RAWTOASTDESIGN in Japanese

Last weekend RTD had the pleasure of meeting the awesome combo from NY_Liberty while vending at artist&fleas. The original article can be read here - LINK. I was able to get a rough translation over at babelfish. My favorite from the translation is the "humor overflows the illustration with the fullest capacity" mention. RTD likes. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and chat NY_Liberty!



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check out all of my freelance editorial illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Illustration Friday: Adrift

Here's my submission for this weeks Illustration Friday topic Adrift. It's been awhile since I've had time to do anything specifically for Illustration Friday, but I've been wanting to get this one out of the sketchbook for a little while now and this gave me the perfect excuse to do it. So here are a few of my little friends, all free from restraint, departing the old world and venturing out into the new...



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check out all of my freelance editorial illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Illustration Friday: Adrift

This weeks Illustration Friday topic is Adrift. Seems to be an ongoing theme throughout several of my past assignments...













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check out all of my freelance editorial illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

V-DAY markets for RTD

Looking for last minute gift ideas to wrap up for your lover(s)? Well, you in luck... 'cause nothing says I love you like a little sweet 'n' salty action from RTD. You can grab prints at two locations today in Brooklyn: #1 - Artist&Fleas and #2 - The Green Point Food Market.


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check out all of my freelance editorial illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Time Out NY Kids { IF: Focused }

This was an interesting assignment that is currently in the January issue of Time Out New York Kids. It was an article on breastfeeding, and this was part of the initial brief for the project... "We want to focus on the boobs and the babies expression. They're the most important elements." As a result, the baby ended up being quite focused on those mystical, and anatomical wonders. Everyday really is a new adventure in this profession :) Enjoy.

This weeks theme on Illustration Friday: Focused


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check out all of my editorial illustration portfolio at rawtoastdesign.com

New Illustrations done for 417 Magazine

More from the monthly spot illo I do for the Talk of the Town section in 417 Magazine.


November: Confusion in Aisle Nine
This was an interesting topic, a new service giving grocery shoppers access to Aisle 411. This new feature lets customers call for a sort of grocery store version of directory assistance to help find their missing ingredient. They are able to call in the grocery item and then seconds later they receive the location coordinates within the store. Springfield was the first city in the world to use the service, which debuted last October at the 65 Price Cutter at National Avenue and Republic Road.


December: And the Emmy Goes to…
This illo was done for the Emmy that the Springfield news reporter, Joy Robertson took home for 2009. The one she took home was: A Mid-American Emmy. It was given to her for her work on a two-part series about midwives, called “Birthing Up Baby.” Congratulations Joy :)


January: Efficient Roads
This illo was for a new interchange that was being referred to as one of the most powerful and greenest innovations of 2009. The interchange, called a diverging diamond, was the first of its kind in the United States. The new overpass leads drivers on a path that—while it is quick and easy once you get the hang of it—sends them driving on the left side of the road, a first for most American motorists. The diverging diamond allows more than twice as many left turns per hour than most interchanges—a total of about 600 turns. Nice work Springfield...keep on, keepin' it green.


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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

American Airlines | American Way: Lost In Translation

If you're heading to the skies with American Airlines anytime soon check out your in-flight copy of American Way (bi-monthly) magazine. This was an illo done for the January 15th issue on an article about an aspiring novelist's journey to getting his first novel published - Catch a Fallen Star. After repeated attempts with his own agent he ultimately had to settle for having his life's dream published in Poland — in a language that he couldn't understand. For a better understanding of the pipe reference check out the full story here - LINK :)





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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Utne Reader: Why Do I Get So Lost?

This was a half page illo that was done for the current Jan/Feb issue over at Utne Reader. The story was about a woman who can't make and store accurate mental images of her environment, otherwise know as “developmental topographical disorientation” by the journal Neuropsychologia. The full article can be read over on Utne Reader here - LINK to Why Do I Get So Lost? Big thanks to Stephanie G. over there at Utne too!


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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Congratulations Print Winners of 2009!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the FREE monthly print giveaways in 2009 and thank you to everyone who blogged, twittered, and facebooked about it too! The Grand Prize of a 16"x20" RTD print of their choice is getting shipped out and over the pond to Jade Boylan in the UK. Congratulations Jade :) It's still on for 2010 so enter monthly and tell your friends! Details and this past years winners are posted below...and good luck!

Sign up for the RTD mailing list and be entered for the monthly drawing - a FREE, signed, 5"x7" art print of your choice. You'll also be entered for the grand prize - a full sized 16"x20" limited edition, signed and numbered print that will be given away at the end of the year. RTD will even pay for the postage too, so you've got nothing to lose. Sign up HERE.



You can see what prints are currently available HERE.

PREVIOUS 5"x7" MONTHLY PRINT WINNERS :

March : Ojay - Tiny Pimp

April : Juana - Gardener On Potato Island

May : Alissa - Poor Little Calamari, Elvina - Robot Pirate, Toby - Unlikely Lovers, and Ann - Tiny Pimp

June : Wendi - Unlikely Lovers, Daniel - A Beacon Of Hope, and Alex - Thirst

July : Giselle - Fly Fishing

August : Amandine - Steve Was Not Double-Jointed, Jeannie - Let the Horns Blow

September : Jennifer - Unlikely Lovers

October : Laura - Full Moon Tonight

November : Merrijoy - Waiting For a Believer

December : Paras - Happy On The Inside

2010 Grand Prize Winner : Jade Boylan - Operation Scribble


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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

RTD Featured On Spraygraphic

The nice folks over at Spraygraphic have featured RTD on their sprayblog this week - LINK. Thanks guys!



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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Last Chance To Win an RTD Print In 2009!

FREE art for your naked walls! This is your last chance to enter in 2009! Sign up for the RTD mailing list and be entered for the monthly drawing - a FREE, signed, 5"x7" art print of your choice. You'll also be entered for the grand prize - a full sized 16"x20" limited edition, signed and numbered print that will be given away at the end of the year. RTD will even pay for the postage too, so you've got nothing to lose. Sign up HERE.



You can see what prints are currently available HERE.

PREVIOUS WINNERS:

March : Ojay - Tiny Pimp

April : Juana - Gardener On Potato Island

May : Alissa - Poor Little Calamari, Elvina - Robot Pirate, Toby - Unlikely Lovers, and Ann - Tiny Pimp

June : Wendi - Unlikely Lovers, Daniel - A Beacon Of Hope, and Alex - Thirst

July : Giselle - Fly Fishing

August : Amandine - Steve Was Not Double-Jointed, Jeannie - Let the Horns Blow

September : Jennifer - Unlikely Lovers

October : Laura - Full Moon Tonight

November : Merrijoy - Waiting For a Believer


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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Ho Ho Ho last minute holiday shoppers!

Come on out and see RTD this weekend at the Brooklyn Lyceum Holiday Market. Plenty of great vendors and gift ideas to strap a bow on and throw under the tree!

DECEMBER 19th & 20th
11AM - 7PM

Brooklyn Lyceum + Cafe
227 4th Avenue BK, NY 11215
http://www.BrooklynLyceum.com
c 917.405.9909 w 718.857.4816


View Larger Map

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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Hurry...LAST DAY!

RTD art prints are great for wrapping up and tucking under the tree this holiday season. Hurry up and order though! Today is the DEADLINE for all orders to arrive by Dec 24th within the United States. Anything ordered after that may still make it on time, but can not be guaranteed. Happy Shopping!

RAWTOASTDESIGN STORE

Happy Holidays from RAWTOASTDESIGN

WOW...what a year it's been! Just wanted to take a moment to send out my sincerest "Thank You" to everyone for being a part of this journey with me. It truly would not be possible to be where I am and doing what I do with out the incredible support and constant encouragement that I continue to receive from all of you.

It really is hard to believe that just a little over two years ago I was arriving in this big city. I set out from St. Charles, MO on a cold November afternoon waving goodbye to my amazing family and looking onward to the complete unknown that lay before me.

The drive was made all the way from MO to NYC in a little under a day and I arrived at my first sublet with a couple suitcases, computer dangling at my side...and not a clue as to what I was actually going to do now that I was here.

After a year of experimenting with and reigniting my love for illustration things finally began to take off. Illo gigs have been comin' in steadily this year, The Quirkles (science experiments for kids) children's book series continues to grow, and rent has finally become manageable :)

I worked and traveled to dozens of art/craft/handmade shows selling RTD prints to people from all over the world this past year and I can't even begin to count all of the incredible people that I've met along the way that have influenced me positively during this journey.

I'm looking forward to the adventures that lay within 2010, and sharing those experiences with all of you. Have a wonderful holiday season this year!

All great things to you...

Best,

Jesse Kuhn

Emperor, Lover, Picture Maker
The Republic of Rawtoastdesign
http://www.rawtoastdesign.com
http://rawtoastdesign.blogspot.com



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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/

Tax Resource for Freelancers

I often get asked by other artists/freelancers about tax resources and if I have any recommendations for them. As RTD is compiling year end #'s and preparing to pay out good ol' Uncle Sam his final installment, it felt fitting to do a little link dropping too. RTD's go to resource for everything tax, and NYC tax related. MEDOWS CPA has been great during RTD's transition from St. Louis to New York City and is highly recommended to anyone currently searching for their own CPA. One thing that RTD has learned (the hard way) over the past couple years is that you really need to be preparing for this all year long...don't stress if you haven't though, give MEDOWS CPA a call and they'll help you get organized before it's too late.

MEDOWS CPA, PLLC - http://www.medowscpa.com is a New York City based boutique accounting firm whose core clientele are freelancers. They assist freelancers with tax prep services, accounting services, tax audit, entity formation, tax planning and other ad hoc services that they may need as the need arises. They work with both freelancers who are self-employed along with freelancers who have formed S-Corporations, C-Corporations, Single-Member LLCs and Multi Member LLCs. They are a full-year firm and can meet clients during working hours, nights and weekends.

MEDOWS CPA, PLLC is managed by Jonathan Medows, CPA. Jonathan is a licensed New York CPA and is also licensed in Maryland (and application pending in New Jersey). Jonathan received his BS and MBA from the Stern School of Business of New York University. He has been featured in the New York Post, BusinessWeek and Web CPA along with other publications.

Also be sure to check out MEDOWS CPA, PLLC Business & Tax Blog too for regular posts about tax advice - http://blog.medowscpa.com



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check out all of my editorial freelance illustration at http://www.rawtoastdesign.com/