, visit my website at www.theportlanddesigner.com

Blog.

I started this blog with the full intention of blogging. Then I forgot about it entirely, till now. Lately I've been totally digging hipstamatic on someone else's iphone. This here is my nephew, Hunter Martin Weiss at Falmouth Town Landing. I've used a few photos to create backdrops for websites, and am intrigued by the color palettes and aged quality. You can view them here: http://www.theportlanddesigner.com/#1640636/-Web