Something new...

After filling several sketchbook pages and playing around on Photoshop, I've decided to finally put my graphic design skills to use on Etsy.  I am now offering wedding save the dates, invitations, and thank yous.  These are customized digital files that can be printed via an online company (such as MOO or Vistaprint) or at home.  Only one design is available now, but I have several others that will be ready this week (they just need a bit more finessing before they're ready).

 Postcard save the date

A special thanks to photographer Alex Siebenthal, for allowing me to use her images for the samples!

See America First

The spring semester is wrapping up.  Here's what I've been working on for the past week or so:

 Yosemite

 Yellowstone

The assignment was to create a single poster, but I conceived my project as a series.  Each poster focuses on a specific National Park within the system, but advertises all parks through the slogan "See America First."  Yosemite is what I've turned in, and Yellowstone is just for fun.

Unfortunately I had to use images found online, due to a lack of personal source material.  However, my boyfriend and I are planning a cross-country road trip next summer, and I hope to visit a few parks on the way.  Once I have my own images to work with, I plan to create a couple more posters as portfolio pieces.

I'm also finishing up a small Flash portfolio for my ActionScript class.  I plan on posting that as well, provided I can get all the coding to work correctly!

This is what it sounds like when the doves cry

My website work has taken a backseat to class assignments.  Thankfully the semester is almost over and I'll be back on track soon.  In the meantime, here's what I've been working on this week:

The class assignment was to create a CD package.  Usually these assignments come quickly, but this time I just wasn't into it.  It took me a week to finally decide which artist/band I wanted to design for, and a day of scrapped concepts before inspiration struck.

My biggest problem was over-thinking it.  I originally sketched a collage-style cover with portraits, doves, and that nifty symbol Prince used to go by.  It didn't work.  So after much frustration I did the only thing I could: listen to The Very Best of Prince on a loop.  That worked.

All-in-all I'm pretty happy with how these pieces turned out.  They have a gritty/epic/mysterious feel that invokes Prince's music without using an image of the artist himself.  The overall technique was borrowed from an online Photoshop tutorial I found months ago, with a few tweaks to suit my needs.  It's a cool effect that I can definitely use again.

Just a touch of vanity

 

Self-Portrait.  Created in Photoshop incorporating an online photo mosaic tutorial.

This is my most recent class assignment.  I've never really enjoyed creating self-portraits.  (I guess I must be missing that artist gene.)  This one was fairly enjoyable to create, though I never realized how few photos I actually have of myself.

It's a small world after all

 

Hyde Park.  Sydney, Australia.

Tilt-Shift "miniature" created in Photoshop.

Mother of the Missions

"Postcard" of Mission San Diego de Alcala, created using Photoshop.

A brain is a terrible thing to waste

Class assignment, creating a magazine masthead and cover using Photoshop.  

The image is a sculpture I photographed in Sydney, Australia this past June.  Just playing around with adjustment layers and filters created a dynamic image, suitable for a cutting-edge science periodical.

Photoshop Fun Continued...

This is the next incarnation of a previously posted class assignment:

This cute little guy was photographed at the Koala Park Sanctuary in West Pennant Hills, Australia.

Photoshop Fun

The fall semester is underway!

This semester I'm taking a courses in Photoshop and Flash.  I've been a casual PS user for a number of years, but have never taken a class focusing on the software.  The first few assignments have been pretty basic, but still fun and informative.

This week's assignment was to create a texture quilt using the crop tool and upsampling/downsampling techniques.  I opted to use only images from my trip to Sydney:

I really like the concept of this assignment.  It's a unique way to display vacation photos, possibly as a calendar image or thank you card.

The Flash class is a bit more challenging at the moment.  My only exposure to the software was as an animation intern three years ago.  It will be fun to create some basic animations, which I hope to incorporate into some web design ideas I have.  I'm working on an online portfolio to help with my internship/job search.  Fingers crossed I can get it all together (and looking excellent) by January!

Tilt-Shift Revisited

I'm definitely improving!



A view from the Tokyo Tower. Tokyo, Japan (January 2007)




Wild Animal Park. Escondido, CA

Tilt-Shift (1/30/2010)

Tilt-Shift

A friend of mine posted this on her blog a while ago, and I thought it was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen. With a bit of Photoshop tweaking, you can make almost any photograph look like a mini-model, a la the opening credits of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

(More photos & instructions here.)

I decided to try it out for myself today, and had some moderate success:




This is my best attempt so far. It was taken from Tokyo Tower in Japan a few years ago. The angle and distance make it a great candidate for this sort of manipulation, but I wish I had a photo taken closer to midday with a clear blue sky (it was pretty hazy that day). I may play around with the saturation a bit more to see if I can compensate for this. I do love how the brake lights on the cars resemble tiny LEDs.




This image was taken in Shibuya, one of the busiest areas Tokyo. The angle isn't ideal (it should really be a downward shot), but I wanted to try anyway because I love the colors. The left half of the photo does look like a model (especially around the tree), and boosting the saturation levels adds to the "fake" look.

I will definitely be scouring my photos for more tilt-shift candidates. I'm also hoping to get some good shots in Vegas next weekend to play with.

100th Post Fun & News

It's my 100th post-- I can't believe it! Since the recent SoCal rain has kept me from photographing my latest work, I'll share something fun instead.

I found this creative Flickr photo by wandaaaa, and have already set it as my computer background:




I also have some personal reasons for not updating the blog:

First, I'm working on setting up shop at Etsy. I've spent the last few rainy days making some bowls and designing some new creations. I hope to have things listed by February (fingers crossed).

Secondly, I'm headed back to school! This summer I'll be working toward a certificate in Web Graphics. I've debated furthering my education pretty much since I finished by BFA, but haven't felt up to it until quite recently. I'm a bit bummed I didn't make a firm decision before the spring semester, but at least I have some time to save up for books and supplies.

Oh... I think it's time to sign off. I just saw a flash of lightning, and the thunder clap wasn't too far behind it. Last thing I need right now is a fried computer!