Chicago Fun Part One

The beginning of a new year is always slow. I find my self fighting those winter blues because there is not much to do. I've been working on my own personal logo. One that I'm actually going to stick with. I've also been getting content together to get a real website up. I'm ready to branch and market. While things have been slow I've been looking around at creative sites for inspiration, so, while I have been trying to figure out that perfect logo, I've also been messing around with some pictures and trying to stay self motivated.

Back during the first week of December, I took a spontaneous trip to Chicago with a few friends. I have always ALWAYS wanted to go and now that I've been I can honestly say that I could live there. It's not just talk of a big city anymore. I really honestly like it enough to live there. I hate the cabs, but I love the city. Unfortunately, one of my gals pals ended up sick and the other was just a bit worn out, having been in the city for a week already. So I ventured out on my own half the time and got some great photos. I got lost, frozen, and inspired!!

The Art Institute of Chicago was my absolute favorite place to visit. It was such an amazing feeling to be standing in front of the work of so many artists that I have learned of through the years. Text books and post cards, as I'm sure most already know, do not do any work of art it's proper justice. I will have some of those photos in a later post.

I haven't had a chance to go through and play around with all of my photos, but I have managed to take a few and create a little something of my own. LIke I said, I'm trying to stay motivated.





Not sure the Shedd Aquarium would approve of these, but it was fun anyway since they have a Wild Reef Exhibit with Sharks. The wall curves up over your head, giving you the illusion of being surrounded by water. The water turned dark blue as far as the eye can see. I had my eye on one shark swimming by the glass. He circled around and then disappeared into the black blue. I kept looking and then out of no where he darted right towards me from the darkness and made a quick turn right before the glass. I know I was on the other side, but my heart jumped into my throat. Maybe that is why I came up with this idea.

Owl Baby Shower Invitation

I love doing stuff like this. Sooo, if you are interested in bringing an idea to fruition, give me a shout and we can work something out.

Yes, I am a master of the rhymage.

Graphic Design: Graduation Invitation

I am a graphic designer by day. I love doing what I do and wish that I could do more. I often get asked by friends and family to do small things like invitations and announcements. I recently got asked by my friend Merny (Maren) to do some graduation announcements for her hubbers. I sort of followed the same idea as the baby invitations that I did a few weeks back. I love the style and it seems to work well with my brain. So here is a view of the invite. Let me know your thoughts, comments, or critique.

Graphic Design: Baby Announcements.

Here are a couple of baby shower invitations that I did. There are three—one for a boy, a girl, and for someone who has chose to wait to find out the sex of the baby. I really love these and if you are interested in purchasing a set of invitations for a party, contact me and let me know.

Feeling A Little Creative

Sharing the poster I made. It doubled as a Valentines Day Card for Markster.

It's been kinda tough lately to come up with something creative. It's been tough to think out of the box. At times I feel like my creative drive has hit a giant speed bump or brick wall. I try really hard to find inspiration all around but, in the career that is design there is a serious need to be and do different from what anyone has seen. It's challenging, frustrating, exhausting, but worth it when you can finally knock down that wall.

So, off to have Mexican and ritas with the ladies. Happy Thirstday.



Also, if you are interested in a print something like this then please, by all means, contact me.

Some Graphic Work

Here is a little change of pace for you. I've put up a little graphic work. This is a baby announcement that I finished for my friend Carla.


Inside: The magenta flaps fold in to cover the announcement section.


Outside


Closed: You can attach the center using sticky dots and a photo, tie it with a ribbon or use a personalized monogramed sticker.

Me Likey!

I want every single print from this artist, Blanca Gomez. They are all so fun and simplistic. I love how clean and colorful they are. Check her out!

If Only I Could Paint

If only I could paint, this is what it would look like. I can't get over how beautiful and imaginative these pieces are. You can see more of them here.

Poop

I know it shouldn't matter because some people just weren't as beautifully edumicated as myself, but I am becoming increasingly irritated with people who don't know good design when they see it. It's not like I just smeared poop all over it. I actually sat and pondered and went through process of elimination (with myself) to come up with what I just did. All you gave me was a thing and I'm supposed to read your mind? Maybe my awesomeness is just over estimated . . . Nah. That's not it. I rock socks off. People just don't get it. In a day and age so outrageous, how could someone want something so plain? Don't get me wrong, less is certainly more in some situations, but this one? Well, less is all there was too and it needed some jazz. I gave it jazz and got a very quick thumbs down. Oh well. I will hand you your poop and hope you are happy. You just helped me get paid either way.

Totally Rad

I ran across a really fantastic website called Totally Rad. It's a site that allows you to download, not for free damnit, filter/layer masks for photos. I can't really describe how it works obviously because I can't buy it right now, but from what I've seen it would be a pretty awesome tool to have in your photo arsenal with Photoshop. If you are like me at all, sometimes applying certain effects just don't work after trying and trying. These allow you just a click and there it is, that beautiful picture you had in your head. Easy as pie. Check it out here.

Spinning Beotch Ball

I'm having very unhealthy thoughts at the moment. Thoughts of murder and hair pulling. Does anyone have any idea how incredibly annoying it is for someone who works on a computer to have to sit there and wait until that over thought and over designed Mac beach ball stops spinning to do work? ANYBODY? I've have worked on a Mac for about 8 years now and never had this problem before. If you know me, you know that I can forget what I am talking about in mid sentence, so, sitting and waiting for that ball to stop spinning does not help my design process. I have made mention of it once or twice to the "tech guy" around the office, only to get a "Hmmmm. Maybe it's just you." I have also done a bunch of trashing and updating. Nothing.

I wonder what would happen if I just accidently go tangled in the cords and smashed the computer on the floor. Maybe I could trip on my pant leg in mid swing of a sledge hammer and hit the computer in the middle of the screen. Seems like that's the only solution given that I have mentioned the annoying beach ball and slow activity a million times and nothing is getting done about it. I dream about the colorful spinning ball. That's how much I see the damn thing.

Maybe this only goes to show that a computer is still a computer no matter who makes it. It's only the details (i.e. iLife, iWeb, blah blah blah) that appeal to the consumer.

Now. . . the hair pulling, because I know I will have to wait at least 30 seconds for this to post.