By Mark Kaufman
Only three weeks before AIGA Seattle’s Into the Woods conference. Drawmark is in some very fine company as a sponsor as you can see here, the speaker roster is set, workshops are a go and registration is closed. So if you failed to sign up to attend this kick ass event you will be kicking yourself for months to come. If you have signed up I’ll see you there!

By Mark Kaufman
Not a lot of posts this week, I have been very busy, putting in long hours on both design and illustration fronts. Nothing I can show or talk about as of yet. With that in mind here's another installment of Find something in sketchbook that I like.

By Mark Kaufman
These important questions always seem to trip up Democratic standard bearers, the wrong answer to seemingly innocuous questions lay the groundwork to frame a candidate as either a typical liberal wuss that doesn't understand the heart of America, or an evil interloper that is trying to push a gay agenda down the throats of so called values voters. By the way, the answers which are too small, and upside down to read here, are: 1. Junior Johnson  2. Cheeze Whiz  3. Yes, and I hope your father and his boyfreiend will be very happy.

By Mark Kaufman
About a year ago we changed the name of our design firm from Artomat Design to Vivitiv. Much like the tale of the cobbler who is so busy that his children have no shoes, we have been remiss in developing our own website. Well at the moment we are diligently working on the Vivitiv website, and shortly we will have it up for all to see. Right now we have a new landing page which announces this little bit of progress.

By Mark Kaufman
We just found out how much we'll owe in taxes this year. I don’t normally complain about Uncle Sam, and taxes, because I believe in paying my fair share, but one thing you can count on is at least once a year I'll raise my fist along with most Americans (and Steve Forbes) and rail against the IRS. Tomorrow I'll go back to railing against tax cuts for the rich, waste, fraud and abuse, and Halliburton style tax dodges.

By Mark Kaufman

By Mark Kaufman
I recently did 3 portraits of, art director, designer and musician Aaron Edge. Here’s one of them. Rock on.

By Mark Kaufman
Vivitiv, the design firm that I run with Jacqueline McCarthy, just sent off a treasure trove of work for consideration in Rockport Publisher’s upcoming 1,000 Music Graphics book. This is one of the packages that we sent which held some of our music posters over the years. We sent two other packages with cd packaging, and other bits of music related collateral featuring our work for various rock shows, radio stations, the Seattle Opera and Seattle Symphony. Those packages had boxes and envelopes designed with rock and roll quotes like “This is my rock and roll love letter to you” by the Bay City Rollers and  “Please Mr. Postman look and see if there’s a letter in your bag for me” by the Marvelettes. We may not get anything into the book but at least the packaging will get noticed.

By Mark Kaufman
I saw an absolutely beautiful chart in the Key supplement in yesterday’s edition of the New York Times by the Dutch designers Catalogtree. The straightforward simplicity of their charts is mindblowing. Check out their web site for more inteligent, spare, thoroughly interesting work. This diagram compares the average speed in two directions during 24 hours on the road between Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

By Mark Kaufman
I am of course IBM. Irish by marriage, so I resent amateurs using the one day that celebrates Irish heritage and culture to drink green beer, eat corned beef and cabbage, paint shamrocks on their faces, head butt strangers, and fight and vomit in the streets. I think this should be done 365 days a year. Have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day.

By Mark Kaufman
Gitmo, torture, warrentless spying, the patriot act, keeping W’s DUI quiet and now the “overblown personnel matter” of the fired prosecutors. This lying creep could be a regular fixture.

By Mark Kaufman
I found this hiding somewhere on my computer while I was searching for something else. A portrait of my wife and business partner Jacqueline McCarthy & me. I liked the image of my better half so much that I had it embroidered into a lovely portrait by the awesome world reknown artist Jenny Hart a few years back.  Thanks Jacki, and thanks Jenny.

By Mark Kaufman
I was taking a look at all of the presidential contenders logos, I’ve gone through Obama, McCain and Vilsack, but unfortunately none of the other candidates have anything even remotely interesting in the way of logos. There's not much to say except that they are all awful. However, I am hoping that there is a vice-presidential candidate out there somewhere with Brooke as a last name. Because a Hillary Brooke 08 ticket gets my vote. A Hillary Brooke ticket would have the immature, middle aged male vote locked down. That is at least half the electorate. It would be my dream to see a campaign named after the late blond bombshell and star of the Abbott and Costello show. Sid Fields for Secretary of Agriculture!

By Mark Kaufman
Another installment of American Affairs Desk. This one has it all, celebrities, suicide, drug use, choo choo trains and the Disney Princess craze! You’re welcome.