posted: June 18, 2009

That was the directive hended down to our IT department from our VP of Marketing. It seems today's consumer expects a business to make their wares available for inspection via the World Wide Web. This trend has built up a good head of steam; our financial advisor suggests that we close our 2500 square foot 5th Ave showroom and allow our 'website' to be our sole link to our customer.


While we're not sure we're ready to go that route, we are not ones to turn our noses up at innovative new marketing techniques, With that, we present to you our new although not radically improved new website.

Above is our former homepage. It showcases both our obsolete 'vector graphic' style and our business name, House O' Wax. While the domain remains houseowax.com we feel that we as a company have grown in sophistication and that the cheekiness of the HO'W brand is no longer relevant. It's likely that we'll keep the domain, however, as we've had it for years and are generally disinclined to trouble ourselves with finding a new one.

Note the typeface, one that we developed and retained for our newest incarnation.

This entry goes back a few years. Again, note the proud showcasing of the House O' Wax brand and the bold vector artwork. This site has the distintion of being the last for which we employed an outside concern. It is replete with both bells and whistles and utilizes what I'm told is "Flash" technology allowing for interactive animations. While it is impressive in it's scope, we found the experience to be distracting and alienating to some of our less tech-savvy visitors. It has been preserved for observation and can be viewed by the curious by clicking here.


I hpe you've enjoyed your visit and found it informative. Of course, you are always welcome to stop by our gleaming and spacious 5th Ave showroom for a first hand look at our product and a complimentary Champagne cocktail*.



* With purchase.

posted: June 10, 2009

This one was a commish from a small publisher -  a book of poetry by a 'new, gritty voice' on the poetry scene. Do what you will, they said - some central themes of the poet's work are disillusionment and nostalgia. Rock- N -Roll is a current that runs through the work as well.


I felt as if I covered all the bases, but when the final was in the publisher got cold feet. I suspect the author wasn't pleased, but this was neither confirmed nor denied. And so it goes.
If anyone is publishing a book for which this would be appropriate as cover art, I'm letting it go on the cheap.

posted: May 20, 2009

Few television shows have captured my attention that way Breaking Bad has. Mrs W and I consider it appointment viewing and often discuss the show for days following it's airing.
In short, the show follows Walter White ( played expertly by Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher living in New Mexico. Early in the story Mr White is diagnosed with lung Cancer and the prognosis is grim. Taking stock of his estate, White realizes that he will be leaving his wife, 16 year old son and soon-to-be-born daughter in severe financial straits upon shaking off his mortal coil. Ever the pragmatist, he decides to put his chemistry expertise to good use - he recruits a former nee'r-do-well student as a partner and begins cooking the purest and most potent crystal methamphetamine the Southwest has ever seen.

A compelling premise, to be certain. But what makes the show stand out is it's unerring complexity. Life, as they say, never travels in a straight line, and Walter White's life takes him on a jagged, looping and often harrowing path. His resolve is tested; he is forced to confront disorder, chaos and fear. In short order the experience becomes transformative, and he is made to face the duality that is beginning to define him: A man who wants to educate young people yet provides them with addictive poisons. A man who wants to provide for his family yet strains the familial bonds with deception and emotional distance. A man with a moral compass gone haywire driven by greed and desperation.

This image is one I was inspired to do after last week's episode. It depicts Walter and Jesse and references their Winnebago which serves as their mobile meth lab.

posted: May 6, 2009

I've been at work on a book project for. like, ever. And while I'm grateful for and appreciative of the work, there are tons of ideas that I haven't had time to drag outta my brainhole and into the physical world.


This is one that made it out. Roosters are fascinating animals. I admire their impressive plumage but am repulsed by their reptilian eyes and fleshy wattles and combs. Visually they're hard to resist.

I had little to no experience with these magnificent birds as a youth growing up in Ohio. It wasn't until the early nineties, when I was lucky enough to secure a crusty studio apartment in a crumbling tenement on Ave C that the rooster's pecularities were brought into focus. You see, unlike their depiction in movies and cartoons, roosters don't wait for the sun to creep over the horizon to crow. In fact, they crow incessantly. And it's not a jaunty 'Cock-A -Doodle-Doo', either, but a wet and throaty cross between a gargle and the hysterical shreik of a caffienated toddler on a transatlantic flight.

Recent Articles

Topics

Archive

Li'l Art Hut (13)

Pictures For The People (18)

Painting With Paint (12)

Big Pimpin' (11)

Sketchbook (13)

Our House In THe Middle Of Our Street (37)