NO PICS... JUST RANTS!

Can’t believe it, well neither can I… but a whole week has gone by.

Time flies when one’s having fun, right?

Things are getting hot in Skeetown, FAB next issue design deadlines are looming and there is always high expectations to make each issue better than the last.

Skee likes to Kiss.

“Keep It Short and Sweet “ K.I.S.S.

In my childhood days, I once planted several fruit trees, oranges, mangoes and others. For years we enjoyed the sweet oranges that we harvested by the basket. I remember reading then that the mangoes wouldn’t produce “Good Fruit” for another 20yrs or so. How true that was I don’t know, but It felt like an eternity to wait. Yet that was over 20 years ago now. You see time does really fly.

As kids we learn several truths, Like: “Sticks and Stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you”. And then as adults, we learn the reverse: “ Words will sometimes hurt you but those Sticks and stones WILL definitely break you bones!” Somewhere alone the transition from childhood to adulthood, we become more aware of how we are perceived by others, less prepared to take those necessary risks that might take us forward to that next stage of our calling in life. We become conformists. While we might sing uplifting songs like “I believe I can fly”; in reality we should be rapping, “ I hope I can crawl!”

So how did this happen? Why are we so happy celebrating mediocrity, could it be that we no longer dream big? As a creative professional, I think we hold a lot of power in influencing the next generation of leaders. As the saying goes: 

"Garbage in, Garbage out!”

The power in what we see and hear plays such an important factor in my opinion of what we do. Our musicians take note! Singing about yourself, what you have (Yours by grace) might sound amusing, but is really empty and lame, fast food, full of empty calories? Why sing a song that in 10 years you will be embarrassed by it as well as your kids?

As I two-finger type my words, “Africa must wake up”, Nas and Damian Marley (Distant Relatives) playing in the background - a song with haunting words, a modern day timeless masterpiece. Next up, "Mr Endowed": Dbanj feat. Oluwa Snoop. Africa… We really need to wake up!

I felt really sad, then mad and sad again earlier this week upon hearing about the Nigerian girl who died from silicon poisoning as a result of a butt enhancing  injection. She was only 20. I just don’t get it! Her dreams were to “shake it like a polariod picture”  in music vids, but it just wasn’t big enough to get her the attention she needed. What a Sad Sad world!

I came across this really talented ipad painter on youtube, awesome stuff. Watch how he skillfully paints a caricature of MJ. RIP O King of Pop. You went too soon.

Well that’s me, it’s back to my wacom pad, 180pages of “Fabiness” doesn’t get done sadly by blogging alone.

Always remember to dream big!

“It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” -Paulo Coelho

SKEE ON KETTLEBELLS, IPAD GAMES AND KICK-ASS MOVES

MISTA SKEE IN THE FAB HOUSE!

Goodbye January, hello February.

For those who know me well, they know that Febuary is my favourite month. It's also for me, the begining of my year.  That's right, the year beginings after my birthday, which is so close to Valentines day that the 14th should really be called "Skee-Day!" Unfortunately, we live in the real world, which means if I don't want "Hell on earth", I bettter get something real nice for missus Skee. I like to create things for presents, infact I like to create things that I can sell to others, after all, if you buy a gift in the shop, the chances are that someone somewhere is going to profit financially. WHY CAN'T IT BE ME?

"Body no be wood"

I was down and out for a day with a combo of food poisoning and the Flu. As most people I hate being sick, I struggled for half the day just staring into my screen before I realised that my bed was a better and more comfortable choice, I conceded… Skee 0 Sickness 1 (FT).  

I always try to carry a hand sanitiser when I'm out and about; there are gems everywhere and make no mistake… they are vicious and out to get you. I remember one Sunday as my wife and myself were going to church, I spotted a man blowing his nose "forcefully" and wiping his hands on the back of his jeans before entering the church and greeting the usher at the door with a big fat hand shake… with the same hand! I freaked out! Needless to say, it was a day of "Closed fist" handshakes and hugs. As for the usher, a quick tap on his shoulder and a hello before his outstretched hand felt the tug of gravity, I was gone.

Kettlebells

After designing and reading an article on kettlebells last year I decided to get some for my personal use. Quite expensive here in the UK... I bought a pair of 10kg and 20kg ones. They can be very effective   If use correctly. I have been into fitness since I was a kid and I must admit some of the kettle bell workouts that I've come across lately are real top notch. 

Checkout Mike Mahler:

www.mikemahler.com/kettlebell_exercises.html 

Truly awesome!

On my iPad

I promised myself that I wouldn’t talk about work but only fun. Currently, my favorite games on my iPad are Infinity Blade, Dead Space and of course Angry Birds. I’m a casual gamer, finding the time to play in between saving files, backing up a hard drive, a long journey or just waiting. 

INFINITY BLADE

DEAD SPACE

ANGRY BIRDS

Yatta! (Japanese for “I did it!”)  I finally got to level 40 last week on Infinity Blade… Don’t ask me about dead space yet, I’m still trying to get out of the ship. Can’t wait for the Angry Birds Rio and of course the Angry Birds Motion Picture. Should be fun.

Down Memory Lane

Well that's me done! Stay totally FAB. I'll leave you with an old photo I found of me recently; it made me laugh, and yes, I can still do it... Although with a little pain.

BEING SKEE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP AND A SPOT OF JAPANESE

Mista Skee in the House!

Watashi wa henan desu

Hajimemasho

I can't believe it! A whole year has gone by since we came out with the first issue of FAB, NEVER BEFORE HAVE I DEDICATED SO MUCH OF MY HARD DRIVE SPACE TO ANY PROJECT! But its amazing what we as a team can do when we put our mind to it. I have fond memories of issue one, especially the covers. I rarely like my work long enough for me to comment about it. The duration is about 2wks at the longest after that I find more angles to critique it than you can imagine, I guess that's my fail proof way of pushing myself to continuously improve with everything I do.

SKEE AT WORK ON ISSUE 3

SKEE AT WORK ON ISSUE 3

"One should never rely on what one has done yesterday or today when tomorrow lies ahead "

We are in FAB times, and things at FAB will only get better, simply because we won't settle for otherwise. Be warned!

On being Skee: 

I'm still working on being the best Skee I can be. The fact I have been given so many creative outlets, means I never get bored of switching between graphic design, fine/digital art and photography; there is so much to do. I thank God; I think I'm blessed that in all this fun I get paid for having a good time as well.

This year, I hope to get my digital paintings up to a decent level, so I hope to find the time to do at least one decent detailed painting each week, the problem is when I get to the 70%-80% level (As in the pic below), I tend to start another, so I have so many uncompleted works.

Outside my design life:

Butternut squash soup= Yum!

I've fallen in love with butternut squash soup, I mean, were has it been all my life!

Stay FAB!

Yatta!

Bai bai

Skee

THE CREATIVE GENIUS THAT IS MISTA SKEE, GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Name: “Mista Skee”, but if you don’t know me well, “Mis-ta” will suffice!

Born and bred in: London-Lagos

Role at FAB: Design/Illustrations/Layouts

FAB part of your job: Having fun and getting paid for it. But more seriously speaking, the creative process involved in putting the whole magazine together; that experience is second to none.

Least liked but still FAB part of your job: Call me on 077…

Aspirations/goals: My major aspiration is to see FAB grow into something that even we cannot fathom at the moment; with each issue we have to strive to push further and further ahead of the crowd, soon there will be no crowd.

Inspirations: God. He alone is more than enough! My parents, wife and family; they know the real me and still love me.

Hero/Heroine: Batman/Wonderwoman J In the real world though, I have no heroes, everyone has a dark side, no one is perfect. In people we see only what we want to see. Selah!

Best piece of advice you can offer: Aim to be the best “YOU.”

Your kind of music: Music is so relative, but in general I appreciate good vocals and meaningful content. I do think there is a big difference between real musicians and products of the media who are obsessed with record sales, auto-tune and influencing our youth with bad morals.

Your kind of book: I love a good novel, but these days I mostly read computer and electronic manuals… I’m geeky like that!

Your style in a nutshell: I’m all “skeed “out! Style is not something you say you have in my books, it’s something others say you have or don’t have.

Kryptonite: Kryptonite! It makes me weak and decreases my design powers!

Pet Peeves: People who do what they do badly! Wastefulness! Arrogance.

Your USP:  Being Skee! Like me or not! I like myself!

Log on to my blog if you like: Pls do

A seasoned fine artist, photographer and graphic designer with over 10 years experience working in the graphic design industry, working on projects from conception to completion. 

His ability to blend his artistic flair with a comprehensive knowledge of design and layout techniques brings a unique and rather refreshing approach to his work.