Here’s a video we made after the 2010 March for Life. I pray that this year may be the last year for the March for Life and next year we celebrate the womb as a safe haven.

We’ve got several big projects about to hit the internets, but while we’re waiting here’s a t-shirt design made for a youth group in Massachusetts. They traveled down to Jamaica for a mission trip with the theme of “Love is an Action.” I love how this design turned out. Very simple and to the point. Makes me excited to get off my bum and serve!

My name is Pete, a reoccurring design team member. I recently signed on to work more closely with Cory and the rest of the Likable Art team. No, Cory’s arm hasn’t fallen off, nor has his left-mouse-button-clicking-finger broken. He is fine and doing well. He is currently working very diligently right now on several projects while I continue to acquaint myself to new surroundings. I look forward to having more nice chats with you all very soon. Happy Advent.

We at Likable Art are often asked, “Kind sir, that design is just divine! That shirt must be owned promptly by me! Is there a store that has been developed for purchase of such quality products?” We respond, at the same time, “Excellent question! I am sorry, but there is no such store specifically for Likable Art, it is currently in beta. But don’t fret! We have provided a link to direct you to Popple’s site; which has Likable Art’s New Translation inspired, soft-as-a-cloud, ‘And With Your Spirit’ shirt design!” Here is that link again!

A couple of months ago, I (Cory) asked this really swell girl if she would marry me. As surprising as it may be, she said yes! This girl is pretty much the most incredible girl out there. Don’t believe me? Well watch this video and tell me it’s not true. Not only is she a stellar woman, but her voice is reminiscent of the angels. Be sure to check out the site and the “Make Music Happen Campaign.”

And yes, I had to search Google to figure out how to add the tilde on the ‘e’ of fiancé.

The Fort Wayne/South Bend Diocese contacted Likable Art about doing the intro video for this years FaithFest. They were looking for something funny and entertaining for the teens, something that would just lighten the mood. They stated they would take care of teaching the ‘meat’ if we could disarm a group that may or may not want to be there. The hope was to take them from something they’re familiar with and engage them in a way that would encourage them to unplug and to listen to the message of the retreat. All in all it was a great time working on such a fun project, and I hope to get the opportunity to work with the great folks over in FWSB soon.

Our good friends over at LIFT Ministries recently celebrated their fifth anniversary and asked Likable Art to put together an appropriate shirt. The five clouds represent the five years Lift has been ministering and the arrows show how first we go to God and adore before we go out into the world to share. To see the rest of the pictures of the event check LIFT out on their Facebook and also be sure to check Jon Niven’s (pictured) music.

Wanted to share this one while you can still smell the candy apples and pumpkin pie. I love fall, definitely in my top 4 seasons!

Went to the apple orchard a couple weeks ago and decided to test out the new GoPro camera (small water/weather/baby proof camera). Much of the footage seen here was taken by just giving the camera to the kids (my fiance’s nieces and nephews) and letting them shoot whatever they wanted. Music is from the talented Kevin Heider, title track from his new(ish) EP – Ready, Set, Become.

News for filmakers: A new and improved GoPro camera came out yesterday which has some fun upgrades.

“Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith.” -Colossians 2:7

Turn up your stereo, this one is meant to be cranked to 11. This is the second of two videos Likable Art made for the Franciscan University of Steubenville Conferences this past summer. This intro video was after the countdown and before the band kicked in. I wanted to keep an exciting tone yet give the band somewhere to go when they came in with there opening song immediately after this video.

Thanks to the St. Joseph Life Teen youth group for lending their faces, Battle Creek, MI for lending their neighborhoods, and of course the heavens for lending the skies.

News: You may notice a couple new features on the site, and there’s more to come. Make sure to leave a comment with the new Facebook comments.

More Important News: I (Cory) got engaged to the love of my life two weeks ago! I look forward to spending my life with the Beautiful Marie. I would like to officially welcome soon to be Mrs. Likable Art.

I love working with other creatives! Alli and Jordan were so great and their creativity is what makes me love this film. When I walked in the church, Jordan was sitting at the piano playing, and it was great to capture that moment and worked perfectly for the opening sound track.

Alli has quite the artistic eye herself, as you can see by the way she and her family worked on every detail from the programs to the honey on the tables at the reception. From beginning to end this was a beautiful and God centered event.

One of my favorite lines is the very last line of the film – listen really closely and see if you can hear what he said.

It’s great to have the opportunity to work with organizations that you have known about for years. I remember as a kid watching films of CCC of America. When they called about starting up a working relationship I was ecstatic.

This new documentary series strays a bit from their usual animated films. It’s been great having the opportunity to learn about their new direction and I am excited to see what is next for them.

Make sure to browse around the site, and even enter to win a copy of the documentary series that will be released in the very near future.

Much of the website work coming out of the Likable Art camp lately has been graced by the genius of Bryan Murdaugh and his web development skills, and this project was no exception. Bryan is a solid Catholic family man that can speak enough geek to scare away most trekkies. It’s great to have Bryan on board, and keep an eye out for plenty more websites launching soon.

The Franciscan Youth Outreach approached me before the summer began about doing two videos for this past summer’s Steubenville Conferences. One of these videos was to preface confession at each of the 18 conferences. We worked together on several videos together for 2010′s conferences and received a great response. That being said they wanted to make sure that we had a video that had a completely different concept for this year’s confession video.

I Had a reflection a couple of weeks ago when praying in front of a statue of our Virgin Mother. Staring and praying I noticed the snake at the feet of Mary and had a moment of realization that when we’re entrenched in sin were closer to ever to the feet of the holy family. We’re already in a humble position and all we have to do is stop sipping of the venom and let our eyes look up in humility and awe. The greatest of sinners have the potential to become the greatest of saints.

Fr. Don Calloway is the perfect example of an extreme conversion that has led him all the way from the Japanese mafia to solemn priesthood. His story was one that touched me greatly in high school and when thinking of new ideas for a video his name continued to come up. He graciously agreed to do the project and it was such a blessing to have him share his story. His perspective is unique coming from a background of being familiar with every sin in the book and now sitting on the other side of the confessional, hearing those same sins but being an instrument of Christ’s forgiving each and every person.

Thanks so much to Keith Major for lending his interviewing and cinematography skills and also to Paul Vogrinc for the closing music track.

For more Catholic T-shirts be sure to check out some friends on the west coast with the PAL Campaign, and Paradox Clothing, or if the East Coast is more your thing check out the threads over at Nally tees.

Watch on YouTube

Next week starts World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. The USCCB contacted Likable Art to put together a video in preparation for their trip of a diverse group of Americans that are heading to Madrid. They are also doing some really cool, new, and interactive ways of helping those who can’t make it to Madrid participate. Check out how to participate at Virtual World Youth Day and their Facebook page.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” – 1 Cor 15:55

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. I’ve been in awe of the sacrament of confession and the healing graces that come from it. When Alicia, a youth minister from Alabama, was looking for shirts for her upcoming “Restored” retreat, it was exciting to explore God’s mercy through design. The final design ended up simple and subtle yet clear. Sometimes we can end up unrecognizable, riddled with sin. But when we ask for His mercy God restores and makes us who we were supposed to be, our best versions of ourselves.

Note: In case you were wondering, this was a sweet apricot wine, handcrafted by the bride and groom.

The new design is inspired by a simple picture frame. While the old site was a design itself, this new site is made to draw your eye into what lies in the pages. There will be a couple of tweaks coming during this next week, so let me know if you run into anything funny. In honor of the new site we’ll be adding to our free page, send us an e-mail if there are any designs or videos you would like to see added.

I hope you have the opportunity to look around and enjoy the new site.
Peace be the journey,
Cory

….I’ve read it a couple of times already and am now reading through it a bit slower and I must say it’s enjoyable all the way through. It’s a micro book for men, coming in at 4×6 inches and 31 pages long. It’s an easy, entertaining read and yet has some nuggets of wisdom that you don’t necessarily expect coming from a brother that you’ve grown up teasing and being teased by. My favorite review came from D. Scott Miller saying, “Just as the Great John Paul II gave us the Theology of the Body, the mostly good Kyle Heimann has now offered his brothers in faith a Theology of the Potty.” Be sure to check it out with a free download of the pdf, or for some loose change pick up a copy or two.

….We collaborated on the cover design (pictured bottom) and also re-designed his site as well (pictured top).

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….Andy approached me about a new project he was planning on releasing and was looking for artwork. Andy was great about explaining the thoughts behind the title, “Into the Depths.” The adjectives he used to describe the theme were bottomless, endless, devotion, and passion. We worked this into the design through a subtle theme of the wave. Everything in the design stems from the center and no matter which way you hold the CD, you see that same wave. On the actual CD, you actually fall into the ‘O’ of “Into the Depths” through the center of the CD.

…The National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry this year in New Orleans turned out to be a great time. When Catholic TV asked if I would cover the event I jumped at the opportunity. Such great people running the event and attending the event, it was impossible not to enjoy every minute.

.. I’m heading off in a bit to New Orleans for the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM), but before I headed out I wanted to share this new video. This is the short film of Sean and Liz Cunningham’s wedding in October. It was such a testimony to the sacrament and ever so beautiful on so many levels. They were a fun loving couple that cared about the important stuff and were lighthearted about the rest.

….It was my delight to be able to work with the talented Andrea Gleason. She approached me as she was finishing up her debut full length album and asked if I would do the artwork for it. I thoroughly enjoy putting together a piece that accompanies the main theme of the music. Andrea explained to me her thoughts behind the album and about the consistent themes of facing fears and strength being found in God.

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….After talking a bit about these ideas of working through the pains of life and the journey to self knowledge, we conceptualized the front to be a solar eclipse and the back to be a welcoming home in the night. These visualizations are all to point to the truth that, even in the darkness the light is coming, and there is a place of refuge even when it seems to be the contrary. When you open the CD the inside of the cover (not pictured) shows the same shot of the eclipse, but the sun emerging almost completely from behind the moon. Be sure to listen to, download, or buy the hard copy of Andrea’s new album

… This shirt design was commissioned for an “Agape” retreat in the Boston area. Given pretty much no boundaries on the design, I was trying to figure out how to say “I believe in a love that is greater” in the end sometimes the solution is on the tip of your tongue.

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…If you would like to know more about my thoughts that went behind the design be sure to check out Kevin’s site. Instead I would like to take this space to tell of how much I enjoy every encounter with Kevin Heider and his music. He is a musician that is yearning to get straight to the heart of things. It is always a delight to find a new musician that really gets it – where their music and lyrics are both singing the same song. To find a musician that I enjoy every song he’s written and then to be able to work with such an artist is a true blessing. Be sure to watch out for  Kevin’s music coming soon featured in Likable Art videos and in the meantime be sure to preview his entire new album “The Salzburg Revolution” for free, and I’m pretty confident your ears will be thrilled.