Finals

Sooo.
Been a while, longer than I would like. But here is a work in progress on my final four drawing class

My Fiance has been at Air force basic training for the past two weeks, this is a drawing of our puppy (Suil). After I drew the original, I edited it within Photoshop; then just because the urge struck me I flipped the drawing and then proceeded to print out -- re-draw and then color it using prismacolor premier pens... its mounted on a Canson Cardboard sheet...

This is our Dog

Dragon For my Cousin's Seth and Logan!

I Watched "How to Train Your Dragon 2" and couldn't help but think about my two favorite cousin's. This dragon is done in that style, drawn by hand and edited on the computer; should be posting a colored version sometime next week!

Chapter 2  - the Vocabulary of Comics

The Vocabulary of Comics introduced the ‘strange and wonderful world of the Icon!”  I did not realize my comic creations were icons.  In comics, the level of abstraction varies; it can be very abstract – like this face – or drawn so real they almost seem life-like. 

The chapter goes on to discuss “what is the secret of the ICON we call…the CARTOON? And why are we so involved?”  Part of the reason is it is a form of “amplification through simplification.”  The cartoon tends to strip down the message to it’s essential meaning.  This is what appeals to me as a comic artist.  I like zeroing in on what I am trying to relay and making it as powerful as possible.

It was interesting understanding comics from this chapter’s perspective.

Chapter 5..Living the Line.

Cartoons can make emotions and senses visible.  I never thought of it quite like that, but it is absolutely true.  The chapter renders tension, joy, serenity, pride, intimacy, madness and anxiety simply and effectively.  It also shows how loud, rank, cold, quiet, sour and warm can be relayed visually.  Comics can also relay motion through two simple pictures – a man with a hat on and a man holding the hat above his head.

Vincent Van Gogh’s art strayed from impressionist mainstream and chose to use a subjective approach.  His paintings are classified as expressionism utilizing honest expression of the turmoil within.  He would have been an excellent cartoonist today.

Writers Toolbox Reflections

The Writer's Toolbox provided our class with the necessary guidance as our class took our fumbling and un-confidant first steps. The Toolbox provided us with incites into the creative process, specifically how to get started. For me, Mind-mapping has always been something of a lost art; something that i knew was helpful; but for me it was always useless... just out of reach. But in the beginning of the toolbox it mentioned mind-mapping captures streams of thought; through words and images. it also explained how concept maps can be used. I also dabbled in writing and often use free writing to do an initial brain dump. I had not associated this technique with art before.

it clicked, suddenly I got it, the next day I came to class, and along with my group we tacked the process of mind mapping. 

"Learning never exhausts the mind"

IDEO Method Reflections...

During class we watched a series of videos on the IDEO METHOD. FOX News tasked the group to develop a series of videos which documented the creative process of a design and innovations company. IDEO METHOD followed the creation of a new shopping cart. 

The Atmosphere of the design group was playful, energized and fun. the group consisted of artists, scientists and psychologists. this colorful group approached the project with childlike wonder - open to possibilities; anything was possible. 

the first exercise was to mind map, which generated dozens of ides and concepts. these ideas boiled down to key concepts the group felt stood out. they broke into teams; each tasked with creating a prototype. the prototypes were then presented/ discussed. then all of the teams collectively chose to refine all of these ideas into a single prototype. 

In the end it was refreshing to see a group enjoying what we as a class were struggling with. it gave us a glimpse at just how fun and fulfilling this process could be, if we let it. 

Objectified Reflections

Gary Hustwit directed the documentary, Objectified. The video explores the effect design has on our everyday life. the film captures the creative process and all of the hard work that goes into everyday seemingly simple product design. it is about the designer who re-examine, re-evaluate, and re0invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. it shows how creative designer work and how their work impacts our lives. 

The film gave me additional perspective to the design world. I grew up in an environment of creativity. my mother is an architect, my father a builder and aunt is a creative director. i was surrounded by model making, presentation drawings, and Art Projects." Family vacations included trips to museums and explorations in the built form. the sheer amount of work involved in the design of a building, the construction of a home, and the layout of a magazine staggered me. 

the film reinforced the effort required to design and fabricate something as simple as a toothbrush. good design required exploration, hundreds of mock-ups and prototype generation. the old saying "try, try, and try again..." seems to come to mind.