Blog

Just some random musings

Some thoughts on the world of creativity, design, and--of course--my doggies.

October 22, 2026

Well, my little Macho couldn't live without his brothers and sisters. His kidney disease got progressively worse over the last two weeks and the vet said it is time.

So, my boy passed peaceful last Monday. I will miss him...like all of my doggies. For the first time in decades, I have an empty house. It feels strange.

I am taking my grief and turning it into the #inktober drawings. I have so much to write about and share on my doggies but my heart is too heavy right now. I just know that they now are free of pain, misery, and in peace. Rest easy, my babies.

October 2, 2026

UGH, it has been a difficult few months. Two more doggies died. I am heartbroken.

I have had to put down FOUR dogs in five months. My heart is so heavy.

The two doggies that died since Bookie (see below) were Chiquita and Bobo. I thought they would be my last two dogs but, boy, was I wrong.

I have one left, Macho, and he, too, is heading out. For the first time in decades, I may be without a pet very soon.

I have yet to write a tribute to my girls but I will. In the meantime, a personal project of mine--Adopt Don't Shop--was resurrected. I had been working and reworking the logo for some time and now want to add assets. In many ways, that project is a tribute to my dogs.

BUT, because it's #inktober, I plan to focus on that and turn the daily prompts into something about my dogs--the ones that passed and my last one, Macho. Here is a LinkedIn link re: Inktober.

August 4, 2026

The summer is winding down and I ask myself: what did I accomplish?

Well...I am learning new software, I am building out new case studies, I picked up some freelance work, interviewed for a few in-house positions, and even did a movie promo.

Sounds like a lot, right? Not really. I had big plans to create a lot more work. BUT.

Once again, I had a lot of personal drama going on and had to put my work goals on hold a bit. 

Yet another doggie passed...my OG doggie, Bookie. It was not unexpected. He was very old and sick.

Well, my poor boy died of heart failure several days before he was scheduled to be put down. He wanted to go out HIS way.

I did a small tribute to my boy on Facebook and LinkedIn. Here it is:

June 19, 2026

Happy Juneteenth to all who celebrate!

This is my first post of 2026, and that is a good thing. Why? I have been busy with freelance work and have had little time to update my site. That said, I am open for freelance, part-time, or full-time work. HMU if you need creative help.

I have had my own challenges, outside of work: I had to put down one of my dogs, due to severe health issues and behavioral aggression. It was heartbreaking. Now, I may have to put down two more of my doggies due to old age, Canine Cognitive Decline, and various other health problems.  

Having pets...especially dogs...can be such a great joy and can be such a great challenge. When it comes time to consider their end-of-life needs, I am often at a loss. But, I signed up for this. And it is an honor to walk them home. 

So while I continue to hustle for work, I spend my off-time taking care of my senior doggies. They are my angels and inspiration.

December 31, 2025

Happy New Year!

I think it is fair to say that 2025 has been hard on most of us.

For me personally, working on a design contract for the better part of the year was a blessing. After being laid off two years ago, I was contracted to help out a nonprofit with their branding. It was a great gig.

I feel that 2026 is the year that I double down on some skill sets.

So, here’s to 2026—and may this be the year I focus my creativity and find a clearer niche so I can better serve my clients.

May 2026 be a successful year for you too!

November 27, 2025

Today is Thanksgiving and I have a lot of gratitude for my life. Here is a link to a LinkedIn post, talking about gratitude.

November 7, 2025

I posted this a while back on LinkedIn, but it still applies today.

When it comes to learning software, I have found that every program has its “critical mass” point. Once I get past that particular hurdle in the learning curve, everything else follows naturally. For example:

Adobe Photoshop — My turning point with this first software program was learning layers, including layer masks and adjustment layers. The brush tool was another breakthrough, and I found a Wacom stylus very helpful.

Adobe Illustrator —  (one of my favorite programs), it was learning Bezier curves...the continuous curve by means of a formula, created by French engineer Pierre Bezier. Once I got that down, (again, a Wacom stylus pen is the BOMB for this), I felt comfortable in the program.

Adobe InDesign — (the Mother of all layout programs), it was learning Master pages and stylesheets. There is SO much to that program that many designers miss and it’s far more powerful than it’s given credit. But once I got those two concepts, everything fell into place.

Adobe AfterEffects — (a POWERFUL program), it was understanding compositions and expressions. And mastering the camera. I have barely scratched the surface of this program but was able to do some motion graphics with the limited knowledge I have of the program.

Adobe Animate and Tumult’s Hype — Both programs have a lot in common, and the turning point for me was learning symbols and how to use them effectively. I have had a lot of fun creating HTML5-based animated banners for Google Ads submission, and both programs are excellent for that.

Figma — I am still learning Figma, but the defining moment for me was learning Auto Layout and prototyping, although I need to take both much further. I can see why it’s the preferred tool of many UX designers.

Webflow — I built this site in Webflow. I am finding that knowing a bit about website structure (HTML/CSS) and the terms associated with it is very helpful. Also, learning the Content Management System (CMS) is a big deal in this program. I have NOT hit my critical mass just yet. But hopefully, soon.

Procreate — One of my favorite programs. Actually, there was no learning curve on this one...the program is designed to make digital drawing/painting as close to the traditional method as possible. And it does! BUT, I watch a lot of tutorials from other digital artists to see how they tackle a painting.

October 27, 2025

Every year, I attend the #LightBoxExpo in Pasadena, California. And every year, I post my thoughts on #LinkedIn. Rather than reposting what I wrote on LinkedIn, here is the link:

October 6, 2025

Years ago, when I first created katymurta.com, using some old software, I added a section of my various thoughts and influences throughout my creative career.

I am providing that list here. I had forgotten about these various artists. So, in many ways, this page is a reminder for me.

It's to help ME remember. Remember what it was like to love someone's work. To study them for hours. To remember what it was like to be INSPIRED. It's too easy to get jaded in this fast-paced industry.

The following creators are people that have influenced me in some profound way. Some I know personally, some I do not. Some are writers, some are artists. But all have made their mark on me in some way.