Category: Publications

When social media was fresh and new, our world grew smaller.  We could now have momentary chit-chats with friends around the world throughout the day.  We could share pictures of the momentous occasions and the small moments that shape our lives.  I hopped on the FaceBook bandwagon in 2009 and have spent nearly a decade sharing my work with like-minded folks from around the globe.

Social Media Choices

Now, I find myself bombarded with options.  I meet people who “gave up” on Facebook, or who won’t try Instagram because it looks “too fluffy.”  Many people just find a digital home and hang out there, like some of my friends who are still into the artsier Tumblr.  The truth is not everyone is in the same digital spaces and some folks have never really participated in social media at all. Some moments, I feel like I’ve tried them all!  It’s not true, there are many more social media outlets than I would have time to use.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davinadevine/
FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/StudioDavina/

Video on Social Media

As I move into a more video-based sharing mode, I find myself documenting projects via Instagram Stories.  That software platform has made it so easy for me to effortlessly pick up my cell-phone and make a 15-second video snippet.  Instagram Stories, however, disappears after 24 hours, so as a documentarian, I find this a frustrating feature.  Throughout the past months, I’ve experimented with the format, using Instagram stories to put together longer videos, but I think this kind of video feels stilted, falling completely flat.  It’s a video montage, in a vertical orientation that gets cropped into horizontal or has big black bars on either side.  I’ve tried making Facebook Live videos as well, but find the quality is lower due to their own compression algorithms so they look very different when collaged into video with clips from other sources.

Moving forward with video

But the truth of the matter is that a sewing project can only be video recorded once.  You have one shot at cutting, at sewing, and finishing.  You can’t really “reshoot” unless you have lots of extra material or are making costumes in multiples.

I’ve decided that I really enjoy working with video and that I’ll be making a home for all of my video content on YouTube. As I continue to experiment, learning all the capabilities of my cellphone, and growing some more editing skills, I’m sure there will be many more clunky and choppy videos like the one above.  So if you like catching my Instagram Stories, or missed a Facebook Live videos, be sure to follow me on YouTube where I’m going to put everything, even if it’s a little clunky.  Since YouTube is searchable, it makes finding the videos you really want to see,  a breeze!

Now, off to make some video!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Saturday, November 19, 2017

Running a tiny, but profitable, business takes a lot of work. For me, it’s all about good time management, and having a pretty good understanding of all the different aspects of effectively running a business. When you’re an independent business person, you wind up, to use an old adage, “Wear all the hats.”

I frequently find myself talking to my fellow entrepreneurs and recommending a small collection of books that have really helped me keep my business profitable and on target. These are part of my essential reference collection that I keep on hand to reread when I need the info. 

Note: I’ve included links to these books in both print and Kindle form.  If you use these click-through links, I get a tiny commission from Amazon that supports this website.  However, many of these books are business mainstays are widely available on the used book market so be sure to check out your local used bookstores.

Essential Reads (for every independent business owner)

Getting Things Done by David Allen

This book has been in my collection so long, that I just purchased the Kindle version update to give it a re-read and see if there are new tips and techniques for the new technologies. I’m not going to kid ya, this book is a bit dry. But for the patient, it has so many excellent ideas about mental organizations and productivity techniques that I consider this an essential read for everyone!  Available as Book & Kindle

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt

Although this book is starting to feel slightly dated in this era of social media changes, the concepts included in this book are fundamental. I find myself quoting this book frequently in conversations about digital marketing. For me the key takeaway was thinking of your website as your personal domain or “country,” and each social media outlet as an “embassy.” At any moment, a social media platform could fold, like an insolvent country and there will be no one there to airlift you out! (Note: He’s a religious man and references his Christianity, and that might bug some folks.)  Available as Book & Kindle

Book Design and Layout

Of course, one of the major components of my business is creating books, magazines, and printable .pdf publications. Although I’m using an ancient version of InDesign for my document layout program, I’m always looking for inspirations for new page designs. For inspiration, I frequently flip through the hundreds of free magazines on the issuu.com website, where I’m housing my new magazine, Amabella. But there are times when I just want to go back to basics and I refer to these two books.

Editing by Design by Jan V. White

This book is a CLASSIC! I think I used the second edition when I was in college, and the copy I currently own is the third edition. This was the single most important book on page layout and design that I ever used. Now you can get it on Kindle and there are numerous used copies online and probably in your favorite local used bookstore. Available as Book & Kindle 

Best Practices for Graphic Designers, Grids, and Page Layouts: An Essential Guide for Understanding and Applying Page Design Principles by Amy Graver & Ben Jura

I consider this the modern sister of my Editing by Design book. The information, quite frankly, is similar, but this book is simply smaller and doesn’t have the depth and breadth. That said, this book uses images and examples that reflect our modern design aesthetic. It’s a good read, and I seem to be in the habit of flipping through it casually before each publication design session.  Available as a Book

VIDEO Production

The latest news in the world of marketing is the rallying cry, “Use More Video.” In our brave new world of video everything, there are literally dozens of places to put videos. From Instagram and Facebook to Vimeo and YouTube, the ability to make a video is essential in our modern age.

Vlog Like a Boss by Amy Schmittauer

This book has an upbeat infectious optimism and “you can do it” attitude! It’s filled with tips on all facets of video making. Although it says “Vlog” like boss, don’t let the title fool you. Much of the information would be useful for folks making any kind of video content from DIY’s and tutorials, to behind the scenes “day in the life” style vlogs. Available as Book & Kindle

IMovie: The Missing Manual by David Pogue & Aaron Miller

As a business person, who uses a Mac, I have turned to the free software, iMovie to edit my video content. This is the software I used when I made the Kickstarter Pitch video for my collaborative book release, “Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage.” Reading online manuals are not always the most time effective method for me. I like having a book sitting open beside me as I work, that I can turn to and quickly flip to the information I need without leaving the iMovie software to look up YouTube tutorials or to read the online manual.  Available as Book & Kindle 

This small collection of resources will get you started.  I’ll be sharing another batch of my most essential business books in the coming weeks. And now, I’m off to spend some quality time on my couch reading the updated edition of Getting Things Done!

Best of luck in your business!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
November 4, 2017

I’ve been having a blast with the 2017 Inktober challenge. I’ve tackled this challenge for the past three years sharing my favorite illustrations on FaceBook.  This year, I’m posting my favorite drawings on Instagram.  Since I’ve been nearing the completion of my next book, Color Theory with Pencils and Mandalas, my mind is deeply entrenched in the mandala mode and so there are quite a few of these popping up in Inktober collection.  Check out my Instagram feed to see my drawings.  All of my sketches are tagged with #inktober2017 so you can do a search and see the collection.

What is Inktober?

The brainchild of pro-illustrator Jake Parker, Inktober began in 2009 with a 30-day challenge to help improve his inking skills and techniques.  Over the past 8 years, the challenge has gained in popularity, with artists of all skill levels, media, and styles taking on the project.  The mission is simple, make an ink drawing every day for 30 days.  Jake puts together a list of prompts for artists who want to work together.  However, you can come up with your own theme or subject matter.  The beauty of this challenge is that you choose how you want to participate.  Can you start today?  Heck YEAH!!!  If you decided to give it a go, and share your images on Instagram, be sure to message or tag me so I can see your work!

Inktober on YouTube

This year, many fantastic artists have taken on the InkTober challenge and are documenting the process in the form of videos.  I’m particularly enjoying British artist Minnie Small who has created a great Halloween theme of Haunted Houses. Her artistic style is appealing, her handling of the media is inspiring, and her videos are all high-quality and easy to watch.

My Inktober

When I started my Inktober 2017 journey, my mission was to pull out pens that I hadn’t worked with for a while and revisit them.  I have completely fallen out of the habit of sketching.  So my theme was new pen every day, and just doodle to get a feel for the tool.  But of course, since I’m working on the mandala book, it seems to have become my subject of choice. Here are a few of the examples.  These are all done on super cheap tracing paper, and I begin by pulling out a radial grid to slide under the paper to use as a rough guide, then I pick my pen for the day.  
I’ve made a few discoveries along the way.  The first is that I have a LOT of dead pens!  So this has given me the impetus to declutter and reorganize my art tools.  The second thing I’ve learned is that I’m looking forward to doing another challenge in November.  My goal for November is to dust off my fashion illustration skills and make a series of sketches in preparation for the next big book project, code-named ABCD (Assiut Belly Dance Costume In Detail.)   But the biggest discovery I made during this first half of Inktober, is how much I missed drawing daily, and how easy it was to slip back into the habit!  In times of deadlines and busy, a steady art practice is what falls to the wayside.  Picking it back up again is a personal triumph, and I look forward to creating more illustration work and sharing it on social media.

Now, time to take out this bag of trash.  Dead pens to the recycling bin!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
October 13, 2017