Portrait Transformation

This a picture of my sister.  I first adjusted the levels and curves in her face and shirt.  I then cut and pasted her onto a pictured of outer space.  There is no particular reason I did this, I just thought that it would be funny.  Its funny because there would never be a kid in space wearing a T-shirt!
This is my transformation:

BEFORE                                                                       AFTER

                   

Winter GIF+Reflection

The most frustrating aspect of this project on Photoshop was keeping track of all my layers.  Even though I labeled my layers with what components were being added, I would still just make little touch-ups on parts.  Also, If i wanted to go back and change a minor detail, it would be difficult to find what layer that component was on.

The tool that I feel most confident in using is the eye dropper tool.  There were many instances throughout creating this project that I would need a specific color that I had previously used, that is when the eye dropper would come into play.  The eye dropper tool would help me find that EXACT color.  I also became confident in using the elliptical marquee.  I had to use this tool to create the bottom of the mug, the top, middle, and bottom of the snowman, and I used this tool to create the top of the mug (the hot chocolate).  

I really enjoyed making a symbol/gif on Photoshop.  I would love to learn how to use real pictures on Photoshop next.

GIF

I created this using http://picasion.com/

Concept Board

Research:

I researched three different artists.  I ultimately chose Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar.  I chose this duo because they created many well known logos.  Below is my research:

1. ED FELLA- 1980’s

• spent 30 years as a commercial artist in Detroit
• In 1987 he began teaching design at the California Institute of the Arts

I am interested in Ed Fella because he created his own unique style/design.   He also helped influence other designers.

http://www.designishistory.com/1980/ed-fella/

2. IVAN CHERMAYEFF AND TOM GEISMAR - 1950’s

• been in business since 1957
• designed logos for Chase Bank, National Geographic, Merck, Mobil, PanAm, PBS and many others
• Both Chermayeff and Geismar studied at the Yale University School of Art and Architecture
• Created logos of Armani Exchange, the Library of Congress, Pan Am

I am interested in Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar because the designed many iconic brands that are still used today.

http://www.designishistory.com/1960/chermayeff--geismar/

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/02/0201_worlds_most_influential_designers/7.htm

3. MILTON GLASER- 1950’s

• not as clean cut (wavy)
• had own, different, unique style
• studied painting, typography and illustration
• founder-editor of Push Pin Graphics magazine
• inspired by Pop and Op art
• From NYC

I am interested in Milton Glaser because he designed the I <3 NY logo, which is very well known.

http://www.designishistory.com/1960/milton-glaser/

http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=2188

Concept Board:

Good Graphic Design

I think that this is a good logo because it incorporates the name of the company into the logo.  Also, it is very unique and memorable.

Reflection on Letter Project

My process when creating my letter project consisted of many steps.
STEP 1-  Think of a letter to create.
STEP 2- I created like 5 different drafts, until I decided on not doing any of them.
STEP 3- I created a boarder on my paper, and found the center.
STEP 4- I then outlined two hands
STEP 5- I shaded the hands (this was very tricky)
STEP 6- I added color!

I decided to draw two hands, with the world on them, making an "m" because I was creating a representation of the saying "the world is in our hands," except in my picture, the world was on our hands.  If you turn the hands/the world upside down it creates a "w," but now all the continents are upside down.

The most challenging part of this project for me was shading the hands.  It was hard to make my hands look realistic.

I am not 100% satisfied with my project.  I think that the hand on the left turned out better than  the hand on the right, as coloring and shading goes.   I also would have liked to make the hands look a little more realistic.

If I could change anything about my design, I would like to make it bigger so that I could add more detail to the continents and oceans, making them look more real realistic and less cartoony.

This is a picture of the beginning stages of my project:

This is a picture of my end result:

Inspiring Book

I recently read a book called Blind, by Rachel Dewoskin.  The book is about a 15 year old girl who lives in a small town, and who had an accident which left her blind.  The story takes place about a year after the accident, though there are flashbacks throughout the book, and it shows how she is struggling accepting that she is blind.  In the end, though, she comes to terms with her blindness, and goes on with her life.

I find this book inspiring because if I went blind, I do not know how I would be able to handle it.  This story shows that life can go on, even after something traumatic happens.

It also made me think about how much I appreciate little things in my life that I do not usually notice.