Another great month...

I finished up my photo book, Candy Coated Vol. 1. Here is a slide show of it on FLICKR, check it out and leave comments. Also working on a Vol. 2 series for Candy Coated so keep checking back here for more details.



I've also been working on some great new designs for DVC. Here are a few pics of them and and hope you like what we are working on. They will be available in the near future at our webstore, www.dirtyvatoclothing.com. STAY DIRTY

Printing again...

Recently feeling the itch to print again so I started printing Gangsta Lean today. Used a new method to keep the ink from drying up so easy. It's a added base to the ink and keeps the ink smooth and silky when applying.

There is more air drying time if I had a dryer it would be easier. Right now I'm using a clothes dryer at home. My method is to pre heat the dryer then let the shirts sit for about 1 - 2 mins then tumble dry at high heat. This helps to cure the ink to the fabric allot better. So far not bad.

Caring over a great month..

April was great. Two new shirts: DVC x MOURN collab shirt and our new Grey Matter logo. Printing for Monster Towing out of Whittier, Ca and donating some printing time for GlobalMothers.org. Next month I have two other great designs that I am working on for print next month.

Late April I also had the opportunity to shoot my first wedding. Few hiccups here and there but overall a great leap for me in my career and experience with my 8 yrs of photography. I will post some pictures soon on my Flickr account to see for yourself.

For May:

• Start printing two new designs for DVC.*
• Finish up collab work with RDL
• Put the finishing touches on Candy Coated Vol. 1
• Shoot upcoming car shows for CC vol. 2

There are some others goals that I have for this month but I might just have to backburn some of them until the time is right.

*The two new designs coming up for DVC


&

April is here, what are you up too?

April is here and I've been really busy. Finally perfected my screen coating and am currently working on printing our DVC x MOURN ONE collab design. Just finalizing the position and then we are off to the printer. It's been a long time coming for this design to be printed but the wait has been worth it.

Been working with Robert G. on a self-published coffee table book of my photographs. Don't want to give too much away but it's going to be unique in style. Feel like a magazine in style but not in appearance. Robert has been working on the lay out with me it's looking great. Keep you posted on availability and maybe a sneak peak in the coming weeks.

I've been posting my goals for DVC here and it's helped quite a bit with keeping schedules and learning to pace myself. This month will be no different so lets get started.

• I've printed tote bags and moved to t-shirts. Want to print two designs this month and have them available at the end of the month on our website.
• Photoshoot on hold til next month.
• Pushing the RDL vs. DVC to next month. Still working on the designs.
• Holding off on canvas & painting supplies til beginning of May.
• Working on new project, a coffee table book. 30% of this project is done, keep it up.
• Created new logo for rapper LOCSTA and now moving on to his Myspace page. Logo is featured below.

Thanks for reading the rant and please give me some input on the logo or just post a comment. Anything is much appreciated. STAY DIRTY!

My first review...what a bomb!

I've been working on spreading the word of my clothing line through t-shirt bloggers and come to find out there are plenty of them out there. I came across RudeRetro and asked for a review, sent out the shirt and sent a brief email with a description of the the clothing line and that was it. Man did he rip me a new one.

I could definitely be disappointed in the review but I'm not. This blogger really posed some great questions about how I am marketing this clothing line that really made me think. Have I truly been doing all that I can to make this clothing line reach out to the masses? Do people get it? What is Grey Matter?

Grey Matter is capturing different city landmarks and the culture of the surrounding area in a photographic point of view. Using your brain to connect with the photograph and the really think about what you see and don't see this metropolis that is Los Angeles.

The term "boosterism" comes to mind when thinking of Grey Matter. A term used widely to describe the late photographer Julius Shulman. Shulman's photographs of Southern California architecture and living defined an era. Taking that idea, that premise, of what this city is today is the backbone of Grey Matter.

I guess I needed to get that out there and it's been 3 yrs since I started this whole clothing line business with few success and lots of failures. But through theses experiences I am learning to pave my path and become a better business man and artists. Sometimes you need to be knocked down off your high horse and come back to reality and work those kinks out.

Here's the link to the to the RudeRetro review of DVClothing.
http://blog.ruderetro.com/2010/03/13/review-dvclothing/

Silkscreen Testing...Experiment #2

If you read last weeks entry you know I had allot of problems. With a fix of those problems and a few adjustments I had some success. Here are my results.

Following the instructions given for the emulsion I have, Ulano 925WR, I went ahead and coated the screen inside and outside the well. Let it dry and exposed for 7.5 minutes. Like magic my image appeared in the screen. Success with some notes.

• Exposure time should go a little longer, 10 mins.
• Used both a 300 mesh and 200 mesh screens. 300's are cherry.
• Also, always remember to mix your chemicals. Emulsion tends to seperate when not used. You can see that by how the screen looks streaked in color when dry.

Here is a pic of my first attempt at printing:

I was worried about the durability of the screen for multiple prints and runs. But so far it seems to be holding up. Printing on fabric is a lil different then paper. More ink is needed to seep into the fabric and equal amount of pressure will give you a solid print everytime. So here is my final result.

More to come!

February goals...

Looking at last months entry of goals for January I have to say I'm pretty surprised at all that I have accomplished. Lets break down last month:

as for January...
• Finished building the box I needed to prep my screens to dry and get ready for exposure. Will start testing the box and hopefully print during this month of February.
• Sent files to Kwasi B. for RDL vs. DVC shirt collaboration and now just waiting to get my files to start on my end. Can't wait, Kwasi loved what I sent him.

Finished and added a couple of new goals from last month so here a peek at what I'm looking to do this month.

February 2010
• Buy some canvas and start working on new paintings. Total of 9 new paintings by me using acrylic and watercolors. Size of the paintings will be large format 26 x 30 possibly.
• Start taking notes for next photo project. The theme of this photo project will be from a book and adapting it to photo. Using digital and film to take the photos. I have a book picked and a model.
• Looking for locations to have another exhibit. The cities I have been looking at so far are Long Beach, Pomona, Whittier and Downtown L.A.. More details coming soon.
  

There are few more kinks that need to be worked but they will get done and I'm not worried. It's a process and sometimes you have to know when to roll with the punches and you might just come out unscathed.

Grey Matter Collection Fall '09 - Winter '10

End of October...

Well it's almost the end of October and my Print Making class is moving right along. D.V. Clothing's stint at The Foothill Art Gallery is up this month but we hope to be back in the Summer of 2010 in that same location with more shows and opportunities to meet more great people.

At our webstore we are featuring a new item, iPhone skins. We are calling them Dirty Skins and they feature work from Leo Quijano II and or course me! This round of skins will feature photography work from both Leo and I. Here is a glimpse of our newest version, Gina.

In the coming months I will be collaborating with Kwasi B. from Rebel Sciences on some new shirt designs. So be on the look out for that next venture, it's going to be killer! Thanks again for listening to me rant. STAY DIRTY!

I've started this printmaking class at LBCC and man it's been great! I've met allot of great artists and have really learned a great deal of printmaking as an art then just silkscreening some shirts. It's been a great creative process and just can't wait to see how far I can take it. Definitely working on a series of posters all done in this process.

Also...if you have not been there visit our new webstore, dvclothing.bigcartel.com.

What's he building in there?

I have been working on some iPhone and Macbook mockups to pitch at Gelaskins. Here is a glance at what I've been working on and I'll keep you posted on what comes of it. Leave comments and tell me what you think. Any criticism or approvals would be great. STAY DIRTY!

October 2nd & 3rd new exhibit opening at The Foothill Art Gallery. Through My Eyes - New Work by Jordan Eismont. This is Jordan's first exhibit at The Foothill. Free refreshments and no cover charge.

This Saturday September 12th D.V. Clothing will have a booth at the Inaugural Latino Parade & Festival. With special event prices for clothing, artwork and photos. This event will be open from 4pm - 10pm. One day only.

Last but no least, Dirty Dodge is now available for purchase at our store. Get yours today. STAY DIRTY!

New Digs for D.V. Clothing

Well this month has been pretty great so far. We launched a new site with BigCartel with a fresh new look for D.V. Clothing. With more options for us we will be putting up allot of more merchandise for sale then just shirts. Since we run an art gallery, The Foothill, we have decided to make some artwork available for purchase on our new site. So here is the link to our new site, dvclothing.bigcartel.com. This site is not yet finalized. This is just a tiny taste of what's to come.

This coming Saturday Sept. 12th D.V. Clothing will have a booth available at the Inaugural Long Beach Latino Parade & Festival. Open from 4pm - 10pm we will be at Booth #12. We will have event pricing only for our apparel and artwork. STAY DIRTY!

Dirty Dodge is on the Press

So I get a call from the printer in regards to Dirty Dodge that we are printing. It's just a normal press check to see if I'm satisfied witht he position of the shirts and to make any corrections. So far I have to say, thumbs up! Shirt will hopefully be on sale Sept 1st. STAY DIRTY!

Just finished this 25second short of our the new designs I've been tirelessly working on with the help of Robert Gutierrez and the beat by DJ Theorist. Hope you enjoy, and STAY DIRTY!

Video for new shirts for our line Grey Matter.

Have I been neglecting my blog?

Yes I have, but for great reason. I have been working tirelessly on scheduling art exhibits at our flag store, The Foothill. I've also been working on my photography. Digging in the vaults and storage for old stuff and also adding in some new stuff from the recent events I have been attending and just daily stuff I photograph. And not to mention, designing like crazy. Just finished a new one for our DIRTY VATO line with some help from Robert Gutierrez. Here's a glimpse of it.

DIRTY RIVIERIA...click on this link.

Well I hope not to neglect you again blog cause you help keep me sane. Also just visit www.dvclothing.com to see what we are doing cause, that's where I'll be at. STAY DIRTY!!!

P.S.

Just a lil insight, on our Facebook and Myspace pages you can see all the new designs for GREY MATTER and DIRTY VATO lines.

Getting UP at The Foothill

Well we are putting on another show at our flag-store The Foothill Art Gallery in Signal Hill. Artists Jesse Garcia, Francisco Lopez and Julio Villagomez will be featured in this new exhbit. The opening reception is this July 10-11 from 7-10pm. For more info on directions to our website, www.dvclothing.com. Hope all can make it and help support theses young artists. We always have great cheese and cheap wine. So come on out and mingle, network and look at some art. STAY DIRTY!

New Red DVC Buttons

So I ordered some new buttons for DVC and well to be honest I like the first ones I did but the lettering was too light. So I made a different design and really like it. The red just pops and the rest is great. Hey I love it, who's going to tell me any different. Hope you like.

Lebowski at The Foothill

I designed a flyer for the event that we are putting together at The Foothill this Saturday. We will be having more movie nights through out the year so if you can make it come on down and enjoy! STAY DIRTY!!