This is what was keeping me from the wire sculptures

Next Level Entrepreneurship: Breaking into the Mobile App and Web Design Markets

At Cal State Fullerton, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to delve into the video game industry. The possibility arose when my friend approached me with an idea for a mobile game for the iOS platform and an offer for partnership in the game once it was released. My job consisted of creating most of the graphics interface and marketing the product once it was in the App Store. I immediately jumped on the project in late 2011 and began teaching myself to create graphics in Photoshop.

Meanwhile, I opted to take an Entrepreneurship class which involved a student consulting project. Professor John Bradley Jackson’s “Marketing for Entrepreneurs” class brought on a fresh perspective as to how I could take the business further once the game launched in the app store. Through various presentations and projects, the class raised my levels of awareness as to how I could leverage various avenues to promote the app.

One of the most significant projects in the class opened the door for me to analyze a local business with a team of students in a sophisticated student consulting project. The semester-long project permitted me to garner real-world business experience that later gave me several valuable tools to market the app and also begin contract work designing websites for two consulting groups.

The entrepreneurship class challenged me to apply the vast majority of my marketing skills and provided me with a clear vision of drive, passion and the conviction that it takes to start a new business. It also served to invigorate my motivation to finish developing the iOS game and release it to the market.

As the last weeks of the entrepreneurship course began to draw to a close, the iPhone game, officially titled “Lightning Assault” cleared Apple’s approval process and was officially released to the world on the app store. My feelings of accomplishment and excitement when Lightning Assault launched on December 3rd, 2012 were indescribable.

Then came the challenge of marketing the game. Naturally, the first approach was getting all my friends to download the app, a resource that quickly exhausted itself. Within a few weeks of the game’s launch, I had the website LightningAssault.com up and running, as well as several social media channels in an attempt to push traffic towards the website and collect downloads.

However, it was soon evident that I needed to go beyond the most obvious methods of raising awareness for our game. I decided to contact a friend in the journalism industry. She sent my name out, and I soon had an interview scheduled with the OC Register, which resulted in thefollowing article.

Today, Lightning Assault maintains a small yet steady growth in downloads. There is still much room for experimentation in aggressive promotion techniques, yet it has been stated that the game holds potential for massive popularity. Above all, it stands as a beacon of the accomplishments of the three person team that created it, and as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.

http://business.fullerton.edu/centers/cfe/success-Vincent.htm

A new beginning

After being away for some time, I'm finally delving back into the familiar and therapeutic world of creating wire sculptures. I must admit, I've missed doing them considerably since I left off to focus on school, creating websites, and iPhone application development.

To start things off, I made this simple wire bicycle for my friend on Saint Patrick's day. It was this spur of the moment project that ignited the spark to go back to creating pieces and posting on this blog.

I already have several pieces I plan on creating before summer break hits; some of them commissioned, others as gifts. Among them are a baby carriage with rolling wheels, an owl, and two elephants.

I'll be back with plenty of updates and new pieces in the coming days and weeks. See you then!

Wire Road Bicycle - Saint Patrick's Day

Gossamer Albatross

Giraffe

The perfect choice for any animal lover. An exquisitely simple design that draws on the natural contours of the stately giraffe. Animal sculptures now come in colors, including gold, black, blue, and red. Mount your personalized animal figure on a colored wooden base, or mount it on a larger platform with some beautiful wire trees and plants.

Repost of: Vietnam Native Calls America “Land of Opportunity"

Posted by: Beach Reporter In: california| shopping

“America is truly a land of opportunity,” said Tranganh Nguyen, manager of Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repairs near Macy’s in the Westminster Mall. “I saw no future and no freedom where I lived in Vietnam but coming here has enabled us to live the American Dream.”
For nearly 20 years, “Anh” has been working in the jewelry business; the past six managing the Fast-Fix business and doing watch and other repairs. Fast-Fix also specializes in free jewelry cleaning, ring sizing, stone replacement, chain repair, pearl restringing, custom engraving, eyeglass repair plus more. There’s a professional jeweler on prem. SEE THE STORE COUPON FOR $5 OFF!
“Most of our customers are repeat because they appreciate our service and quality,” said the always cheerful woman, who speaks Vietnamese and English. “Our goal is to always exceed customer expectations. Some things we can fix while you wait, others take a little bit longer because we want to do a quality job. We’ve even delivered fixed items to senior citizen homes.”
Among her customers is legendary Oakland A’s Pitcher John “Blue Moon” Odom, who helped the A’s win three World Series Championships in 1972-73-74. His autographed baseball photo in the store says,”To Anh-Wishing you the best and may success always come your way.” Also check out his autographed baseball.
While we were interviewing her, a man entered and wanted his watch battery replaced. She checked and said it was fine, no need to get a new one. Now that’s refreshing honesty that keeps most of her customers coming back. (Also, be sure and see discounts for Fast-Fix at huntingtonbeachcoupon.com)
But success hasn’t been easy for Anh, a single mother of four children, ages 8, 16, 18 & 20, who excel in soccer, track & field and band. She has studied and worked hard to get to where she is. Just getting to America wasn’t easy.
When she was 14, her father was in a Vietnam prison for serving in the South Vietnamese Army. When he got out in 1980, her dad and friends purchased a boat to try to get their families out of Vietnam. “More than 100 relatives and friends jammed on board as my dad captained it to freedom,” she said. “After traveling for 7 days and 8 nights, our boat ran out of fuel and we drifted. Twelve ships passed us without helping, before the 13th–a Greek vessel–allowed us to come aboard.”
“It took us to Singapore, where we spent 6 months before moving on to Indonesia.” They eventually were allowed in the United States because her father had served in the Army.
“We’re very grateful for what we have and I’ll always appreciate the opportunity here. I want to do all I can to not only succeed but enable our customers to succeed by giving them superb service, quality products at great prices.”
One of her customers is Vincent Yancoskie, who’s becoming widely-known for his sensational Wired Art (wired-art.com). Anh recently created an exhibit of Vincent’s unique Wired Art musical instruments, planes, birds and more in the front window of Fast-Fix. You probably won’t see anything like it anywhere else. Stop by and see the artwork and find out how Fast-Fix can help you and your family.

Lincoln Navigator

New piece finished and uploaded on the website today. A Lincoln Navigator of wire that carries with it a recently devised method of slick looking wheels.

Website Updated

The main Wired Art website has been updated with a new homepage slideshow as well as new pictures and a few variations to the contact information page.

Check it out today!