Freelancer´s/Artist logo

I always think a logo should be made for different, common type of uses in order to see if it really works. So here is an additional overview for your assessment.

That is one big ampersand. I'm assuming you understand the pitfalls of a logo that colorful - so no comment on that. Overall it's interesting and fun - but DAMN that's one big ampersand... it's overpowering the rest of it. Needs some tweaking in that regard, imho.

I do like the flow in it but I think I will also be overly critical of the typography given well- it's typography. The descenders on the top art fall a bit low and while I'm not sure how others find it, I find them uncomfortable, especially because they're not the same diagonal stress as the top of your 't'. The 'i' as well in design is a bit small as well and the 'n's leg has an odd inwards buldge. I'm not sure if it's part of the font or if its part of some morphing done but I think it starts to push it into a toilet seat reference for me.

Other than that, as much as it's meant probably to be read as "Art & Design", because of the English language reading left to right I read it initially as "Art Design &". May not be overly important because you get the gist after putting it all together but small peeve of mine.

I love this.
I mean your original idea.

I think it's the way the two words play with each other, and dance.
You've definitely captured the 'cheerful' with this, the colours may be a little childish though.
It's well balanced too.

The second one does not say cheerful to me, it says teenage doodling lovestruck girl.

Did I mention I love the first one?

easy but a little bit annoying spelling and all these colors make too much room for this "fun".
all black would be subtle, would unify the concept and type differences and stay introspective but probably you desire to claim attention.

No on #2. Might be time to just take a breather. Every artist will tell you the hardest logo you'll ever design is your own.

I think it's healthy for us to all go through that hopeless stage and either not noticing subtle things and or wanting to overlook them because of the effort put in. I went through the same with my own logo and understand your pain. Still, the extra push is ever worth it :)

As far as your curiosity towards dropping the Art, do you feel you offer more design related services or do you get hired for a lot of commission art? How relevant is it to your business? If you're anywhere close to 40/60% in your offered services, I'd keep it if it was right for the market you deal with.

I definitely agree with everyone else on the second logo. It's not a winner for your purposes I feel. I like the hand written flow but it doesn't deliver the same amount of personality you're conveying from your first attempt. The message is there in your first attempt, or the essence of- just needs to be either fine tuned if possible or worked into a new logo that works even better for you.

Thanks to all of you! You make so many valid and good points. Think the second logo (now when viewing it after your comments) is a pretty good showcase of my frustration, so that will rightfully go in the bin.

Yip, I've been told before that your own logo is the hardest to design... but guess it is hard to imagine just HOW hard until you're there, stuck in the mud for the xx time around...

Art D. and YoungZM, thanks for your comforting words. Think you're suggestion to take a breather is the best remedy at this stage ;)

Thanx again, I'll check back in after my "breather" =)

Mona, I'm late to the discussion, but not because I haven't been thinking about your logo. I agree with others that the first one was not successful. The one you posted for critique is eye-catching and I like it except for three things: the many colors, the relatively small size of the type for your name relative to the art & design" portion of the mark, and -- the biggie -- that the font you chose for "art" and "design" really fight with the ball-serif ampersand. I like the ampersand very much, and don't have a legibility problem with it. What makes me uncomfortable is that the other font is so strikingly sharp-edged. Did you consider other fonts before settling on this one? I'd like to see something a little softer, but then you'd run the risk of looking like a 70's hippie shop.

i dig the kinda 1970's vibe. but i think there is more bad about it than good.
the curvy-cut ascenders / decsenders end up looking like knives and many are either too short or too long and compromise the integrity of the character.

i think youre drunk on the concept and cant see the forest for the trees. the i in design is practically not there and making that huge ampersand be the g - it works, but its a stretch.
maybe i have too many beach-loving friends, but the way it all works together almost reads as "art and destin"

really fun idea. and its visually appealing. but it still needs crafting. and i fear that that may wind up killing the fun.
i say start over.

This. I like this.

I really like it. I agree that the ampersand could be reduced in size, but other than that I think it looks great.