eyeRebecca

It Jus' Don' Seem Right

2008-06-13T20:18:00.000-07:00

Something about this graphic just isn't right. Know what I'm saying? I mean, what's the guy doing? Humping-and-trashing? Either way, he's "DOING HIS PART(S)!"

;)

One More Project

2008-05-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

This is my Classification project. I designed and wrote a two-spread (4-page) magazine article classifying beer labels according to the human character on the bottle art.

Bukowski

2008-05-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Now that school is winding down for the semester I realized that I can now return to my queue of books. I began, "run with the hunted: a charles bukowski reader" yesterday.
I actually got this book for my Birthday last year and am only NOW getting to it (my Birthday is next Thursday). There are a lot of books in the line-up.

I am super-excited about this book because Bukowski is a new name for me - I only discovered who he was little over a year ago. Since then I have watched several documentaries on the beat artists, including Bukowski.

[My fiance and I are really into documentaries, and there's a great channel on DirecTV called, "Ovation TV". It's all art all the time. It is fast becoming one of our favourite channels.]

Another aside bonus: I know of a website where you can get Bukowski onesies! If and when I have a child... If you're not into the typical pink and blue baby shit, check out www.babywit.com. There's something for everyone on there. It offers a plethora of cute, punk, rock n' roll, political, and much more unusually themed baby/toddler/mommy/daddy clothing.

Back to my main focus:

I have only started the book, but I wanted to share a poem with you. I love the last part about the horse's tongue (hilighted in blue)...

____________________________

ice for the eagles

I keep remembering the horses
under the moon
I keep remembering feeding the horses
sugar
white oblongs of sugar
more like ice,
and they had heads like
eagles
bald heads that could bite and
did not.

The horses were more real than
my father
more real than God
and they could have stepped on my
feet but they didn't
they could have done all kinds of horrors
but they didn't.

I was almost 5
but I have not forgotten yet;
o my god they were strong and good
those red tongues slobbering
out of their souls.

____________________________

LOVE that last line: "...slobbering out of their souls."

2008-05-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

Being that is it the end of the semester, and I successfully (well, as successfully as it is possible) completed my book, I figured it was time for a Project review. I am not sure why I never posted my projects to this blog before. Either way, here's a few. Until I can figure out how to post my movie, and get a good PDF of my classification, projects 1-3 and project 6 will have to do.

Ironing

2008-05-08T09:26:00.001-07:00

You know you're in a bad spot when ironing your clothes seems like a fun idea. That's how I felt last night when working on the final touches to my flash video. I feel as good about the video as my self-conscious ego will let me. I am just glad to be done with it. This particular project was a challenge in many ways. Not that I didn't enjoy it. In fact, I found myself unexpectedly excited about this "new" tool. I would like to create more movies in the future.

But last night, at around 10:30 pm, which was two hours after I told myself I should try to go to the gym, I remembered the rather large collection of washed ironables hanging in my laundry room. And I got excited to think about stopping my work to iron my clothes!

I hate ironing. But apparently I hate working on time-consuming projects for over 40 hours more.

Also, I find myself in *exactly* the same position I was in last week: project 5 is done, and I only have tonight and tomorrow night to design, print, and assemble project 6. Ha!

At least it's the home stretch.

I'm a (not-so) closet Trekky

2008-05-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

That is why I get so excited when a new form of mobile communication makes its way into our reality. In my Dwell (May 2008) magazine I found an article on a new Skype Phone. Actually, it is really a process article. It's even in a "Process" section of the mag.

Since I was a little girl watching re-runs of the original® Star Trek with my dad, I have been fascinated with future technologies.

For those who may not know, Skype started off as an online method to call and see live video of others as you talk. All you need is access to the internet, a microphone and a camera attached to your computer. (I don't have the camera yet). You just sign up online and *voila*! Instant picture phone like in the movies.

Well, apparently Skype developed a mobile phone with the same Skype capabilities built in. How cool is that?

And here I was drooling over the iTouch (which is what I really wanted when I bought my iPod two years ago, but wasn't developed for the masses yet.) I purposely don't mention the iPhone because I don't want to hold an unergonomic flat metal plate up to my head to talk to someone.

So that's it.

I just saw that article and felt all giddy inside.

Show & Tell #10

2008-05-02T17:22:00.001-07:00

Yeah, so I collect "Living Dead Dolls". They're cute little dolls of dead children and they are packaged in coffins. I don't have as many as I'd like but that's okay, because I haven't yet figured out how to store/display them. Pictured are two of the ones I have. I will bring some to class.

This goes to the website: www.livingdeaddolls.com.

And oh yeah, I FINISHED my story project at around 5:00 pm today. Well, I actually finished at, like, 3:00, but insisted on making a few tweaks. There are still some things I can do for the final project, but damn, it's friggin' tight! (ahem. sorry about the brag. this has been such a stress. so glad it's 'over with' for now.)

M'kay.

tired.

gotta go.

This May Make Some Of You Feel Better

2008-05-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

It is 8:41pm on May 1st, Thursday night and I am JUST ABOUT TO GET STARTED ON MY MOVIE IN FLASH.

See.

I knew that would make some of you feel proud of yourselves.

In all likelihood, most of you are well into this stage of the project and I wager some are even done. Well, I have been spending all of my free time (seriously) on school and this is where this part of the project fell. Truth is, I am uber-prepared. I've spend most of the time, that wasn't dedicated to the Classification revision, working on my story images and frames. (Maybe 15 hours or so total?)

I've taken a half day today and all of tomorrow off of work to get this project in some sort of passable comp form. Wish me luck. :)

On a totally random note, my iTunes is loving Erasure today. Oh, and I picked a song (finally) for my story project, too.

Show & Tell #9

2008-04-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

I found it easy to find process examples. Some were better than others so I picked my two favorite. The first example is how to hang wallpaper (Real Simple, April/May 2008). I liked this one because of it's clean organizational structure and the "tools & ingredients" section for before you start. The second one is how to cast a fishing rod (Women's Health, April '08). I liked this one because of the cute graphics with each step.

ahA!

2008-04-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

[RANDOM QUESTION: Doesn't young Hunter S. Thompson (pictured at left) look a lot like Brad Pitt? Or is that just me?] Photo ganked from www.flyingdogales.com

I have been experiencing a series of "*Aha!*" moments these past few days. I think my creativity is waking up from its nap. Slowly waking up from its nap.

First, I completely rehashed my story project. I wasn't happy with the insinuations my project was conveying, so I re-visited some of my original ideas. Point in fact, on Saturday night, I sketched out, in 3-hours what took me sum total of 20-hours last week. I formulated complete story boards. Even an ending is included, which I didn't have before. If my scheduling goes right, I can start that project on Friday night. At the very least, Saturday afernoon. We'll see.

Second, my written draft for the classification project feels more complete (not complete, mind you). I journeyed through a lot of research and drafts before finding my way. I am still not quite sure I've "got it", but nonetheless, I feel like I can move on to the design (which I have basically not even started yet and it's TUESDAY NIGHT! *eeK!*)

[not so much ahA!] Third, I used the school "research" excuse (again) to order some books:

The Elements of Style (William Strunk),

The Deluxe Transitive Vampire (Karen Elizabeth Gordon),

and Beer Labels of the World (B. Yenne).

Can't wait for that third one!

[RANDOM QUESTION: does anyone else edit their blog entries before posting?]

Show & Tell #8B

2008-04-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

[I know; It's like beating a horse to death]

In keeping with my show and tell frenzy, I have to include my favoritest book, ever: Lewis Carroll's, "Alice in Wonderland".

When choosing this no-brainer to show off, I had to ask myself, "Why". Why do I love this story so much? To be honest, I have never really gave that much thought beyond the superficial fact that it contains so many THINGS I love in real life and one thing I really hate. Such things are...

• Playing cards

• Chess

• Houka's

• Tea parties

• A Caterpillar

• A scary monster

• Quirky characters

• Common sense

• Un-common sense

• A cat

• Absurdity

...to name a few.

I suppose I relate to Alice in many ways. She is isolated and out-of-her realm. Her adventure is full of mystery and weirdness...and a little creepy. I wouldn't say she is every really happy in the story. She's melancholy at best. She just wants to find her way home and no one really helps her. She is forced to be independent and trust her wits; to make sense of senselessness.

Of course I am not the only one inspired by Alice. Many artists have used the story towards their own means. It is almost a cliche. Like the Mona Lisa and American Gothic. I have a book called "The Art of Alice in Wonderland" and it features a plethora of different interpretations of Alice and her story. The images here are four of my favorite pieces.

Show & Tell #8A

2008-04-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

Our show and tell assignment this week is easy for me. I am a huge fan of storybooks, especially morbid or scary ones. I enjoy the relaxed, child-like-yet-adult style of writing, and of course the pictures!

So for this week's show and tell, I am featuring two of my favorite storybooks.

The first one, featured here, is Tim Burton's "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories". It is a collection of poem's, really. But some are long. Some are short. And all are dark in humour.

I've included one of my favoritest little poems here. This one makes me chuckle every time. I scanned the book directly, (with my toe-tag-bookmarker) so it may be hard to read. The writing and the image can stand alone, but they really go so well together. Here's what the poem says:

The Boy with Nails in His Eyes

put up his aluminum tree.

It looked pretty strange

because he couldn't really see.

[Following this poem in the book is another called, "The Girl with Many Eyes". I LOVE it!

Storytelling Project

2008-04-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling rather uncreative these past two weeks. My self-confidence took a vacation and hasn't come back yet. I have a ton of ideas for the Storytelling project, thanks to the doll collector magazines I picked up yesterday. I posted just a few of the "oh-my-gawd-dolls-rock" examples.

My problem is, I have TOO many ideas, and not one of them really stands out. These stories have already been told. They are coming from some unconscious place in my brain where I store gobbledygook.

So here's what I have so far:

Person builds a companion...

1) that turns on the creator; or

2)to kill someone for creator; can

3) can only live when the creator plays music for the companion

Boy struggling with sexuality (this one is soley inspired by the uber androgynous "male" dolls in the magazine)

Finding Oneself Idea 1. Girl is unhappy with herself. Travels around trying to "fit in" with other types of people. When this fails, she consults a shaman/witch/magical being who then puts a spell on her to make her happy; only she remains the same, but realizes that she IS happy with who she is (I was thinking symbolic metamorphosis metaphors in the background, like a caterpillar-cocoon-butterfly)

Finding Oneself Idea 2. (To the Doors, "People are Strange") Cute little monster walks around trying to make friends. But he is still sad. Everyone he encounters get scared/not interested/scares him... Then he wanders upon another creature just like him and he lives happily ever after.

Twist on Traditional Good/Evil Personas. Freaky goth girl is captured by an "evil" man who looks "normal" (you know, khakis, tee-shirt, colors...). The man makes his prisoner socialize with other "normal" people (you know, tea parties, mall shopping, colors...). She is held captive in a large "normal" mansion (you know, not an evil lair underground or anything like that). Suburbia, I suppose. Her rescuer is just as and freaky and dark as she is. They wander off into the moonlight...

(This is inspired by the fact that I never understood why the evil people always looked so cool, and the heroes were all boring and preppy or blonde or "normal" looking. Watching movies, I want to live in the evil castle and wear the cool black clothes and kiss the evil cute devil guy...but without all that evilness. Know what I mean?)

Classic Chick Revenge. (To Blast Off Country Style "Cutie Pie") One girl sees another girl as competition and takes her out.

Classic Jealous Love Triangle. (The victorian dolls beg for this.)

I just need focus.

Getting Somewhere

2008-04-08T18:32:00.001-07:00

With a little brainstorming help from Joe, I am starting to *get* this project. Perhaps I am just over-thinking things. Whatever the case may be, here are my main ideas thusfar:

Children's Stories classified by purpose:

1) Teaching life facts: like "Everyone Poops" by Taro Gomi

2) Offers a Lesson to be Learned: like "Aesops Fables"

3) Teaches basic skills: like "Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss

4) Encourages imagination: like "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll

organize by age appropriateness, why your child should read these books

Places to Sing classified by location:

1) In the shower

2) In your car

3) In a bar (karaoke)

4) In public (while shopping)

add a pros and cons for each (ie- singing in the shower: CON- could wake up your sweetie / may piss off your neighbor....PRO- great acoustics / may piss off your neighbor)

"The Cat's Meow" classified by meaning:

1) The "oh shit" meow (ie-when you step on a tail)

2) The "desperate" meow (ie-for attention)

3) The "wake up" meow (ie- feed me)

4) The "silent" meow (ie- when your cat just doesn't have the right words)

I'll admit, this one is weak, but it has potential to be really fun.

and my personal favorite...

Beer classified by characters:

1) The Patriot/ (ie- Sam Adams, etc.)

2) The Partyer (ie- Natty Boh, etc.)

3) The Beauty/Chick (ie- St. Pauly Girl, etc.)

4) The Devout/Pious (ie- St. Bernadines, etc.)

5) The Artist (ie- Raven beer featuring Poe, etc.)

I was trying to be alliterative for all the main classifications (like using "P") but couldn't make it work. I may go alphabetical instead...

I'd have a sort of mini-bio on each feature beer and character, while describing the general types of characters found on many beer bottles.

This is the best I have at this point. I am going to roll with the beer idea for now; try to flesh it out some more. Although I am hoping to flesh out one of the other ideas, too, or maybe something better will pop into my brain by end of week.

Show & Tell #7

2008-04-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

Stephanie wasn’t kidding when she said this Classification bit was going to be harder than we thought. I am struggling to wrap my head around this deceptively simple concept. Fed up with brainstorming beyond a basic list, I opted to read the articles online and flip through my aging magazine pile.

At first the task was daunting. I couldn’t find anything. But then it got easier. I was finding classifications left and right. Although, I am so tired right now, I am paranoid I am deleriously seeing classifications from anything.

Is it just me, or do women’s magazines have gobs of classifications? Sure, most are boring product classifications. They are trying to sell something. But geez, there are bunches.

Well, I posted two such examples.

1. The first one is from “Women’s Health” magazine (March 2008). I plucked this puppy from the classification weeds because it has an uncommon round layout.
Here’s how I break it down:
Classifying Principle = (suggested?) healthy behavior
Classificaton = when you(‘re) [doing something specific]
Organization = continuum or time, although no specific times, per se, are suggested

2. The second one is from “Nylon” magazine. I chose this one because it is more of an article. It takes up 5 pages in 5 spreads (each page opposed by a full-page advertisement). They provide an introduction and each section contains a general description of the area and it’s style, plus they add shop suggestions. [Personally, I choose Camden/Islington.]
Here’s how I break it down:
Classifying Principle = Fashion
Classification = London neighborhoods
Organization = location

See how I classified my classifications? I came up with a scheme to unite them yet explain their differences?
Here’s how I break it down:
Classifying Principle = classifications
Classification = different ways of treating classifications
Organization = [subjective] continuum

2008-04-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

In bad need of a fresh magazine collection, I rifled through my Janauary/February editions hunting for a social cause ad that hadn't been used already in class. Fortunately, I picked up a delicious magazine called "Swindle" back in February, which I doubt anyone else has, and found an engaging PETA ad.

No sad puppies peering at you through brightly-lit caged bars... but a Betty Page-esque beauty holding an "Animal Birth Control" book.

This lovely lady, I ogled and then googled, is Dita Von Teese. She happens to be a "classy" stripper and was married to Marilyn Manson for a whole, entire year.

But that is all hearsay.

Why this ad works:

It certainly grabbed my attention. I imagine it would grab any straight or gay, male or female, person. Perhaps for different reasons, but one's attention is gotten. And that is the point. Then you see the pink "ABC" header at the bottom which leads you to "animal birth control" and then you kinda forget about the sexy vixen and wonder, "What the...?"

And that is the point.

So you read on and realize it is an ad for PETA.org. There's a very small blurb at the bottom with a depressing fact and then a call to action.

Why this ad does not work:

The picture has one purpose: to grab your attention. The ad relies on the photo even though the image has NOTHING to do with adopting cats from your local animal shelter. That is why this ad has the potential to fail. But I am banking on it succeeding more than failing based on my comment above.

Careful What You Fish For.

2008-03-31T17:33:00.001-07:00

I Heart Paper

2008-03-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to the Production Club of Baltimore's Annual Paper Show. It has been maybe 5 years since I have been to this type of trade show where you walk away with bags and bags of paper samples.

My friends make fun of me. That's because they just don't understand.

Paper is intoxicating.

You have to be a print graphic designer to get it.

When I got home I had major paper-brain. I ruffled through my treasures getting giddy off of the paper fumes. I felt like a kid in a candy store. One of my favorite gems was this beauty from Wausau Paper. It plays on one of my favorite book titles, too, "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley (1932).

"American Girl" (2001)

2008-03-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I enjoy collage. This is the last one I made. It was created in 2001. I like to pull images and paper from magazines. Most of my subjects include the female. Her beauty, her body, her fashion, her ability to make life, her challenges.

I used red staples in this particular piece and intentionally used red, white and blue tones to associate it with my own American culture. I suppose its meaning is obvious: the underlying effects of the objectification of women. Women as objects to be looked at, not listened to. And the ever-present, unreasonable expectations put on women.

The proportions of the Barbie® doll have been mathematically and scientifically proven to be unhealthy and impossible for any human to achieve (and gross, if you really think about it).

The old-fashioned images speaking in unision with the modern images accentuate the fact that these unreasonable expectations have been going on for a very long time and do not seem to end - even though styles and mediums change.

The red is splotched, like blood, like oppressive forces always there, invading and reminding.

Well, that's the first time I really analyzed this piece. At the same time, I love looking at the doll and the model's fashion, and the actresses classic beauty...I do this with a mix of pleasure and guilt.

It makes me sad to realize how I've let this bit of creative energy hybernate. I also realize that all I have to do is create again. This is one of the reasons why I decided to go back to school - to be inspired. Perhaps this is step one.

Cut-Ups

2008-03-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched a documentary on Beat writers including, William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouack, and Allen GInsberg. Burroughs, who wrote "Naked Lunch", had a method of literally cutting up his writing and the writing of others, reassembling these pieces, and creating a new piece based on the new composite. He called these Cut-Ups. Apparently it was all the rage with his contemporaries and they even collaborated. The illustration here is a collaborative effort between Burroughs and Brion Gysin, a painter, writer and poet.

These Cut-Ups appeal to me because I enjoy collage. I like to cut up magazines and reassemble the elements into a piece that speaks whatever it is I have to say. I never thought about doing the same thing with writing. Why not? I like the piece I've shown, in particular, because it combines the visual with the written. And the written adds a visual element, too.

Here's a synopsis of what a Cut-Up is: (taken from scan.net - an online magazine)

The cut-up is actually closer to the facts of perception than representational painting. Take a walk down a city street and put down what you have just seen on canvas. You have seen a person cut in two by a car, bits and pieces of street signs and advertisements, reflections from shop windows - a montage of fragments. Writing is still confined to the representational straitjacket of the novel ... consciousness is a cut up. Every time you walk down the street or look out of the window, your stream of consciousness is cut by random factors."

The cutup is a mechanical method of juxtaposition in which Burroughs literally cuts up passages of prose by himself and other writers and then pastes them back together at random. This literary version of the collage technique is also supplemented by literary use of other media. Burroughs transcribes taped cutups (several tapes spliced into each other), film cutups (montage), and mixed media experiments (results of combining tapes with television, movies, or actual events). Thus Burroughs' use of cutups develops his juxtaposition technique to its logical conclusion as an experimental prose method, and he also makes use of all contemporary media, expanding his use of popular culture.

O frabjous day!

2008-03-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

Alice in Wonderland is my favorite book, written by Lewis Carroll. I thought I would share with those less familiar, the Jabberwocky poem Stephanie referenced in class...

The Jabberwocky image is an original engraving by John Tenniel. It came from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass", by Lewis Carroll, published by J.M. Dent & Sons, Ltd (London), E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc. (New York), 1975.

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy tove
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogroves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

‘Beware the Jabberwocky, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!’

He took his vorpel sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpel blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumping back.

‘And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled his joy.

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogroves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Show & Tell #5

2008-03-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

I chose Chick-Fil-A's "Eat Mor Chicken" [sic] campaign as my show and tell for the week. It gave me a great excuse to eat the only fast food I find acceptable. Basically, the campaign is a bunch of cows encouraging us to eat chicken, rather than beef. It's super cute, because, well, who can resist black-and-white spotted cows misspelling words?

Chick-Fil-A has buttered the market with their Eat Mor Chicken cows. There are tee-vee and magazine ads, stuffed toys, interactive web pages and even calendars - all providing a sounding board for the poor cows out there to make their case.

Here is a sampling of what I will bring into class.

6-Word Autobiography

2008-03-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

Obsessive-Compulsive monster lurks inside waiting.

This is a very personal 6-word autobiography. Although I can understand why many people may not take it too seriously. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often satirized in society and made to look scary. Films like "Mommy Dearest" don't help with the reputation.

The truth is, I have OCD. For as long as I can remember this monster has plagued me with its illogical torments. I know it is ridiculous. That is the worse part of the disease. It's like trying to tell a depressed person that they just need to smile. That kind of logic just doesn't work.

And I am not a "hand washer", which is what everyone assumes when they hear obsessive compulsive. Without getting too detailed, I am more of an internal, negative-things-will-happen, kind of OCD sufferer. But yes, I am also very organized and have my hilighters and matching post-it notes and a (mostly) clean house like any respectable Obsessive-Compulsive person should. That part about the OCD just makes me a more efficient person.

But this post is not here to vindicate my 6-word autobiography. I just wanted to put this information out here to better explain my prose and because I am selectively open about my effed up synapses.

Project #3 - Cause/Effect Copy

2008-03-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

This is the copy I plan on using for my Cause/Effect campaign. This will be on the magazine ad.

_____________________________________

You want your child to reach high.
You want her to confidently grasp the torch
when the time comes to pass it along.
You want him to point proudly towards the future.

Exposure to the arts enhances a rainbow of critical skills in our children. Playing an instrument develops fundamental math concepts. Participating in a dance class nurtures physical and social dexterity. Painting encourages inventiveness. These, and the many other skills art programs nurture, go hand-in-hand with their academic counterparts.

Art programs are often cut from school curricula. Why? Because the laws passed by local and national governments put greater accountability on only two subjects: reading and math. Why aren’t other subjects, like science and history, given equal weight? This is not a balanced education for your children. If the arts develop so many important skills, including those integral to reading and math, why aren’t more art programs taught in your child’s school?

RAISE YOUR HAND AND BE HEARD.
Proclaim the need for more art programs in your child’s school.
Find and write to your legislatures. Visit our website at www.aems-edu.org.

Art Really Does Exist All Around Us...and In Us

2008-03-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me a link to the most amazing photographs. Each photo is an uber close-up of something. It could be man-made or organic. The series is part of an annual contest Nikon has. I chose three of my favorites to share. If you want to see more, go to:

www.nikonsmallworld.com

1. The first one looks like an animated side view of some humanoid creature from a fantasy story. He even has hair swooshing behind his head!

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING: The subject of this photo, "Megabalanus azoricus", also known as an Azorian Barnacle. Very basic research tells me it provides a breeding ground for various water creatures and it is a threatened species.

Image of Distinction, 2005 - Rodrigo Mexas - Maria Emilia da Cunha Mexas and Jose Eugenio Mexas Filho - "Megabalanus azoricus" (40x)

2. This photo brings Impressionistic painting to mind. Like something Van Gogh or Monet would have created. It has the most beautiful shapes and colors (I am sure the colors are dyes added to enhance the photo - but who cares?) Oh, we are ALL art, because this is a photo of human skin. Eww...

Image of Distinction, 2005 - Irmgard Fischer - University Vienna, Vienna, Australia - "Human Skin" (40x)

3. Love the colors of the third photo - can't go wrong with black, white and red. It amazes me how humans can create technology on such an intricate level. Maybe it's because this is a close-up of Velcro® but I am enjoying the tension created from the cute little hookie thingers and the tender fishing-line looking strings. Cute.

Honorable Mention, 2005 - Tracy E. Anderson - Imaging Center, College of Biological Sciences, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA - "Velcro® being pulled apart" (94x)

[No, the photograph is not upside-down]

2008-03-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

I love creepy dolls. You know, the old ones found in the corners of grandma's house, amongst the frills and twills on the curtans and the bed spreads and the sofa covers. I found this photo in Urbanite, Baltimore's curious magazine. It is a photograph by Dennis Farber, and it is titled, Vessel (1990).

I find it particularly creepy because it magnifies the dolls emptiness by grossly revealing its empty neck, which also looks like some sort of vase. (Hence the title of the piece, Vessel). As if to magnify it soulessness. ...but then you have those pink, pillowy, tiny-cute lips at the bottom of the frame, on the verge of being cut off, like it's head. Those lips are what keep me in the photograph.

Those lips give the doll humanity despite the lifeless reality.

Creative Block

2008-03-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

I've never really had to design a magazine page before. I have always wanted to work for a magazine, though. Something about the ever-changing, glossy pages that allow for design freedom. All the same, I am finding this project difficult. Maybe it's becaues I design all day long and then run to the gym, and then shovel some food down my throat, and then sit at my home computer at 9:00 at night to start my school work, when I am already "done" for the day.

Yeah, that could be the problem.

But back to this assignment. I did create a design to show on Saturday, but I don't like it. Nothing about it really *pops*. It would fit right into your average, ordinary magazine. Not a magazine with "good" design. Not a magazine with "bad" design, either. Just a plain-Jane magazine (kind of like the one I am designing it for - "Women's Health".)

So I am having major creative block. If nothing inspires me, I will bring what I have to class (at least it is complete and not necessarily "bad"). I am hoping my classmates will offer me a lot of constructive criticism. I really need it.

Enough with 'Interesting'

2008-03-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

My Art History professor at UMBC pointed out how often people abuse the word, "interesting". Especially in the art world. She was right.

It's unnoticed repetitiveness is the equivalent to the word, "like", in greater American society. Seriously. Keep an ear out for the word "like" one day and you will go batty.

I am equally astonished by the overuse of the word, "interesting". It is too easy. Not surprisingly, I have been hearing it a lot in class. I am guilty of the abuse, too. Feel free to call me out on it; chances are I will have already mentally-punished myself. Usually I say it when I am faltering for a better word. Or when I feel pressured to get my thoughts out faster so people will stay attentive (see, I was about to type interesting but back-spaced and found a more appropriate word, "attentive".)

Now the word "interesting" is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Even when I say it! I brace myself in any art situation I find myself in, because inevitably, "interesting" will show its grizzly smirk.

Show & Tell #3

2008-02-27T19:49:00.001-08:00

COMPARE & CONTRAST

I had a hard time finding a written comparison or contrast. There were a smattering of ads to choose from, but I really wanted to find prose.

So I compromised.

In the Live Earth "Global Warming Survival Handbook" by David De Rothschild, I found a comparison/contrast of environmentally friendly things to wear vs. not so eco-friendly things to wear.

I like this book. Save for the obvious reasons why, I also think it has great design. It's irresistible.

Content:

On the left side of the spread, the author points out the no-no's with the woman's outfit and accessories. Dry cleaning bags, man-made boots, polyester, nylon and non-rechargeable batteries are all rife with enviro dangers to be avoided.

On the right side of the spread, the authors touts the enviro-benefits of cotton, bamboo, reusable coffee sleeves, natural footwear, handmade jewelry and vintage clothing.

Visually:

The girl on the left has some serious attitude. She's smaller than the girl on the right and sits lower on the page. Oh, and she's totally dissing the crunchy girl.

Miss Perfect on the right is all relaxed. Chilling with her reusable polka-dotted coffee sleeve and listening to her rechargeable iPod she shows off her retro bag. She doesn't even notice Miss Attitude.

Both ladies hold coffee cups, something in their hand/on their arm, and have long hair.

Thoughts:

I resent the fact that polyester and nylon are bad, but I will still buy and wear it. Oh, and I hate those ugly open-toed shoes Miss Perfect has on - fake leather boots kick ass. But overall, I help the environment in many ways, so I am not offended.

But I digress...

This piece works because:

It has attractive, simple illustrations surrounded by not-too-many blurbs of copy you almost can't help but read with a child-like wonder. Why not? They are so short. The diagram at the top of this page (and all the other pages in the book) gives you a snapshot of the point being made, so you don't HAVE to actually read all the stuff. If you don't want to. Oh, and the diagram uses complimentary green and red effectively: the green is not "christmas" green, and the red is used sparingly.

Regurgitated Sex and Philosophy

2008-02-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

It took me about 3-months to read Henry Miller's, Tropic of Cancer.

Seriously.

It was that hard to get through.

I managed to push on and finish it because I was feeling guilty about not finishing Jack Kerouac's, On The Road. You see, I tried reading "On The Road" twice. I got as far as page 40-something, on the second try, before I gave up. Not completing a book is painful to me. For real. It is almost physical, the guilt and the feeling that I am missing out on something. That I may be letting some Power That Be down. Whatever that something was, I was willing to give it up when it came to "On The Road".

Back to "Tropic of Cancer".

After a couple of decades of pages, I realized Henry Miller may not be for me. Powered by guilt I trudged on, though. Reading every now and again - sometimes on my lunch break; more often to make time fly at the gym - I took it in bit by piece. Doesn't help that I am a slow reader (20-25 pages an hour).

I just got sick of hearing one man's regurgitation of his whores and sex and drunkeness and exploits in Paris. Not that reading about vagina's is especially bothersome for me, but not for nearly three-quarters of a 300+ page book. *Geez*

The last 80 pages or so were much better. I suppose Miller was sick of vagina during that time, or perhaps it was because he had not vagina to talk about. Whatever the reason, I really did enjoy those last chunks of his book. He spoke about his thoughts on religion and humanity and politics and I found myself understanding him. Relating to him. Even laughing, usually while I was pedaling the eliptical, and other gymers would look at me funny and then realize they were breaking gym-etiquette and then shuffle their eyes inwardly and in some-other-direction, once more.

While I can not Henry Miller's "Tropic of Cancer", is one of my favourite books, I have earned a respect for him as an artist, and I did enjoy a nibble here and there of his book.

WHAT AM I READING NOW?

I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson

The 1950's

2008-02-22T12:18:00.000-08:00

I love the 50's. I am not sure why, maybe it's the idealistic posturing, the blind-folded naivete, or maybe it's just because of the style. Whatever reason, It brings me limitless entertainment. More broadly, I love any old movie. AMC and TCM are frequently watched in my home. Something about the contrast between the innocence (in Hollywood) and the chaos (in the real world) facinates me. It's like being in a fantasy dream where you know more than everyone else.

Oh, yeah, these images 'borrowed' from Getty Images creative.

The World is not Designed for South Paws

2008-02-19T20:20:00.000-08:00

GRIPE.

So I invested in a pull-style mat cutter. It didn't take long to see that this damn gadget was designed for right-handers. And there wasn't a 'for right-handed users only' note on it. (Even though left-handed products are clearly labeled). Okay, okay, so I am a little whiney. Yes, I live in a right-handedist World, but I don't understand why a tool designed for an artist is not sensitive to the needs of left-handers when 4 out of 5 designers of the Macintosh computer were left-handers. I mean, that is supposed to be the computer for designers and artists, isn't it?

And what about the fact that to use the left hand, one uses the right side of their brains, which is the source of creativity, imagination, intuition and subjectiveness - all common resources in art.

No wonder left-handers have increased mortality. They are forced to live in a backwards world where they must constantly adapt, which would make you think they'd be more clever than right-handers, and would therefore find more ways to survive, but what about the poor south-paw who, in a life and death situation, instinctively uses their left hand to grab for a right-handed gadget but instead find themselves at that last minute before death once more says to herself, "damn this inconsiderate right-handed world!"

I am angry about the right-handed mat cutter. Partly because I can not use it, but more so because it was expensive. *Geez*

OKAY, I'M DONE GRIPING.

Show & Tell #2

2008-02-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

SHOW AND TELL

I read two interviews in two different magazines.

The first was an interview in Swindle of Julien Nitzberg, a writer. My immediate reaction to, and the reason why I read, this article was because I loved the design. (2-column grid, by the way). The clean structure punctuated by the striking photo attracted me. While the typographical treatment is a bit illegible, it does catch the eye.

The interview itself was lacking. It seemed too regimented; too structured. The interviewee's answers were bland and lacked color. Nothing really stood out for me as being extra-special or memorable. This could be a fault of the person interviewed, or more likely lack of good editing on the interviewer's part.

Or maybe I am just being mean.

The second article came from Women's Health and is a conversation with Anna Friel, an actress known for her most recent role as "Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles" in Pushing Daisies. I wasn't as impressed with this design, but it worked for me (looks like a 3- or 5-column grid to me). The choice of font bothered me more than anything else, but it was well-balanced.

The content of this interview was certainly more effective. More of the interviewee's personality came out. The writer was careful to keep it lighthearted (presumably reflecting personality) and highlighted little tid-bits that kept the reader going.

She kept the tone casual and light. For instance, after asking about being covered by a lot of tabloids, the interviewer threw in another, much more conversational question: "Do tell: How does one become a tabloid darling?" I felt the interviewer took opportunities to ask spontaneous questions she thought up as the interview went along.

Still Not Sure / Making Headway

2008-02-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

COMPARE/CONTRAST COMP

So, I am still not sure whether I am doing this whole compare/contrast thing right. I made my final edits to the copy and tweaked the finer points of my comp for class next weekend. While my copy itself does not compare the fruits to anything, the combination of my copy with the design effectively makes a comparison. Furthermore, I only made two comparisons. Not one comparison and one contrast.

It is the first assignment and I think I am just being paranoid.

I am not changing what I have done, because I believe the works speak for themselves within the realms of the assignment.

PROJECT 2: PROFILE (sketch/rough draft)

In other news, I had a fantastic interview with my friend for our next project. I have chosen to profile someone who recently had gastric bypass surgery. She was very open and detailed; easy to listen to. Although I had planned for a 1-2 hour session, we ended up interviewing for over four hours! Wonderful!

I've never interviewed someone before. My friend made it easy because she was so excited to participate. I behaved myself best as possible and kept my mouth shut. Admittedly, I found myself starting to chat now-and-then, but stopped myself before it got in the way of the primary task.

Even for the veteran interviewer, it must be especially hard to interview a friend. The nature of a good friendship is give-and-take while an interview is all about take.

Did anyone else feel this way?

Show & Tell #1

2008-02-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

[Well, not so much show, but read and tell.]

[Photo at left taken from Wikipedia, A Farewell To Arms]

For the past few years I have been on a "Classics" kick. I have been reading what I call, those-books-everyone-else-had-to-read-in-school-but-not-me. Books on the ever-growing list of banned literature from schools is also appealing to me.

One of my favorites from that particular time period (and currently a banned book, by the way):

Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"

I cannot recall much about that book, just memory that I liked it.

One of my least favorites:

Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea"

Of course, the masochist in me decided that I really needed to give Mr. Hemingway another shot. Rather than re-read the one book I did like from my childhood, I chose to read "A Farewell to Arms."

On the one hand, Hemingway's writing is obviously dated. This provided me with a smattering of unintentional entertainment throughout the book. On the other hand, I was surprised at how much I appreciated Hemingway's writing style:

• Simple, to-the-point sentences

• No unnecessary fluff

and my favorite...

• Breakage of the "rules"

To demonstrate:

(TAKEN FROM CHAPTER VII:)

..."You speak English?" he asked.

"Sure."

"How you like the goddam war?"

"Rotten."

"I say it's rotten. Jesus Christ, I say it's rotten"

"Were you in the States?"

"Sure. In Pittsburgh. I knew you was an American."

"Don't I talk Italian good enough?"

"I knew you was an American all right."

"Another American," said the driver in Italian looking at the hernia man.

"Listen, lootenant. Do you have to take me to that regiment?"

"Yes."

Notice the brief sentence structure and the conscious misspelling of "Lieutenant" in order to achieve the voice of the character. A majority of the dialogue in this book is written this way; oftentimes simpler.

Another example in the same chapter:

..."I would like to eat at the Cova and then walk down the Via Manzoni in the hot evening and cross over and turn off along the canal and go to the hotel with Catherine Barkley. Maybe she would. Maybe she would pretend that I was her boy that was killed and we would go in the front door and the porter would take off his cap and I would stop at the concierge's desk and ask for the key and she would stand by the elevator and then we would get in the elevator and it would go up very slowly clicking at all the floors and then our floor and the boy would step out and we would walk down the hall and I would put the key in the door and open it and go in and then take down the telephone and ask them to send a bottle of capri bianca in a silver bucket full of ice and you would hear the ice against the pail coming down the coridor [sic] and the boy would knock and I would say leave it outside the door please."...

*WHEW!*

That was a loooong sentence! Snippets of mini-scenes held together by "and" glue. Hemingway uses many simple words and applies repetition to create a sense of urgency and expectation.

Brilliant.

Sticky & Stuck

2008-02-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

After seeing all my classmate's blogs, mine feels inferior. Expect some spicing up in the coming weeks (after I get used to all this going-back-to-school-after-8-years business).

As far as my project goes, I have narrowed it down to two fruits: are Blueberries and the Star Fruit (aka-Carambola) I chose Whole Paycheck, er, I mean, "Whole Foods" as my grocer of choice. Slim pickin's in the produce section as far as unusual goes. I did see that funky octopus-like fruit Stephanie mentioned in class, though. I purchased some figs, blueberries, kumquats, a star fruit, and a box of Peanut Butter Bumpers cereal (on suggestion of a co-worker).

[The cereal is delicious, by the way.]

Per my first post, I am leaning more towards the productive, if not obvious, health benefits of fruits in general. Honing in on exactly how I am going to do this is the trick now. For the blueberry: pregnant belly, balance ball, swim caps. For the star fruit: climbing rocks, diamond jewelry (yeah, not fitness-realted at all, but an idea).

Tonight is "get down to the nitty gritty" to flesh this fruit business out into an actual draft or two.

Ideas: Fruit Compare / Contrast

2008-02-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

COMPARISON

Fitness & Fruit:

We all know that eating healthy and exercising is important for a well-rounded health lifestyle. Why not place side by side images of a fruit, such as a banana, and a weight? The two work together to complete your healthy living needs. Or a balance ball and an apple. Perhaps a person working out on an apple...or lifting a banana. That may be too comical to place in a stuffy, upscale grocery store, though.

CONTRAST

Natural, Organic vs. Cloned/Genetically Engineered Fruit:

A google search for "hybrid fruit" enlightened me to a certain "Plumcot" and it's question of immorality according to certain religious groups. I can only assume this fruit is a mix between a Plum and an Apricot. Certainly not naturally occuring (or is it?).

On second thought, I am trying to sell this fruit in a market, not scare people away.

CONTRAST

Fruity Sweets vs. Natural Fruits

Providing incentive for shoppers to make a healthier choice. Show a sugary fruit-infused dessert (strawberry icecream sundae?) along side a wiser option, like a bowl of sliced strawberries. Utilizing the "exoticness" of a more unusual fruit to entice shoppers to try something new.

COMPARISON

Exotic Fruits Are Fun!

Taking the mystery out of an exotic fruit by demonstrating how it isn't so scary. For instance, show where it came from, how it can be used, listing some facts or even a brief recipe. Comparing the shape, color to something more familiar.