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As an artist, some of the most interesting explorations are those between the darkness and the light – the darkness and the light literally speaking in my art, but also figuratively in my life, my personality, and my hopes. This is a favorite digital drawing of mine which illustrates this complex relationship. Some days when I look at this piece I focus on the light, sometimes the dark. Author Margaret Leroy shared some enlightening insight into darkness in one of her novels, and I find this quote seems to explain my mindset as I created this piece.
‘I learned in that moment that there are different darknesses. That there is ordinary darkness, like the night in the countryside, where, even on a night with no moon, as you stare things loom, take form; and there is another darkness, a darkness so profound you cannot begin to imagine it, cannot conjure it up in your mind. A darkness that blots out all you remember or hope for. A darkness that teaches that all that consoles you is false.’
― Margaret Leroy, The Soldier’s Wife
Sometimes the hardest thing to accomplish as a graphic artist is knowing when to keep things simple. As an artist, I am always looking to explore new territory and push the metaphorical envelope. However, when you are creating scientific diagrams for educational handouts, simpler is 100 percent better. The phrase, ‘Keep it simple, stupid’ was most likely created with an overachieving designer in mind.
NOTE: These diagrams were created for the Edison Innovation Foundation located in Newark, New Jersey.
I was asked to photograph an event on Friday, October 19, 2012 for a relatively young non-profit organization – the White Roof Project. The mission of this non-profit is exactly what the name implies … to paint black roofs white. Why? To save the environment, one little roof at a time.
Simply, when you paint your roof white rather than leaving it tar black, energy costs within the office or residence decreases significantly (sometimes as much as 40%) largely because the sun’s heat is not as disruptive to a white roof as to a darker roof shade. As a result, stress on the power grid is decreased and resources are saved. What amazing results due to a simple wardrobe change!
Working with the White Roof Project was a real pleasure. This small but determined organization is composed of respectful, friendly, honest, welcoming, and intelligent individuals who are taking the simple act of painting and turning it into a big idea with big results.
Famed French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson – known to some as the father of modern photojournalism and the creator of street photography – lauded the idea of a photograph’s decisive moment. Cartier-Bresson believed that, ‘photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression.’ He felt that if you and your camera were ready at all times, and you happened to be in the right place at the perfect time, you would come to take the perfect picture.
I have found, in all my years of photography, that your decisive moments are when you least expect them, and often feature someone or something that you weren’t intending to photograph. One weekend in October, I went to visit my dearest cousin and photograph her new daughter – and my new goddaughter – for her birth announcement. It was there that I caught these images of her oldest son – in a bit of a fit, and in need of attention and lunch. It was in that moment, that I looked away from my intended subject and caught the perfect pout of childhood.
Typography is a key – and often overlooked – aspect of design. A beautiful, moving, timeless piece can be created using nothing more and nothing less than letters. Combine those letters together into words and into sentences to form an immortal phrase, and then you are in business.
iPhoneography [I-phøne øgråphé]: the creation of imagery by utilizing Apple iPhone technologies including integrating web app effects offered via instagram, halftone, XnView FX, etc.
At times you come across an inanimate item - per chance - and it touches you, urges you, beckons you to immortalize it via film for forevermore. Does that ever happen to you?
Working within a start-up is always an adventure – days are always busy, your to-do list is never-ending, the team is always wishing for ‘just one more person’, but most especially, with a start-up there are a lot of ‘firsts’. The first customer, the first big news article, the first new hire and also – and most importantly – the product firsts. In order to celebrate the first big milestone of delivered notes for Gracious Eloise, I was tasked to create an announcement badge and corresponding landing page. This sort of project is always great fun for me because I can step outside the norm of the brand, and design something with a little more flair and a little more pizzazz, since the point of the piece is to attract as much attention as possible. Above are the 6 versions I created. Which is your favorite?
According to Women 2.0′s site, ‘Founder Friday is a Women 2.0 event to promote the creation of new networks among aspiring entrepreneurs, current entrepreneurs and investors in innovative cities globally. Both men and women are invited to attend Founder Friday.’
This event was especially enjoyable for me because I was able to watch my boss – Gracious Eloise Founder and CEO Eloise Bune – speak on the challenges of starting a female owned and operated technology startup. She inspired me most with these heartfelt words of reassurance.
The event – hosted on April 26, 2012 – was my third with the Gilda’s Club of New York City, and I must say it had to be my most favorite. The location was gorgeous and very rock & roll – the soon-to-be-open Cutting Room on 32nd & Park – a venue boasting an amazing guitar chandelier, huge picture windows, smoking-room leather couches and an eclectic art collection. The gorgeous and incredibly friendly Miss USA made an appearance to help raise money for this auspicious organization, and four heroic cancer survivors were honored.
One of my most rewarding freelance appointments has been through my tenure with The Edison Innovation Foundation. I have been working with the Foundation since 2007, and have enjoyed every single project. Since I was not much of a science buff in school, it is such a nice experience to be surrounded by a group of people who are so interested in science, innovation and technology – and to have this same group be so willing to take the time to share and explain things to me with no condescension. I also have the unique opportunity of being introduced to scenes and people that I would not normally mix with – such as the event on Sunday, April 24, 2012 at NJIT.
Last year, Laura, one of my dearest friends asked me to be the {Co}Godmother to her soon-to-be-born, little girl. Not only did I feel incredibly honored to be asked, but I was also thrilled to be asked to share the task with my oldest friend, Jennie. Three hundred and sixty-five days later, I had the pleasure to watch my dear little Ava turn one, sitting alongside my compatriot Jennie – as she prepares to deliver her first child in {hopefully} the next couple of days. Ava is a fearless and utterly happy child. She is independent yet attentive, and such a strong character for one so young. Happy Birthday baby, and here’s wishing you many more happy days to come.
At a young age, I felt compelled to steal and use my mother’s camera with wild abandon. Not because of some deep-seeded philosophical need to capture beauty and truth, but because I was inexplicably drawn to the hypnotic sound of the lens cap closing … cla-click, tut. I would walk around snap, snap, snapping my Pentax K1000 at nothing and everything – sometimes without even any film in the camera. It was not until I grew older and suffered loss and life that I was able to fully understand the power of a photograph. A photograph – a patient, thoughtful, well-timed photograph – can capture a perfect moment; one that will never be able to be captured in quite the same way again. And thus I surround myself with vintage cameras that have captured so many moments of the lives of those that may have already been forgotten. And I listen to their cla-clicks, and I open my eyes, and I feel ready to see.
This was the second Gilda’s Club event that I photographed, and again I was very moved by the generosity of this organization. It is a genuine pleasure to work with a group who’s sole goal is to bring happiness to the men and women in this world who suffer from Cancer.
NOTE: If you would like to become more involved with Gilda’s Club of New York, you can learn more here. All photos ©Carolann DeMatos | Wonderpug Graphics.
In June 2011, I was invited to photograph a lovely charity event for New York’s Branch of the StreetWise Partners. The event was held in this fabulous little art gallery with an amazing spiral staircase leading to an upstairs library full of {sky} light, loads of delicious food, a collection of friendly people, and fabulous silent auction choices. I am so glad that I had the chance to donate my time to this fabulous organization.
All photos ©Carolann DeMatos | Wonderpug Graphics.
Cloud computing is the latest technology to sweep the country. It seems like everyone is talking about ‘the cloud’ – commercials are promoting ‘let’s go to the cloud’; Kramer is screaming to ‘invest in the cloud’; my parents are asking ‘what is the cloud?’. So, it is understandable that when I was offered a chance to work on a Cloud project, that I jumped right on board. It was a real pleasure to spend 15 months (2010-2011) working with AT&T on their new cloud service offerings – working for a Fortune 500 company is an experience not to be missed.
iPhoneography [I-phøne øgråphé]: the creation of imagery by utilizing Apple iPhone technologies including integrating web app effects offered via instagram, halftone, XnView FX, etc.
I was invited to photograph Gilda’s Club of New York’s Juliet Supper Club Event on Thursday, April 7, 2011. And after spending an evening with these men and women who so generously donate their time fundraising for such a terrific cause, I just had to share some information about this organization, and also some of my favorite shots from the event.
The organization was named/and in honor of Gilda Radner — of SNL fame — who sadly lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer in 1989. Ever since this organization has been raising money to not only provide care for Cancer patients in need but to make sure that ‘No one should have to face Cancer alone.’ The fabulous event I attended last Thursday helped to raise over $15,000 and did so in a fun and fashionable way.
NOTE: If you would like to become more involved with Gilda’s Club of New York, you can learn more here. All photos ©Carolann DeMatos | Wonderpug Graphics.
Ever since I started with with the Edison Innovation Foundation in 2007, I have been reassured that ‘Thomas Edison is the world gold standard for invention and innovation.’ I have been bombarded with quotes by this brilliant man, surrounded by his personal journals and a myriad of his inventions, and have even toured his historical (and very large) home. But most importantly, I have had the chance to work with a group a people who really believe in someone, and work incredibly hard to maintain and enhance their hero’s legacy.
Old rusted wheels, a worn and used scrabble set, glass beads connected whimsically together via wire … you may call these sights garbage. You may call these sights plain. You may call these sights boring. I, however, call them art.
As a designer, color and shape play an abnormally large part in my waking life. When you look at the sky, you may say it is blue whereas I may refer to it as Pantone #632. When you look at your dog, you may see a dear yet hairy friend whereas I see the circles and squares and rectangles and diamonds I could use to draw my dear friend in Adobe Illustrator. I find that my friends who are mother’s view the world looking to avoids dangers for their child; and I find my friends who are New Yorkers tend not to look at anything directly but seem to see everything around them. So, here is a little peak into the way I see things – in an explosion of color and shape.
Some people ‘doodle’ on bit of notebook paper and napkins, but I doodle virtually. I can get lost in my virtual world – with my computer blasting Fiona Apple, or Michael Buble, or Eminem – and slowly shapes turn into faces and faces become characters.
