I recall a biography I once read of jazz great Maynard Ferguson. At one point in the biography Maynard recounts a time when he and equally great saxophonist, Charlie Parker, were at some venue listening to other artists perform. During an improvised solo that seemed to go on forever, Charlie leaned over to Maynard and said, "If you can't say it in eight bars, then you just can't say it."

I believe this is true in most art forms whether it be jazz, fine art, or graphic design. If you can't communicate an idea, then you've failed. This is true even if that "idea" is simply to create a "cool" visual. If the audience doesn't say "Like, cool!" then you haven't communicated.

I pride myself in being an artist in the purest sense of the word. I have always created out of the joy of creating. True, a large amount of that joy comes from the reaction I receive from the people that see my work. Their reaction denotes understanding and gives value to my labor. The audience is a major factor in art, because when you think about it, what is art if there is no one around to see it?

I spent my youth not knowing how to communicate how strongly I believe in these views. Eventually, the creations communicated for me.

As a product of ethnically diverse east San José, California, culturally, I had the world to draw from. So I drew, and drew, and drew. However, my parents pushed me to become a corporate lawyer, insisting that art was a "nice hobby," but strongly believed nobody actually made a living from it.

While I was in college, pursuing a major in political science, I was drawing on anything I could find. Usually with pencil or pen on either note or typing paper (but a gum wrapper would do.) Classmates would notice, and offer barter or even money for me to draw something specifically for them. Unbelievable!

One time, a good friend asked if I could design a logo for his mobile disc-jockey business. He liked the logo, and showed it to his brother, who in turn, asked me to do a logo for his fledgling drywall business.

By now I had realized that Corporate law was not for me. So, I went on a scholarly hiatus and I entered the world of aerospace. I had to make a living. (My parents again: " if not law, then a career with a high tech company ")

While climbing the aerospace ladder, the art was always in my head, constantly looking for a way to get out. Finally, I took an expressive drawing class at San José City College. In retrospect, creatively, the class didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. However, the introduction of new mediums opened up a whole new world for me. Pastels and Conté replaced my No. 2 pencil, and the days of gum wrappers were gone forever. (By this time, I was calling myself Def-Lyne Graffix.)

Ten years later, not only did the DJ and drywall businesses take off, they're both still using the logos I made for them. Both logos are on hats, t-shirts, banners, and one is even on the side of a fleet of trucks.

With that, and years worth of friends telling me I was in the wrong business, a career change was inevitable. While working full time, I brought my art and design talents into the computer age at Masters Institute, where designer Brian Romero played a major role in the honing of my design skills.

I was receiving an encouraging amount of freelance work. But the big break came when I got a call from Mary Anderson (now of Dreamworks SKG) to contract with Rockwell International in Anaheim, California as a graphic artist. A short time later Rockwell offered me a graphic design position.

At the same time, a special report in the Chamber Executive Network (a trade publication out of Iowa) chose the logo I designed for the Campbell Chamber of Commerce (Campbell, CA) as one of the ten Chamber logos in the nation to best depict the spirit and image of its respective city.

My parents, who I love with all my heart, have long since seen the light. And as an Art Director for The Boeing Company and an occasional guest lecturer on illustration and design, one thought comes to mind . . .

So much for hobbies!