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Interesting delivery in my Inbox today! Pixels of Fury competition. Read all about it below. If you’re a crazy talented pixel pusher, this may be right up your alley. OR, you may know someone, feel free to pass it along.

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We’ve already told you about some of the great things we have planned for our Pixels of Fury design competition this year. Last month, we brought the Fury to Adobe MAX in LA, and now we’re doing it again during HOW Design Live and SF Design Week! Better yet, we want you to be a part of it! If you’re a designer in the Bay Area (or will just be in town), we’d love to have you apply to be a contestant.

Pixels of Fury is the perfect opportunity to show off your design skills under pressure. With just 20 minutes to create a poster from scratch in front of a live audience, the pressure is on to see whose inspiration shines brightest. Of course, you’ll have the whole Shutterstock library at your disposal — used wisely, it can help you earn the coveted Furious Pixel trophy.

Interested in participating? Check out the video below of the contestants from last month’s event, look at our wrap-up of the Fury in 2012, and then email us at pixelsoffury@shutterstock.com with your contact info and a link to your portfolio.

~ Text Source: Shutterstock blog

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Click on the image above to learn more about Occupy Design ~ Image Source: Occupy Design

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I’m a huge believer in seeing art everywhere. Many people believe art must be an object (i.e., painting, drawing, etc.) exhibited inside museum and/or gallery walls and reserved for some elite group’s viewing pleasure. The contemporary artist must be well-rounded though (i.e., staying apprised of the arts and technology). Look at Takashi Murakami. Fans of Hip Hop artist, Kanye West, are probably very familiar with Murakami’s art and design for album cover, Graduation. Yet, I’m wondering if these same individuals know Murakami had a series of sculptures exhibited at the Palace of Versailles or that his work is auctioned off by Sotheby’s to very wealthy collectors. Probably not.

Having the technical skills and a fine arts sensibility to execute graphic design and illustration that inevitably becomes a part of a culture’s visual language makes for one powerful artist. I like to believe that graphic designers and illustrators have that fine arts artist in them. Like Murakami, Aaron Lawrence is well on his way to designing himself into the Bay Area’s visual landscape.

So, how did I found Aaron Lawrence? Well, I was sitting at The Summit cafe (which is a fantastic and unique cafe/gallery/tech space and oh so fitting for my discovery) in San Francisco’s Mission District. As always, I was thumbing through the books and zines displayed in their library. I found a piece of wood with a well designed print on it. It told me to find its creator – Aaron Lawrence.

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Now…if he can only create more of that fine art. Crossing my fingers. Enjoy his answers to my Art 10 questions.

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1. What is your favorite (art) word?

Collaboration

2. What is your least favorite (art) words?

Cannot

3. What keeps you going when you’re in the studio?

Everything. People, architecture, nature, other art – there is inspiration all around, if you look.

4. When do you know you’re done in the studio?

Time schedule or when I finish a piece.

5. What words do you love to hear at an art show (your show or any show)?

Inspiring, fun, and had a good time.

6. What words do you hate to hear at an art show (your show or any show)?

$10 cover

7. What is your favorite curse word?

Shit

8. What profession other than being an artist would you like to attempt?

Helping the poor.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

I saw this TV show where this guy’s job was to squeeze the shit out of baby chickens. I don’t want that job.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Welcome.

You can learn more about Aaron’s work by visiting his website.

A special treat for you – image of  next month’s SF Guardian’s Christmas issue! Thanks, Aaron!