haddadadad

(4:00:01 PM) SJ: matthewwww
(4:11:14 PM) SJ: maaaattt
(4:11:27 PM) Matt M: yes?
(4:11:32 PM) Matt M: stephhhhhh
(4:11:36 PM) SJ: maaaaaaaaaattt
(4:11:39 PM) SJ: …
(4:11:42 PM) Matt M: steeeeeeephhhh

We’re friends!

Just finished the funniest commission so far for a friend and client. I can’t wait for it to dry for a portfolio shot! Maybe prints. At least the detail of all the textures will come through in that shot.

I hope to see him in future doodles and drawings. The friend asked me to come up with something that was essentially what I envision when I think of him. Apparently this means I have a little cyclops running around in my brain. He loves the picture I sent him, and we’re waiting on the little guy to dry to finish up transactions.

I’m applying to some places for administrative assistant duties and have had two responses so far. Unfortunately, they were scamming robot people without real companies. Hopefully the rest are real and interested in my skills laying down the law and keeping things in order while taking orders. With a smile on my face. Please hire me.

In my next level of advertising my work, I’ve become a member of Project Wonderful, an ad company you may have seen on webcomic pages. I made the bid for Count Your Sheep!

I read this comic for about three years, but phased it out of my normal readings. I think finals season was involved with that. Anywho, SCREEN SHOT!

As the summer months are drawing closer to an end, a new beginning for Haddad Ink has arrived! A gothier front page will now entice potential clients into my artwork, bwahaha!

Actually, things like image examples and contact information are pretty good things to have on the page that is the first impression of this business. I have a link set up for those on mobile devices to still be able to view images with a link to my crafthaus albums. The photography page got a mini revamp as well, registering my stuff with a Creative Commons smackdown licensing, links for mobile album users, and some featured galleries.

The middle of the front haddadadad page is a rotating slideshow of some of my work, including the commission painting on this snapshot. That thing is five feet wide! I like making bigger paintings. They are the most rewarding to see finished.

I’m shooting a wedding this weekend. Expect a new example album in a few weeks!

The band is finishing up two tracks, “Only You Know” and “Follow You,” to be our demo tracks that actually sound like we know what we’re doing. They’ll be going up on the Bandcamp as soon as they’re cleared.

I will be going through my pictures and will soon update my sites. yeeha.

Last Friday, I set up some prints and paintings at the Urbana cafe, La Gourmandise Bistro. The German cafe is operated (and I think owned) by Pete Schnabel, who is really really super nice. He’s a fan of the Haddadadad nickname and now addresses me as such. Unfortunately my camera’s battery was/is dead with the charger MIA. I took this round of pictures with the oh-so-lovely droid camera. Remember when 5.0MP cameras were crazy-expensive? Ha!

Maybe I’ll actually sell something! <3 You can check out my prints for sale on Etsy, and all paintings available on Crafthaus, which I will update when I am able to get my battery charged. I got a bunch of new paintings to put up! WHERE IS MY CHARGER?! *sob*

I moved.

My studio is now within the Independent Media Center of Urbana, or IMC as the l33t say. I was hesitant to go there (hippies! a-eee!) but the monthly rent of the new place equals the amount of money I spent on gas to get to the free old one. Also, I can get to this place by bicycle, bus, or skate, all money savers. Also, this place has loads of security and a controlled climate. Also, this place is near food establishments for when I forget to pack a lunch. Also, the people I interacted with that are in charge and not overbearing socially-inept hippies and are in fact nice, friendly people grounded in reality. The vibes of a new place are overwhelmingly positive, and these feelings of renewal shall by exploited to the fullest extent of my ability. I’ve missed the chill calm that is Urbana.

I have completed one and half commissions as of this posting, and it feels pretty good. It’s like getting my school work put on the fridge. Hauling my butt to studio will be way easier now that it’s closer. My work was up at Evolve Fitness Center in downtown Champaign from the beginning of June until last week. My latest spot will be a bistro in Urbana. I’ll link it when I’m officially on the walls there.

No sales on my Etsy as of yet. I put up a large print of my favorite recent painting. Here, let me link to it for funsies. Continuing my focus on people, I’ll probably not deviate from the theme unless a commission calls for it. I like doing different type things. Focusing on one type makes the others more exciting when they occur.

I additionally acquired a new living space, one the cats were not too happy about the first day, as displayed by their pouty faces and general spastic demeanor, running through all the rooms, climbing over everything possible, and landing in the safest place they could find. Together.

This move is probably their best bonding moment. Fiona the lioness has cooled her jets since being here, being more playful towards JP with her jabbing, batting and nipping to soft bapping and virtually no nipping unless she feels the fuzz is being a twat. JP is standing up for himself in this new unclaimed world, and they are, for the most part, now at peace with each other in a large space big enough for two cat egos.

Since that first night, JP has gone back to his station in the tv stand and has held it strongly as one of his daily posts, watching all in his shared kingdom.

BONUS: Nessa! I watched her this weekend for a friend, and this cat is abso-fucking-lutely adorable even if her favorite toy is a crumbled up ball of paper.

I think it’s kind of foxy.

In other news, I’m trying out a new online “job” of sorts, on Gamecrush. Someone decided that dudes will pay to play video games with girls. There are the dumber, casual games on the website itself are more for people seeking out cam-whores who will play e-checkers and show off their boobies. The (in my opinion) better games are on xbox 360 for now, and you can play Gears of War 2, GTA IV, COD: Modern Warfare 2, and Halo 3. Those games do not require a webcam, you just have to be able to talk on a headset. I like Gears of War 2, and I have the ability to speak to anyone with a pulse, so I signed up at the suggestion of the beef. The ladies are called Playdates, and the dudes are Players. The playdates have a profile that say whether they’re online or not and if they are feeling “flirty” or “dirty” or (gasp!) both. Read as: flirty “LET’S PLAY GAMES WEEE” and dirty “I will take my clothes off on a camera for your enjoyment.” So selecting both means you actually like playing the games and taking off your clothes. I will be sticking to flirty.

The site is in beta mode right now. I’m not sure how many dudes are actually on it. The site is shrouded in ~mystery~ to the people on it. Browsing through the forums gave me more of an idea of the competition, but there wasn’t much happening. My profile is up, and I have some times set up so guys know when to reach me. I’m thinking I may need a picture with my glasses on for the dork effect. Ehh. Is it whoring? A little, but I’m more interested in swapping stories while shooting at giant white monsters crying GROOOUND WAAALKERS GRAAAUUUH and helping a dude have more confidence in himself when talking to the ladies. Just, you know, he’ll pay me for it.

I kind of need a real job.

I’ve started up my Etsy store. Since quitting my last job at the end of January, I’ve been painting. I got a studio space, and I started making. The Etsy store will be (for now) only prints, and I will be trying to sell the actual paintings locally. They aren’t all up on Etsy yet. To see the full set of what I’ve made (and are not embarrassed of) go to my crafthaus Balance album. I’ll be updating my crafthaus album as I finish paintings.

The main page of haddadadad has a few changes to it. There may be a redesign of the haddadadad blog in the works. I like the layout, so it may be a teeny thing like a banner change. We’ll see.

I’m going back to posting important things more often again. I will be starting a series on inline skating, involving care of skates, traits to look for when buying, and road safety. It’s all been on my mind for a few months, especially whenever cyclists hop out in front of my car like they have some giant forcefield protecting them. Cyclists have more protection from the law than skaters, but they could learn a thing or two as well.

My band is starting to record our original songs. I’ll be posting them as we get less fuzzy tracks down for your enjoyment.

Basically, if I post about the future plans, I have to do it all. Right?

“Above Then Beyond” and Pixar’s “Up”: pure coincidence? Judge for yourself. you thought we wouldn’t notice
Above then beyond dailymotion