A New Start
June 16, 2008 // Design + Life

Usually when I write about things on here I relate to the experiences I’ve had, but for the most part I try to keep my private life private. Well today is a little different, simply because so many things have changed in my life in the last month and a half. In May I moved into a new apartment with my best friend and it’s been great. My best friend and I get along perfectly, we’re quite the odd couple, and just being in here makes me really happy.

But then two other major changes happened, and it’s sort of thrown my game off a bit. First, I ended a long distance relationship that lasted three years. That was a major major change for me, one that I’m still getting used to. Then last Friday I was laid off from my job of 3 years. When it rains, it pours, right? This wasn’t a huge shock, my boss is trying to keep make things work for herself as well, and I was too pretty a penny to keep around.

Which now means I’m sitting at home, eating oatmeal at 10 am. This is a totally foreign situation to me, I’ve had a steady job since I was 17 years old. But I’m a glass half-full kind of guy, I’m eternally optimistic and no matter how crazy things get, you can always make it better. So in an effort to really utilize and capture all this change, I’m going to be accepting freelance design and retouching jobs if anyone has any cool projects they need help with. I’m hoping this doesn’t come off sounding desperate, but I figure that I’ve made a lot of really cool friends and I know a lot of really creative people read this blog, so what the hell?

If you’d like to see any examples of my work, retouching or design, please send an email to thefoxisblack@gmail.com.

Bobby

P.S. The image above is from Destroy Rock City, whom I’ve loved for a long time, but he hasn’t updated his site in forever.

  1. Best of luck Bobby. Something will turn up in no time whatsoever. The agency I’m at would love to have you but I’m not sure you’d fancy relocating to Copenhagen!

    Comment by Aaron — June 16, 2008 #

  2. Bobby, I’ve been reading your blog for some time now and haven’t ever posted. Sorry to hear the news, but I’m glad your taking the optimist point of view. You are incredibly talented and inspiring. Keep up the great work and make sure to keep us posted as your life continues to evolve.

    Comment by Tyler — June 16, 2008 #

  3. don’t fret b, it’ll all work out. stay positive. and take a vacation! do something you haven’t been able to do while working steady the last ten years…

    Comment by pp! — June 16, 2008 #

  4. I say get the hell out of that apartment. Clealy that asshole you live with is responsible for everything. Trust me. Get yourself a bear and never look back.

    Comment by Garrett — June 16, 2008 #

  5. Glad to see you’re holding on dude. I actually cannot really imagine you staying out of employment given all the skills you are showing throughout this blog. And if you can’t find a position in design and image editing, take a job in marketing or advertising: I just bought a TRKFLD bag, because of your blog.

    Comment by Clem — June 16, 2008 #

  6. Wow. What a weird world this is — I posted that I was let go from my job today, too. And I’m with you — I’ve been working in the animation industry ever since I started in it 12 years ago. I’m finding this unemployed biz such as strange world. At least I’m getting some great famiy time, hanging out with the kids all day.

    But then there’s that looming “get a job” thought bubble over my head….

    Best of luck to you, man. Having a positive look about all this is the best way to handle it, I’ve found. Love this blog, love what you post about. Take care.

    Comment by Ward — June 16, 2008 #

  7. good luck bobby. Jx.

    Comment by Jaycee — June 17, 2008 #

  8. Well i’m not happy. To hear you say you need work from your readers is disheartening, but I identify with you and I want to help you. I don’t want to be the person who tries to stick it out my job that I become too big an asset and not very well taken care of. I’m going through a bit of that right now. Your story gives me hope that if I can just make the decision for myself to pull myself out of the quagmire of the unrelentingly repetitive job then I won’t have to feel so forced into a situation that’s over my head. I can chose to meet the challenge head on and feel like I can overcome anything. The feeling of change is scary at first, but you get used to it and then you realize what an adventure and how exhilarating it is. You’ve never felt so alive. The truth is you and I both have the talent and the self-realization to do whatever we set our minds to doing. You have more talent and knowledge in your little pinky than your boss. So why not take the reigns and reach your most awesomest goals? Seriously, what is there to lose? I know i’ve lost everything and I am willing to do it again if only to achieve success in doing something that I enjoy doing. I really admire your honesty and your taste. It gives me so much pleasure, each and every one of your insights into the world of design, art, and music. I’m such a fan. Go get ‘em.

    Comment by jonas — June 17, 2008 #

  9. Sad double-whammy indeed Bobby, sorry to read – you’ll be absolutely fine though. Sometimes life needs readjusting and you’ll be better off for it! Doesn’t feel like it now, for sure, but good luck with it all. This blog shows what you can do when you put the effort in, onwards and upwards!

    x

    Comment by Mat — June 17, 2008 #

  10. yeah man, see it as an opening of many new doors! g’luck!

    Comment by Leggoz — June 17, 2008 #

  11. Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the kind words. So far my mini-vacation has been nice though! haha

    Comment by Bobby — June 17, 2008 #

  12. This seems appropriate.

    http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html

    Comment by Jeremy — June 17, 2008 #

  13. Sorry to hear about the lost job/relationship, and I’m glad you took a chance & updated the blogosphere on your personal life. Maybe you can spend your newly acquired free time writing tons of KN posts…

    Comment by Maria @ Stickers & Donuts — June 17, 2008 #

  14. I know you’ll land on your feet, Bobby. Hang in there.

    Comment by Al aka El Negro Magnifico — June 17, 2008 #

  15. Bobby,

    I have been there man. Several times. I’ve been laid off twice, moved across country once and just plain moved 5 times in the last 7 years. I have had to work miserably low paying jobs in a city that doesn’t care much about creative (Denver) for the last 4 years to support my wife while she is in grad school.

    But you know you just hang in there. You keep doing what you love. Keep blogging. Keep creating. Assemble your portfolio. Polish your resume. Look for a rep or a project or two. Life changes. You just can’t let it get you down.

    Your obviously a super talented guy and it’s impossible not to imagine you being a really nice person just from reading your blog.

    Hang in there man. We care about you. You have made friends you don’t even know you have. I am sure in a few months you’ll look back and realize that this transition was what you needed to get somewhere better.

    Next time I get out to LA, I am taking you out for a drink on my dime.

    Comment by Christopher Cox — June 19, 2008 #