Dale Chihuly

This past weekend I got to experience a Dale Chihuly installation at a museum. Chihuly is based out of Seattle and is known for his eccentric blown glass forms. His work is colorful, fanciful, and all around cool. The best way to tell you is to show you. Enjoy!

Dancing brings us together

You need to check this out if you haven't already. Apparently, Stride gum paid this guy to do this dance in different cities around the world. Then they decided they wanted people in the video with him... so they paid him again to film the video around the world.

just watch, click here

when was the last time you danced for fun?

UpStream logo

Wow, it's been waaaaay too long since I last posted. Last time it was a personal logo, which I am still working on. Now I am working on a Freshman outreach/group, UpStream, logo for a campus ministry.

I have used the iconographic Ichthus for several reasons 1. Christian organization 2. Freshmen aka fish. 3. issues with life/faith can be like swimming up stream

Here are two designs I have come up with.

The one on the left:

Wanted to be more organic, take on the feel of water, stream like. Didn't want to use black, but a dark gray, as there are few things in nature that are truly pure black. The font has no perfectly straight lines...just like nature. The blue one of the left has a lighter gray font and stroke that makes the ichthus.

The one on the right:

Since this is appealing to new students, this one is a little more youthful, modern. There is a rhythm to the draw the viewer in. The font is long, emphasizing the "Up" of UpStream. Black is used to give it a clean look, adding to it's moderness.

COLOR:

I have used 3 colors (other than the neutral grays and blacks)

Lime Green: the original ministry's colors, not a good choice b/c though this is part of the ministry, it is important if it has it's own identity.

Light Blue: Fish swim in water, though water is rarely this color of blue ( streams, lakes, rivers) this color conveys water and is calming.

Red: Red is the schools colors to which this ministry belongs. It is good to associate with the school, but other than that, there is no other reason to use this color.

These three colors are appealing to most people, boys and girls alike.

I'm still playing with it, but I'd like to know your thoughts!

Black & White Studio logo examples

Ok guys, due to the demand of my talents the time has come to create a logo and business name for design business. I have a simple style, no frills, no needless decoration, just the bare minimum. Keeping things simple is my goal, hence Creativity with Purpose. I also prefer black and white, but I can do color too. I am an amateur in the design world, so I have much to learn, but one has to start somewhere.  

These are logos that I created for Black & White Studio.  Here is why I like both of these. They exhibit several of the Gestalt principles of design:

proximity

closure

repetition

figure/ground: when the negative space is as important as the positive space ( negative space = the white space around these letters. positive space= the black letters themselves) 

symmetry

asymmetry

continuity

hierarchy

balance

let me know which one you like ( you can dislike both) and why. Please use constructive criticism, I value your opinion. (disregard the watermark in the middle)

Memorial Day Appreciation

Sculptor Felix DeWeldon apparently had a clay model done for this statue 72 hrs after seeing the picture this was based off of...wow! 

It is monuments like these that remind us of our story. Many thanks to those who have sacrificed their lives. Troops, I support you!  

Christ is laid in the tomb

This too is not an original idea, I just love this composition and technique and I love the simple style, so I tried it and this is what I came up with. The picture of my painting does not do this painting justice. I just love the lines and then the lonely doorway in the background. 

IT IS FINISHED!!! now on to other things!! 

Christ dies on the cross

Painted from the same statue as the last one, this one depicts the moment when Christ surrenders his spirit. The shadows really describe Jesus' emaciated yet muscular body. I am really pleased with the wash like technique. I think I'm getting the hang of this painting the figure thing!