Announcement: The Time Has Come
Hey everyone, I have an important announcement to make. I recently quit my job in order to devote my time to BittBox! In 2 1/2 weeks time I will be BittBoxing full time and taking on select few freelance jobs. You can expect a much more active BittBox.com in the near future. (and a little more insight into who I actually am) It will take some time to get moved and settled, and the next 2-3 weeks will be bumpy for me, but starting in December expect a dramatic rise in activity here. I also want to apologize for a lack in activity recently, but this is a weird time in my career (quitting my job to blog full-time and all). I think you all deserve the right to know what is going on and what to expect. The design below is devoted to this change and is titled “Fresh Start.” Don’t hold back, gimme your critique, it’s how we get better :)
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Tags: Announcements, BittBox, moving, News
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Wow! Looking forward to the future.
Can’t wait to see what happens with Bitt Box now that’s your job!
I really dig that design. The only thing I might do differently is mask out the arms so that they don’t fade with the rest of the figure. It looks kinda weird right now, but that may just be me.
Good luck! This is my favorite blog and I look forward to the things to come.
Bitt–been reading and using your tools for a long time now–what a big step! I look forward to seeing what your full-time energies can manifest for your readers.
additionally–great montage! what’s that carnival font you used as background texture on the right-ish side of the background? It looks like a quality grungy one, i’ve been looking for something like that for a while now.
Well good for you Bitt! I hope you find 6 months from now that you made a good decision. I know as your fans and audience we will be eagerly looking forward to a renewed vigor in great articles.
@PeterPan,
I’m not 100% sure which font you are asking about but try Turbo Ripped or Dirty Ames.
~Bitt
Congratulations. A very big move to finally cut that cord and move to pro blogger status.
Here’s to wish you and BittBox all the best and many, many happy vectors to come.
And oh, the design is very cool.
Wow, that’s nice to know that I can expect a lot more great updates! Very nice looking design. Maybe the pure white arms are a little odd, but it’s hard to tell without seeing it normal, and I only really notice much in the full size image.
Congrats on the jump and best of luck. Always remember, sleep is for the weak. You’ll get plenty when you’re dead. The time is now!
Oh gosh! Congrats and good luck! =)
Great design. It does convey the feeling of moving on. I do wish you well in your not so new endeavor, but rather fulltime endeavor.
I stumbled across your website one day, and I have to admit that it is in my daily routine before I start anything at work, I check for updates on your site, Keep up the good work. Thanks
Your sites amazing and I’m glad to hear that you’ll be working with it full time. I’m excited :)
As for the design, the only thing that jumped out at me was the black spot by the bottom of her hand, it seems out of place, maybe if it was transparent there.
Other than that, its a fantastic image. Will you be making prints of any of your work in the future?
Congrats, what a big move!
I struggle to blog regularly at the moment, but if I quit my job it’d be awesome! I’m currently dealing with quite severe RSI so that hampers my attempts to both design and blog on my own time because I have to save my arm for my day job :(
In short : I’m super jealous!!
Congrats! I look forward to your posts! Best of luck :)
Cheers,
*;; Delilah Hinman
Thank you zealot2323!
Now that you say it, I see the exact same thing. Sometimes all you need is a few more opinions. As for prints, do you mean sell?, can you elaborate?
~Bitt
all the very best. i think we r the fortunate ones, to hv u around more often now. thanx a ton.
and yes, u could ‘ fresh start’ u full-time bittboxing by telling us how to do the above illustration!!!
thanx again
k
Hey Bitt!
Congratulations on the new decision, I can hardly wait to see what kind of new content will surface now that you can input more energy into building the box :)
By the way, I love the piece and it’s cool to see so many of the fonts and brushes that you’ve been blogging about be integrated into the piece. The model looks like a girl I know!!
Peace,
And Congratulations!
The community’s here to stay!!!
Hi BB,
just wanted to say Congratulations and good luck with it. You provide a valuable resource for a lot of us and I’m looking forward to your updates.
Be good dood!
–SevenGs
Hmm…all the best. such a big step you have taken.
Is it worth it?,,, i don’t know…tell me in a 4 months time.
Whatefer maybe the case…I love this blog and the ART above is AWESOME!! Keep it up. Need any help/assistance contact me…am a graphic designer.
Thats a very bold move.
Good luck with Bittbox, we’re all here to help you with it! :)
Good luck mate!
Oh That’s so cool!!! Your design ROCKS!!!
Good luck with the new venture/adventure!!!
Gabi
Good luck! I really enjoy your blog and I look forward to the things to come.
Congrats, and good luck!
Nice to see that you’re taking a big step towards doing what you really enjoy.
Great design by the way,
Adam
Congrats on the decision to start your own thing…
And the montage looks great..
Well, this is my first message here, but dont get me wrong, i visit bittbox everyday…..thank you for all the wonderful knowledge you have shared, i am looking forward to the future posts…..
one thing though, how can you just quit your job?! i would like to do that one day….=)
Fantastic new Bitt, I can’t wait to see what’s on here when you start full-time!
The illustration is awesome!
Good luck in the future!
your work is pretty inspiring… good luck with your new plans.
Thanks for your work your blog is in my top 3 daily list visit sites.
I will visit this site now more often than ever!
That’s awesome for you, and I look forward to more bitts! Love the illustration- I recognize a lot of those brushes, it’s great to see them put to use, too! Keep us updated on your freelance work so we can be inspired by what you’re doing.
Best wishes for the future.. You’ll be grand!
Looks a ton better than last time I saw it……..good to show an advancement change…….and I am thrilled that the full time news has come. I been a fan since day one, (its me homepage and most likely will always be) well I stumbled onto this site like a month after it was started, but that was day one for me, and since then I tell all my desiger friends…….keep up everything and I will forever be a huge bitt fan.
I am wishing you the very best, bittbox is an awesome site, and I really hope you ‘ll make the most of it!
As or the image it’s pixel perfect, except for the arms,I ‘ld mask them too.
Keep up the god work!!!
When you say blogging full time do you mean earning a living from your website?! If so that is a very impressive and inspiring feat!
I look forward to seeing the developments.
Good luck and best wishes for the future
Chris
What a good news !
(You actually made me think I should start a blog of my own one day…)
For your Art piece, my only sugestion is to fade to white her right wing, to continue with that feeling of gathering whiteness (freshness). For the rest, you know your thing, it is all very good!
Congratulations! That’s very exciting news. Best Wishes. I am looking forward to more posts. :) Great design by the way!
Congratz! Its going to be a big change but you will most certainly love it!
Congrats!
Bitt, I am stoked that you are devoting full time to Bittbox! Wow, what a transition. Good for you!
I am constantly searching for Illustrator resources to throw to my readers and it seems they are few and far between versus the Photoshop madness…
So, thanks!
Lawton
Very good! i like it !
Congrats on making the big decision! I have a ton of faith that it’s the right one for you… good luck!!
Good luck!
I REALLY hope the best for you, you have helpt your readers a lot, so I hope you enjoy your new lifestyle, and i hope you do good in the future, can’t wait to see the new bittbox posts.
Really cool design, very clean, the only thing that’s wierd are the arms, the white looks wierd, i’d make them fade out, disapear. But very cool design.
Congratulations on your emancipation from the 9-5 monotony. I hope it all turns out well.
Hi! Just chanced upon your site searching for opacity masks and thanks for a tutorial which you have written and good luck to your blogging/freelance career!
Hey congratulations on your desition what a coincidence that you decided to move on the same week that i moved hehehe congratulations , i liked the illustration , but i didnt liked the gradient on the arms of the model, and i think it needs improvement on the hair extraction.
i lilke your articles and your website very much , congratulations.
Hi there, thanks for all the great articles you made here, it is really useful and helpful for everyone.
Good luck!
best of luck with your new move.. i can only imagine how good this blog will be in the future!!
I really like the blue by her head. It draws the eye to her face which should be the focal point.
wow very awesome, cant wait to see whats in store for bittbox
Congratulations on the move to full time blogging and leaving your job. As they say, a job means just over broke, so hopefully the sky is the limit as you go to pro blogging status.
I think it’s SO inspiring that you are doing this. I have you on my igoogle.com home page so I always know what new stuff you’re doing. I think you are going to do great by doing what you obviously love, full time.
As for this angel, I think it would have been better if the woman’s photo was taken further from photograph status using some sort of line work on her form.
Wow grats, hope everything goes smoothly with the transition and thats great news about career change. I wish I can just quit my job and walk away, but still new to design field so still learning a lot.
Maybe my tip for December is recommended books for 2008? or New Years Resolutions?
Love this site!
been an avid reader for the last few months now n loved and actually understood all of the things you have coved in reviews and tutorials etc.
Well done with eveything so far, im just wondering if there will ever be tutorials to help with composition like the example you have shown (in love with stuff like that just can never seem to get it looking correct)
thanks great work again :)
hay… you got my support!
im stunned… i cant wait to see the new bitbox!!!!!!! i was your fan but now im … i don’t know i love the new design! i love it!
Yeah, prints for selling. Your work would make quite good ones because of the depth in them.
Good for you on your decision! And wicked cool for those of us who read your blog!! I can’t wait.. i look so forward to checking your blog everyday. It has helped me discover so many useful tools. So since I am just getting started freelance too ( respekt for the courage to go on your own!), I will soon make a contribution to the blog to support!
ciao!
/s
I love this blog already. I wonder how good it will be when you do it as a fulltime job.
These vectors, brushes and tutorials are just stunning.
I hope you won’t trade quality and quantity!
Keep it up!
hey bitt,
i think this is great for you (and us).
how will you make a living from blogging?
ad revenue? just curious.
also,
what are your freelance gig rates.
i would love to use one of your portraits as a design element in a cd cover i’m producing.
Wow! Congratulations! That’s awesome news.
I agree with above if you deleted the black spot near her arm I think it would help it flow more. I like the look and style you have going on bitt. Again another superb design by you. I am very anxiously awaiting your new dedicated self to bittbox.com it should be very fascinating.
This is the only blog I have a RSS on google. I am glad to hear you’ve stepped over to the good life and ditched the 9-5.
glad to hear about the increase in content, considering i can’t find anywhere else to learn new things about illustrator.
critique, it is a nice design, but strikes me as trying too hard. and the pink seems really out of place.
Keep looking forward. Love and respect.
I wish u all the best with the new challenges ahead.
Ure an inspiration to me and several of my design studying friends. Keep up the good work :)
Please make a tutorial on how u created the pic included above, it rocks!
Cheers from Denmark
All the best for this new stage - I find this blog really useful
and informative, so long may it continue! Thanks for evrything so far!
Your new piece is excellent - The only thing I would drop is the stroke
around your angel.
BittBox,
I absolutely love your site. I always am checking it before and after school. being a high school student, with a passion for graphic/web design I really appreciate your freebies as well as your tips even though I dont have photoshop or illustrator and i refuse to pirate. curse adobe and their obscene prices!
but i digress, anywho good for u and im looking forward to more frequent updates.
Wow! That´s quite an amazing picture.
It would be awsome if you could make a tutorial on how you create your pieces sometime.
Awesomeeeee to HEAR! Congradluations and looking forward to reading very useful information! Thank you for all that you do! You are a wonderful person.
Truly wonderful & Gifted!
;)
Pashii
congratulations! looking forward to seeing what happens!
All,
1. Wow. Thanks for the encouragement everyone. It really means a lot to me!
2. I’ll try and put together a tutorial outlining the process used to create the image above “Fresh Start.” Thanks for the feedback, I’m definitely going to make some changes to her arms, and get rid of the heavy black spot.
@Geo,
email me and we’ll discuss more about your CD cover.
contact(at)bittbox.com
Thanks everyone!
~Bitt
Congratulations, Bitt! I know you will do well with blogging
full-time. I am happy for me, too. More BB!!!
The image is beautiful.
that is beautiful. i love the colors. do you take your own photography or is the girl a stock image?
I do take some of my own photos, but the woman is from iStockphoto. (as well as the wings)
Hey Bittbox!
Congratulations on this big step forward in your career. I’m sure you’ll be a rousing success, and of course I wish you the best of luck.
Cheers!
Hi Bittbox, Wow, that’s cool! Congratulations. Suppor you! Wish you all the best! I will keep checking the updates of Bittbox.
wow really nice, i mess around with photoshop but not a pro by far. so i really cant tell you what to improve on
http://sp1200.net/pics/front_new.jpg
something i did for my new mixtape
Hey bitt,
good luck for the future mate.
well i guess that was an important but even hard decision for you. But i´m sure that it was the right.
I´m really looking forward to what happens now to bittbox.
wishin you the best what a freelancing designer needs to.
remeber. don´t let anything bring you down.
-fresh start-
is looking very nice. definitly like it.
cheerz mate.
Wow, that’s a really bold move to make but i wish you all the best! I would love reading even more Bittbox :)
Amazing work. Can’t wait to see what you produce on this site as a full-timer. Keep up the excellent work/blog.
Wow!!! You got the guts then a don’t have… You’re my hero!!!!!
Hey welldone! I went freelance 3 years ago and I’m still lovin’ it!!
I like the image you’ve shown - very detailed. My only suggestion would be to have a few things swirling or happening in front of the model to integrate the illustration with the model a bit more…I’ve only been in the industry ten years…you’ve probably been in it longer…so do your thing!
This is one of my fave sites…some excellent info.
A personal suggestion -can you list free/reasonable cost applications for macs that deal with setting up invoices/timesheets etc.?
::m
Good luck with ‘BittBox-ing’ full time.
Look forward to seeing more fab stuff!
Amar
Fantastic Blog….a regular visit as most do.
Good luck with the venture. I think it will work out fine. Sounds like a lot of work to do but rewards will be much better than your average 9-5. So much opportunity, go for it dude.
Never really had the time to work out how these images were created (too busy with work!). Seems to go in and out of fashion in the design world however similar they all are. Would be very much interested on what design elements are used to cross reference both vector and bitmap graphics.
Best of luck with that! I hope you’ll be sharing some tips and secrets of survival in undertaking such a decision and how to make it work out.
Just wish I had a job to quit now so I could do the same :-D
WOW! Amazing! I am so looking forward to this, i use your site as so much inspiration. I read everything! You are awesome and great job keep going!!
The picture is good! i like it. the white dress kinda throws it off. Maybe a light pastel color such as yellow or something. But otherwise great. Love the background green stuff!
I’m here quite often. I’ll be here more now. I think it’s awesome you’ve made the transition. Helping people be better is a humane thing to do. Go for it, and great art!
hello… I just discover Bittbox few weeks ago and i’m completly addicted.. your blog is my new bible…
your “fresh start” design is absolutly beautifull… love it
wish you the best of luck
C’est fou comme c’est beau !!!
Very nice work =)
Good luck.
Congrats dude, now your all mine!! BUAHAHAHAHAHAHA… in all seriousness I look forward to the future of bittbox..
ps love your design
Congratulations. I’m working towards the same goal of self employment at the moment. Maybe make some money blogging, freelance web designing and also getting back to playing music again. I’m still trying to get the pieces together to make the jump, but it’s hard to find the time to get the pieces together when working full time. Vicious circle.
Good luck and best wishes.
Congratulations! Bitt! you have made it :) you are going to do a big step in your carrier and in your life.
You are the roll model (and for my the inspirator) of many designers-bloggers.
Thanks.
Congrats Bitt. Your living the dream of many designers and bloggers. I hope you continue doing your part to help others cross that line as well. Many blessings to you in your future success.
Wow! That is so admirable. Wish I could do the same :(.
Forgot to add in my previous that your Fresh Start design is awesome! Congrats!
I believe you can do the same elliviz and that goes for all of us who follow this site. Whatever you mind can conceive, and truly believe, it can achieve.
Great graphic. I really like how the colors contrast against the beautiful girl in white. However, I think you can improve on your extracting job, pulling the girl and the wings from their backgrounds.
You are pure awesomeness. I’m looking forward to the increase in activity.
Brave choice, good sir, no doubt you’ll do very well.
Wow, seriously delicious dude. I think it’s quite perfect the way it is. It’s pure Eye Candy. I must say it kinda reminds me of Brand Nu, but maybe that’s because he does a lot of these kind of designs. Looking forward to more activity on this site, and good luck!
Congratulations! You are embarking on a journey that many of us would love to take.
This site is a breath of creative fresh air and I thank you for it. Good luck, we’ll all be here to keep you company.
Oh, and the design is fantastic. Really. I want all new beginnings to feel just like that.
We could use some extensive tutorial about the creating process and colors :) It would really be good and unique tutorial
Great work! :)
Hey Bitt,
Long time reader, first time writer. I am so excited about your big step. Good Luck with everything. You do great work!
By the way, I am a beginner designer..still working on my bachelors and in a small print shop…if you or any one has any advice for beginners in the industry I’d love to hear it.
Hey, I’m so datn damn jealous that you have quit your job to blog. No fair! That’s my dream.
Make sure you have freelance stuff lined up - you don’t want to be stuck not able to pay the bills.
Good luck and can’t wait for the changes.
Was this done completely in Illustrator or a combination of Illustrator and Photoshop? Like the woman, was this a picture that you tweaked in Photoshop?
I really like it. I am just starting out myself and happened upon your site through another site. The only thing that I would suggest is the black area where her wing, waist and arm meet. It is so dard that it draws you eye to it.
Long time reader, and definatly have learned a lot from your blog, thank you for everything so far, and hope to have lots more to come! keep up the good work, and your design really is amazing.
Just wanted to drop by and say I really like your blog. It is a great design resource. Thanks for sharing so much useful design knowledge. I really love the Bittbox Illustrator brushes! Thanks again and best wishes on your new endeavors!
The image above is awesome, nice colors!
OMG!! Your future are way too Bright…
Honestly your work are very awesome.
Love it from,
Malaysia
Hey Congrats… I’m a regular reader and visit here almost everyday. Look forward to the tutorial of this image.
Best of Luck
Congrats on your official independence! Love the site - will be coming here more often!
Don’t know what could make your illustration better, its fantastic.
You are such an artist !
Your work here is really helpful… makes me think you are very generous !!!
And Congratulations for the new start in your life !!!
I salute you …
If you know what you want …
If you know how to get it …
Go for it!
Nothing ventured … nothing gained.
I, too, am seeking my dreams, as a new sculpture.
Good luck my friend
I have just stumbled across your website and spent the last two hours looking through your downloads and tutorials. Amazing. Even more amazing is your new design for your website.
as a 16 year old still at school, it is inspiring to see someone leaving a job to do something they really enjoy. great design
good luck
Congrats and best of luck on the move to self-employment! Your designs and tutorials are amazingly helpful in the world of student/campus organizing. Keep it up!
cool!… i am gonna love this site!
This is great news! I admire your commitment and looking forward to more Bittbox posts! Congratulations =)
nice work..i just recently found ur website…i think its tight keep it up
[...] can feel my time coming too. Many things are coming together in my head. Opportunities that I haven’t [...]
The illustration is awesome! It can be scary quitting a full time job to do something you just plain LOVE! But also very rewarding! Keep it up! I love your site!
Best of luck with your new endeavours, (although you’ve been at it for some time at the time I am writing this) I will definetely be following the blogs progress :)
its very elegant design, ilike it! keep rock baby!
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!
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