Sunday, May 10, 2009

idealized architecture

consider the dome and layered muted tones as background.....classic architecture.

graphite is cheap

brainstorm:
considering luxury, extravagance and my need for it, but wanting to abandon it. should i paint figures with luxurious accents. or paint simple living. i think about Marie Antoinette and the life style lived before the french revolution and then consider the consequences......her death. how do they relate to the life we're living today? and further, the life i am living, compared to life i COULD be living.
passions, materials, ideas? what are they worth. debt? maybe, if the ideas produce income, or a way of life. the circle is never ending. where to go from here. make a decision. graphite is cheap.


if i paint the bare figures with luxurious accents, what's in the background? blank? washed and worn layers and layers of muted tones? i think so. sounds like my style.

Monday, November 24, 2008

final project brainstorm

still not sure where to begin my project. here we go.

i cant get my mind off the idea of a pirate wedding, with thieving, white wedding tents, and a mob of pirates. it doesn't have anything to do with gifts for a pirate other than the fact that you usually get gifts at a wedding. so i'm trying to wipe the slate clean and start again.

gold, johnny depp, treasure, gems, heavily decorated images, really worn, torn edges, dark brown tinge, burnt edges, salt water, blue sky, dark ship, dark slatted wood, cannons, cannon balls, red, black, umber, bandannas, braids, braid with beads, lace, corsette, baggy sleeves, cinched at waist and elbows, but still flowy, Caribbean, monsters, hats, first mate, gang of pirates, thieves, cash, $$$$, really excited about the details, the aged looks, the "Gothic" motifs.

more to come.

Monday, November 17, 2008

name A good gift for a pirate

gifts for a pirate would be anything associated with pirates of the Caribbean. I love that movie. Suggestions from the game show family feud include:
eye patch
sword
parrot
peg leg
rum
hoop earrings
ship
These are pretty typical responses, but I think I will brainstorm more about where I can take this piece. I don't want to copy the movie with Mr. Depp, but I would like to take some of the motifs from the movie and work with it.
why wasn't gold or treasure in there. that's why they're pirates right? thieves, liars, cheaters, etc?? more brainstorming to come.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Improving the Shape of Facial Features

This video really opened my eyes to the possibilities of photoshop. I have NO experience using this program, and I guess I've never really seen anyone use it either. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it has exceeded my expectations already.
Improving the Shape of Facial features uses what the narrator calls "basic" techniques. These seem all but basic to me, but hopefully in time these will be second nature. I think the most important thing I learned was the significance of layers, and how using several of them can benefit my work. Each action requires a new layer to separate it/freeze it from the rest.
One surprising thing to me was how critical the narrator was of the photograph. I would have looked at this original image and said "fantastic," but some how the narrator found many things wrong with it! Well, maybe not "wrong," but he wanted to change or could be improved. Changing the shape of the ears and eyes was very impressive. it amazed me how seamless it looked across the face. Small changes in facial features CAN make a big difference in appearance, but I learned how to make subtle changes to improve a photograph.

link to video
http://tv.adobe.com/#vi+f1476v1248

Monday, November 3, 2008

about me?

I'M 23 YEARS OLD. ORIGINALLY FROM ST. PAUL, MN. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 2003 AND MADE PLANS TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH. I HAD DECLARED A MAJOR IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS IN MATHEMATICS. I COMPLETED THREE YEARS OF SCHOOL AND DECIDED TEACHING WAS NOT FOR ME.
I CHOSE TO TAKE A YEAR OFF FROM THE COLLEGE PRESSURES AND FOCUS ON MY ART.
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ART AND DESIGN, BUT HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED FROM EVER ENTERING THE FIELD, AFTER A YEAR OF EXPLORING MY TALENTS I DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE UNIVERSITY AND PURSUE AN ART DEGREE. SO HERE I AM. SITTING, IN 2D DIGITAL DESIGN.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

How Design Can Save Democracy

I don't think ballot design will SAVE democracy. The title is misleading. Are our voting methods/ballot designs a centerpiece for democracy? No. Democracy is equal rights and our freedom to choose.

However i do agree that ballot design is an issue. We have many talented citizens dedicated to design and layout, and we still can't get it right? There needs to be a universal voting method. Yes, this will cost money, but this could alleviate our design issues.





VOTE OBAMA