Graphic & Web Design | Desirai Labrada

So I finally got the shirt I ordered from Cafepress. There was actually a delivery attempt yesterday morning but I never heard the doorbell. The shirt is a white tee ringer and the illustration on the front is of my own design. Poultry (a simple drawing in black ink) is a private joke between life and I.

My Poultry illustration was born during my first few months at Full Sail. It was originally drawn in a Design and Art Theory class where I was asked to present an example of illustrative text. I spent days trying to come up with something really meaningful and failed. I had friends offering great suggestions but I rejected them. I needed the idea to be my own.

I was disappointed in myself and envied everyone else’s work. All I could come up with was ‘Poultry’. I thought it was so dumb. However, I was later told by our instructor that my illustration was one of the top three in the class. But the joke continues…

I decided I wanted to submit an entry to threadless.com. I gave it so much thought. I was obsessed with butterflies at the time (who am I kidding? I still am.) and so I designed the shirt with a wave of butterflies going up the side. It included the word change because I had done so much of it and it meant something to me. I was so positive I’d get a lot of votes, cause I mean, who doesn’t like butterflies?

Alas, my submission was declined. I was outraged! How dare they decline my butterflies while lame poorly drawn unicorns, stars, rainbows and clouds ran rampant amongst other accepted submissions. I was so angry, my pride was hurt and as if to somehow get back at them I said “Oh yeah? Well take THAT!” and I submitted my Poultry design. Deep down I knew it would get accepted and I hated knowing that cause I hated my illustration. And accepted it was. I didn’t win the grand prize cause I didn’t get enough votes. People left comments like “What does it say?” or “I thought it said Poodle.” Apparently the chickens didn’t give it away.

Months later when I had opened up my shop on etsy, I began getting discouraged at the lack of sales. I had only a few items at the time, but surely people liked cute cards and stationery. I couldn’t understand why it had been weeks since I opened shop and still not one sale. What was I doing wrong? What did I forget? and then I realized. I had not included Poultry. It flew to my rescue like a wonderful edible bird should. I made a greeting card with the illustration on the front and added text to make it funnier. ‘There’s no hiding it’ the front said, with ‘I love chicken’ on in the inside. Jeff was skeptical. He didn’t understand. “What occasion could anyone possibly use that for?” – oh but I knew better.

Almost instantly, I got my first sale. The buyer purchased not one, but four! of my Poultry cards. I had to laugh. I then understood that it was simply life’s way of telling me; not to take things so seriously, that sometimes things just are without having to be all deep and philosophical, and that I’m probably not going to fall in love with everything I create but that doesn’t mean that other’s won’t.

Every time I get frustrated with my work, or I feel that my other designs aren’t good enough, I always refer back to ‘Poultry’. At the very least it makes me laugh, and from what I’ve experienced it’s brought me luck too. Perhaps it might do the same for you.

Poultry cards & shirts are available at:
http://LucidDreamDesigns.etsy.com
http://Cafepress.com/LucidDreamDesi

On a completely separate note, reading that old poem the other day gave me an idea. Synchronistically, I found an entire book of poems I wrote shortly there after. This chance finding pretty much confirms (for me) I should follow through with my idea to publish my poetry. Right now the goal is simply to publish a small paperback full of my work which can be made available for purchase amongst my family and friends.

I want to include illustrations in the book as well and have already asked my friend Scott if he’d be willing to help me out. He’s happily agreed. I also plan on including acknowledgements, a bio, and information about why I chose the title (which I won’t reveal just yet.)

For the time being I’ve been contacting all those mentioned in my poems to ask if they mind having their name published. I’ve obviously got a lot more research to do before this all comes to fruition, but everything begins with an idea right? I will keep everyone updated as things progress. Be sure to come back or you might just miss when the book becomes available for purchase. =P