Adobe Illustrator and Screen Printing

One thing I am decent at, it is Adobe Illustrator.  I worked professionally at a screen printing shop for decades on and off for my Uncle Al Tokunaga at Tri Arts Screen Printing in North Hollywood, California.

Everyone thinks he is my dad or they think he is me sometimes, because our voices are exactly the same.  And, since we worked at the same place, we'd wear the same clothes.

I had the opportunity to separate customer artwork into separations and making sure that the art looked as good as possible.

People may have a ton of "education" but it is another thing to have practical experience in a business that actually earned money and is still in business for 40 years.

So, I want to apply my practical knowledge somehow.

If I can't afford to do it myself or I'm just completely unmotivated, I can at least blog about what I do know and hopefully create some sort of discussion.

I can answer basic questions for people who have no idea how to use Illustrator.  My uncle used to charge people $50 an hour for my art services.

I an offering my services for free at the moment, to see if people are willing to pay me to do what they pay other people $25+ to do.  You can make $100's depending on your skill level.

I don't keep a portfolio.  This was just a part-time side job.  I never considered myself an artist.

I just understand a lot of basic stuff on Illustrator.  The things I see people teach in College is very basic and simple.

I hope that maybe I can help people who are trying to screen print or design t-shirts or just want tips on how to use Illustrator if they have problems.

I know Illustrator can seem very daunting and intimidating.  It is, but it doesn't seem like it to me because I have used it for decades, back when Photoshop and Illustrator were Mac only products and the Windows based machine was a joke for graphics.

Back then, they were using Amigas for Star Trek.

I'll try to add some practical exercises or something later.  Right now, I am concentrating on Programming and Math so I can finally get an AA.

Here is one I did recently, it took between 30 and 60 minutes, because it used a lot of different elements, like web art, original vector, and clip art.

You can have a lot of fun, just for personal use.  Someone sent an email about a Dungeons and Dragons module called "Wizards of Cockblock Forest" and  it inspired this vision in me.

Since a cock is supposed to be a Rooster, I wanted to represent a Rooster blocking something.  So it could be a cock block, without showing a penis.

You can really do a lot in a short amount of time.  Illustrator makes things very easy once you learn to use it.

Like having a garage full of a tools.  You could build a car if you wanted, but unless you are an engineer or carpenter, the tools just sit there.

Illustrator has limitless possibilities, especially when combined with Photoshop and the other Adobe Suites.

I'd wear this on a t-shirt.  It makes me laugh.

That's what art is.  It is supposed to have meaning to you.  And others, if that's what you want.  I like it, and that is all that matters.  Not that people will insult me or call me names.

Artists are under siege.  Creativity is under siege.

I have to constantly fight just to be myself. 

By insulting someone they will instantly stop doing anything cultural or creative or artistic because they become embarrassed, especially us artistic types.

It is not a small thing.  It is a very serious issue and a major reason why America is in such an intellectual decline that it resonates in every sector.

The depression and housing crash may never recover.  It may just be like this forever.

It's only going to get worse unless people learn to start using their brains and not be afraid of things like Adobe Illustrator.

Instead of paying someone like me or my uncle $50 an hour to do, you can do it yourself.