Done doggie deal.

Well, finished up Buckeye and Sophie. Just need to let it sit for a few days before bubble-wrapping it and getting it sent over to Janet. Now I need to work on a few more pet portraits for Xmas! Whew!

p.s. it's a business card.

Cindy's got a chance to do some work for the city of Bellevue as their personal shopper; a new program they're implementing. So I thought she'd need a card to hand out to the shops or any future clients.

Just a little of the top and sides.

I guess art is everywhere you can create it, even in the bathroom. Sometimes in the morning I create little shaving cream creatures, then promptly destroy them as I smear them across my face and chin. Talk about a god complex.

Welcome to Canada!

Just finished a logo for a payroll site in canada. Everyone's happy with it so I'm happy as well...

Second fur coat.

Second coat is done on the Buckeye/Sophie painting. Now I just need to recoat the background and add details.

Rabbits and Hares working together...

Rabbits and Hares Unite to Breed Fresh Marketing Ideas

A rabbit and two hares walk into a meeting. Sounds like the beginning of a (bad) joke. But it’s serious business and it’s happening right now between two local companies.

Lucky Rabbit Studio (the rabbit) is a one-man, full service graphic design shop based in Bellevue, Kentucky. Image First Solutions, owned by Tina and Ken Hare (the hares), is a guerilla marketing consulting firm in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

When they began partnering on client projects a year ago, both parties knew they’d work well together. Call it instinct.

“I’ve always said that four rabbit feet are luckier than one,” says Mark Kerley, owner of Lucky Rabbit Studio. “Well, between me and the Hares, now we have six. How could we possibly fail?”

Kerley has always had a penchant for rabbits. That’s why 5% of all Lucky Rabbit Studio profits are earmarked to the House Rabbit Society for the rescue and adoption of pet rabbits. He has more than 20 years experience in everything from logos and layouts to brochures and business cards. He says he loves “helping small businesses who are tired of fighting for attention.”

The Hares and Image First Solutions embody the rabbit spirit of stealth and cunning. The company teaches clients how to use guerrilla marketing in ways to get results. Ken and Tina Hare are devoted consultants to numerous small businesses on how to stay consumer connected by keeping both ears to the ground, consistently building consumer awareness.

The firms share more than bunny-inspired monikers. They share a similar business philosophy grounded in speed, service and loads of common sense.

“Mark is a lot like us; we’re not interested in making long-winded presentations or subjecting clients to extended sales jobs,” says Ken Hare. “We’d rather get down to business, get some work done and solve as many marketing problems as possible.”

After a year, it’s safe to say that the collaboration between Lucky Rabbit Studio and Image First Solutions has been a natural fit.

Tina Hare says, “Mark anticipates our needs and understands our goals. And like all good rabbits, he has remarkable vision.”

Mark Kerley returns the compliment, saying “Tina and Ken are the easiest people to work with. They always seem to come up with fresh, effective ideas that produce results.”

And you know what they say about how fast rabbits and hares reproduce.

Learn more about Lucky Rabbit Studio at www.luckyrabbitstudio.com – LuckyRabbit@fuse.net
Learn more about Image First Solutions at www.imagefirstsolutions.com – info@imagefirstsolutions.com

Make a note of it...

I need to order some new promo pieces this week, including my stress(ball) carrots and notepads. Decided to design a new notepad this year. Pretty strange, but that's me.

Who let the dog paintings out?

A new dog painting I'm doing for a Xmas assignment—Buckeye and Sophie. Looks to be a cute portrait when I'm finished. This is just the first coat.

Kick the Hires Website

The Kick the Hires website I've been working on for a few months finally launched and has already received some positive press in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Hope this new business really takes off for Chuck Loy and company.

Merchants and Music.

—Reprinted from 700wlwforum.com
September 26 is coming soon, and I hope you’re ready for a spectacular Merchants & Music event! We have what we believe to be the best line-up in Fort Thomas history. Dave Mason, he of the former group, Traffic, and also a member of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, is coming to our City! His hits include Feelin’ Alright?, Only You Know and I Know, We Just Disagree, Show Me Some Affection, World in Changes. Dave and his band will be playing from 9:00-11:00 p.m.

Leading off the day from 4:00-5:30 will be Gary Burbank and Blue Run. (Yes! THAT Gary Burbank.) Gary leads an organization called “Play It Forward” which helps musicians who don’t have insurance and we want to help him in his endeavor. Gary is a great musician himself and will help us with promo leading up to the event as well.

Long time Cincinnati favorites, The Bluebirds, will again be with us from 5:45-7:15. Two members of their group also play with Gary Burbank’s group. As always they will bring lots of excitement to the event.

Rounding out this great line-up is Blues legend, G. Miles and the Hitmen, a 7-piece powerhouse, who will play from 7:30-8:45.

Last year’s move to the Stables Building at 1038 S. Fort Thomas Avenue in the Midway proved to be very successful, and we are keeping it there. We will do a little re-arranging so that all vendors have equal access to both patrons and the music.