Site Information/History
PNeal.com first came to life in June of 2004 after waiting for about five years for the Domain Name to become available.
Update - Dec. 20th, 2007
I bought another domain name - PhilipNeal.com. That URL just points to PNeal.com, the domain was available, so I just had to have it.
Version 1 was really nothing to speak of. It was not much more than a splash page and a few experiments.
Version 2 was really kind of cool if you ask me.
I tried to create a layout that I've never seen on a Website before. It was one of my first big adventures in CSS and a dash of PHP (mainly include files). I've got a lot of positive comments about the site. But...
The site was difficult to maintain. Updating just became a pain. So I didn't do it very often. Maybe three or four times a year. (In reality, it was probably less than that.)
That brings us to Version 3. I've learned tons of new stuff, so I've got to use it somewhere. Right?
These days I try to be as dynamic as possible. Let the server do the work. With that said, I have to apologize to my Dial-up friends. Most of the headings and reflections are created on the fly as well as each of the pages.
I'm sure there are better ways of doing things than the way I'm doing it now, but I'm still trying to learn this programming stuff. I am, after all, just a designer/artist.
Version 3.1 Update:
Although the site isn't dial-up friendly, there have been some major improvements to the coding. I debated with doing a complete site re-design. After some sound advice from my wife and friends, the version 3 design lives on. The gallery pages are no longer just one long page, but rather broken up into sub pages. The new coding should also be more search engine friendly.
I'll be working on updating the old content and adding more features. (Hint: tutorials)
Philip J. Neal
(a.k.a. PNeal)That's a good question...
If anyone has a good idea, please let me know.
Okay, I'll try to answer that question myself.
My name is Philip J. Neal (if you haven't already figured that one out), currently I'm a stay at home dad who works as a freelance graphic/Web designer.
I haven't always
done the computer graphics thing. Oh, sure I'm one of those been drawing ever since I could hold a crayon
types. But, computers are relatively new to me. I've done everything else from working in gas stations to Federal Government security. I even worked on a goat farm.
As a matter of fact, I didn't even want a computer. I mean I absolutely refused to have one in the house. Didn't want one - didn't need one. What were those demon machines
going to do for me?
Long story short - My wife talked me into getting one. That's when I found out you could paint pictures with it. I've been hooked ever since.
I ended up attending college where I earned my AS degree in Multi-media/Graphic Design.
I graduated with Honors, received an award for Most Outstanding Graphic Design Student
and was the Valedictorian of my class.
Do I still consider them demon machines
? You bet. It took over my life...
My Claim to Fame
I'm just tooting my own horn.Books
One of the featured artists in:
How to Wow with Flashby Colin Smith.
Colin asked if he could use some of my vector work in his new book - of course I said yes.
Illustrator CS2 Killer Tipsby Dave Cross & Matt Kloskowski.
I thought it was exciting the first time, but twice - how cool is that?
Illustrator CS Killer Tipsby Dave Cross.
How exciting and what a honor it is to be asked to use some of my illustrations in the book.
Other
Just some other stuff:
Design Challenge 6www.photoshopCAFE.com
1st Place... I couldn't believe it when I heard I won this challenge. I had no expectations. I entered two pieces for the challenge and both made it to the finals. That in itself was exciting.
The challenge was to design the front of a cereal box using Photoshop as the theme.
I have to thank the judges - Colin Smith, Oliver Ottner & Avi Muchnick. Also everyone who participated as well (there were over 450 entries from around the world).
Comedy Central Commercial
My Viva Las Vegas
Illustration was used in a commercial for the Reno911! Lost in Vegas Sweepstakes on Comedy Central which ran in February, 2007. It was very brief (about 2 seconds), but it's there.
