All the Words of a Language | Blog

things i've made recently

Issue 3: The Sketchbook from Underground Art School on Vimeo.

If I wasn't obvious enough, I made this. And I made this thing below.

level of creative committment

"I know you're having an affair with words but boo, I'm married to it"

1. Clarify my message. I'm a visual communicator.  What am I saying, why does it need to be said, how will I say it, who is listening?
2. What is the intention of the project? Take the I, Me, Mine needs/wants out of it for one minute.  Now really, what is the intention?
3. How committed am I to the project (what is the level of loyalty)? Why/why not?
4. Follow through to the end.

That last part is tough.  Fear is a dangerous liason, there's something attractive about bad boys.  Although it's easy to forget how status quo Fear is...everyone is doing it.  After that realization, it's not so badass anymore.

 

messages

I went to NYC this weekend. The city was good to me.  It got me thinking about messages.

The Wandering of the Wicked, originally uploaded by andy kehoe.

I randomly saw a college friend while walking around and we started talking about work (social protocol).  He was telling me about an incredible job offer in a design firm that fell through because he wasn't sure about his message.  There were many departments within the company and he wasn't clear about where he stood (or wanted to) with his work going into the job interview.  He didn't get the job.  Confusion killed it.


Humanity Returns, originally uploaded by andy kehoe.

Then I went to the opening of Andy Kehoe and Souther Salzar show at Jonathen LeVine Gallery (there's nothing more to say about this except SEE IT if you are in the area).  I read this interview about message from Juxtapoz blog with Andy Kehoe before the show:

"I think young artists get so caught up in developing their own style. When I got out of Parsons, I was painting these stripy things across all my creatures' eyes and thought, "Oh yeah, that's my shit." All that becomes kind of gimmicky and doesn't really mean anything in the end."

I realized that like style, if you don't know what you're message is, why do you expect anyone else to understand it either?  People can see right through gimmick.  The point is to get the message so clear that they see through it and their reflection looking back at them. I have two separate businesses- personal illustration and Underground Art School Magazine. I understand and know what I'm doing with the Underground. I have no clue what I am doing with the other because my interests and messages change constantly.  That's why nothing is happening.  Confusion is killing it.

Have you clarified what your message is, how you will communicate it, and why?

 

 

pierrot la lune

Remember my bella luna moleskine drawing for my moley exhange? Well, she is currently traveling around the Nothern Hemisphere collecting  the dreams of other artists  Here is the first one from Carolina (aka Karo Design) in Montreal. I am in love with how Carolina sees things.  Please check out her work. 

Pierrot la lune, originally uploaded by karo-design.

conceptual doodling

I'm up to 38 doodles in the Doodle Off! Something weird has been happening though, I can't just doodle.  I can't draw from still life, or start making marks, there has to be some type of concept or emotion in order for me to doodle and for the drawing to start forming. Let me clarify, I'm not sitting here spending time waiting and thinking up of a concept either.  Concept and doodling are occurring at the same time.  This is exciting (for me-not you)! I've never had my left and right brain work together before! 

Now to solve world hunger....

elements of design

I don't know why I really care too much about stuff such as this but doea a yellow box acting as a marker highlight fulfill the task of an emotional connection to the reader of the magazine?  This little element is everywhere in design, most notably in magazines (I just saw it in GQ of all places).  I think it's implemented because we as humans demand a personal connection these days (and we probably really need it too).   It's not really that personal however when it's uber generic and used by all.

I'm realizing I'm more of a graphic designer than I ever imagined I'd be when the placement of yellow boxes in a magazine spread is what keeps me awake at night and compels me to blog, 

This entry is not important at all, I just have a huge pet peeve when context, in any situation, and of the smallest detail, is not considered.

may goals

Jena @ Modish is having virtual monthly goal meet up and I think it's the best friggin' idea ever.  This is called community. 

My May goals [edited to do unrealistic expectations]:
1. Make 50 doodles for the Doodle Off Competiton
2. Release Underground Art School Magazine Issue 3
3. Release video #3 for Underground Art School
4. Write a 'business' plan for UAS and for my illustration business-overview, goals, market research
5. Take reference for Catcher in Rye for new book cover portfolio
6. Get the 411 on Artspace in Hartford for potential event
7. Experience some art in NYC
8.Experience art in NYC again!
9. Spend time with my lil lil sister
10. ISSN STAT!
11. Clean off the art table

I think the idea is cool because you get to really see the process unfold.  Um, hopefully.

doodle off!

So the Doodle Off started last week (stop by and leave us some love).  After looking back since the first Doodle Off, I have to say, I have improved portraits and my sketchbook style is weird.  Semi-realistic pencil portraits to linear hairy monsters and teapots dripping thick black sludge while the Etsy logo chases all?  Don't forget about the typography.  We must never forget about the typography.

The good news since Doodle Off v.1: I don't care what I put into my sketchbooks (no more final piece pressure) and I could care less about how realistic I make things.  Artwork looks better and believable when your having fun making it.