"No sweat....chillin'"

Detail of front gate at the Luckystone Lodge, Q. Cassetti 2011I wrote (or is it “texted”? ) that to our girl while we were texting and it dawned on me that yes, there was sweat and no, I was not chillin’, but melting. However, the true meaning was that it wasnt a big deal to wait and I was content to wait. Plenty to talk about, think about and do. The experience at the Brattleboro Dawn Dance was beyond her hopes—having a great time, making new friends, figuring out that maybe she is as fabulous as we tell her she is…and buoyed by the confidence that travelling by yourself brings. Our dancing princess is swinging on top of the world. And she is home to folky central.

Waiting and talking to her, I decided to really, really listen to one of her new favorite contra groups. So, I downloaded the new “Flying Tent” CD from the group, Perpetual e-Motion. Wow! Dance music, driving beat, but certainly no old time thing. Good working music. Gets the steam up. Lots of influences…but amazing just as its two guys who have a strong series of references that they meld with a danceable, callable beat…and who make a living being a contradance band.

I am being buffetted by a pair of fans to prevent the Q. puddle from occurring (like yesterday). I cannot even imagine what the top of my head looks like..but hey,that is insignificant compared to body heat.

I am wrapping some small projects up and am on the diving board for a few more. Today there is a field trip to the liquor store (!) as I have the distinct pleasure of having the opportunity to work on a related project and then there is another idea in the works that is related to the same that I am meeting with friends about. So, ideas abound.

Need to get the Luckystone First Year Award in the mail to Hartford (University of Hartford, Hartford Art School’s Low Residency MFA in Illustration). I am giving the first years the same as the past two years, large moleskine sketchbooks to commemorate their getting through the first two weeks of the program, launched into the swirl of change and growth that the program can give you. It is a cheap way to give back, and honestly, after my first two weeks of Syracuse, it would have been a confidence booster that you can get through it… Yes, for some, its a snap. But for those of us who are not overly confident (and in my case lost as it was a brave new world that I wasn’t sure I could cut)—a gentle, and friendly nudge and wink would have been welcome. The books are wrapped and beribboned. Now, all I have to do is write a little something friendly.

Its nine. Time to commence. Stay cool… I’ll be chillin’.

Untangled

Static Uniform, Q. Cassetti, 2011Things are sticky hot and its not even 11 this  morning. The newscasters were proud to tell us that it was going to 90˚ today so the fans will be whirring, shoes off, and little prayers to the computer gods that the machines don’t fry in the heat. I have been experiencing some glitches so I am not too certain that my little prayers have been heard.

Yesterday was tranquility base. Truly. I read. Made lunch and dinner and then took a monster nap. Truly a vacation day….and well received. If only I could do this for 3 or 4 more days, the strands of gluey spaghetti that constitutes my thinking and thoughts would become streamlined and elegant, giving me spaces to put new ideas, thoughts, pictures. But the ole biological hard drive had a day to cool down but not a total reboot.

We got into the water (knees deep) with poor hairy black Shady Grove (who is getting a new haircut from Mandy (who is back with us!!))—hot and panting. We made her do a little paddling around and she had a big drink of the lake water and immediately settled down.  I was entranced (and finished)The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World’s Most Perplexing Cold Cases—a fast and engaging read about the amazing problem solving skills of three particular, eccentric and brilliant people (an artist, a profiler and a polygrapher/manager) who through wit, intuition and deduction…and seeing what truly is there, to resolve cold murder cases that have frustrated generations of police and FBI agents. This tight knit group of friends founded the Vidocq Society, (from their page):

“An unusual, exclusive crime-solving organization that meets monthly at the Union League of Philadelphia, 140 South Broad St., in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Members of The Vidocq Society honor Eugène François Vidocq, the brilliant 18th century French detective who served the Sûreté, by applying their collective forensic skills and experience to “cold case” homicides and unsolved deaths. At Vidocq meetings Vidocq Society Members (V.S.M.’s) evaluate, investigate, refocus, revivify and solve the unsolved deaths officially brought to them.”

to address these cases with the best in the business. Hot lunch and cold cases…pro bono and as a way to bring the best minds together to unravel puzzles that they all have a passion and profession to solve. Not too heavy, but really good and a book you do not want to put down. True crime rocks.

This week is a short one…so I need to make this quick. More, I hope, later.

Perfect Sunday.

Kitty at Felicia’s, Q. Cassetti, 2011Kitty is one of my good models. As is Alex, when he is amenable. However, the light at Felicia’s Atomic Lounge was perfection on Friday evening, and Kitty obliged. I hope this is the basi of another Kitty portrait as it has the range of tone and expression that makes for good work. At least, that is my hope.

Kitty, our dancing princess arrived safely at her destination to be picked up by two of her dear friends to be whisked away to eat dinner and attend a dance at Greenfield. Tonight is the big Dawn Dance which I hope will be all she wishes and she twirls and spins to her hearts delight all night. She has the bus ride home to sleep!

Gloria has flown away, back to Los Angeles to horse and friends, work and beautiful locale. However,, Central New York is pretty matchless today. Though thunder and rain have been promised, we have a bit of an overcast day despite the sun and humidity that beats down. The purple, white and lavender wild phlox has popped, dotting our stands of big, verdant, perfect early summer ferns which right now, billow and grow. We have a piliated woodpecker that is letting us see his grandeur as he wails away at our trees. We can hear an owl and other more tropical sounds such that it prompts me to get some recordings of birds so I too, can be like a real Tburger and be able to identify the birds according to sound.

I have chicken marinating in my own version of Cornell marinade ready to grill tonight. Rob has a bit of work, being Manager on Duty tonight as Memorial Day is the opener for the summer of fun at the Museum of Glass. So, Alex and I will be laking it….and as I have a yummy new book to dive into. Its a bit grisly, but somehow summer and real crime is just so enticing. Certainly not cocktail party talk with the adults and “nice people” but more for those of us who revel in reality t.v. and tales of John Wayne Gacy.

The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World’s Most Perplexing Cold Cases

So thats it for now. The sketchbook is beckoning.

Saturday thoughts

Daughters, Q. Cassetti, 2011, pen and ink manipulated in Adobe Photoshop CS5End of the week, beginning of the long weekend. Did an quick logo exploration for a new client yesterday. A program logotype which was amusing and fruitful. The other new client job met the deadline, and I guess we will hear about the next steps early next week—or at least that is what I hope. You never know how timely the information will be.

We went to Felicias last night to celebrate the end of the week. Long John and the Tights were playing with all sorts of musicians swapping in and out during their sets. There was such happiness in the music, the conviviality of the musicians and the basket of bread that Stefan Senders had for sale in his linen lined basket. We had such fun with Kitty and Alex…and wit and gossip. We are so lucky to have such a fun family. The light was magical…rich and deep. I cannot wait to see what the camera has yielded.

Tonight’s music is Billy Eli at the Rongo: 9:30PM-12:30AM
Billy Eli celebrates Eric Aceto’s birthday with Djug Django, Southern Tears & the Flying Aceto Brothers celebrates Eric Aceto’s birthday with Djug Django, Southern Tears & the Flying Aceto Brothers - So, Alex and Rob and I will stroll over to hear the wild music and catch some of the Billy Eli magic (as well as all the wonder the Acetos bring). Need to charge the camera for this evening!

David planted my cherry trees! They are so glorious in their perfection…small, but hardy. We have put cages around them to give them a chance against the critters. We have put a mesh fabric over all the tasty bits (tree peonies,hosta and others) to see if that will keep the deer away. But as you know, the deer are persistent. Not smart…but they keep at it. Diligent and persistent.

What with all the rain and cool humid days, the raspberries and sour cherries this season will be remarkable. Thing of all the things we can make! Ball Diamond Road in a month or so! Wahoo!

Speaking of making, I just made up a vat of fresh salsa for Alex and his band friends who are making music all day in the living room. We have just Alex this weekend as the Dancing Princess has gone off to Vermont for the Brattleboro, “Dawn Dance”. We got her to the bus this morning…with great pride in our hearts that our girl was confidently moving forward, bags packed, ticket in hand ready for fun.

Onward to sketches and ideating. I have lots to think about!

Powering through

Today is a glorious day. Kitty just told me we had a thunderstorm last night which I happily slept through. I guess we are having a tropical week with rain in the evenings and beautiful days. Tonight is 2300˚ where Sunny Weather will reunite to kick of GlassFest, the second annual celebration of glass in Corning NY. Also, “Mt. Washington and Pairpoint Glass, from the Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties” is open (with Mark Tamayo’s wonderful show design and my show logotype). There will be a bus full of partygoers (Kitty, Alex, Gloria and maybe a friend) to mingle and mix in Corning this evening. Music and a balmy evening. How nice.

I have an illustration of a songstress due end of day..and we have some tweaking going on…so I  must make it swift.

Morning, Glory!

Pastel Rabbits, Q. Cassetti, 2011, pen and ink, Colored in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS5Cool and Humid. Looks like rain just like yesterday so that we have a mid day downpour so we have golden dusks. Kitty, bless her, went out yesterday and ripped out weeds. Today, I think there may be more yard work and then some filing for me. We could get rid of the heaps of paper…and she doesnt have the emotional thing I have with the paperwork. If she could sort and plan them for me, I can act.

I am doing a bunch of layout work along with having a few illustrations that need to be finished and inked for tomorrow. There is something I do not understand. The current illo project I am working on is a less than 3 day project on something that is going into testing next week. If they are going into testing, then why didnt they have  a little time to get the work done versus the ole 3 day, acid stomach thing. Little guidelines and fast timeframe… It just seems that the illustrator picks up the slack on some less than stellar project management. Not a problem, just looking at it as a designer and saying “why?”.

Speaking of illustration, I need to order a few of the 3x3 Magazines to have on file. Also, the pastel Q. is happening. I like the softness of the colors on the image above, with the pastels being soft and not necessarily sweet. Color is hard work worth pursuing. I need to take my woodcut headset (black, brown, cream, red) to another place just, if anything, to push the work.

Gotta go. Morning is speeding by.

Tag Em

Heaven or Hell, from the End is Near, Q. Cassetti, 2011, pen and ink, adjusted in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS%There are grackles on the roof looking at me with all sorts of nesting material to make their nest…probably in the carriage house to our displeasure. Rob looked at the bird leavings and proclaimed that we were going to bird proof our back porch as those critters just decide what they want to do and poop etc. everywhere.

There was a cacaphony of birdcalls, crow caws and morning doves this morning while Shady and I did the consititutional. The Garlic Mustard is just about ready to bloom (maybe I can get some help ripping it out…I ripped out buttercups this morning). What with all the rain, the air is tropical and humid. The grass is growing like crazy with all the  rain and cool humidity.

So here is another lesson for me. TAG your online work. Tag your images…and dont be skimpy. Talk about technique, tag subject down to detail, tag your name, your town, and the design elements of the compostion. I got another job yesterday from someone I have never spoken to, never marketed to, never met who, when searching the internet for bees found little old me. Quick sketch process for Friday and more finished work for next week as they are going into a test marketing process. This job has a mythological creature, limes and bees. And, they are interested in the handdrawn Q. Not the vector Princess.

So, since January, I have worked for 4 new Art Directors I have an email relationship with! Wow.

I am meeting this pm with my lovely new friends….maybe about a new enterprise they are interested in.

p.s. Harold Camping has claimed that this recent Rapture alert was just the warmup for October. Bless him, he is in bounceback mode…which gives me more time to work on my Rapture work after the new quickly job:

From The Times and Democrat:

Camping, who predicted that 200 million Christians would be taken to heaven Saturday before the Earth was destroyed, said he felt so terrible when his doomsday prediction did not come true that he left home and took refuge in a motel with his wife. His independent ministry, Family Radio International, spent millions - some of it from donations made by followers - on more than 5,000 billboards and 20 RVs plastered with the Judgment Day message.

But Camping said that he’s now realized the apocalypse will come five months after May 21, the original date he predicted. He had earlier said Oct. 21 was when the globe would be consumed by a fireball.

Saturday was “an invisible judgment day” in which a spiritual judgment took place, he said. But the timing and the structure is the same as it has always been, he said.

“We’ve always said May 21 was the day, but we didn’t understand altogether the spiritual meaning,” he said. “May 21 is the day that Christ came and put the world under judgment.”

Make plans for October. Sounds like a good day to throw a party. Right?

New Week

Harrowing of Hell: The End is Near, Q. Cassetti, 2011, pen and ink with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS5Poor Harold Camping. He isnt answering his phone and is collecting himself that the Rapture didnt happen. His wife reportedly says he’s “somewhat bewildered” and “mystified” that nothing happened on May 21. Poor Robert Fitzpatrick spent his life savings of $140,000 to promote the end of the world —

I’m trying to warn people about what’s coming,” Fitzpatrick told the Daily News.

“People who have an understanding [of end times] have an obligation to warn everyone.”

Fitzpatrick spent his money on 1,000 placards on subway cars and several more on bus shelters around the city. They read: “Global Earthquake! The Greatest Ever - Judgment Day: May 21.” Poor guy. No escalator ride to heaven. He is stuck down here with Camping and all the rest of us sinners.

I am busy researching what the personification of hell looks like. The best results have come from images searched under the “Harrowing of Hell”. I love all the medieval and renaissance imagery that has this crazy head with people being stuffed into the mouth either inspired by human heads or a critter/fish/cat type of grotesque. Look at the jewel to the left. I love the big head, the big Christ with a bizarre cross/lance and all the heads of the sinners, seemingly pretty content to be in the mouth of hell. There is a funny tranquility to this image that I find funny and cute. I have always looked for this hell head when studying paintings as I am so charmed by them. So, I plan a bunch of pix to express my love and delight.

Alex is busy at an amusement park today with his Physics class. Kitty has her last week off. Rob is busy as a bee. I have work to the ears….and am sitting in my office with a green light coming in through the window as all the trees have blown out and we no longer have bitty spring leaves, but big, summer leaves.

Maw

The Maw, From the Time is Near, Q. Cassetti 2011, pen and ink adjusted in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS%1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 — For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  

Dudes!No evaporation. No disturbance. No beckoning for the good. The Rapture is over…at least for this year. Rapturesoon.com projects the next possible Rapture (but for them, there is no possible, but definite) in 2012. The key points pointing to that are biblical prophesy, the Mayan Calendar, The Great Seal of the United States, Sun Storms, The Atom Smasher, Yellowstone Supervolcano, The physicicsts, Polar Shift and much more.  So take a look at the video on this site…and be warned.

Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  

I am def in the foolish camp. It is a little disturbing that only those “in Christ”—living or dead may ascend. What about the the Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and Muslims? Only the followers of Christ? Pretty elite set…

The picture today is inspired by many of the images of the Maw of Hell. I have enjooyed them for a while….and feel that there might be a few images in this, along with some good reference.

Lake was our evening and morning today. I have linens going after Shady rolled in them wet and sandy/dirty to her delight and my horror. I have the alarm ringing and I have to go.

The Time is Nigh....6 p.m. right?

Rapture Day 2011 from the Time is Near, Q. Cassetti, 2011, pen and ink adjusted in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS5Well here we are. Rapture Day dawning just like every other one…the birds in the trees, the expanse of green and thankfully, no rain for this momentous day of days.

Must got off to marinate chicken for our last supper before the great shaking and burning happens as we sinners will be left to fend for ourselves in the last five months of our lives. It is nice to know t hat Mayor Bloomburg declared that alternative side of the street parking woud be suspended if the good are taken away from us…at least for Sunday.

Poor Harold Camping, the originator of this chicken little, sky is falling threat. What happens tomorrow? I guess he pays his billboard fees, his tee shirt bills, and collects his donations and starts declaring another fun thing to look forward to. From what I hear, there is another Rapture planned for 2012…so there is time to really get in gear for that.

However, I am delighted with the topic and plan a few more images just to laugh at.

In Five Months, the Earth will be destroyed

End Times : The Time is Near, Q. Cassetti, 2011, pen and inkFrom the From Columbus Dispach:

“The latest warning comes from radio evangelist Harold Camping, who has “deciphered” a complicated biblical code that reveals that Jesus will return to Earth on May 21.

Camping, based in California, says that Jesus will take a select group of believers to heaven with him (that’s the Rapture), and everybody else will be out of luck. Five months later, the Earth will be destroyed.

“Countdown continues. The good anticipate the future. We evil one  go about the day to day. When the big escalator drops down from the clouds, and the chosen ones ascend, what do you say to firing up the grill and  swearing a bit just to get warmed up. Felicia’s Atomic Lounge is doing a Rapture Party for those of us left here on this spinning orb>>  Wonderful Amelia Sauter speaks of the Rapture today in the Ithaca Post>> My little celebration is ink driven (and burning down the lovely photo blue verithin pencils).

Here is the End Time Timeline>

MSN on the Final Stretch>

I am listening to the newest Tracy Chavalier’s “Remarkable Creatures” while I work. Tracy Chavalier has written a wonderful series of books with the most recognized one being “The Girl with the Pearl Earring”. This book jumps off of the life and work of Mary Anning. an untrained Englishwoman who has been recognized for her discovery of the first complete icthyosaur and plesiosaur fossils. Its a wonderful tale  told from two points of view, that of Mary Anning and a fictional  spinster and mentor to Mary, Elizabeth Philpot.  “Remarkable Creatures” is a good companion with the little thises and thats I keep throwing out the door.

There is more to revise and time is ticking away. Not much time for me to babble on today.

Countdown.

Rapture! The End is Near, Q. Cassetti, May 18, 2011, pen and inkOnly three more days until the Rapture. What to do? Cook? Plan? Cancel our utilities? How to prepare? Make all the beds and iron our all white outfits (or for some of us, like me—get the pitchfork out?). So, instead, I am doing some little greeting cards to honor the Rapture (yesterday and today). More to come. Great to have a fun little topic. Devils! The gaping maw of Hell (inspired by our pals the Lubki artists!).

Work has been insistent. A drumbeat of little niggling details that I am fearful of dropping or forgetting…so the list keeps getting longer and more abstract. It cant be me getting older…it is a slippery slope of disconnected ideas…and everyone moving a bit too fast. At least the exhibit gets put out…as does the big book. Oy.

Am looking at all the interlinking aspects of social media. Why? Dunno…but I was thinking about Tumblr (which I flow my blog and tweets to) and trying to understand how it works. I checked with my consultant, the college student and she reassured me that as I had coverage with a blog and twitter, I didn’t need to worry about Tumblr as it is a way to blog in a mini way (microblog). However, the magic of a RSS feed always stuns me. Behance, as I mentioned the other day, can be flowed to Facebook (the easy one is the LinkedIn> Behance relationship—total sweeness while not needing to.to monkey with Feedburner to make that happen). I am interested in becoming part of Dribbble, a site that one submits a small screenshot of what you are working on to share with the community of like souls. I’ve seen some of my more favorite Dribbble players post to FBook from that site. Another thread to understand. What else can I trigger with a RSS feed url or a twitter post. The whole mechanism is fascinating and an intuitive thing  that I wish I could better grasp.

Gotta go. Files to release.

The End is Near!

Repent! The End is Near, Q. Cassetti, May 17,2011. pen and inkThis is tailor made for me! No more bunnies for now. I have a few more to post, but between now and the 21st I have a mission.

Yes folks. The end is coming, at least according to Harold Camping, radio host and prophet. Mr. Camping has studied the Bible and has come to the conclusion that May 21, 2011 is the day that the Rapture is going to happen. The Rapture is described by Wikipedia as:

“The Rapture is a reference to the being caught up referred to in the Biblical passage 1 Thess 4:17 when in the End Times the Christians will be gathered together in the air to meet Christ.

The primary passage used to support this idea is 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, in which Paul cites “the word of the Lord” about the return of Jesus to gather his saints.

… and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.1 Thess 4

There are many views among Christians regarding the timing of Christ’s return (including whether it will occur in one event or two), and various views regarding the destination of the 1 Thessalonians 4 aerial gathering:

One event or two

Some Dispensationalist Premillennialists (including many Evangelicals) hold the return of Christ to be two distinct events or one second coming in two stages. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is seen to be a preliminary event to the return described in Matthew 24:29-31. Although both describe a return of Jesus, these are seen to be separated in time by more than a brief period. The first event may or may not be seen (which is not a primary issue), and is called the rapture, when the saved are to be ‘caught up,’ from whence the term rapture is taken. The ‘second coming’ is the public event when Christ’s presence is prophesied to be clearly seen as he returns to end a battle staged at Armageddon, though possibly fought at the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The majority of dispensationalists hold that the first event precedes the period of Tribulation, even if not immediately. (See chart for additional Dispensationalist timing views);

Amillennialists deny the interpretation of a literal 1000 year rule of Christ, and as such Amillennialism does not necessarily imply much difference between itself and other forms of millennialism besides that denial. However, there is considerable overlap of Amillenialism (such as in most Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians (PCUSA), and others), Postmillennialists (such as some Presbyterians, and others), and Historic Premillennialists (such as with some Calvinistic Baptists, and others) with those who hold that the return of Christ will be a single, public event. Those who identify the Rapture with the Second-Coming-to-Earth are likely to emphasize mutual similarities between passages of scripture where clouds, angels or the archangel, resurrection, and gathering are mentioned. Although some (such as some Amillennialists) may take the Rapture to be figurative, rather than literal, these three groups are likely to maintain that passages regarding the return of Christ describe a single event. Then some may also claim that the “word of the Lord” cited by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is the Olivet Discourse which Matthew separately describes in Matthew 24:29-31. Although the doctrinal relationship of the rapture and the Second Coming are the same in these three groups, Historic Premillennialists are more likely to use the term “rapture” to clarify their position in distinction from Dispensationalists.”

For more on Mr. Camping’s predictions, his website: www.endoftheworld2012.com. Just to get a peek at where you fit on the saint or sinner scale, there is a naughty or nice to determine if you are a “good person”.

All quiet here. Kitty is settling. Alex is unnerved. Rob is working late. Gloria is on her way!

The New “Face” of Journalism from the Involver Blog

Social media has turned us all into content creators. But for journalists, the people traditionally empowered with this task, social media has been a major disruption, characterized by newspapers in every part of the country shutting their doors, and significant job loss. Yet amidst these changes, many newspaper brands have found ways to maintain and even expand their readership. A recent article in Mashable makes a strong case for the idea that social media has reinvigorated the market for quality journalism. Mashable points to the fact that the algorithms that filter for content on Facebook, Twitter, and Google favor high quality, and that we as individuals are motivated to choose high quality sources when we share links. And it’s not just editorial content that’s changing. Social media applications, such as those offered by Involver, are allowing newspaper organizations such as the Denver Post and Hearst Media Services to re-conceive their publications by integrating elements such as Twitter-based classifieds, dynamic video, slideshow, and podcast elements, and contests promoting advertising partners.

Venerable publications like the New York Times have led the way in offering these kinds of options to their readers, many of whom no longer take the printed edition but tune in throughout the day, instead of just in the morning. There are also many new web-only publications of quality, Huffington Post and Mashable to name two, and blogs that have revolutionized the way reporting is done.

Using New ToolsThe Denver Post, which has used Involver applications, including Twitter, RSS, and Contests, to build their readership through Facebook, is reaching a wider audience than ever before. Allen Klosowski, who manages Social/Mobile Business for the Denver Post, believes the current social media disruption is as significant as when the printing press was invented. “A lot of people who used to manually transcribe books were out of a job, but it didn’t make the content they were distributing any less valuable. Social Media is an engaging and immediate way to get people involved with Denver Post content in a way that builds lasting bonds in the community.”

One of the keys to the Denver Post’s success is to use social media tools to build their audience by providing people with critical information about what’s going on in the local community. “People have a natural desire to be involved in the news about their neighborhood,” says Klosowski, “Our social media communities thoughtfully join the conversation about the topics that shape their daily lives. It’s neighbors having conversations with neighbors about how their community is affected by the news The Denver Post is reporting on. The sense of community is outstanding.”

The Post used the Involver Twitter app to extend their classified section to Facebook, our RSS application to promote their content across the web, and the Involver Contest app to promote a popular Denver institution, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and draw thousands of new users to their page.

3000+ Facebook Fan PagesFor more broad-based media groups, there is also the option of implementing social marketing tools at scale. Hearst Media Services, for example, launched a campaign of over 3000 branded, customized Facebook fan pages on behalf of individual news sources such as the Houston Chronicle, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The Seattle Post Intelligencer. Operating at scale does not mean the local angle is overlooked or that content for all these individualized Facebook pages should be uniform. Success in one market can help newspapers across the board adapt to changes in the way people want their news.

“It’s no secret, people in all demographics are now getting their news online and in social networks,” says Jeff Folckemer, SVP, Hearst Newspapers. “Hearst Media Services has responded by creating very successful web services like SFGate.com, seatllepi.com, chron.com and others.” To be sure, hosting a Facebook page and editing a newspaper are vastly different, but the element of real news can determine the success of Facebook fan pages operated by known and trusted news sources.

“Adding Facebook pages powered by Involver applications offers an effective way to leverage this trend and take advantage of the viral capabilities of social media,” says Folckemer, “this is also an effective way to help our advertisers find new customers among the many users of social media.”

There is of course no turning back the clocks for newspapers who’ve been decimated by the changes, but the above examples do offer inspiring possibilities to those publications willing to adapt and embrace these new tools.

Read more…

Monday update

Chequered Bunny, Q. Cassetti, 2011, pen and ink, colored in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS5Monday. Things have changed. We have two kids in the house with a summer guest in the offing. Today is Rob’s birthday! We will hopefully have dinner out at our nice restaurant a block from here. There is an awards ceremony we need to attend…so maybe a late dinner.

We had a nice evening with all sorts of “Facebook Stalking” (Alex’s phrase) with the review of all the prom pictures (which is almost as much fun as the prom)—the dresses, the hairdos, the white dinner jackets etc. Kitty and our friend Thea were very consumed by looking at all these pictures—sort of a yearbook of some sort. Shoes and hairdos took the lead insofar as conversation. 

Interesting. Behance Network, a free, social networking page for visual people is a terrific resource to share (and get interesting feedback) where you can post projects and follow others. I have gotten some interesting leads on work from folks that have seen my work on Behance, so I cannot say enough about it. Also, Behance and LinkedIn, have an app. that allows you to post Behance projects (known as portfolios) to LinkedIn as soon as its posted. So, that is a nice extra to make your content get out there, easily. Now they are doing a Beta on easy up personal websites that parse the same projects/portfolios to a central page with a series of simple but really nice skins to show your work. One has choices in background, background color, font selections etc. This is something I may look into because of the reach, simplicity and to better understand what these two social networking sites can do with/for each other.

Wow. Look at this! You can flow the Behance stuff to your Facebook page! I need to try this out! I guess it pays to wander a bit on Monday morning! You never know what you will find! From the Behance Blog>>

Beautiful

Work beckons. There are a bunch of little projects gathering around my ankles…and should get them moving.

It is so so great that it is cooler and raining as it is changing the high pollen content here. Everything has been coated with chartreuse pollen from the walks to the cars, to even our furniture inside as it wafts in through the screens and windows. Shady is snoring.

A day later

Preprom Alex, Q. Cassetti, May 14, 2011My little one knows how to humor me. I tweaked and ironed, hemmed and picked up…and then he did as I asked and posed for me. We both acknowledged there might be a “senior picture” in the mix, and he did as I asked, moving a little here, hand there, turn your head a bit more and the like. I got quite a few shots, but this one seems to size up his calm prior to the party. If you want to see more pix, go here for the requisite posing for the parents and the insanity at the falls>>

We had had such a nice day together getting up to do errands from visiting a sale (the famed Flax Sale) to getting his glasses fixed, to breakfast at Hal’s Deli and then off to Maines to get granola fixings. He was kind and chatty and the time just sped by. Then home to have him nap while I hemmed his pants and put a roast in the oven for him to take slices of for the dish to pass dinner he was invited to. Time sped by then…and then he let me tweak and help him with the cummerbund and cuffs, the studs and shoes.

Alex and Ellie 05.14.2011We went to get Ellie, his date, who was perfectly perfect and rolled with all of the flutter and fuss.  She was elegant in a simple sapphire dress with a simple glittering necklace and equally simple, glittering shoes (which she told us she practiced wearing around the house in her sweat pants). She has a lively little pin (you can see in the picture to the right on her hip). Elegant and understated. Alex was proud of how great she looked.

I havent told you about Ellie, but she is a wonderful, cute person who will be catching a hawk to train to hunt this fall. So, she is actively interested in building the hawk house and preparing for the big event. She is interested in going to Europe to learn how to work with Golden Eagles who can take a deer down. Not your average missy miss. She is great and really game. We think she’s terrific.

We got the food together and then went via the falls for “the shot”. I will back up a bit to explain. Trumansburg has a very tall, and at this time of the year, very impressive waterfall “Taughannock Falls” right in our backyard. Rob tells me that Taughannock is taller than Niagara Falls, which is impressive but not quite the theatre that Niagara is. However, the WPA did their number on our park, and carved out all sorts of wonderful trails with overlooks complete with beautiful stone steps and walls. The tradition around here is to have one’s wedding or prom picture taken at the falls overlook which we didnt do for Kitty…but hey, last night it was on our way. So as we pulled into the parking lot, we all screamed with delight as there were two enormous white stretch limos (which we posed in front of) and the promsters got in line with all the others to have their pictures taken. It was the scene, with all of the parents I know from sports and drama, along with all of the gorgeous kids who we have seen in all sorts of states…all dressed up with someplace to go. It was a wonderful and jolly moment for all. So here are some shots (taken from WWWWAAAY Back) to capture the moment!

Then, if all the prom stuff wasnt exciting enough, Kitty arrived home bouncing and talking and happy.

It was a great night.

My portait of Margaret Drabble in The New Yorker this week!

Portrait of Margaret Drabble for The New Yorker, Q. Cassetti, 2011I have been quiet on this…and now I can tell you! I got a note a few Fridays ago, asking me to do a portrait for an article by Joyce Carol Oates (!!). They included reference and the portrait I had done of Kitty and that is where we started. I submitted sketches by Monday and then finished work was due Thursday (all within the same week).