Grafix Jam - John Rios

The nice folks at JPK groove house magazine interviewed me the other day. Here is a link to the story.

http://www.jpkgroovehouse.com/Entertainment.html

I wanted to turn you on to a great source for web design. My wife Mary has started a new company for web design and I have to say, she is awesome at what she does. The design, navigation function of her sites is top shelf. Sure, you can go to a huge company and get a cookie-cutter site and fall in line with the masses.

or you can go to Rocketgirlsites.com and get the kind of service and end result you really want.

I recently had her create a site for one of my personal business projects. I am a partner of in a company called Hymarx, LLC. We invented the textpac™ Rocketgirlsites.com did an awesome job of getting us set up with e-commerce, registering our URL’s , site design/ layout, and traffic tracking. The whole package.

5 stars to Rocketgirlsites.com-

check out the samples on her site.

Here is a link to a “Huge” .jpg of the stage drapes I designed for Little Big Town. (see detail). Loved doing this piece. First time I ever designed antique, distressed wallpaper. A complex repeating pattern.

As Always, thank you to my friend Megan for the gig.

If you’re in MI-They open for Sugar Land at DTE- Sept - check it out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elawgrrl/4609238169/sizes/o/

Just a quick note and link to the new tour art for Mr./ Ted Nugent. This shows about 20% of the piece. Wait untill you go to the show and see the rest. Should send some people into orbit…yee haw… Bring your sense of humor my liberal friends…

http://cdn.tednugent.com/images/tour/NUGE_2010_TourArt_1024×768.jpg

It’s been some year so far for tour art. To date, I have worked on seven tours for this summer. I can’t tell you which one is my favorite but I’ll tell you they have all been a blast to work on. I am honored to have my illustrations and designs on stage with these people.

If you’re a fan of-Rod Stewart, Ted Nugent, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Billy Idol or Julianne Hough, now you know a little bit about the behind the scenes stuff like “who in the world designs or illustrates their stage backdrops. My artist “friends” think it’s the most unlikely person on earth, I’m sure.  The process of developing the concept is pretty interesting. I work with some of the most talented people in the business. They come to me with a vision a goal and guildelines and I work with them, the management and the artist to manifest their vision. It’s a bit more involved but in general terms… that’s how it goes.

If you get the chance, go check them out.

(link to video here with my design)-backdrop for Julianne Hough.

Here is a link to the to a large image of “Little Big Town”- drapes and drum riser designs . This one was way out of my “Norm” but what a blast to do.

Working on a big international tour now. I’ll post about it when I get a chance.

textpac - never text with cold hands again

I’ve been waiting to tell you about a product that I’ve been a part of developing for over a year. This is the textpac™.  It’s a well made muff like device that people with active outdoor lifstyles can use to keep their hands warm while texting. Great for hunting, ice fishing, football games and tailgaters. You’ll be able to text, use your GPS, ipod, hand held electronic game and more when it’s cold outdoors in warmth and comfort.

It’s available now at hymarx.com and will be shipping just in time for Fathers day. (I know dad doesn’t have one of these.) This is the only place to get one until this late summer.

This fall, you’ll be able to get them at Meijer, Jay’s sporting goods & Sportsman’s Warehouse. We are adding stores every day, so check the retailers page at hymarx.com often.