Letterform Studies

I chose the letter J because there are lots of different ways to write it. Some of these letters are pixely (center), some are very smooth like the bottom right one, and some are very simple. The color differences add more variety to the letters as a whole. Each letter is different although they all convey the letter "J".

Cotrast Study Chapter 5

These two line images represent smooth and rough. I like the "rough" composition better, because the lines are all the same size. In the "smooth" composition, I tried for the affect of the first line getting sort of stretched out; as the eye moves down the page the curve gets deeper and the line gets thinner, but I don't like it as much as the jagged, rough lines. In the "rough" composotion, I also like how the lines sort of fit together in the middle (all except the top line, which looks like of isolated).

Midterm

Season and Color

Spring is my favorite season because it means that winter is over and there are so many bright colors involved. Green represents growth, so that is the color that I started with. I wanted to put a flower in this composition, and since daisies are wild but also pretty I used the traditional white and yellow for that. To relate the yellow center and white petals of the daisy, for the word "spring" I found this paper that fades between yellow and white. Since yellow and green are related, I needed a contrast color. Pink is bright, happy, and definitely contrasts with yellow and green. The daisy stands out against the pink and green background and the spring isn't lost either. Making collages is something that I enjoy doing in my spare time, especially for cards. I tend to used lines and squares a lot so I stuck with that technique for this. One part I am not happy with is how the stem of the daisy gets lost in the background. I wanted to incorporate the daisy with the word somehow, but it is hard to see which is disappointing.

This one I did for fall was just for fun (I can't claim it as my own because I used tree branches from an ad I found). I added the red for leaves that got increase in size as they get towards the bottom like they are getting closer to the viewer. I arranged the letters in a downward curve like they are falling as well, but what would have made this better is if the letters got larger as they got closer to the bottom as well. The main contrast in this composition is between the purple trees and letters, and the orange background. The red leaves on top of the purple branches and leaves creates depth. I used red and orange because they are classic colors of fall with the changing leaves, and I used purple for the accent. Even though it doesn't have much to do with fall, it creates a nice affect with the red and orange, and it still feels like fall.

Orientation Quiz

A. What is something that is going well in your life?
I am currently trying to decide where I want to go to school next year, and I am making pretty good headway with my decision. I am not very good at making decisions, so that is a big step for me, especially with a decision that big.
B. What are your specific goals for this class?
Graphic design is always something I have been interested in; I have magazine advertisements all over my room. My main goal for this class is to understand the processes behind those advertisements and maybe I will find it interesting enough to continue on with it after this semester.
C.What was your first experience with design, computers, and imaging technology like?
My mom uses Adobe and has showed me a few things, but I really just know how to do the basics.
D. Do you usually work on a Mac or a PC and why?
I usually use a Dell, because that is the kind of computer I have; it was a graduation present. If necessary, I do know how to work on a Mac.
E. What is your experience level with any of the other image editing or vector programs available?
I have minimal experience with anything other than Adobe, as I mentioned before.
F. What is something you liked about your day today?
Today is my day off, so I got to sleep in!
G. How do you plan to use what you learn in this class?
In taking my classes this semester, I really hope to find something that I can focus on for the rest of my schooling.
H. What would make this class go very well for you?
Keeping up with the assignments will make this class go very well for me. I haven’t done much with graphic design in the past, but I’ve always had an interest so as long as I stay interested, I’m sure the class will go fine.
I. How do you plan to make this class go very well for you?
I plan to make sure not to get behind and use all the resources I can.
J. What do you do for creativity on an on-going basis?
When I have time, I love to sew. Bags are what I really like to design and make. I also really enjoy making collages from old magazines.
K. Who is Milton Glaser? Paul Bass?
Milton Glaser is a very talented and successful graphic designer in the United States.
Saul Bass was a movie poster designer for the early cinema films. Instead of using images or paintings which were traditional for the time, he created his own way of portraying the film for advertising. “Symbolize and summarize” was his motto. (http://saulbass.tv)
L. Do you own or have access to a color image scanner?
Yes I have access to a color image scanner.
M. What software application will you be using for the course?
I will be using Adobe Photoshop CS4.