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JesseLax

Art. Harmony. Imagination. Life.
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Introduction
Hi, and welcome to my deviantART gallery! I'm Jesse Lax, aka AHiLdesigns. I'm a Conceptual Design Artist, currently working as Creative Director for Kwaai Software. I work in a wide variety of mediums, but enjoy the most of my work habits digitally.

My Gallery Art
I've removed my Desktop Wallpapers from the public due to excessive theft, misuse, and plagiarism. I'll be refocusing this gallery to provide only royalty free resources in an effort to continue my want to help the art community.

Use of My Wallpapers
You may not use my existing wallpapers from this account any longer. I understand many of them continue to exist from websites reuploading them. If you've found one at a website other than here, my original rules for use remain: They are only for your personal use and may not be altered, sold, or otherwise used in a public venue.

Commission, Licensing, & General Inquiry Contact
For any and all queries on commercial license pricing to sell my work, to arrange professional commissions, or to generally inquire about any related business topic, I'd like to direct you to my agent, Miss Campbell. Her email: kcampbell731@gmail.com.



Life in 2014
My life is resonating happiness! If things get anymore awesome my face might explode. Having a splendid time with my best-friend/fiancee enjoying life and each other on a daily basis. Laughing and loving has never been so perfect.

In other news: Along with my business partners, I'm fully focused on growing our social gaming business, Kwaai Software. Apart from a couple of collaborations with KariAnnLax and some guest appearances on e-comics and strips, my personal art has taken a backseat to professional art. It's a decision I'm very happy with.

I'm still obsessed with nearly all forms of geekery - comics, collectables, books, Doctor Who, etc. Our lovely cats have grown into distinct little personalities an are having a great time. I spend a ton of time on Facebook due to work... shoot me a note if we're not friends there already.

Hope you all are doing well!

Be Seeing You!
-Jesse



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Death Can Shiny 1UP by ItchyBarracuda ‹‹Welcome to My Gallery!››

>>>>~--~-- | † | --~--~<<<<


Introduction
Hi, and welcome to my deviantART gallery! I'm Jesse, aka AHiLdesigns. I'm a Conceptual Design Artist, currently working as Creative Director for Kwaai Software LLC. As well as this I'm also involved in a volunteer side-project with The Doctor Who Reprint Society. Where Kwaai Software endeavors to publish uniquely addictive games on various social networking platforms and the mobile arenas, the Reprint Society's focus is purely in the realm of literature as it pertains to the wonderful world of Doctor Who.  

My Gallery Art
In my personal time I passionately design, create, and distribute free stuff. I believe in philanthropy, but I also feel like next to the small handful of brilliant work out here in the design-art world, there's a lot of really shitty stuff floating around. So for as much as I love the philanthropy of giving things away, I also am proactively attempting to clean up some of these obscene disfigurements by making sure I'm giving out top-quality utensils. I want people to learn to create and design better! But I also want them to use the best if they're just going to download and use. For these reasons you'll find a solid array of free resources for the world at large to use as they please.

Use of My Wallpapers
Above this, one of my favorite pastimes is creating desktop wallpapers. As well as a testament to my creative skills, these are more for my personal enjoyment. Even so I realize people really like the wallpapers I make and that they're readily available to anyone coming for my resources. To make things clear: I don't intend for my wallpapers to end up in places other than your desktop. They're not stock, they don't belong on your website, or your social networking backgrounds, and they certainly shouldn't be sold on merchandise or any electronic device, in any capacity, for any reason without my express permission!

Commission, Licensing, & General Inquiry Contact
For any and all queries on commercial license pricing to sell my work, to arrange personal commissions, or to generally inquire about any related business topic on your mind, I'd like ot direct you to my agent's email: kcampbell731@gmail.com. She's smart, savvy, professional, honest, easy to talk to, and most importantly handles me and my work very well. I make mention of my agent in this way, because I know there's some people out there not in the professional art industry who might want to contact me... and I don't want you to be nervous about it. I may be a professional, but I'm still a person... so just write, I want to hear from you! :)

Be sure to include "Re: AHiLdesigns <Your Interest Here> Inquiry" or some such thing in your email. You'll get a quicker response.

If you're wondering what my skills are apart from what you see in this gallery, please click AHiL just below my name at the bottom of this journal, where you'll be redirected to my LinkedIn account.



Death Can Shiny 1UP by ItchyBarracuda ‹‹Shtuff››

>>>>~--~-- | † | --~--~<<<<


My Current Wallpaper Hero
Hands down, it's submicron, through and through. If I had kept up with the direction I was heading before landing myself in the professional art world, I'd love to have found myself creating works such as his. This guy's work is amazing, and continue to flourish with each new piece. I wish him all the best and hope he lands somewhere crucial with his work.

On a related note, I've also seen an amazing selection of TobiasRoetsch's work (via his design company, GTGraphics.de) appear in Microsoft's online Windows 7 theme gallery. I was overjoyed (and a bit envious) to see it.

A Word to my Design Friends
Please keep your eye as closely peeled as you can to the Android Marketplace. I've come to see a lot of my own work being sold in phone themes and wallpaper apps. Yours could very well be there too. I've been struggling for their removal. Between the apathy of the thieving, talentless developers and Google's complete lack of response to copyright infringement on their Marketplace.., it's been trying. My advice to you is that if you don't have legal representation to do what I've done and alert any such developer to your massive connections with other top designers. It seems to make them a bit weary and start kissing your ass a bit more. :P

Life in 2012
Things are going great! I'm busier than I've ever been, but the new year has kicked off wonderfully and I'm very excited to see what challenges and conquests come of the year. I don't check in very often here on deviantART, but I do enough to that contacting me here via notes about personal or dA matters is viable. Have been illustrating quite a bit lately, which is quite satisfying to me. It's a medium I thought I'd left behind but turns out to still be holding strong! I've had some advice as of late from some big names (no, I'm not outing them) who've dropped by to give me some advice. It's exciting to make new contacts, but it also gives a great feeling of accomplishment to know my potential is worth taking note of... and that there are people out there finding me.

For downtime I've been breaking up time between X-Files reruns, and have gaming a lot lately with my fiance and some on my own. We're hardcore about co-op games (online and off), and I still can't seem to prevent myself from the spare "OMG" 1-player titles. When we find a title we like, we tend to play the whole series if there's more than one. Some of our & my favorites currently are: Borderlands, L4D, Kane & Lynch, Unreal Tournament 3, Fear 3, Soul Caliber 4, Mortal Kombat, Batman: Arkham City, and Alice: Madness Returns. We're anxiously anticipating Borderlands 2 and Soul Caliber 5 like no one's business. Uhm, chick gamers rule, btw. Mine's the best!

I see a lot of politics in the dA community as of late. This community has been forced into tragic changes, and I've seen some really amazing talent leave because of its politics. I'm not terribly surprised, but I also don't care to get involved. I'd like to openly state that I'm not a deviantART advocate and my involvement with this community only goes so far as the artists I speak to and whatever is the best way to publicize myself and my art. Once upon a time, I was a Gallery Moderator here, and while that's somewhat reflected by my Senior Member status, it only means that once I was inspired to be involved. My vision was soured by the lack of vision by others, and the careless flagrancy of greed and separation from moral values. You don't have to know what that means. Just know I do, and because of it I'm using dA as a webspace in the strictest sense... and that outside of this small monologue I won't be speaking on 'intense internal topics'.

To my old friends here, and new ones I'm to meet... thanks for your inspiration, support, and advice! All of my best, and please drop an email or comment from time to time. it's good to be in touch, even if only casually.


That's that.

Lots of Love & See You Next Time!
-Jesse

AHiL







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Death Can Shiny 1UP by ItchyBarracuda ‹‹Cordially Invited! Yes, but Where?››

>>>>~--~-- | † | --~--~<<<<


To AHiLdesigns facebook page! That's where!
Now you can track my stuff all from one place.

Highlights include:

  • a Discussion Board (where I've already left many resource links to some of my favorite resource sites),

  • Gallery Samples

  • regular Updates to new releases from my places all over the web

  • a Comment Wall

  • Plus more to come soon!


What the hell are you waiting for? Go click the "Become a Fan" button now!


That's that.

See You Soon!
-Jesse

AHiL


</blockquote>







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Death Can Shiny 1UP by ItchyBarracuda ‹‹How I Do What I Do, Pt. 1››

>>>>~--~-- | † | --~--~<<<<


I get asked (quite repeatedly) how I attain the final result to my works using often times no stock. I'm actually surprised how many times this question still comes up on a desktop or design piece. I've never answered the question outright, because I feel like it's something of an "AHiL mystery", and I do like a good intrigue.

However, I'm REALLY bored today, so I'm going to tell a bit about how I work a piece. Possibly. Well, probably. okay, possibly probably. Perhaps it's more like: possibly I'll probably somewhat maybe answer the question. Oh, honestly I'm sure I'll talk more about my feelings and thoughts on elements of creating art---but thats close enough, isn't it??

I'm trying to think of the best way to do this. Uhm... let's try it as a sort of self-interview. Yes?
K. Here we go.

1. What are the Grounding Blocks of my Design and Desktop Art?
It's fair to say my work wholly depends on the use of Custom Shapes, Hi-res Photographical Textures, Photographical Light Play, Hi-res Repeating Tile Patterns, and especially Photoshop's Blending Options.  In the last two years I've avoided everything else like the plague.

Attempting to stray from brushes, Filters, Plug-ins, and other people's PSD resources, may seem as though I've limited myself. I don't feel that way at all, and I don't think my art looks that way. In fact, I enjoy the challenge and I find myself constantly experimenting to invent a new means to achieve a desired look. I would recommend it to anyone, actually.


2. When I use stock, what stock do I prefer?
I try my hardest not to use it. It's a bit of a pet peeve, and I annoy myself with being convenienced by it.
The few circumstances I do, however, are: Because I don't like to waste time, I'll use photographs of light play to warp or liquify, and then blend to create a beautiful display of motion or intense glow. I should add that I don't use light simply to have light. I use it because it's another way to communicate form on darker colors where a normal "line" will not work. Then I make it as pretty as I can (since it's there) using Blending Options.

Perhaps the only large place where stock becomes very important to me is in a piece containing any grunge elements, whereby I absolutely do not hesitate to find the coolest stock texture I can. Usually this is my own, but I have and do use quite a bit from sxc.hu, cgtextures, and right here at dA. These become mostly background work, and I'll usually blend quite a few textures together to bring something new.


3. Do I use the Pen tool?
Very seldom, in fact. Most of my very popular friends use it and nothing else. I can see why, too! It gives you the most control you can have if you're apt to making a one of a kind design. There's no other way to do it for some, really. I find it very tedious and complicated though. When I do use the pen tool, it's only to achieve a certain custom shape I don't have already in my catalog, and intend to use again for some other purpose.


4. How Would I Define My Photoshop Skill Level?
I wouldn't, because I'm honestly not all that knowledgeable with the most of what photoshop can do. I've taught myself the program and still learn new things every day. I suppose if i had to, I'd consider myself a novice. however, I do feel like I have a bit of a specialization in the Blending Options department, only out of time served.

My habit is to work very simply in Photshop. I never use masks, I always folder my layers, I don't grid or align outside of my natural eye... nothing fancy. It's all just layers of shapes and lots of blending options. Even my few manips are done by cutting everything with the eraser tool by hand, and then I run back to my beloved blending options any chance I get.


5. Do I Think My Habits Make My work Different?
No, and I don't think anyone should worry about this. You can do the same thing six different ways in Photoshop. It's that formidable. I think I've maintained a very different style to my art because I've adamantly strived to do so. I'm always looking at others artists, popular and not, and making notes which directions have been done and trying to think of those that haven't. By this time in the life of art, it's usually easiest just to fall to abstract art---but doing so with design, this becomes as complicated as it does convoluted. I think that's why I like it. A sort of fusing of the two very different worlds.


Death Can Shiny 1UP by ItchyBarracuda ‹‹How I Do What I Do, Pt. 2››

>>>>~--~-- | † | --~--~<<<<


6. Where do Ideas like "Drive Mastery" Come From?
Honestly, I have the heart of an artist and the eye of a designer. It causes a lot of artistic conflict. So for me, a lot of my inspiration comes purely from raw experimentation. This is true for 75% of my work. Drive Mastery was something different though. It came, like a few others, directly from the geometry of some of my own photography work. You'll see what I mean when you take a look at the following.

My Original Photo: dl.getdropbox.com/u/1140263/Qu…
Finished Drive Mastery: dl.getdropbox.com/u/1140263/Qu…

It's that kind of geometric endowment, the need for the extra movement outside of the lines inherent, and the challenge to re-communicate the original, digitally, that I found inspiring. So yeah, I'm looking everywhere for new ideas.


7. Do I ever use Anyone Else's Layer Styles?
Nope. No point. More fun to make my own---and often times in looking at other people's, I find that none of them are exactly what I want. I build them all from scratch, mostly relying on gradients, transparency, and the many ways to inner and outer shadow them to give any shape the desired effect. Lately I've even been leaving alone the "bevel and emboss" option, with the exception of needing it to have just a tad more extra light somewhere.

Looking at pre-made layer styles, though, is very good for a beginner. This is because they can open up the Blending Options and tinker around until they get a good feel of what's going on in there. That's how I learned them---even if I never use them in my work.

What's really important to know about Layer Styles though, is that you don't have to use just one on one object. You can use several! And I do. Typically I find that I'll use anywhere from two to four depending on the look I want. I do this by duplicating the first layer and taking out the "fill", and layering over the new Layer Style on top of the old. Once you get the hang of it, I think you'll be pretty amazed at how much further you can manipulate the look of an object... giving you ultimately more control, and a better end result.


8. My Beef with Minimalism
Oh, this. This thing called "Minimalism". This thing where you take out EVERYTHING and just leave what's "important". You know, I think this is great (when done right) for web pages and advertising design... but not for a fucking wallpaper. If someone wants a blank screen with just a color and a blur, they should put on their grandmother's glasses and set their screensaver to text-scroll.
I think to myself: I have a big blank canvas, I have these tools... lets use them!

I don't know about you, but when I walk into a room and it's been interior designed to look "modern", I think... wow. So cool! And then ten minutes later I want to scream because there's no... anything. Anywhere. It's boring and unattractive and ultimately I can never feel like I've finished anything in my art taking that route. It reeks of "I am plain", and I just cannot stand to let a person's desktop say that about them. I mean, this IS desktop art we're talking about here, right? and our desktops have to speak about things we like, because we're all individuals with something to say about ourselves.

If you want to be plain, go ahead. But don't come to me to help, because I haven't the "patience" to give you nothing. Some of you guys are really good at this kind of work, and I apologize to you if you're offended. But I might also remind you that you do cater to the very people I give the finger to, so I suppose in the end we have a fine working relationship, huh?


9. My Work is Rather Over-the-Top.
It is. I admit it. I do it intentionally. I'm a minimalist's nightmare.
My goal has aways been to use as much of my canvas as i can without it looking too cluttered, keeping your interest as a viewer, and embellishing it with as many little things to keep your eye interested as i can. I don't always do this successfully, and any of you out there trying it probably know how hard this actually is to attempt. Sometimes it's just a mess! But sometimes, too, I strike gold and it makes me think... it's a good thing I didn't take out EVERYTHING and just leave what's "important". Erhm.

Still, I think it's important to keep clear the notion that when I'm working in a 2560x1600 canvas, I need to be familiar with the space it contains. That includes every corner, and every negative space I create by filling an area with something. To be able to shape an area that large in a way that is continually filled with embellishments---you have to realize that you're simultaneously changing the constant of the negative space's weights, and well... this is kind of an interesting and fun way to deliberate on (and juggle!) the quadrants within the piece. That's something to keep in mind, you know. That there ARE places in the canvas of your work that you have to keep paying attention to. i think some people forget that once the main part is done.

Of course you're welcome to not bother with it, and just stick a center-piece in and call it done. Lots of people do very successfully. Even me. But you have to admit that after awhile your work starts to look patterned and your style starts to feel the same because of the pattern you've made. Ultimately though, you should realize that if you push yourself you could do more than just be lazy and throw something in the middle to keep our attentions. Variate, damnit, variate I say!

10. It All Looks The Same.
Yeah, I suppose in a way it always will now that I've groomed myself the way I have. This is the price you pay for having a style. Some won't like it, others will love it. Some will beg you to do something different for the sake of your talent, and others will chastise you for selling out. Some people will assume you're only capable of doing one thing well, and others will see the effort within and understand that you just like what you're doing and can do many other things.

But in the end, it's all the same. Why? I'll tell, but here comes your very important advice, too.

Because you'll never change who you are. You spirit is yours and yours alone and this makes you and your art partial to only you. Which leaves, inevitably, that simply your final work is here to be discerned in the same manner as your likability as a person.

Your best friend to counteract this is the diversity of ideas in which you are able to present to your peers. This means specifically: your ability to challenge yourself in order to give your diversity credence is inherent only to that which inspires you the most. Unless you're a lazy bastard. Sometimes I am.
:shrug:


Now I understand there weren't a lot of technical ends here... so just go ahead and hit me with some questions, if you want. I wanna talk Photohsop!!!   






That's that.

See You Soon!
-Jesse

AHiL


</blockquote>







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UPDATE: August | 05 | 2009

Jack had her final surgery as of Friday June 31st to remove the pin from her leg. All went without a hitch and we were able to pick her up that same day. There were no aftercare instructions whatsoever, and she was putting LOTS of weight on her leg. This was a very good thing because it meant no more being locked up in her home made Healing Cage! Ohhhhh we hated having her in there. Yuck.

So, after she got home and shook off the drowsy sleep of her anesthetic, she was in full form. No more discomfort! By the second day she was acting like a normal kitten... jumping, playing, running up and down steps, and racing around from room to room happy as can be.

I'm pleased to say that by today, almost a week later, there's virtually no sign of her limp!! Initially the Doc had said it was "possible" she could retain "something of a limp" for the rest of her life. Couldn't be happier that she won't.

Since she's improved (and because she's growing so quickly), we've had a good sampling of her personality. What an adorable little thing! Unlike most cats, she's not too much into the "climbing high" thing. Instead, she prefers to play laying down on her side. Not out of laziness---but because she's developed this really astonishing move where she propels her laying self across the floor with all of her legs/claws, while the front also steer her.

She's become quite the adept at this, able to crawl around the scratching post I made her in super quick circles. Pretty hilarious. She's also very fond of tissue paper. She has three colors, but she seems to prefer the pink! As well, I've been teaching her to fetch and she's marvelous at it. Smart little thing. Except, sometimes she'd rather see me get up and get her toy from the half-way point than have a treat, lol.

Now, if we could get her to stop attacking Rox's feet in the wee hours of the morning (that's how she tries to wake us up, next to rubbing her face in ours), life would be just about perfect! Well, that and she really loves me and wants to sit in my lap all day while I'm working... so I'm growing accustomed to my legs falling asleep, lol.

I'd have taken more pictures, but she hates the camera (puffs herself all up at the sight of it) and is VERY fast. I might have to wait until she's sleeping or catch her off guard. ;P

:heart:

Hope you guys are awesome, and talk to you all soon.
-Jesse

AHiL


UPDATE: July | 29 | 2009

Sorry for the long wait on an update, but we've been a lot busy.

Jack's been doing fine. We did have another incident with her leg---but it's nothing at all serious. She's just too rambunctious to sit still with a pin in her leg. I think the top of the pin (which is poking out the top of her leg under the skin) is just irritating her as she lays and plays. Since it's definitely causing her some pain, we've been keeping her confined as of this last week.

Thankfully her appointment to have the pin surgically removed is tomorrow (Thursday)!!

This means that all donations for Jack are officially closed.

Thank you SO much to all of you who donated not just cash, but your good will and love. All of it has been an unexpected delight, a source of great support, and for Jack: you've helped to ensure the last (and most important) step of her veterinary care. In the next couple weeks after her surgery she should be able to be the bright and excited little kitten she wants to be.

...YOU made that happen.

The people in this community are made of gold and sunlight. Yes, even you darker souls out there. Rox, Jack, and I are retarded-grateful to all of you, and we love you lots.









</blockquote>







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Featured

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