Like Project Create On Facebook!

Remember that time when your parents asked you to be their friend on Facebook? So awkward, right? They practically had to beg you to accept their friendship.

Well, begging isn’t just for parents! Project Create has finally launched its Facebook page and I am BEGGING (read: politely asking) you to Like us.

Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Create/304465866286550

Make sure to leave some comments and share the word with all of your friends (especially your parents!!!).

Project Create Is In A $500 Grant Challenge – Vote For Us!!!

Project Create has come quite a far way from being just an idea. We have accumulated over 300 followers, racked up over 3000 views, and held a contest for what can only be described as the Best Logo Ever. But Project Create needs to start doing something very, very, very important: RAISE MONEY!!!

Unfortunately, we are not yet accepting donations because we have not achieved our 501(c)(3) status, and donations would not yet be tax deductible (refer to my previous post on how to become a nonprofit). I will say that we have been in deep discussion with an amazing nonprofit that might take us on as a fiscal sponsor (I even flew down to New Orleans and met with their Board of Directors!), and hopefully achieving 501(c)(3) status will just be around the corner.

Until that time, we are doing everything we can to get our name out there and find other fundraising opportunities. One of those opportunities is the GOODMaker Art Everyday Grant. GOOD is offering a $500 grant to an individual or organization with an innovative plan for bringing the visual arts to their community.

I think we can all safely agree that Project Create falls into that category.  And so, Project Create is one of the many amazing ideas to be listed in the GOODMaker Challenge, but GOOD will only award the $500 (and all of the glory) to the one idea with the greatest amount of votes.

So now it is up to YOU to help us win the award!!! What can you do, you ask?

1. First, you can click here to go to our contest page and vote for us! Leave lots of comments too. People like to see comments.
2. Second, you can spread the word BIG TIME to all of your friends and family (Facebook, Twitter, Email, ANYTHING HELPS!). Share our link: http://arteveryday.maker.good.is/projects/projectcreatenola.
3. Make some art (true this won’t help us win the contest, but it will help you be AWESOME).

Voting is open from March 22 – 30. Please vote for us! This money, and the recognition, will go a long way in allowing us to opening our doors. Think of the children!

And The Winner Is…

Makayla Counselman!!!!!

This is a very proud moment for Project Create. After 1 month, 3 rounds, 19 submissions, and nearly 500 votes, we have finally found our official logo. AND IT IS PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!

To be honest, I lost a lot of sleep over choosing between the top two. Both were incredibly on point and completely unique. Actually, many of the designs were incredible and everyone who participated deserves a round of applause and our admiration for being so creative!!!

Unfortunately, however, Project Create can only have one logo. The decision was made based on the total number of votes for the top 2 designs (which were less than 15 apart) and bearing in mind the audience Project Create is targeting. Makayla’s design was exactly what Project Create had in mind (except we needed someone amazing like Makayla to tell us what is was that we actually had in mind…). It has the perfect combination of creativity and professionalism, and most importantly, it is approachable by all ages. Honestly, the design is better than anything I had imagined when I started this contest. Even Dolly Parton would love this design!

We not only want you to see her work but know who she is as an artist. Here is a brief bio about our winner:

Makayla M. Counselman is a visual artist and advocate for the arts. Art has always been an innate part of her being and an integral aspect of her life. Although she studied studio art and art history in college, she is self-taught in the field of graphic design. Her prior art works have been shown in shows across the United States, and her design work has been sought out by individuals and organizations from a variety of fields.

In January of 2010, Makayla moved from Madison, Wisconsin to New Orleans to work with a nonprofit organization. Because of her background in art and eye for design, she soon became the organization’s in-house designer, in addition to the original job duties. Her design work caught the eye of other organizations, and Makayla promptly began doing freelance design work around the city.

Makayla stumbled across Project Create’s logo competition with less than a week to complete a piece to submit to the contest. The image of a brush stroke was the first idea that came to her mind. This design was the third and final variation on the original brush stroke idea. The brush strokes and the paintbrush are hand illustrated.

Makayla continues to pursue her passion in the arts through seizing every opportunity presented. She is incredibly honored to have her work represent Project Create, and hopes that other artists will be as eager to seek ways to enhance their skills and to create artwork with true dedication, as she continues to be.

Please join me in congratulating Makayla, and let us know what you think of our design in the comments section. Also, stay tuned to find out what other activities Project Create has been up to lately, including taking huge steps towards forming a fiscal sponsorship!!! (In case you haven’t noticed, Project Create loves exclamation points and Dolly Parton)

Second Round Logo Contest Winners!!!

Thank you everyone for voting. We actually had twice as many people vote this round, and that support has not gone unnoticed! You guys are amazing.

At this time, Project Create would like to once again give the top 2 designers the opportunity to edit their submissions. We will not be having another poll, so this is solely to give them a chance to make any changes they might think are needed. Again, changes are not necessary nor are they guaranteed to increase the chances of winning. New submissions are due by 5:00 PM Tuesday, March 6 (CST).
 
In choosing the ultimate logo, we will be looking at the entire body of work for each design. Moreover, we will most likely have to work with the top designer to more fully collaborate on the final design and get all of our ducks in a row.

Oh, and here are the top 2 designs!!!

Makayla Counselman – makayla.m.counselman@gmail.com

 

Pilar Diehl, pilarmdiehl@gmail.com, www.wix.com/pilarmdiehl/portfolio

 

Congratulations, Makayla and Pilar! These designs are amazing and I look forward to working with you!!!

The March Art March: GOOD Magazine’s 30-Day Challenge

Art is good, and everybody knows it. But taking time out to create art during a busy work week can be difficult. Trust me, I can sympathize. I work an average of 50 hours a week and I am currently struggling to find time teach myself how to paper mache a life size model of Dolly Parton.

Life goals aside, being creative doesn’t have to be a gigantic task. We can be creative every day with simple actions: doodling, trying a new recipe, sewing on a button, dressing up your dogs in business suits, etc.. The point is, most people don’t realize how easy it is to add a little artistic spice to their daily soup. That’s why I get so excited to see other people make the effort to be more artistic every day.

Check out this challenge from Senior Editor Cord Jefferson and Designer Trevor Burke of online magazine GOOD. The challenge is to be creative 31 times in 30 days with simple tasks. What’s amazing is that their 31 challenges are all things you probably want to do anyways (i.e. go to a museum, frame a picture, and even break something!!!!).

So I say its time to stand up for yourselves and GET CREATIVE. Do you have what it takes??? Be sure to check off your list and let us know about your successes! We would love to see pictures of your creations.

Thanks to my artistic cousin, invadingnola, for sharing this with us!