Glade Clean Linen was a big new scent, with a full product launch behind it. Our challenge came to be as the illustrations on the product needed to be transformed somehow into photography.. MMMM- making sheets move the way you want them too is not an easy task and capturing as a still even harder. We did outdoors, in studio, used natural wind, fans, people, full size sheets, towels, sheets cut into small pieces etc.. All in all, it ended up being a look and feel used in many photoshoots for various ads... Here is a few behind the scenes of this campaign!

Puppies and ads

 This is a behind the scenes with the finished ad.. we were at Edgelight studios with a great staff including Viv our stylist, Karen who does H&M, and Lucy, from Ford Models.  We had some great fun with the puppies, and they were small enough to cuddle and got tired quickly, which ended up as the chosen shot- our tired pup relaxing with model.. Fun shoot, fun crew, fun times!

A little behind the scenes

First look behind the scenes, basically these are some fun production stills so a glimpse is 
seen in what goes on to make a shot!  Yes, sometimes it is a half day to get where we need to be. This was my favorite part of my job, not even work to me, so grateful for all those I worked with! These shots are at a location house, doing a job for Windex and for Glade with Lisa Predko and crew.
Thanks to Brian Eaves for sending me these shots!

More commercial shots

Here is some more commercial work. Depending on the job, my role was at times art buyer, direction on shoot, wardrobe consultant, or even photographer such as the b&w shot of Sam, and some of the beakers below in our still life. Mainly I produce at the shoots, which can be making someone laugh, relax and calling it a wrap when my art directors, clients or photographers got what they needed.. Kudos to all the great folks I worked with and hope to work with in the future!

What do you do at your job??

This is an example of commercial photoshoots I have worked on. The ad agencies and/or clients use the photography for different media such as web banners, billboards, in store displays, magazine ads,etc. The sampling below is a small showing of various clients - not limited to but including Polaroid, Jim Beam, Glade, Suave, etc. As an art producer my duties include art buying, negotiating rights, helping select models, wardrobe, crew, scheduling, budgets and being a creative eye on set for the art directors. Our campaigns are a great example of teamwork from creative, account and client. Will post more samples soon leading into the fun part, a special behind the scenes look!

• 

SSP

So, what does this mean?
Well, a little background. Last time in LA with the wonderful Kim Saigh (http://www.kimsaigh.com/index.php)and Shawn Barber (http://www.sdbarber.com/)we had a pizza, a few adult beverages and some discussions about "Shameless Self Promotion".. Mr. Barber is somewhat of an expert about this, though it really comes down to nothing but hard work... After that, we thought about some tattooing that evening.. alas, we never got to it..
Upon my return to Chicago, my friends and I had an evening together, and decided for a few small pieces to commence.
Patrick Cornolo, owner of Speakeasy Tattoo, (http://speakeasycustomtattoo.com/home.html) did us a big favor and I got the SSP on my finger. Why? To remind myself that I can do all I want, I have to not lose sight and push forward. Being in the ad business for 9 years and now unemployed, this can be a somewhat overwhelming task. Thanks to the support of former co-workers and friends, I keep trying! I would love the time to write a book or have a support group for those of us extremely affected by the recesssion. It is a tough road but can also lead to some great self-knowledge, self-enlightment and what we really need in life to obtain peace and happiness. Keep going and keep pushing there is a reason, a path, a truth, seeking it may be what we need to do to live life...

Fine art musings

Years ago, my photographer buddy Eric and I worked at a large catalog type studio.
Through conversations, we both realized that while commercial photography was better than a "regular" job, our inner art souls needed more. We began some projects together, which eventually led us to being co-op owners in a small gallery in the beautiful Flat Iron in Wicker Park.
One of our series was the " Shrine Series" It led to some great press and a lot of questions too.
I decided to blog about it as it was years ago and I now feel safe in sharing our techniques.
First, we made a few day road trips in Indiana and Illinois and took regular 35mm shots of roadside memorials.. This is where folks that have lost a loved one, usually in car accidents, put up a memorial cross, flowers, candles etc. to document and make people aware of what can happen...
After we took the photos, we selected our picks and blew them up to 8"x10" or 11"x14" size prints.
This print was then mounted on a large watercolor sheet, thick cold pressed. After we mounted the photo Eric took, I then did painting, mixed media, found objects, etc. around the photo to make it a 3-d type work. After this step, Eric then took a 4"x5" polaroid , which we did in the transfer mode. After the transfer, again on watercolor paper, set, I then took paints and colored pencil and enhanced the transfer print. This print was our end result and it turned out great!
We had a lot of trial and error in this process, and at opening night, we were rewarded by a simple question, "how did you do that?" Well, now I am sharing! Enjoy.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

More information update, yay!

http://www.soulisticstudiospa.com/ and http://www.chicagocaninerescue.org/
Quick update in professional land for me- working part time for Soulistic - please check out
link, a beautiful space, green certified.. I am doing massage work there on Fridays and Saturdays, call the spa and make an appointment with me!
And update two, the wonderful Chicago Canine Rescue has hired me to do some PR work.
Please check their website frequently, many events, and volunteer opportunities.
Two great events in September, I hope to see those in Chicago there!
I am available freelance for art buying, producing, pr, concepting ...
Also, massage therapy !
Call, email, hire me :)

More information update, yay!

The beginning

I am going to try this new venture, I have seen some great blogs and some too personal blogs, and some educational blogs and some dumb blogs. I am using this for a fun comment on things, for shameless self promotion and to have some fine art and ads on one site...
I think learning how to will be an adventure.