Weekend DVD Review

MOON. A modern twist on a sci-fi thriller that asks a big question and lets the audience decide the answer for themselves. Moon is directed by Duncan Jones (son of David Bowie) and it stars Sam Rockell (Iron Man 2 and the voice of Darwin in G-Force), as the sole human being working on a moon base that produces renewable energy for earth serving a three-year contract. Soon, he realizes that everything is not as it appears. The special effects were done with models, so there is a real sense of dimension that some CGI films lack and the acting is superb. I believe this film gives us a glimpse of what may be possible in our future and it freaks me out. If you haven't heard of it (because I didn't), look it up. If you have heard about it, but wasn't sure if you should see it, watch it. I only saw the trailer once on a different film and forgot about it until it arrived on Netflix and I was pleasantly surprised. 

500 Days of Summer. This is another film that I did not care to see and was pleasantly surprised. Instead of the typical romantic-comedy, this one seems real and more in touch with reality. The title eludes to a 500 day relationship between Tom, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) an architect at heart but a greeting card writer by day and his bosses girl-friday, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), whose quirky-but-cute presence is enough to make Tom melt. I thought Levitts' performance was charming, warm and sincere, and I think he has more screen appeal than Shia Labeouf, any day. And, of course, Ms. Deschanel delivered a believable and heartfelt portrayal of her character, as well. The two of them are perfect together and the story is easy to follow – even with the shuffling story line – and it takes a piece of your heart when it's over. This film was well-written, well-acted and well-directed and I recommend seeing it if you haven't already. I'm sure glad that I did.

"To-Do" Checklist for Interviews

Along with the weather, the job climate in Los Angeles might be showing signs of warming. Many of my friends are beginning to interview for jobs and, at least, that's a good sign that employers are starting to look for new employees.

But, before you arrive at that potential new employers office, you will need to be ready. This is your opportunity to shine. Make sure you go through this checklist first. You will be better prepared for having done so.

It's important to know how your potential new employer might expect to see you dressed before you pick out your outfit.

Do your research. Know something about the company you are interviewing with before you arrive for your interview. If your potential new employer has an HR department or someone designated to do research on possible new hires, you better believe they will Google your name, check social media sites, check professional media sites (LinkedIn), and find out as much as they can about you. Your advantage here is that you can do the same thing to them – Google the company name, see if there are online blogs or discussions about the company or its employees and follow any links. You may be surprised what people are saying about the company online.

Be professionally prepared. If you are an artist, take your portfolio even if you know the potential new employer has seen your work online. You never know who else they decide might need to see your work and it is much easier to hand them a clean, professional book than to point them to your site. Especially, if you have their attention for a minute, take advantage of it. And, remember to take extra copies of your resume and business cards. You want to make sure that everyone you meet gets a copy of your resume and a business card so they know who you are and what you can do. You never know who is going to need what or when they are going to need it.

Dress accordingly. As I begin my stint as a "gentleman of a certain age," I have to dress accordingly. As an art director, that can mean a lot of different things, depending on the type of employer you might be meeting. This is another place the research will come in handy. For example, if you are meeting with a large corporate client, they will probably expect to see you dressed according to your experience level. If you are meeting with a design agency, they usually expect to see you dressed according to your design aesthetic. It's important to know how your potential new employer might expect to see you dressed before you pick out your outfit.

Sit back and listen. I think one of the most common mistakes people make at interviews is not listening. Don't be afraid to ask the first question, but then listen to the answer and follow them for a while. Listen to what they are saying about the position and the company. The interviewer will clue you in to what is really going on – intentionally or unintentionally – but to catch it you have to hear what they are actually saying. You want to listen for "red flags," too. Sometimes, people will give away a company that is not on the side of their employees and you will need to decide what works best for you.

Know what questions to ask. Part of doing your research is to know what questions to ask when you go in. Make sure you ask intelligent questions about the position and the company and that you articulate them clearly. Some of the answers to your general questions are online and you might find information that could possibly spark some new questions. Make a list. Go over it in your head and listen to what the interviewer(s) is/are saying and make a note of the questions that might be answered before you have a chance to ask them. And, make sure you don't ask the same question, twice. It makes it seem like you are not even listening to yourself.

Be conscience of your body language. Body language has as much to do with your interview as what you say does. You can rest assured that the interviewers will learn a lot about you from the minute you first meet from your appearance and your body language. Be aware of how you appear, how you sit, where your eyes go. Make eye contact with the person you are talking to. Sit up straight and confident. If you don't feel confident about the job you are applying for, your body language will give you away and that will be that.

Check your attitude at the door. No one likes a prima donna, so don't act like one in an interview. Don't bad-mouth previous employers because that only makes you look bad. Don't be flippant about your interest in the company because it will show. Be confident, be excited about the job and have positive energy when you go in for an interview.

Wrapping it up. At the end of an interview, an interviewer will probably ask you if you have any other questions. Even if you feel the interview went well and you hit it off with the interviewer, don't ask, "When do I start?" It's arrogant. It's old. It's stupid. It shows an interest in self, rather than in the job. If you did the few things I mention in this blog, you should not have any other questions, period. However, a good way to wrap it up is by giving yourself, and the interviewer, one last chance to "clear the air." Ask the interviewer: "Is there anything that concerns you about my portfolio or my background?" If they have concerns, this is your last chance to ease them and remind them why they asked you to come in, in the first place. The question can also help reverse any objection an interview might have.


There are lots of topics about how to land job interviews, as well as other related items, on the web. You simply have to devote the time to sit down, research, read the material and try to remember what you can. Have a plan. Be confident. Don't give up. Not cliche, just the facts.

Resources:
Interview Survival Kit – David Marino-Nachison, Andrea N. Browne, George Roland, washingtonpost.com
Ace That Interview: How To Land A Job After 50 - Joe Turner, Former recuiter
How To Land An Interview With An Ad Agency – Apryl Duncan, Former About.com Guide

In My Hood: BEACHWOOD CANYON

One of the things I have always wanted to share with the world is my neighborhood. It's old Hollywood, if ever there was. I live in an area called Beachwood Canyon and I have for many years. It's right next door to Franklin Village and it leads up to the Hollywood Stables and the Hollywood Sign and reservoir. Half way up Beachwood is the small, but local, Beachwood Market, an old diner and a dry cleaner. In the same area are the historic, granite Hollywoodland Stairs – 561 steps up and 404 steps down. Before I rejoined a gym, I was running the stairs for a while. I can honestly say it is a tough workout. Take lots of water.

In nearby Franklin Village, there are lots of beautiful old buildings, local shops and fabulous restaurants. In Victor's restaurant, in Victor's Square, there are several old, vintage Hollywood photos and one, in particular, is a shot of Franklin Avenue with the Red Car Line going down the middle of it! I love that photo and the thought of the Red Car Line strolling down Franklin makes me wish I was alive to see that. There's the beautiful, but neglected and aging, Villa Carlotta on Franklin Avenue, just West of the strip, as well as the old Chateau Elysée, (now the Scientology Celebrity Center) originally built in 1927 as a hotel by a silent film producer. Only some of the gorgeous old buildings in our neighborhood that I love.

One of our favorite things to do on the weekend is to walk down to one of the restaurants in Franklin Village, see some of our neighbors who are locals at the eateries, then walk home pleasantly full and satisfied. There is no shortage of choices, either, several with full bars. There's Bird's Cafe, a Koo-Koo-Roo-like restaurant in that you can order juicy, rotisserie chicken and delicious sides for under $10. For a more upscale evening, there's Prizzi's Piazza and La Poubelle Bistro, both offer mouth-watering, authentic dishes (Prizzi's is Italian and La Poubelle is French), along with full-bars and lots of regular patrons. There's a Japanese restaurant for sushi lovers and the Bourgeois Pig, a coffee lounge with FREE wi-fi and two pool tables. We have a Gelson's Market within walking distance on a nice day, and in the opposite direction, there's The 101 Coffee Shop, just across the street from The Hollywood Tower apartments.

Just a quick note: I almost always see a celebrity when I visit the 101 Coffee Shop on weekend mornings or lunch time. One busy Sunday morning, I saw Rose McGowen having breakfast with friends and she was nice enough to give me an autograph when I asked for one. Another gracious actor that I bothered at the 101 is Julian McMahon who politely smiled and asked me my name when I asked him for his autograph. He gave it to me. (And, he's better looking in person, if you can believe it!) Thanks, Julian.

There are so many great things about my neighborhood that I love and I hope you will read this and come visit, too. When you do, make sure you stop at one of our local eateries and give them the business. Most of the business owners live in the neighborhood, as well, and they are all "kool kats." Please support our neighborhood businesses.

For more about Beachwood Canyon, please visit  the Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association.
Franklin Village phototour – www.franklinvillage.net
Villa Carlotta phototour – www.pennyhead.com

50 Is The New 30

Look, I'm tired of hearing about how old I am. So, I'm 45. So what? I feel young, energized and vibrant. I know more things now than I ever did and I am better for it. This does not mean my career is over or that I can't compete with young designers. I believe the contrary.

There are a list of amazing people in their 40's and 50's who's careers are not over. In some cases, when you reach fifty, it's like a rebirth. I'm thinking of Madonna (52), Valerie Bertinelli (49) and Kris Jenner (53) – not to mention Vanessa Williams (46), Sting (57) and Gorgeous George (49). As long as you are focused, exercise, eat healthy and drink plenty of water, basically, you are doing all the right things and you will live longer than your grandparents did (and they ate things that were probably not so good for them).

When you reach your forties, if you are lucky, you have lived long enough to have built a solid base for yourself. (Hopefully.) Maybe you have kids. Maybe you had kids. Maybe you had kids early and now their grown and about to live their own lives. There's something about forty that seems to be more like the start of something than the end of it. No matter where you are in your life, by the time you reach your forties, there's a light. You think about what you have accomplished and what you will accomplish. You're thinking of your parents and taking care of them. You're thinking of what you can do now? Are you too old for some things? Are you too young for others?

I'm no shrink, but I have done my share of talking to one, and I am happy to say that the answer is always, "no." You are NOT to old or too young for anything. The difference between what our parents and grandparents had and what we have now in the twenty-first century, is choice. The rules are, there are no rules. You see it in fashion, architecture, graphic design – of course, there are the fundamentals of each, but nonetheless, open to interpretation.

From a professional point-of-view, you might think it is more difficult for someone in their forties or fifties to get a job in their career, but as a creative person it is imperative that you get creative when it comes to moving on to the next level. Everyone is forced to do this every so often. It is how you accomplish this task that will determine your fate. Do you want to be like your parents or your grandparents? My grandmother never learned how to drive a car (she lived to be 96) and my grandfather took care of everything until he died. But, even my grandpa knew the value of reinventing oneself. He was a cook in the army, a chef, a musician, a husband, a father and a grandfather – that's a lot of reinventing right there.

Since 9/11, it seems that many individuals and families have had to reinvent their futures. Whether you know someone who has been to war or has lost a vast part of their savings in the stock market, people have been reinventing themselves all around you. It's not the only choice, but it's the best choice when you feel like something is holding you down. Think young, strong and ready to go to work to do whatever you have to do to reinvent yourself and your life. It's 2010, baby! Here's how I think of it: If 50 is the new 30, then I'm still in my 20's with a better head on my shoulders!

The Evolution of Apple Inc.

I accidentally came across something good on CNBC this weekend and I am glad that I did. It was called, "MacHEADS," a 60-minute documentary that, as their official blog states, "explores the loyalty of Apple fanatics and their obsession with the company and its products." It was very interesting. Short, but informative, nonetheless.

The documentary, itself, seemed to focus on the end users – their customers – and how fanatical many of them are about Apple products. And, I don't blame them. I remember my first introduction to a Macintosh SE computer back in 1986 when I worked for City National Bank in their computer division. It was great! As a designer who was trained to spec type, measure paragraph widths and heights, cut rubylith perfectly and use acetate overlays and press type, the Macintosh SE saved my life when it came to designing long, copy and chart oriented bank manuals. Suddenly, I was given the power to spec my own type and create logos, brochures and letterhead on a "what you see is what you get" screen. There was nothing else like it at the time.

In 1993, when I was in charge of implementing a graphic division in the Los Angeles office of the worldwide PR firm, Hill & Knowlton, they asked me what system my team would need to get the job done and I said Macintosh. A few people were skeptical, but we ended up with Macintosh 8500's with big, flat-screen monitors. We had interoffice emails, color scanners and printers, and we were ready to do business. I bought my first personal Mac in 1998 – it was an iMac G3 Titanium. That little computer did the work of any large PC and then some.

Long before iMac, iPod and iPhone were introduced to the world, graphic designers had the 411 on Macintosh and Apple. And, I don't mind that the computer I have worked on for twenty-three years is accessible to the masses. Frankly, I feel relieved that the world finally understands what I have been saying for years – I love Macs.

One of the arguments made in the documentary is that Apple Inc. is too big for their own good now. That with the birth of the newer products, Apple Inc. has forgotten its core reason for existing – user groups. As reported in the documentary, Apple computers was founded on the idea that Macintosh users wanted something different that wasn't DOS (numbers and code) and, through user groups, Apple improved on its technology by trading valuable information. Apparently, that is no longer the case.

As long as no one takes Macs away from the creative work place, I am happy with the job Apple Inc. is doing. I just got a new iPhone for Christmas and I love it! Personally, I can't wait to see what Apple does in the next twenty-five years.

For more information about "MacHEADS," please go to www.macheadsthemovie.com.

The Seven Deadly Sins International Design Contest

I'm always on the lookout for a good contest to enter and I think I found a good one. It's called, The Seven Deadly Sins International Graphic Contest and the first and only prize is € 3,000.

The contest is aimed at artists of all disciplines (graffiti, painting, graphic design, photography, etc.) with the main objective of capturing these old clichés in a visually stunning way and therefore exposing the mentality of changes that have occurred over the past twenty centuries of history.

The artwork must be related directly or indirectly with all or each of the 7 deadly sins. Each artist may submit as many pieces of works as they deem appropriate. The style and technique are up to you.

There is only one prize for the best piece of artwork. A further selection of the best works will be part of a collective exhibition that will travel through some of the main capitals and major cities worldwide in 2010 and 2011. The final Top 10 works will receive a free copy of the memorial book that will be published at the end of the call for entries.

It sounds like fun to imagine and create something for this contest, so if you are an artist and you need a reason to exercise your creative skills outside of the office, put your skills to the test with this one. Good luck.

For more information about this contest, please go to www.graphiccompetitions.com.

Wacom's "Dreams" Contest WINNERS!

Well, it's official. The winners of the 2009 Wacom "Dreams" Contest have been chosen and announced on DeviantArt.com. Although I entered, I did not win. But, those that did win deserve a congratulations on their acheivements.

First place went to Anuka (Ann) Baratashvili, a 23 year-old artist from the European country of Georgia. Anuka is extremely talented, as are most of the artists on DeviantArt – it is awe-inspiring. From her bio, I learned that her "tools of choice" to work with are pencil, paper, paint, Photoshop, watercolor and a Panasonic DMC-FZ5 camera. It's hard to imagine all that going into one of her creations, but when you see the final outcome, it is beautiful. To view more of Anuka's work, please go to her website on DeviantArt at http://anuk.deviantart.com/.

Second place went to 26 year-old Jason Ibarra from Mission Viejo, California. Jason is a pop artist who draws mainly in Photoshop. He studied sequential art, animation and graphic design at the Savannah College of Art & Design and was the recipient of a Congressional Art Award. Jason's art is extremely pop/modern and you can see the sequential influence in all of his work. To learn more about Jason, please go to his website at www.burritochan.net or visit his DeviantArt site at http://uponthoufaircat.deviantart.com/.

Third place went to a 22 year-old male from Malaysia named Daryl Toh Liem Zhan who is an illustrator/animator with a very modern, comic-book anime style. Check out more of his work at http://www.yumegawa.blogspot.com/ or go to his DeviantArt site at http://takeru-san.deviantart.com/.

The Community Choice winner – who wins everything the first prize winner gets – was a 22 year-old female artist who goes by "Azure Star" on DeviantArt from Canada. She's a "Doctor Who" fan and enjoys drawing and painting fantasy landscapes and portraits. To view more of her work, please visit her DeviantArt site at http://azure-star.deviantart.com/.

Even though I did not win, I enjoyed entering this contest, viewing the other entries and I appreciate all the support my entry received from the worldwide community on DeviantArt.com. Congratulations, again, to the winners. I hope you enjoyed entering the contest as much as winning it.

For more about the DeviantArt online community or to get your FREE online portfolio, go to www.deviantart.com.

Featured Artist: DANIEL CADY

There are so many good things to say about Dan Cady, I do not really know where to start. I have heard that, "it's always best to start from the beginning..." so that is where I will begin.

I met Dan Cady at FIDM, where I taught a few design classes and Dan was going to school for his Associates degree. Dan and his best friend, Bert, were in my logo design class and I knew from the get-go that Mr. Cady was a "kool kat" with a keen design sense and the desire to learn more. He always asked pertinent, relevant, educated questions that were well thought out and he carefully listened to the answers so he would not miss something important being said. He was a quick learner in school because he already had the foundation every artist needs to succeed – talent, support from friends and family and most importantly, the desire and drive to learn. Dan was an excellent student and he is one hell of a friend! In all seriousness and honesty, Dan is like a younger brother to me. (Way younger.) But, more about his talent.

As I already mentioned, Dan earned his Associates degree in design from FIDM, Los Angeles in 1999 and has been working non-stop ever since. Early in Dan's career, he took a job with Belkin where he put in his time and he learned all that he could, and did all that he could, as a designer.

It was in 2001, however, when Dan landed a job as Senior Interactive Designer with Mattel Toys, Inc. that he was really allowed to flex his creative muscles. Dan was in charge of the design, creation and implementation of Hotwheels.com, one of Mattel's most important brands with millions of online customers. The result was amazing. Dan earned his reputation as the "cool guy with all the talent" because he is the cool guy with all the talent. He is friendly, easy-going and to the point. Dan spent six years learning at contributing a great deal at Mattel Toys, Inc. and for the brand, Hotwheels.com.

Dan went on to work for Ripple Enterterprises, Inc. (booeep.com) for two years where he conceptualized, managed and produced a variety of celebrity websites, including actor/comedian David Alan Grier, Anna Maria Perez from the movie remake of Fame, and UFC Fighter, Forest Griffin, to name a few.

But, Dan always felt stifled in Los Angeles and talked about getting out of the country, a lot. And, so...one day, with his wife Lisa and their dog Cap'n by his side, the Cadys began their journey abroad to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where Lisa teaches English and Dan is freelancing while they both spend time discovering the world, art and other populations. This is the first stop of many in his quest for greatness, and I have no doubt that he will one day find it. I am proud to call Dan my friend and I am thankful to have him in my life.

Thank you, Dan, for letting me feature you and your work on L.A. Link. I really appreciate your friendship over the years and I look forward to many more years to come.

To learn more about Dan, to view his work or to hire him for a project, please visit www.danielpcady.com.

Or, go to FIDM's website where Dan is featured as an alumnus at www.fidm.com.

Weekend DVD Review

It was a great weekend to watch new DVDs. On Friday night, we watched "District 9," a Peter Jackson film, was a realistic account of human nature and how our race might react to stranded aliens from another world. It was way better than I anticipated and the special effects were incredible. Not for the faint-of-heart – some of the scenes are gruesome, but if you are a science fiction buff and you haven't seen this film, rent it. Buy it. Watch it. It reminded me of a cross between "City of God" and "Galaxy."

The other DVD we watched this past weekend was "Inglorious Bastards" with Mr. Brad Pitt, a film by Quentin Tarentino. This film was a win-win situation for all. The story line was great. The acting was superb. And, it kept me glued to the screen and on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to see how it ended and when it did, I wanted more.

Restaurant Review: Fleming's Steakhouse

What can I say that isn't good about Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar? Nothing. We were there on New Years Eve for dinner and it was FABULOUS! There were only five of us, but we had a blast! The service was excellent and the food was so mouth-watering delicious, I could have gone back and had the same dinner the next night.

I have also had the pleasure of dining at Fleming's Steakhouse in Nashville, Tennessee and it was just as delicious and luxurious (but, it wasn't on New Years Eve)!

When we walked in to Fleming's in Woodland Hills on Thursday night, it was decorated to the nines. Balloons covered the entire ceiling, each table was sprinkled with stars and party favors and the place was booked. Luckily for us, we sat in the private dining area which is half the size, and half the sound decimal, as the main dining room where it was loud, crowded and lots-o-kids. Not to mention the bar had a game on. (That was the only sad part about our experience, but we were not near the bar, so I guess it doesn't matter anyway.)

Our friend, Alli, was the "splurger" on New Years Eve. Alli had the Wagyu Filet and Lobster and, apparently, the meat was to die for! I did not taste it because I had my own filet that I was enjoying very much. Kris and Mitchel had the filet, as well, and Kris' date, Steve, had lamb chops that were so good, he sucked the bones dry!

Of course, all the side dishes were amazing, too. I had a baked potato to myself because it had been a long time since I had one last. It was HUGE – the outside was covered in olive oil or butter and what I assume was rock salt (yummy!) and the inside was just waiting to be covered in butter, chives, crunchy bacon and sour cream and cheddar cheese. As much as I wanted to, I did not eat all of the potato skin. Our other side dishes were the Fleming's potatoes with cream, jalapeño and cheddar cheese (FAB!), the Fleming's blue cheese mashed potatoes (I do not like blue cheese, so I did not try this) with parmesan cheese, peppercorn and garlic, and lastly, the baby snap peas with carrots and red onions in a soy chili glaze... YUMMY!

We did not stay for dessert--we had other fish to fry. Or, in this case, steaks. But, I did want to give a "shout-out" to Fleming's Executive Chef, Russell Skall, for a wonderful New Years Eve dinner, as well as to Mama Gayle for the gift cards. Thank you for helping to make our New Years Eve a special one to remember!

For reservations, or to find a Fleming's restaurant in your area, please visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com.

REY REPORT: Steve Reaves

This is the first installation of the Rey Report, a monthly section of this blog that serves to bring notice to some of, I think, the most influential people in design, in Los Angeles.

Our first person of interest is a personal friend, an amazing artist, teacher, mentor and photographer, Steve Reaves, a graduate from San Diego State with a B.S. and Masters of Art. Steve has worked in entertainment for more than twenty years and has worked for some the biggest and best agencies and studios in Los Angeles.

Steve’s career started as Art Director for B.D. Fox & Friends, Inc. in Santa Monica, then went on to serve as VP of Creative at Intralink Film & Graphics, to New Line Cinema as VP of Creative, and the well renowned Seiniger Advertising, where he served as Senior Art Director. Steve has worked with major film studios, as well as TV networks and home entertainment distributors. His long list of credits include concepts and key art for campaigns like, A Few Good Men, Thelma & Louise, Harry Potter, Seven, Pearl Harbor and The Family Man, to name only a few.

Steve has won many awards for his work, including Hollywood Reporter’s Key Art Awards, the Conde Naste Publishers’ Guest Editorship Award, and a Communication Arts Magazine award. He has also been a Key Arts Award Judge and has served on West Hollywood’s Design Commission.

“Poster Design is becoming a lost art. I’ve always appreciated reading a script and seeing a visual story take place in my mind. Then comes the challenge of creating that one intriguing image necessary to the plot.” - Steve Reaves

Today, Steve is the educational director of the graphics program at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) for Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco, where he is responsible for the cirriculum development, establishing industry partnerships while maintaining faculty and student leadership. Steve continues to freelance in entertainment design, but since 2002, he is an admired and respected educator, artist and mentor to hundreds of design students. Steve works hard to ensure that his students get the best design education, the best teachers, the best internships, and eventually jobs, at well known agencies and studios in Hollywood. Thanks to Steve’s talent and connections, he brings the world of entertainment design and legitimacy to FIDM’s graphic program, giving their students a chance to learn how to design for such a lucrative, specialty field. To learn more about FIDM, please go to www.fidm.edu.

Personally, Steve is not only an amazing artist, but he’s been a good friend of many years. He is the person who helped me make my crossover from corporate communications to entertainment design. He gave me a few lessons from old projects to work on to help kick off my entertainment portfolio and gave me “quick tips” in Photoshop that changed everything for me. I learned so much from in such a short period of time--Steve is patient, articulate and well versed in his field.

I asked Steve to be the first person featured in the Rey Report because I wanted to start this new section off with someone who was not only talented and well-connected in the industry, and who would bring real credentials to this blog, but to someone who I knew personally was a nice guy and deserved to be featured. Thank you, Steve, for letting me share your talent and experience with the readers of L.A. Link and the Rey Report.

I had a chance to ask Steve some questions about art for our readers and here are his answers:

1. How does art inspire you? (and/or Why do you do what you do?) I have a need to create. Can’t explain it. It’’s part of them. Patterns. Color combos. Intersecting shapes. Junctions and combinations. I create because I have to. I am driven to do what I do. It brings me joy when I lose myself in my work. It takes a lot of training to put a price on your value and what you are worth.

You have to fail to be good. Art is a living thing. As people look at it, it gets worse, then better, then worse--it is constantly evolving.

2. What would you say is the “new trend” in art today? (and/or What have you noticed to be the new trend?)

Grunge and control, together in one, which makes the artwork a more complex piece. Younger people are more thoughtful when it comes to their own work. Good design has a lot of responsibility. Critical thinking.

3. For your personal creativity, what is your favorite media to work with at the moment? Why?

A soft pencil, a bottle of india ink, a japanese bamboo brush and a pen and ink. .

5. Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years? I never thought I would live long, so I who knows? If I’m not dead, perhaps an early retirement to explore my art--drawing and painting, photography, sculpting, artistic jewelry and working with metals.

6. What is your favorite restaurant in L.A. for dinner at the moment? Why? I don’t have a favorite restaurant because I never go out to eat. Basix, on Santa Monica in West Hollywood, because it’s the most convenient and the food is good. But, I do love to go to the Arclight, sit at the bar and have a drink.

7. Mac or PC? Mac

To learn more about Steve or to learn about an education in design, please go to www.fidm.edu.