I’m going to start this blog pretty honestly. I sat staring at an empty Word document for about 30 minutes with a growing sense of unease as I tried to figure out what to write for this week. Rarely do I have NOTHING come to mind. Well, I suppose a few things did float up, but most of them felt too heavy (like the topic of sexism) to write just now. I like to give weighty topics like that my full-attention. And I can’t do it this week because my life is just too FULL. So instead, I thought I’d give you all a bit of an update on my creative life.
I’m creating a new logo for my YouTube channel. Especially since I’m starting Color Me Stress Free (a stress-relieving coloring book art initiative) this year, I felt it was really appropriate to design something new and fun. But I’ve also felt the desire to stretch my design skills this year. My YouTube channel has changed a lot since I started it in 2011 and some things (like my channel opener) haven’t changed with it! Plus the IMAGINE-Nation decided on a channel mascot (a cat) over a year ago, and I promised them a t-shirt, but I still haven’t gotten around to creating it. I tend to play with one piece of my brand design puzzle at a time and then have to move on to more pressing issues, usually leaving my brand design feeling half-finished until the next time I’m able to work on it again. It’s possible none of my viewers really notice and obviously it hasn’t been enough of an issue to deter people from subscribing because I’ve been growing by about 1000 subscribers a month in the last year. However, I feel the difference. I want cohesiveness among all my platforms.
So I made a start! Say hello to Unikitty!
Isn’t she adorable? She’s definitely just in the first stages right now. I was trying to make her as simple as possible but I still feel like she might be too complicated for thumbnails or my branding watermark. But she’d look great on a t-shirt I think! But it’s more than just drawing and photoshopping a Unikitty mascot. I really want to start with the mascot and move out to all the other elements of my channel (e.g. opener, channel art, end screen, website, blog, newsletter) to make sure that they all fit together in style, color, feel, and message.
I feel like it’s been a bit of long time coming. But hopefully this year, as I try to expand my artistic abilities in all areas of my life, I’ll be able to complete these graphics for my YouTube channel. I know it’ll give me a sense of accomplishment!
Do you all have any suggestions? What do you think represents my channel in colors? Style? Shape? Creatures? Words? I have my own perceptions of my brand, but it’s always good to get feedback from those who are invested in it. You!
i IMAGINE (blank) 
You should put this on teespring.