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Instagram Inspiration

January 18, 2013 9:08 PM | filed in:

If you're in a creative rut, consider Instagram. Most of us know Instagram because of its recent $1 billion acquisition by Facebook or from celebrities using it to inject the web with more images (usually grainy, self-indulgent self-portraits). If you haven't used it before, Instagram is a mobile app that allows you to take photos, apply filters to make them more attractive, and share the images online -- either publicly or with a trusted, private group.Faced with the knowledge that the boringness of my everyday life might become widely known, I have been a reluctant user of the app... but...

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September Updates

September 18, 2012 8:58 PM | filed in: ,

The web development section has been updated with a few screen shots of recent projects. Updating my portfolio has been a low priority, since I am spending most of my spare time on a few personal projects. I don't want to share all of the details yet, but I can say that I'll be launching three or four personal projects within the next month or so. Besides that, this little guy is taking up a bunch of my time (and making for a very happy September)...

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Site Launch: AfterWicked.com

August 14, 2012 6:22 AM | filed in: , ,

Mara Sandroff is a high school senior who acts, sings... and writes. (How fitting that she attends a school for gifted and talented students.) She contacted me a few weeks ago about building a site to showcase her writing, specifically fan fiction she has created around the Broadway musical Wicked. Her two-volume The If Duology follows the citizens of Oz and the main characters of Wicked as they recover from the trauma they endured in the play.I'm not often approached by teenaged clients, but Mara has proven to be a professional client despite her age: While developing the After Wicked logo...

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Health Month Begins

September 1, 2011 5:08 PM | filed in: ,

September is Health Month... for me, anyway. HealthMonth.com is a site that allows users to set up and track goals and limits to improve physical, intellectual, and spiritual health. Meet your goals? Earn points. Miss your goals? Lose them, and appeal to the community to save you by "healing" you with fruit (and words of encouragement). For someone as competitive and good-little-student as I am, this is a great way to start a new regimen or get back on track with habits that could use some consistency. I've set up 13 rules for myself, ranging from "Cook dinner six nights...

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Thinking Big

June 11, 2011 11:33 PM | filed in:

I saw Super 8 tonight. What a spectacle! Just the other day, I wrote a post about how movies are the biggest shaper of our visual perception of the future (in retrospect, I probably should have given a nod to video games too), and Super 8 was a great example of that. Futuristic technology was depicted throughout the movie, and it was fun to pique the imagination a bit. I am so interested in how someone (in this case, JJ Abrams) evolves from a storyteller/writer into an orchestrator of gigantic projects that require contributions of hundreds of people and different...

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Online Resources for Idea Inspiration

June 10, 2011 8:28 PM | filed in: , , ,

I recently took a class at Writing Pad, which offers seminars and courses for all kinds of writing in a hip pad with gourmet treats. The owner, Marilyn, generously offers free writing prompts at her blog, which is a goldmine for writers who want to practice, practice, practice but don't always know where to start or hit a spot of writer's block.Here are a few additional online resources for idea inspiration: Brian Stokes' Random Logline Generator: Press a button to get a quick story synopsis with characters and plot.  Wikipedia:Random: Follow the link in the left column of Wikpedia to...

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Inspiration from the Past

June 2, 2011 9:03 PM | filed in: ,

Today, some photos taken at Area 51 in 1963 became declassified. (Check them out at National Geographic.)We've all seen 1960s movies and TV shows, with strange designs and viewpoints of what "future" looks like. While Hollywood was busy fashioning coffee canisters, vacuum cleaners, and Slinkys into spaceships and the skyscrapers of tomorrow, the US government was working on actual crafts that rival today's in modernism. Doesn't it make you wonder what secret projects are currently occupying our national scientists and engineers? Think of how greatly technology has advanced: - Even a "small" computer in the '60s was probably 100 times...

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Have a Very Etsy Christmas

December 7, 2010 2:39 PM | filed in: ,

I am really in the Christmas spirit this year. It would be even better if I could get it to snow in the LA basin, but in the meantime, evenings of online shopping and gift-wrapping with hot chocolate and holiday tunes in the background are working wonders on my usual bah-humbuggery. My go-to marketplace for general merchandise is Amazon. I've been shopping with them so long I remember Amazon Auctions (do you?), and my order history dating back to 1998 is a cringe-worthy record of my music and reading tastes from my early twenties. Because I've shopped with Amazon so...

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Opening the Scope of Influences

September 4, 2010 1:59 PM | filed in: ,

It's easy to get lost online. You can look up nearly anything and find tons of inspiration to get things done. For creative types, I think the Internet is a blessing and a curse. Sure, you can instantly find (debatable) answers for any questions, and you can look up reference material for any subject. But like most media, the 'net is susceptible to trends and collective hysteria. Search engines, site loyalty/familiarity, marketing tactics, and relevance based on everyone's syndication of their thoughts... all of these encourage users to trod the well-worn path and hinder aimless surfing--probably the best way to...

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Getting a Fresh Perspective

August 6, 2010 8:26 AM | filed in: ,

Every once in awhile, design becomes a dreaded chore, because nothing seems to work or everything feels uninspired. Most people expect designers to be creative at all times, but just like any occupation, there are peaks and valleys to project navigation, skill level, and attitude about the work. Every designer (fashion, interior, graphic, and beyond...) goes through those valleys at times. The bad part is not in having these moments of "un-designeriness;" rather, handling it well is the challenge. What are you supposed to do when you are in a design funk or feeling unmotivated to create? Assuming you do...

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RIP, Silver Lake Walking Man

July 23, 2010 10:33 PM | filed in: ,

For the first three years we lived in Los Angeles, our home was on a hill in Los Feliz. Since we both worked from home, we often would go out to lunch or run errands during weekdays to avoid weekend congestion. (I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be hanging out in my pajamas on Saturday morning than navigating the loathsome parking situation at the Atwater Costco or Silver Lake Trader Joe's.) One of the constants during our drives, walks, hikes, and jogs around the neighborhood was seeing "the walking man," a 50-something, skinny, tan walker (nearly always...

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50/50: Words & Images for Didi Menendez

July 10, 2010 10:23 AM | filed in: , ,

From Matthew Hittinger's blog: Grace Cavalieri and April Carter Grant have edited a wonderful anthology from writers and artists who have been published by Didi Menéndez in MiPOesias magazine, OCHO, Poets and Artists (O&S), or individual books. Each piece is about or dedicated to Didi in celebration of her long-standing commitment to advancing print and web standards for independent publishing of poetry and art.Here is the full list of contributors: Barbra Nightingale, Diego Quiros, Suzanne Frischkorn, Ivy Alvarez, Ron Androla, Nick Piombino, Holly Picano, Michael Parker, Meghan Punschke, Amy King, John Korn, Grady Harp, Jose Parra, David Lehman, Matthew Hittinger...

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He's Cookin' Now!

April 21, 2010 10:13 PM | filed in:

In The Green Mile, there's an (unintentionally) hilarious moment when Sam Rockwell's character, a crazy-ass prisoner/agent of chaos, starts getting excited because someone's being executed and the lights are flickering. "He's cookin' now!" is what he says a few times, which always makes me laugh despite the overall heavy tone. (I also always get chills when the warden looks into the hole dug by Andy Dufresne and realizes he's been had, so I'm not completely heartless.)Anyway, "He's cookin' now!" has become part of the Grant family lingo, and we use it for everything from referencing the movie to pointing out...

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Just When the Weather Has Turned...

April 11, 2010 9:00 PM | filed in:

...there's a weekend like this one, dreary and cold and misty. I recently wrote about being happy about springtime, how the brighter colors of the season were getting sprinkled into my wardrobe and the temperate weather was making walks and out-of-the-house tasks more appealing. This morning, as I passed a nearby time-and-temperature sign on my way to a make-up seminar, it was 53 degrees. No wonder I wanted the heat on during my drive. When we attendees took our lunch break and walked two blocks to a Chinese restaurant, each of us--dressed in jeans, light tops, blazers, and sockless feet--shivered...

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Worth a Watch: Pixar Short Films

April 8, 2010 8:35 PM | filed in: ,

Instead of holing up in the office tonight, I'm comfortably working on the laptop on my sofa with the Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 1 providing background entertainment. If you're interested in animation or digital illustration or painting, check it out. The first short of the collection, The Adventures of Andre & Wally B, is from 1984, when most of us didn't even have in-home computers, and despite its obvious rough edges (as compared to today's full-length wonders), it's pretty good. Luxo Jr. is the Pixar promo we all know--the one where big lamp, little lamp, and ball mess...

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Spring Has Sprung

April 3, 2010 2:42 PM | filed in:

Although I've lived in mostly temperate California for five years (and lived in another sunny state for a few years before that), I'm a child of the Midwest and to this day find myself tuned into the seasons. Instead of a fluctuation in mood that commonly accompanies really strong seasonal changes in cities like my hometown (Chicago), now it's subtle things--such as waking up and feeling like wearing a light-blue shirt instead of a charcoal one--that signal the advent of spring. The past few days have found me pulling the light-colored clothing from the backs of drawers and closets and...

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5 Custom Lettering Sites to Drool Over...

April 2, 2010 9:18 AM | filed in: ,

As you may have guessed from recent posts and new additions to my portfolio, I currently am really focused on custom lettering (in my free time). Following are links to some of my favorite lettering design artists, who should provide plenty of inspiration to kick-start your creative ideas.Jill Bell: I think of Jill as one of my heroes, the first lettering designer to make me think, Wow, you can make a living from doing this? Cool. I wanna be like her! Her most prominent work is natural-looking script, and she has an enviable client list. I guarantee you've seen lots...

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Stop to Smell (or Draw) the Roses...

February 28, 2010 10:51 AM | filed in: , ,

"Don't forget to stop and smell the roses." That's a tired old phrase, but I've been relying on it a lot lately. My adult life has been a pattern of making my way along the career path at too quick a pace, then suddenly needing rest because I've tired myself out. Logic tells me to wander a bit, slow down, stop at interesting points, and be engaged in the journey itself... but it's difficult to change what I think is an inherent need to always "do do do." This weekend, I went to a birthday party for a relative who...

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Cleaning Up to Up Productivity

February 22, 2010 10:42 AM | filed in: , ,

When I sit down to work, I need a clean desktop: The physical desk where I'm sitting should be uncluttered, and the virtual desktop of my computer should be neat and organized. Clutter in all its forms paralyzes me, so when it accumulates, I find that taking a few minutes to purge it makes for faster, easier work. One form of clutter I've been neglecting for months is this website. While I make my living by organizing and presenting web content for others, I always kind of slapped something on this domain as a Band-Aid instead of treating myself like...

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Showing Up is Half the Accomplishment, Right?

December 20, 2009 10:12 AM | filed in: , ,

A few weeks ago, I registered Dan and myself for a Sunday-morning 5K Jingle Bell Run. A friend of mine has a family tradition of doing a Jingle Bell Run in Illinois every December, so I was familiar with how it goes: Everyone shows up in Christmas costumes, wears jingle bells, and generally has a good time while they race the short trail. I've never taken part in it myself but have wanted to, so this year, we decided a West Coast branch would be established. I registered without knowing that the weekend would be one of our busiest in...

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Have a Happy (Stylish) Halloween

October 31, 2009 10:27 AM | filed in: , ,

Who doesn't like Heidi Klum? She sure has plenty to be jealous of. Her modeling-cum-hosting career and body-that-bounces-back-from-pregnancy-like-no-one's-business are enviable enough that most people (women, at least) could easily relegate her to the "bitch" bin... but then she talks about her family or does an interview and once again reveals herself as a kind and good-humored person. Her nature is amplified every year at Halloween, when she steps out in well-executed (usually nerdy... I mean, this year, she was Eve's apple to Seal's Eve) costumes for her annual bash--and acts like a total geek on the red carpet, knowing full...

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Three Movies with Really Nice Palettes

October 15, 2009 9:18 PM | filed in: , , ,

Some movies are visually memorable because the director uses a limited palette (or applies a filter to mute colors). Here are three favorites: Swept Away: Yes, everyone knows what a crapfest this movie was, but no one can confidently deny the beauty of the cinematography. And when it comes to the palette... Look! Even when they were in a lifeboat drifting toward a vacant island, the male star happened to be wearing some navy blue. Palette: tan, brown, gold, cream, navy blue, blackSky Captain & the World of Tomorrow: This was a so-so movie, but the overall look was remarkable...

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Rejuvenated.

March 28, 2009 11:11 AM | filed in:

I was given a crazy deadline at work and turned it into an opportunity to learn something new. I don't know why I work this way, but somehow, greater pressure makes a better environment for me to learn. Weird. I've been toying with Movable Type since 2001 and never really "got" it. (In fact, this blog is built on Movable Type, but it's not very modified, so I don't consider it a good example of MT development.) When we decided at work to change to a scalable CMS-based site, I knew enough to think MT would be perfect, but I...

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Design Biz: wedding invitation

March 14, 2009 2:12 PM | filed in: ,

My cousin is getting married in September, and Dan and I are doing the invitations. This is more fun than the usual boring "we cordially request" invite: Their wedding has a tropical theme and will be held at a Hawaiian restaurant, so they wanted something sunny, island-y, and Sailor Jerry tattoo-inspired. We showed them the first set of comps yesterday, and they are totally on board for what we have planned. I have to keep the stuff under wraps for now, but I can't wait to share the finished product... they are so cute and cool! Here's a label from...

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The 6-5-4-3-2-1 Concept

March 6, 2009 10:10 PM | filed in:

One of the perks of getting oil changes at the Ford dealership nearest us is the array of local luxury-living magazines in the waiting area. Whoever stocks the magazine table has totally overshot the mindset of a Ford owner by providing the kind of publications that considers hard-hitting journalism ten-page photo pieces about wealthy stars of yesteryear discussing the interior design (that they helped with, really) of their beachfront homes.Whenever he takes the car in for maintenance, Dan brings back a little trivia from Malibu or Ocean View. Did you know Fran Drescher had to fire several doctors to get...

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Settling In

November 23, 2008 10:35 PM | filed in: , ,

We finally moved from the treachery that is Daly Street Lofts/Telephone Company Lofts. In the four weeks that we've been moved, we have pretty much settled... except for a couple of boxes, we are unpacked and have everything in its place.We've used our fireplace, hung our draperies, framed photos, and set-up our guest room. We have an office for working, a room for working out, and a big living room where we can relax on our sofa, lie around, and relax. We have a 10-foot-long table on our covered patio and a garage to store things like cars, cleaning supplies...

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Live from My Living Room

September 12, 2008 10:33 PM | filed in: ,

No, really. I have Internet access (kind of). It only took two months. IOU one email. :)

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You Know What's Fun?

July 10, 2008 10:25 PM | filed in: , ,

Carmina Burana at the Hollywood Bowl.Baritone Eugene Chan (a last-minute replacement!) was AMAZING.

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Where're All the Pictures and Stuff?

January 3, 2008 8:40 PM | filed in: ,

If you've visited my site before, you're probably wondering WTF is going on. Where is the art and other info?I've decided to re-tool the site and haven't yet quite figured out what to do. (I don't have much difficulty when doing creative work for others, but I have a really hard time designing for myself.) Most likely, all design, illustration, and photography portfolio pieces will move to aprilcartergrant.com, and this site will be used for writing and fun stuff.If you have any suggestions for this site or the other, let me know. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy some...

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