Goals for Break

As much as I'm looking forward to finally relaxing over winter break, I'm also looking forward to the time I'll have to spend time on just my capstone without worrying about other classes. I have two major goals:

1) Finish all three portraits. This will be very important for me to do, as I can foresee these becoming a burden when I'm trying to get everything else finished, printed, and constructed in the last semester.

2) I'd also like to start experimental construction on floating bookshelves, since they seem like something I can do myself and I'm thinking of switching over to all floating shelves rather than the standard ones you'd normally see in bookstores. It looks like I can buy them from places like Barnes and Noble (not outrageous, but this might still be more expensive than my budget will allow. Another, hopefully cheaper option, is making them myself.

It'll definitely be a bit of work, but I don't think it will be unmanageable. Here's to an excellent last winter break!

Critique!

I had my second critique, and I think it went pretty well. I have some things to tweak, but I'm fairly confident moving forward. I still like my project at the end of the semester, which makes me quite happy; I definitely chose the right one.

Things I am keeping in mind:

Logo: tweak the ship's color, fix weird little negative space shapes, push the boundaries of the inner oval with the tentacles a bit more...

T-Shirt: look into making a female cut for the "feisty heroine" shirt, and look at prices

Portraits: go with a grey background on all of them, and figure out how to frame them (all the same? Different depending on genre? Using trim from the hardware store?)

Still painting. I took a picture of my progress thus far, excuse the crappy quality, on my phone. So here it is.





It's coming along okay, but I have a lot of work left to do. And I have no idea what I want to do with the background...I will most likely be asking about that in the critique.






I was also looking at the nook I want for my exhibit...the ceilings are actually pretty low, but I think that could work to my advantage to create the feeling of a more enclosed space. I'll probably be thinking about how I could utilize the space and bookshelf designs this weekend...

On a semi-related note, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has come out tonight, and I am quite excited! Those books have been a major inspiration for me since I was 11, and I don't think it's a stretch to say that they've inspired my entire generation as well, not to mention that the series is likely the reason that most people my age read at all. Really, they're probably a big part of the reason I became interested in doing art at all; illustrating the books and drawing the characters when I was younger made me realize that art was something I enjoyed and wanted to do for the rest of my life. So horray for Harry Potter!

Painting!

I've finally started the portraits! I have 24 x 18 wooden panels that I gessoed during the week, and this past weekend I've started on HP Lovecraft. I brought an easel into my room, so I have a pretty convenient set up so I can work when I feel inspired to. So far Mr. Lovecraft is coming out decently, but I messed up a bit on his eyes and mouth so now he looks a lot like Richard Gere. Really weird how that happened, but I'll start posting process pictures shortly.


I'm painting this guy.















Not this guy.









My big critique is one week from now. I'll be working pretty hard this weekend...I'd like to have the portrait nearly finished if possible so I can get feedback on how to continue with all there. I also want to start sketching out some shelf and exhibition designs as well. I'm a bit nervous, but I'm sure I can pull it all together (plus I'll have a couple days to relax(ish) afterward!).

Free Books!

Ely Chapman had their book give away this weekend, so I woke up early on my Saturday to stand in line so I could get my pick of sci fi/fantasy books! I managed to fill a big cardboard box (and I had a rough time carrying it back to campus) so I think I have a good start for books to fill my shelves. There are even some hardcover books, and ones that I won't mind destroying to make the base of my floating shelves (*cough*Eragon*cough*).

I had a meeting with Beth last week to talk about my portraits. She seemed to think that I was on the right track, and gave me some wooden panels to gesso so I can get started, as well as an easel that I set up in my room so it's easier for me to work. And since I'm planning on working in my room, I've decided to go with acrylic paint so I'm not inhaling awful oil paint and medium fumes. My gesso will be dry by the weekend, so I hope to start HP Lovecraft and have something decent to show for my critique.

Also, I've download some t-shirt templates and I'm playing around with ideas...I've got one or two with a wrap around of my kraken, and then for the others I'm playing around with fantasy cliches. When I was in a fantasy lit class in high school, we discussed cliches a lot because it's nearly impossible to find fantasy without them: some are necessary, some are horrible, some are fine if the author can put a new twist on them. But cliches are something any fantasy reader recognizes (for example, "The Chosen One") and gets a kick out of making fun of them.

Music!

One thing I really would like to have in my final exhibition is music. Music can really set the mood for someplace like a store, and what people are listening to when browsing bookshelves can help bring the brand to another level by incorporating another one of the senses. I, however, am kind of inept when it comes to knowing what songs to pick--I'll know what I want when I hear it, but I have no idea where to start. Fortunately for me, I have a music major sister who is more than happy to throw music my way, and has a strong sense of the mood I'm going for since we have the same interests when it comes to books and bookstores. I'm pumped about what she's give me thus far..


Philip Glass is a minimalist composer, and his work definitely has an eerie, ambient quality that I associate with sci fi.




And A Carnival of Animals: Aquarium also has a fantastical, yet slightly eerie, quality to it.



(ignore the odd video for Sea Song) I think there may also be a fair amount of celtic music, since I associate it with fantasy...and it's one of my favorite musical genres, so I'm bias.

So I'm excited. Even if a play list doesn't end up in the final project, having music to work with will give me a stronger idea of the atmosphere I want to create.

Typefaces and Sketchbooks

The logo is coming along. I've finally decided on a typeface I'm going to use, Mason, and I've been working on editing it a bit:

















The look of this typeface definitely says fantasy/sci fi to me. I especially like the "A".

Other than that, I've been coming up with ways to alter the general logo so that it can be used for each genre (for example, for the horror genre the kraken is dripping with blood instead of holding a ship, is reading Call of Cthulhu, and has a red oval rather than a brown one behind him). I've also started sketching ideas for a kraken bookmark.

I need to set up an appointment with Beth to talk about my portraits since I've finished sketching Tolkien...then buy stretcher bars and put together some canvases. My goal is to have HP Lovecraft done or close to done by the end of the semester.

These are quite whimsical, I enjoy them.





























And one final note, I've decided to participate in The Sketchbook Project 2011. Basically you choose a theme, they send you a sketchbook, you fill it with drawings related to the theme, then you send it back and it travels as part of a show around the country! I've chosen the theme "Dirigibles and Submersibles" to work with, which will be a challenge, but I'm hoping it will help get inspired for my capstone and perhaps something from this project can be incorporated into my capstone display somehow! I'm excited.

After working on this logo for so long, I'm really hoping to move on shortly. I think I've got something that I'm actually going to like, but I'm starting to get nervous and I feel like I need to just finish it and start working on everything else that goes into building a brand. I hope to take a trip to the bookstore or Parkersburg this weekend and pick up some canvases or stretcher bars and paint (maybe?) so I can get a move on the portraits. Other items I know I want to create for the bookstore include:

• canvas bags
• t-shirts
• signs for each section
• "employee" recommendation cards
• bookmarks
• Price stickers (maybe)
• book of the month display
  
• event/sale posters

I will probably think of more things to include as the year goes by...I guess my plan is to just work on as many as I can, but keep in mind that it might not be realistic to expect to do everything.




















Gartenkulter's recycled book "pots." One or two of these could be a quirky addition to the exhibition...

More Awesome Images!

I keep stumbling on really cool images that relate to my capstone! Here's another one, an advertisement done for Anagram Bookshop in Prague, for their "Words Create Worlds" promotion. Excellent inspiration!



















More images in the link.

Nemo Gould

Stumbled upon a cool artist, Nemo Gould. He uses found and salvaged metal to make sci-fi themed sculpture.
































































Really cool stuff. Here's his website!

I'm starting to think about additional items to enhance the brand of my bookstore. So far I know I want to make bookmarks and canvas bags, but everything else is up in the air. T-shirts perhaps, with esoteric sci-fi/fantasy references on them? Posters? Maybe book lights? I will probably poll some friends and my sister, who have the same literary interests that I do and see what kind of items they would like to see or buy in a bookstore. And I'll look into what sites like cafe press can make for me. I also know that I want to make a CD to play at the opening of music that a person would hear while browsing if this bookstore where the real deal; I think that could really add to the mood that I'm going for.

In other news, I'm feeling like I'm getting closer to making a logo I'm happy with. I'm thinking I would like the final design to be a wooden sign, one that's perhaps reminiscent of a pub or inn sign. Getting this made professionally will probably be outrageously expensive, so I might just look into learning how to make it myself...
















Bookstore kittens are probably impractical.

What does a kraken look like? And what sort of feel do I want this logo to have? I've been looking to other artists and the ocean for inspiration.

I think that this is incredibly cool. It's a wall painting by Raewyn Haughton. It just makes me think that maybe I want to add a bit more realism and action/movement to the kraken in my logo?






And for the past few weeks I've been looking at old drawings of krakens, but maybe it would help to look at the real life inspirations....





The Octopus...











and the Squid.

















Not really sure which one a kraken would look more like...but I think if I keep sketching I'll probably find a hybrid that works.

I've also been looking at pub/inn signs, since I think I want it to have that kind of look with a wooden sign.

Also, I finished 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!

Continuing to Progress

There's not a ton to actually report on, other than more progress. Over break I sketched out Jules Verne and I'm nearly done with Tolkien (I just need to look up a ship reference for the smoke that will be coming out of his pipe). So soon I can start doing mini paintings of all of them and figuring out the canvas, etc. that I want. And I'm thinking about buying cheap books by each author and collaging the pages in the background? We'll see.

And more logo sketching, playing with something less corporate for Brass Kraken Books. I've been trying to put it into a shape, which could easily be made into a sign, and playing with heraldry. I'm not sure whether I want to go all out and fully blazon a shield with all the parts, or just choose the ones I want, such as the shield, insignia, motto, supporters, and crest. But I've been using the Heraldic Dictionary as a reference, which has been very useful.















Also thinking about bookshelves...I found another friend, Kelly, whose dad enjoys woodworking and has made shelves before (with ladders!!!!), so I'm glad I'm starting to make these connections now. I've also been wondering how to prevent book theft while they're just sitting on the shelves...perhaps the shelves can be built so a glass or plastic panel can be slid in? I guess I've got a while to ponder this issue.

And I'm about 50 pages away from finishing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Huzzah!

Door Knockers and Heraldry

Here are some interesting door knockers I may try to take cues from for
revising my logo:

















Also, looking at some family shields:















The Greyjoy Shield, from George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series.











My family crest! For the logo, it could be interesting and fun to use the traditional meanings of colors and shapes in heraldry. Also, the top figure (it's a greyhound in this one) could be changed out for each genre.

Decisions! And Critique #1.

Had my first critique today, and I think I'm pretty pleased with the results. I was having trouble deciding between the names "The Book Keep," "The Book Wyrm," and "Brass Kraken Books." Although I like The Book Keep and The Book Wyrm, I agree with the general assessment that the The Book Keep may sound too general and both are too fantasy/medieval themed for a bookstore that includes sci-fi and fantasy as well.

So! Brass Kraken Books it is! The image of the Kraken/tentacles cover all three genres (Watcher in the Water from LotR, Verne's giant squid, Lovecraft's Cthulhu). And I also think that brass is something that I would like to incorporate into the look of the actual bookstore as well. It was suggested that I look at brass door knockers for cues, which I think could give me some good ideas and does have that kind of secret door/space feeling that I want for the store. Brass Kraken Books also has a nice ring with the alliteration. Sarah suggested that I try putting my logo into a more closed shape, along the lines of a family shield, and make it so that the logo can be varied slightly for each genre. I like this idea a lot, so I think that's what I will be working on next. And finally, I'm probably going to ask Beth about the composition of my portraits once I have sketches of all three.

I am very satisfied! :)
Oh, and here's a kraken. Enjoy.

Indecision (for the better)

This week I've mostly been exploring more logos and typefaces. Although I like the name "The Book Keep," at this point I think I'm going to keep my options open and explore some additional possibilities and images just so I'm not limiting myself and this project turns out to be the best it can be. My first critique is on Tuesday (yikes!) and by that time I'm planning on having 3 different potential names and at least 3 different logos for each name. I'd also like to have at least one bozzetto to demonstrate the direction I'd like to go with the author portraits.

Also in the area of my research, I've started reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Since I'm planning on doing a portrait of Jules Verne, as he is one of the pioneers of science fiction, I thought it would be necessary to read at least one of his works. I'm enjoying it thus far!

Finally, I may have a lead on custom shelves. One of my friends, Mary, said that her dad loves making shelves as a hobby and is pretty affordable. He's in the Cleveland area, which isn't so bad since it's close to wear I live. So hopefully I will hear back from her this weekend as to whether he'd be willing to help me out!


And more Bookshelf Porn for your viewing pleasure. This is a bike shelf. Very interesting, it would be fun to try to incorporate quirky objects like this into shelves...

Portrait Plans

To give character of the interior of my bookstore, I've decided to paint 3 author portraits to go along with each of the genres I want the bookstore to specialize in. I'm pretty excited about this, as it will also let me incorporate my studio art major and my love for painting people. So here are the authors:

Fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkien

Sci-Fi: Jules Verne












Horror: H.P. Lovecraft












Right now I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to be doing with them--I'm thinking of either incorporating them into a scene from one of their stories, or adding a single more subtle element to the portrait (i.e. a smoke ship coming from Tolkien's pipe, etc) and decorating the frames. I'll probably start the sketching soon, getting materials, and by the end of the semester having a bozzetto for each portrait; this isn't something I should procrastinate on, for my sanity's sake.

What's in a Name?

So I think I've settled on what I'd like to call my little bookstore: The Book Keep. This name indicates that the store will have more of a fantastic leaning (Keep=Castle Keep) I think, and will allow me to play with the combination of castle and book imagery. I'm still in the sketching phase of the logos; I seem to have a lot of ideas, but nothing looks quite right drawn out yet.



























More Bookshelf Porn. I've always loved hidden passage ways in bookshelves.


EDIT: After seeing the picture above, Aleece was nice enough to give me a website of a company in Columbus, Secret Doorways, that actually these doors! They're pretty darn expensive, but hey, maybe if I unexpectedly come into a lot of money....

Blargity Blog

“These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves.” - Gilbert Highet, Scottish-American classicist

After working like crazy on a project for Monoprint, I unfortunately haven't had much time since Tuesday to work on logos. My goal is to have some solid ideas and sketches by Tuesday which will hopefully evolve into a single great logo by the end of the week.

I have been keeping a little black capstone book though, where I just jot down ideas, and lately I've been thinking about materials. If anyone knows where I can find:

a) A good used bookstore so I can start buying books to fill shelves (and some to commit book violence against and mutilate for collage purposes).

b) A flea market sort of place where I can find cheap and interesting chairs and tables and possibly bookshelves. My cheapest bookself option is WalMart at the moment, and they're just 7ft tall black shelves for $25 each, but if I can find something more interesting than plain flat black that might be nice.

I've also come across another blog that's good for inspiration, Marc Fitten's Indie 100. Mr. Fitten is an author who's traveling across the country to promote his new book at independent bookstores. He does a little write up on each one and includes pictures, so it's cool to see the different personalities these bookstores can take on, from the signage to the interiors.

'Tis all!

Bookshelf Porn and Emailing the Future

It's not as X-rated as it sounds. I've found the most wonderful blog for inspiration, called Bookshelf Porn. It features beautiful pictures of bookshop interiors from around the world, and I can't get enough of it.

























http://bookshelfporn.com/

It's definitely a good resource for gathering ideas and elements that will give my brand a certain feel and aesthetic. I'm liking the cluttered, yet cozy, feeling that many of them have...the antithesis of the cold modern look with the clean sharp lines. I've got my eye on a certain corner of the gallery that I think will work perfectly. In other news, I'm coming closer to coming up with a name and I'm tossing around a few logo ideas...but a post with pictures will come when I'm a bit more confident in the direction.

Emailed my future self, right before the capstone show. I hope that she's not having a nervous break down and still has as much love for this project as I do now. But I can only offer last minute encouragement.

All Systems Are Go

I have finally pitched my proposals! It was slightly torturous waiting a week to figure out what direction I'm going, because I just want to work. But I am now officially going to take off working on branding an independent bookstore!

Here are the details. Basically, I've always wanted to own an independent bookstore (and live in an apartment above it with a bookstore dog, but I think that's beyond the scope of my project). But one thing that I think a lot of small bookstores are lacking, which probably leads to failure in many cases, is specialization. I'm planning on branding a sci-fi/fantasy/horror bookshop and physically creating a space for it. One of the most important things to me in a bookstore is how it feels; I like to be surrounded by books, comfy chairs, cozy spaces, and creativity. And now I get to create it. I want bookshelves collaged with pages (yes, I know, a lot of used book violence may be committed here), perhaps the shelves that make books appear to "float," portraits of iconic authors to adorn the shelves of their genre, a logo, a (wooden?) sign, bags, a website, employee t-shirts, business cards, bookmarks, comfy chairs, coffee tables, and much more that I can't think of off the top of my head.

I already have endless enthusiasm and love for this project. And I think that's a good sign.

Now to think of a name for it...

Getting Started

I can't believe three years have flown by and I am now sitting in capstone class, trying to figure out what awesome, epic, life changing project I'm going to be working on for the entire year.

Hopefully it's awesome, epic, and life changing. I don't think I could abide working on a capstone that wasn't at least 1 out of those 3.

Project proposals to come on Thursday, if my head doesn't explode from the magnitude of it all.