I raved about the 99% Conference happening this coming Thursday at the Times Center in NYC put on by our dear friends over at Behance already. But what about giving away a free ticket to the awesome and inspiring festivities? I’ve got one sitting here ($490 value) and will give it to the 99th person who leaves a comment on this post. Yes, you can comment more than once. GO GO GO!

Don’t worry, if you don’t win this arbitary contest, you still have time to buy one!

Update: Congrats to Nick. Contact me to get your ticket!

Behance believes there are too many ideas in the world, and not enough action. The name is inspired by Thomas Edison’s famous quote, “genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” The conference is for people that already have great ideas, but need to make them happen. The speakers are all people that have a track record of executing their ideas again and again, successfully. Seth Godin, our Threadless friends, Michael Bierut from Pentagram, Scott Thomas, the director of new media for Obama’s campaign, our friend Ji Lee and a few other very impressive folks. Perhaps the 99% Conference will be the kick in the ass that people with great ideas sometimes need?

Get your tickets now. Seriously. April 16th and 17th. Use the code 99EARLY09 and get $100 off the regular ticket prices. This looks like it’s going to be an amazing event, and probably the first of many to come.

Justin Melnick is an avid photographer, digital artist, and has spent time oversees in the Middle East. All of these influences have come together in his latest project, titled Arm Me, Melnick imagines — quite vividly — what Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Pucci, and Chanel would add to standard ammunition. The exhibition starts September 2nd at Gallery 385 in New York City. The outcome is a compelling statement that questions how we — individually and as a nation — spend our money, contrasting the abundance of weaponry with the scarcity of high-end luxury goods and some pretty amazing imagery.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Adviser and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

Okay — we’re impressed with Sakke Soini. The Turku, Finland-based artist, designer, visual jockey and web guy is a mad man — but in a good way. The spacey Dark Side of the Moon-esque graphics mixed with some amazing colors is inspired. There is very little commercial work represented in his portfolio which is interesting to see, and probably pretty fertile ground for collaboration. Check him out.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

What did you dream last night? Was it about work? Was it about flying? Maybe it was a girl standing on the opposite subway platform that you only saw for a moment but keep thinking about. This arresting image of a young lady dancing with light comes courtesy of Tony Ariawan’s “Stop Haunt Me Everyday” collection. Ariawan, using a simple vector program (and a little help from Photoshop), turns photos into what we think is either a photon ballet or a very sexy update to Tron.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

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Amazing things can happen when a brilliant photographer from the Bronx, New York hooks up with a talented graphic designer from New Delhi, India. Through the Behance Network, Parris Whittingham has been presenting his photojournalistic masterpieces alongside some of his day-to-day works as a wedding photographer. Archan Nair has also been using the platform to share some of his projects in graphic design. The two first connected by joining each others’ inner circles, and Archan approached Parris with the idea of illustrating some of his works. The resulting interpretations are examples of how two distinct perspectives and background can enrich a singular piece of work. The startling creations by Archan and Parris are The Joy Ballad and The Summer Haze and are some of our favorites.

Sculptor Kim Laughton experiments with electronics and a love for the natural sky to create “Box of Clouds”. Laughton sought to create a functional piece of sculpture “for use use on days with uninteresting skies.” The selection inside cycles through 18 variations of striking cloud formations. You can also check out Kim’s diverse portfolio of other works.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

When his daughter Alison was born, photographer Jack Radcliffe began to photograph her – as any father would. However, the project changed the course of his photographic focus and triggered a newfound interest in capturing intimate moments in the lives of family and friends. The Alison project in particular became very unique a father-daughter collaboration because, as Radcliffe explains it, “Alison permitted me access to private moments of our life, which might, under different circumstances, be off-limits to a parent.” Radcliife was ultimately able to achieve a true portrait of Alison throughout her years from child to adult. “Alison” is a testimony to the course of growing up, and Jack Radcliffe is an extraordinary photographer with a gift of capturing truth, even when it is very close to home.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

Sculptor R. Justin Stewart does amazing things with thread, rope, paint, pvc caps, and lots of tension. One striking piece, entitled Existing Independently, utilized fleece material to create 52 cubes held rigid with ropes to outline the USA. He also constructed an elaborate installation out of three miles of blue thread, lead fishing weights, and some frames. His latest project is an enormous installation Bus Structure 2am-2pm, made out of copper, wood, steel, and lots of blue thread. You can look, but don’t touch! His Behance portfolio gives a sense of just how well he has mastered his art.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

Art Directors Pier Madonia (UK) and Stuart Macmillan (Montreal) teamed up with photographer Roger Stayte and created a rather captivating print campaign for the International Red Cross. Prescribing the values of “awareness,” “compassion,” and “tolerance” was achieved through some pretty literal imagery. And, if you want more edge, check out what Pier and Stuart did for Blavod Black Vodka.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

Japanese Industrial Designer Mac Funamizu has an eclectic Behance portfolio with projects that range from a tea cup with a detachable handle to fantasy mobile computer displays. We are particularly lusting for one of his latest concepts titled Future of Internet Search: Mobile Version. Funamizu imagines a clean, touch-screen, translucent project that embeds information over anything behind it for a whole new (revolutionary) level of contextual information! He also takes the time to demonstrate just how useful such an apparatus would be.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

Recently, Madrid-based Behance Network members Paco Peregrin and Kattaca combined their talents to create “The Blood Show.” Paco Peregrin applied his master photographic skills while Kattaca served as Art Director and Stylist. The clash of beauty and blood is certainly an effective way for emphasizing fashion; throw in a few (dead) stuffed animals and you’ve got yourself one memorable photo-shoot.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.

The Saint Petersburg, Russia design team Indeepop demonstrates their expertise in character design with their Japanese Moleskine Project. The team presents a unique set of characters, meticulously and continuously illustrated from cover to cover in a traditional Moleskine notebook. Indeepop is a truly diverse team that has ventured as far as custom Converse shoes and toy design, and their Moleskine project emphasizes just how imaginative they are.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of the creative industry. Josh also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for Behance.

Art Director and Illustrator Kliment Kalchev is an all-star from Publicis’ office in Bulgaria; on his own time, Kliment is churning out some of the most appreciated projects in the Behance Network. He uses mediums in new ways and has a sure fetish for photo illustration and typography that permeates most of his work.

A few of our favorites are his aptly titled “Play,” and a photo illustration for a “SIGNCAFE Magazine Cover.” One question, though: are the stockings real?

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of the creative industry. Josh also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for Behance.

French Industrial Designer and digital imaging maven Lysandre Follet pushes ideas into visual concepts. Lysandre first exhibited a crack ability to prototype with his “Motorola Stereo Camera Phone” and he has now just released his dream sneaker, a mutant Nike slip-on that looks light as air. We want them. Now.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of the creative industry. Josh also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for Behance.