Day 582: Work day.

Yes, sometimes I fit in some work.

I am an ad agency of one, a ...

"mom and no pop" business.

Today I worked on the ARTbar account.

A client for over ten years, since inception.

Developing the identity and logo ...

And, with Nicole's permission ...

I pulled up some of the earlier work ...

sketches, type checks ...

1/2 page ads ...

full page magazine ads ...

event ads ...

promotions ...

postcards ...

and, Nicole has just published her second book,

already a best seller on the e-book/kindle list.

Available at Amazon ...

http://www.amazon.com/ARTstarters-Spiritual-Creativity-Art-Making-inspiration-ebook/dp/B00IEQSU04/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1392386743&sr=8-2&keywords=nicole+steiman

The hard copy to be released this Spring.

A smile for Friday ...

Day 581: 4 days in a row ...

Yes ...

for four days in a row ...

I have received beautiful art in my mail !

 Heather, John, Marilyn & Connie ...

mail art artists from Australia, Washington & California.

Such stunning work ... I needed to get busy.

So I started on a 5x7 canvas postcard ...

 with my usual odds and ends ...

and added junk mail, labels & papers  ...

... some ink and then part of me said ... "stop", 

but another part said "Nah, go for the gesso!"

It has been a very long, busy day so ...

I am going to post this as is, but ...

there may be a different version later?

Good night all.

A smile for Thursday ...

Day 580: Not what Macy's had in mind ...

I can't help it.

My Mom taught me to find a use for leftover things!

She didn't believe in wasting anything.

Food, clothes, furniture and on and on.

So I look at junk mail and think ...

I can use that!

My work area and Penney's you're next ...

I use bits and pieces, mostly torn,

 of this and that ...

Macy's #1

and play until I like how they look.

Macy's #2

Now I realize, it's not ...

Macy's #3

what Macy's had in mind ...

Macy's #4

but I think my Mom would have approved.

Macy's #5

Doing my bit to save the landfill ...

one ad at a time.

A smile for Wednesday ...

Day 579: Back to normal?

Tournament is over ...

competitors are on their way home.

Arizona team left late last night.

Canadian team left earlier today.

Japan and Florida teams leave Wednesday. 

And so on.

We take a deep breath of gratitude.

A safe event, great friendships ...

and it seems the annual event will ...

be here again in a few blinks of the eye.

Meanwhile, we all get back to our normal routine.

Today, an unusual smile for Tuesday ...

You get to play! 

You get to be Jackson Pollock for a day.

Click on the link below, you'll see a blank screen ...

use your cursor ... scribble or draw, 

just click to change colors. 

That's it!  Instant fun!

Kids will love this, and ...

I bet you haven't played in a while?

http://manetas.com/pollock/

I thought you might like to see my first masterpiece?

Fun?

Day 578: A very big day!

Up at 4:45 AM!

頑張って or Gabatte ... Good Luck, to all.

Very early Sunday morning ...
preparations and the judges meeting.

Each of the six rings Welcome you ...

Demura Sensei welcomes you ...

before his self defense demonstration ...

photography by NinHo

After countless details, and the hard work of
unseen tournament warriors, all is ready ...

Judges flags for kata ...

Judges scorecards for kumite ...

Competitors pads & mouth-gear ...

photography by Mei Okamura

The Batto Demonstration ...

photography by Mei Okamura

Master Choji Sato's demonstration ... followed by
skilled weapons and application demonstrations.

And in ring 1 ...

Division 1 starts the days competitions.

photography by Mei Okamura

Kata.

(More tournament images will be available here.)

Kumite.

Some of the faces of the tournament.

At the end of a long day, almost done ...

A special thanks to all the helpers ...

Now it's time for pizza!

A smile for Monday ...