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?)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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!
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!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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!).
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!).
Thursday, November 11, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
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.
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.
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