Olive Juice

Have you ever heard of people saying olive juice instead of I Love You.  If you watch someone say it, it actually looks like they are saying I Love You.  It's kind of one of our things from time to time, so when I had to design three posters for one of my classes, it came to mind.  The posters are movie posters advertising a fictitious autobiographical romantic comedy.  Want to see what I came up with?

The idea of them is to use a phoot of ourselves and use Photoshop to manipulate it.  The first poster has to make use of changing our photo.  The second has to change another aspect of the images and focus on color painting.  The third poster must use glyphs.  all three must have underlying similarities and be considered part of a series.  My favorite is the third poster because I taught myself this very cool comic book technique.  I only wish it had not taken so long to do.  Do to time constraints I did not have time to add Mr. Fantastic to this one.  Perhaps this will be a free time type of thing!
Loves!!!

Time for New Design

Hey all, I was getting tired of my blog design.  I'd love to completely revamp it and make it super awesome but Idon't have time to do it myself and I don't have the monies to have someone do it for me, so I once again used the templates.  However, I'm loving my new design and would love for you to stop over and tell me what you think!

Hope your Monday was a super funday!
Loves!!!

Good Design vs. Great Design - A visual example

Hello everyone, and Happy Weekend!!  Hooray!  Sorry I have been so crazy busy.  I worked a lot of overtime this week and still had to do school and whatnot.  Speaking of school, I have a design to share with you.  I wanted to share an example of how I bring my designs from good to great.

 

 

 I completed some edits that really make it look a lot better.  I messed with the images to add some inner and outer glow as well as a drop shadow and bevel.  I think this makes them pop a little more while not looking like they are floating off the page.  I muted the background color to provide more contrast between it and the foreground.  I changed up the font color for the quote because I really wanted it to be navy blue and was told it looked black.  The contrast is a lot stronger now and makes for better readability.  I also messed with the inner shadow to make it a little more dynamic and match up with the images better.  As for the part, "act like an animal"  I changed the font as well as the font color.  I think this helps with the hierarchy and puts a better emphasis on the entire message I am portraying here.  I want people to act like the animals that do not lie!  Next, I changed to position of that phrase to make it more a part of what was being said.  I wanted to unify it with the quote and did so by placing it next to it.  The differences in color help to keep each part separate.  Lastly, I brought the text closer to the center to give the format a better top to bottom balance.  By doing this I also created negative shapes that echo each other - the negative "L" shape on top of the design flips over and repeats at the bottom of the design.

If anyone has any further suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated!!

Loves!!!

Critique Me: Shape and Space

This project turned out way better than I expected it to.  I spent a lot of time perfecting it.  The goal was to create a collage image that emphasized shape and space.  Below the image you can find explanations for what we should be thinking about while creating this.  Basically, the way that I understood it was that the placement of each element was supposed to represent it's distance from the viewer.  Things that I are smaller are further away.  Things that are behind other things are further away.  We also were to make sure that our positive shape and negative shapes were balanced at 50% each.  Come Wednesday, I will have to explain myself and critique my own work.  I'd love to hear some constructive criticism from my readers before I critique it myself!  Let me know what you think of this:

• Spatial Plane: The spatial plane is the area that your design will be composed within. It is made from the dimensions of height and width. In this case, your spatial plane is 8.5" x 11".
• Shape: Shape is the illusion of three-dimensional form, created with value, and without the benefit of line work.
• Positive and Negative Space:
  • Positive space is defined as the subject matter in your collage. This will be defined by the images that you choose. For each positive space element, find an image that you can cut along the edge, thus defining the shape of the image.
    
    Be sure that your images are of large enough scale that they will work well in your composition. Images that are too small will not work, as you will need too many of them to properly balance your composition.
    
    Use great caution when cutting your positive space images. Cut cleanly to the edge of the subject using your X-Acto knife. Be sure to use a cutting surface under your image to protect your working area.
  • Negative space is defined as the space that you will place your positive space images on, and relates to the mid-ground and background. Build your negative space as you would a background to lay your positive space images on, and build your composition from the bottom up. Your positive and negative space should be balanced at about 50% positive space over 50% negative space background.
• Composition: Composition refers to the visual balance within your collage. Will you use elements of symmetry, asymmetry, repetition, rhythm? How will you find visual balance within your composition using your cut shapes? Your composition should be visually balanced with a good ratio of 50% positive image and 50% negative space as a general rule of thumb.
• Compositional planning: Before you glue anything down, play with your shapes and backgrounds to find the very best visual balance.
• Scale: Scale relates to the size of the positive images within the composition. To create a well-balanced composition, have elements that are in the foreground, mid-ground, and background of the composition. Remember, things that are in the foreground are larger than in the mid-ground, and smaller in the background.
• Proximity: Proximity refers to the spatial relationship of one shape or object to another.
• Overlap: Images that overlap create the illusion of space. The shape or object in front that overlaps an image in the mid-ground or background creates the illusion of space because of this overlap.
• Image resources: Magazines, brochures, periodicals, junk mail. Find photographic images that are bold and large that you can incorporate into your collage. A minimum of three images and maximum of eight images (including one or two background images) will be sufficient. You may also use found materials, such as foil, string, and textural surfaces to incorporate into your collage.

Let Me Explain

 

The very first thing that I did for this project was start researching quotes.  I chose the theme of design/art because I really wanted to emphasize the elements and principles of design and have a chance to practice them again in a very obvious way.  As I mentioned before, I believe that the most important element of design is line, so when I came across this quote that spoke of line, I knew that it would be perfect and offer a lot of options for a poster design. 
The first thing that I decided upon was a color scheme.  I chose to use a triadic color scheme to create a strong visual contrast. In a triadic color scheme, the colors create good contrast (I love contrast) but also remain harmonious and compliment each other.  Not one color calls for more attention than another.  Through experimenting, I discovered that it was best to choose one primary color in my palette and use less of the other two colors.  This helped keep the focus on the important part - the quote itself.  I also decided to add in a neutral color for more interest without being overpowering.
My original thoughts about ways to illustrate the quote involved a box, but it seemed too cliche.  I happened to look at some notes I had laying on the table and realized that I have a bad (or good?) habit of writing on lined paper but not writing in the lines of the paper.  This stood out to me as an excellent way to give more meaning to the quote.  I knew that I would have to incorporate this idea into the poster design.  I continued to brainstorm other ways that I could illustrate not staying within the lines.  I came back to the idea of the box and realized that the outside format of the poster could serve as a box and I could create an illusion that my design continues outside of the box.
This idea brought me to yet another idea of repetition.  I knew that my quote was not long enough or popular enough to only use one time if I wanted it to extend beyond the edges of the design.  I would need it to repeat several ties so that the audience would be able to read each word of the quote and piece it all together in the correct order to understand the concept.  I decided to write the quote repeatedly within a text-box larger than the format of my design so that each visible line of text would have a slightly different placement than the ones before it or after it, guaranteeing that each word of the quote would at some point be visible within the design format. 
In the end, I manipulated each line of text so that I could highlight a word on each line in a way that made the entire quote readable in one flowing line. The highlighted text runs from the top left corner and curves around the poster in a way that defys normal left-to-right reading habits but at the same time, it demands to be read in a proper sentence because of the emphasis that the bright pink places on the text. 
To imitate the curving pink text, I chose to curve each line of text as well.  This creates a peaceful rhythm that, starting from the top of the design, seems to ripple down the poster to the bottom, again bringing the eye from top to bottom and reenforcing the readability.  I chose a font that incorporates line in order to once again bring to surface this important element of design.  To show hierarchy within the text, I used a couple techniques: 1) I made some words a larger point size than others (You Don't Have To, and LINES).  I also made these words in all uppercase letters. And  2) I used color to color in the word lines to emphasis it.  Lastly, I chose to make that color go outside the lines of the word "LINES" to complete the emphasis on line and to prove the point of the quote.

No Matter What

Here is my latest project for school:

Have a lovely weekend!

Loves!!!

Regarding Being a Designer

As designers we have an intended message.  Do we always get that message across?  No.  However, there are certain things we do that increase the likelihood of getting the intended message across.  The most important thing we can do is to know our audience.  Without knowing our audience, there is no way to understand our message in the same way that they will understand it.  Often times we don't necessarily have commonalities with the audience so research becomes an important part of the design process.  We must research not only our message, but our audience.  We must know their culture, what they find funny, what they find sad, what angers them, makes them smile, interests them, turns them away.  Each design project that we set out to complete must begin with visits to a library, surfing the internet, or immersing yourself within the audience.  Success as a designer depends upon this.
Unity is the most important of all the design principles.  Without unity, a piece feels lost and broken.  Each part of a work of art must have a purpose.  Each brush stroke, each line, each hue, each subject within the piece is there for a reason This purpose or reason is what causes unity within a piece.  Without purpose and reason, each element of the piece serves simply as an individual part rather than an entire whole.  My example of unity is the picture of all the hands interlocking.  Separately they are just hands, but together they are a web of support and unity.

Line is the most important design element.  It is the simplest form of design but without it, nothing else would exist.  Lines or the combination of multiple lines create shape, pattern, texture, space, motion, and value.  Now you don't need line to create color, but color is also just the cherry on top of the ice-cream sunday....it doesn't make or break the sunday, but it makes it just a little better.  In sticking with this analogy, line on the other hand is the ice cream.  You can't have a sunday without the ice-cream.  Without the ice cream, it's just toppings; it's just the extra stuff that makes the sunday a sunday instead of a basic bowl of ice cream.  The example image I chose for demonstrating this concept shows merely a bunch of lines.  However, each of the lines combines into a shape. The lines create a pattern and texture. The shapes create texture as well.  The positioning of the shapes creates motion and an illusion of space as the shapes move back and forth in front of you coming closer and then receding into the distance.  without the simple line, none of this would be possible.
Source
Well, I hope you have a wonderful start to your week.  Wish me luck in starting my new position tomorrow.  I'm a little nervous and have no real idea of what to expect.  Scary!!
Loves!!!

52 Lists. 52 Weeks. Week 21

Well, since Halloween has come and gone, I really don't have a list of things to do in preparation for it, so I thought instead I would write a list of what I need to do to prepare for Christmas!  Enjoy!

Christmas presents that I still need to buy: My Uncle, my Brother-in-law, My Dad, my Grandmother, My Friend Erica, Erica's daughter, Our friend AJ, our friend Mike and his fiance, our friend Chris, Mr. Fantastic, my puppy, Two of my brothers, one of my sisters, Mr. Fantastic's mom, and his cousin!

Yummy treats I need to make:  German fried thingies, chocolate pretzels, caramel popcorn, vodka infused gummy bears!

 Design, write and send our Christmas cards

Wrap presents

Packing for our Christmas trip home

Call the airport about our puppy traveling with us

Decorate the tree and put up decorations

Keep Calm

Loves!!!

Finding Peace

I really am here!  All goes oh, so well!  Life is treating me kindly.  Happiness is all around!  Things have finally quieted down and now I am back to blog.  Now, please know that at first, it will be slow, but I'll get there.  In the meantime, here are some videos for you to watch!  Enjoy!


Hudson - Against The Grain from Dropbear on Vimeo.





Loves!!!

Hey all!  Just a really quick note to let you know that you will not want to miss my post on Sunday.  I have a really exciting post to share with you, that will include an awesome product review and a sponsored GIVEAWAY!!!  Don't miss out on the fun!  See you on Sunday!
Loves!!!

Babies on the Brain & Pretty Interior Spaces [Trees on Walls]

Here is a baby inspiration group that needs a category of it's own!  I adore painted trees on walls.  It brings the peaceful outdoors inside.  How pretty are these trees?

Cartoon Trees With Pretty bright birds.

Similar trees with a different touch

For a baby girl...I love these colors!

And for a boys room this color combo is grand!

This freehand tree is super elegant.  Love!!

More Wedding Ideas That Get Me Excited!!!

Your Wedding is supposed to be one of the greatest days of your life up to that point in your life.  It's no wonder there are so many places to find decorating ideas for the big day!  We want an intimate wedding, but at the same time, we also want it to be a very special day to remember our commitment to each other.  Here are a few more ideas:

A Photobooth to capture our treasured memories

An outdoor setting with pretty extra details

The ring boys (our nephews) to wear knickers!

A Scrabble cake would be sweet

Sock Monkeys please!!!

Sparklers to send us off and wish us happiness in our life together

Strawberry favors would be so much fun

Bouquets for the bridesmaids

And one for me made of vintage enamel brooches.

Such a fun idea for a wedding party picture

Grey and Yellow will certainly be our colors of choice.

Pretty Quotes And Sayings

A always find little sayings and quotes make me smile.  Sometimes when I don't know what to say or what to do, I think about or quotes or even look through my book of Bartlett's quotations for a little uplifting inspiration.  It works every time.  Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings that you would like to share?

It's A Beautiful Day Designers!!!

Because Of You

Everything Happens For a Reason

Lose the Fear of Being Wrong

Graphic Design

Sylvia Plath

Take as Much Love as You Need

When You Have Nothing to Lose

Your Journey

Things I Want To Make [Second Edition]

I'm telling you, my list just keeps on growing!  There are far too many ideas in my head and saved to my computer files.  I might actually need about a month (or more) to create all of them.  By the time I am done, I'm sure that I'll have found even more things that I would like to make.  Are there any projects that you have on your to do list?

Love Is The New Black

Scrap Wood Poster

White Painted Wine Bottles

Paint Swatch Valentine Cards

Tulle and Bead Necklace

The Best is yet to come

Owl Pillow

Paper Crane Flock

Pretty Covered Letters

Recycled Newsprint Rose Canvas

Office Supply Canvas

No whining Welcome Sign

Bird's Nest Twine Basket

Mini albums

Man and Woman Canvases

Asymmetrical Shirt

Mason Jar Lights