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Blast from the Past - Andy’s Art Attack

Posted by Brusca under Animation, Design, Flash

When I started the process of developing my web design skills to compliment my pre press experience around 1996-7 there really wasn’t a lot to go on in terms of online resources for advice, learning and inspiration to develop your skills in this area. There certainly was nothing in terms of classes and university courses. Of course these days online resources are a dime a dozen and there are many design blogs out there discussing best practices and showing off some amazing designs. Over the course of the past 12-13 years, many courses and subjects have flourished in the industry of web design and web development, making their mark on university campuses around the world, creating jobs that did not exist only a matter of a few years ago.

In 1997 web design resources were seldom, I  soon discovered a website called AndyArt.com (now Scream Design), or Andy’s Art Attack created by Andy Evans of Utah. In 1997 this was for me the benchmark in web design, cleverly placed and animated gifs with rollovers with a 3D look and feel. It was something to behold and at the time there was nothing around to match the way Andy had carefully sliced and animated the individual images. Of course then I downloaded FutureSplash (bought out by Macromedia and now Adobe Flash), and the rest is history (a blog for another day).

Andy's Art Attack was one of the only online resources around in the 90's

Andy's Art Attack was one of the only online resources around in the 90's

Andy’s site grew into a plethora of FREE images, tips and tutorials on how to get the best results for designing for the web. He even had a CD rom for sale which I purchased by faxing payment details to the Untied States, and I still have it to this day. I couldn’t believe my luck in finding this awesome resource and it really catapulted my transition into screen design and inspired me from early on. Andy inspired me and helped me transition into full time commercial website design and development and I am happily still going strong to this day. So if you’re out there somewhere Andy, cheers my web Brother.

The CD Rom I purchased in 1997, started me on my way to transitioning to screen design

The CD Rom I purchased in 1997, started me on my way to transitioning to screen design

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Tutorials was something of hige value back in the day

Update: New post and the old website

Reader's Comments

  1. Nev | May 7th, 2009 at 9:09 am

    Ha! The CD! I almost forgot about that!

    I was so excited about getting access to the button vault :)

    Good times

  2. Lisey | May 30th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    I just hit up Google to see if anyone else remembered this site and found this blog and your post. I never was able to buy the CD, but I think I had a short subscription to the Button Vault which I never actually used anything from, but I did draw SO much inspiration and learning from that site.

    What a great blast from the past. I still miss that website to this day; it was such a great place to refer new Photoshop learners to. Thanks for the post. =D

  3. Chris | June 17th, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    Unbelievabley, this is exactly how I started to. I remember looking at Andy’s Art and thinking this is what I want to do. Of course he used Paint Shop Pro at the time (now defunct) and by the time I was master of PSP, Photoshop was all the rage and I am still breaking PSP habits to this day. Thanks for sharing!

  4. Mesut TUNGA | October 17th, 2009 at 12:34 am

    Hello,

    I also so excited to see the old Andy’s Art Attack Interface and CD. I am looking for Andy Evans. He disappeared suddenly. I can not believe how a famous man disapperad.

    anyone know where is he, or what he does?

    Thanks
    Mesut TUNGA

  5. Brusca | October 17th, 2009 at 1:10 am

    I tried searching for him through Facebook with no luck. Would be great to touch base with him and see where he is and what he is up to.

    Glad to meet some people who shared this experience.

  6. Mesut TUNGA | October 29th, 2009 at 4:43 am

    Hello Brusca,

    Also I wonder where did you find the interface and tutorials screenshot?

    Thanks
    Mesut TUNGA

  7. Brusca | October 29th, 2009 at 11:03 am

    The website is on the CD. Maybe I should republish it… LOL.

  8. Mara | November 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

    Ah.. Those were the days my friend :)

    That logo still rocks!

  9. Brusca | December 6th, 2009 at 12:28 am

    I just post the old website. Enjoy. http://www.brucelevick.com/andyart/

  10. Candis Basista | February 5th, 2010 at 4:24 am

    very interesting to read it :P

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