Monday 28 December 2009

Velica Holiday Card

I created this holiday card for Velica and posted it in Facebook to my friends and through my various groups. Check it out in Studio @ 123greetings.

http://www.123greetings.com/events/seasons_greetings/wishes/happy_holidays_from_velica.html

Sunday 22 November 2009

Greenzone



I played a CIA agent in the heart of the Greenzone. Just a little something I do on the side...background work that is.

Velica at Thoughtbubble 2009

Friday 20 November 2009

Checkmate

The next eCard that I designed is for Velica Issue 4. I have been working with a few different approaches for doing a flash file that was compelling enough to be remembered and would get your sweet tooth activated. Music, animation and messaging is what I had to think about and use in this card. The boss at Studio by 123 Greetings stated "It doesn't get any better than this." And I say, or can it?

Here is the card via this link:
http://www.123greetings.com/invitations/professional/checkmate.html

Saturday 14 November 2009

i Comic Zone Logo


iComicZone is a place where independent comic producers, writers, artists, colorists come together and show off their work. This collective brings forth the brightest minds and creative talents in comics today. Since Ron McCain first thought about this project over 9 years ago, we have seen more and more independent comics spring forth. iComicZone's mission is to offer a greater option for independents to have their work sold strictly online through this portal. This dynamic community will evolve over time and will see many offshoots from others who wish to offer a place for independents to get out there.

I worked on a new logo for iComicZone to update it and take this project to the next phase in it's development. In 2010, I will be leading the creative direction and digital production for this extraordinary project. Ron and I will be talking, creating and producing something really special with cross promotional efforts through partners like Studio by 123 Greetings, Facebook Comic Con and others.

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Night of The Living Dead: Reanimated Virtual Premiere - Part 2


I designed two cards for this event. The first one you have seen. The second one takes on a much eerier affect. I composited two images and when you go to different screen angles, the zombie takes a much more sinister look. Thanks to the team at NOTLD:R for providing the image content for these cards. They can be located at www.notldr.com.

Saturday 7 November 2009

Night of The Living Dead: Reanimated Virtual Premiere


Night of the Living Dead is a cult phenomenon. Over the years, it has been one of the most iconic cinematic events in history. This year, a collective of animators came together to re-animate this incredible movie. I am honored to be a part of this re-release by designing these cards that are exclusively made for this virtual premiere. This event has already exceeded the animator's expectations with a "standing room only" viewing capacity. If NOTLD:R was being shown in theatres, the first few nights would have already been sold out. For a physical convention, then the room would be overflowing with people wanting to see this film. This is the Re-Envisioning of George A. Romero's classic done with care, thought and creativity.

Thursday 5 November 2009

New Velica e-Card Promotion

I working out a cross-promotional partnership with Studio 123. As part of this first exploratory run, I produced this Velica e-Card and I am working on the next steps of this campaign.

http://www.123greetings.com/general/hi/velica.html

I will be working on more e-Cards for Velica, Night of the Living Dead Reanimated and others in the very near future.

Monday 2 November 2009

Velica

I have illustrated comics off and on for a while now. When I lived in Seattle, I started an early exploritory launch of my comic called ShadowWing. A good friend of mine got in touch with me and asked if I had any comic ideas and/or series that I would like printed. The printing company just wanted to show off their print facilities and thought printing comics for the 2005 Emerald City Comic Convention would be the ideal place to show off what they could do. So, I decided to put forth my comic idea of ShadowWing, a kick ass vigilante on the hunt for her father's killer. I made the deadline to have the comic printed, but I couldn't be present for the launch since I needed to be in Las Vegas for my work. When I returned from my trip, my good friend Ron McCain (former DC inker) filled me in. He said that the books flew off the table. And that they also printed this 3 meter standie with my character on it. I was blown away.

Since that time, I have worked on the new comic series, now called Velica, in the UK. Since Issue 1 launched in 2008, this book has been seeing a steady uptick in growth. I have been encouraged by my friends and family who believe in this project and I am grateful for their support. It hasn't been an easy road, but one that is well worth the travel.

Through continued partnerships with Events, e-Communications pieces (e-newsletters, e-cards), social networking (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter) and e-Publishers (myebook, and my own interface). This book is fueled with love, sweat and tears and is made for the fans.

Velica
Velica on Twitter
Velica on Facebook
Velica on Myspace
Velica on Friendfeed

There is much more to come.

New Flash Site that I designed

Just wrapped up the first phase of a porfolio site done in Flash. I am using Action Script 2.0 since I find the greatest ease with this. The site covers 3 basic categories: People, Places and Things. Each area "calls" in different SWF files and this helps keep the flash movie light and dramatically cuts down file size of the Flash site.

The site: eljohnsonphoto.com

Design and Flash Development by: Ken Johnson

Sunday 1 November 2009

The work that I have done so far

Since deciding to go down the road of being a creative designer, I have had the pleasure to work for and with some really talented people. A lot of the clients varied from Welsh Terrier appreciation sites to HSBC and everything in between. I guess you could say that I have am very curious about so many different things, that I have a lot of varied experience under my belt.

My approach to the creative process is to see what the other person's ideas are. I like to sit down, write lots of notes, listen and sketch some ideas right then and there. Then, I think more about what was said, review the sketches and sketch a bit more. After working through some ideas in the computer, I think about what I see that would fit what they are looking for. There are a few versions that I go through of ideas trying to find the right thing. I do use a grid for my layouts and I find this helps a lot. After I find some ideas that could work, I show them to a few people to get their reactions. I really enjoy this phase because it gives me something to grow from and I also find that it works. People always respond to what they like and what they don't like. Everything else in the middle doesn't matter as much.

I also like to get involved directly with the clients and look at the entire process. I really enjoy delivering the projects, too. Whether it was HSBC, Save the Children UK, Kog Industries, Biblesoft, Toshiba, OPI, Propet Walking Shoes, whatever the project, I did my best to deliver. I like coming up with strategies, brainstorming what is on the table and going to the board to draw it all out. Hearing the other talented people around me say what would be a cool idea or maybe say "That's not a good idea. Let's try something else."

To me, I find that I really enjoy being a leader of change. Pushing through new ideas and taking risks that not everyone will understand in the hopes that these ideas will all succeed. I have had some successes, and some failures. What I can say is that I tried and that I will keep trying to grow, learn, lead, listen and develop myself as well as others.

Thursday 4 June 2009

Entry Point

First entry and for a time, I really didn't know where I was. Now, this path is clearing up and the creative side is kicking harder than anything else. I do enjoy producing, but I can't keep the pencil out of my hand.

Stay tuned...