BEHOLDER

Yes. I am a nerd. Thank you for the reminder. Second Dungeons and Dragons creature I've made for this class. Yes I do have a life, Yes I am a nerd. Thank you. WHAT IS A BEHOLDER?! A beholder is a mystical one eyed creature with many little eyes held in tentacles. These creatures are pretty gnarly and will almost literally tear you a new one. Why did i choose the beholder and what for? The create a fuzzy monster project! what better creature to make fuzzy than a beholder? Going from scaly to furry i made a beholder that looks almost plush! yay! I tried to make the hairs subtle so as not to make him look weak, but still keep a strong demeanor. You can tell the hairs are there, and that he is fuzzy, but also hes not a cuddly fuzzy, he is about as fuzzy as an enraged grizzly bear defending her cubs. brutal. absolutely brutal. check it out. he's purple too =D

God Bless (and watch out for mythical beasts),
Mike

C'THULU PWNS YOU

Yes. C'thulu, pronounce -kuh-thoo-loo- is a creation made by HP Lovecraft. C'thulu is a mythical beast from another dimension. Commonly used in fantasy like subjects such as Dungeons and Dragons (made by Gary Gygax). When the average human sees C'thulu they begin to run away stricken with fear throwing up their innards. pretty much awesome right? what does this have to do with Graphic Design? EVERYTHING. I took the basic shapes given to us for the project and i drew C'thulu standing on a rock with waves crashing around him. The sky I chose is very doom-like just to add the effect to evil.
AMAZING.

C'thulu Rocks,
Mike

A final project

For the love of GOD this can't be real. Our last project is an ESSAY. YAY. ESSAYS ARE FUN ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE 750 To 1200 WORDS ON HOW A COMPUTERS STARTS. Can you feel my sarcasm? Can you feel the absolute loathing I have for this project. My disdain will be heard. WHY. WHY.WHY.WHY?!!?!?!? On a more serious note..... this project won't be easy, but i'm sure it won't be too hard. The most interesting part would be creating the weathered tile, and getting some cool pictures. I hope to God that I can make it through this alive.

Finished Weathered Text

Here is the finished product of the weathered text project. I took the previously used Factor Five logo and i created a background that looked like a knife had scratched the ever living being out of it. It was overall a fun project to do, and took a LOT of layering and effects to give the spiderweb/knife effect. It has somewhat of an aesthetic but brutal feel to it. Let me explain this; the aesthetics comes from the background, being a soothing blue, and the brutality comes from the font type. All in all I like the combination of peace and roughness.

Weathered Text

In our last class for graphic design we were asked to draw something with distressed text. It was pretty interesting, to take a boring font and make it look really cool. I took a basic font, and I transformed the words "Factor Five" (a piercing shop) into something that looked kind of gothic by taking the first F and the last E and giving them an 80's metal feel. I then took a brush, went all over the font, and merged them to give it a weathered feel. I then took the swirl tool and gave the O in factor a weird feel to it, giving it a total gothic but cool look. Our next and final project is a huge essay that is supposed to look pretty but also be informative. Pray for me.

God Bless,
Mike

Bridge Program

So I had a genius epiphany. During the bridge project for CSU's Bridge Program, I used a picture of the Ravenel bridge coming from a straightforward standpoint. Tracing this straightforward picture, i used the wire anchors to give a fan effect (the gold portion of the picture). Using the Blend tool, I was able to give more of the wire anchors towards the back, but kept them black to make it look more like a bridge. The gold fan effect kind of brings out the focal point of the bridge, causing the viewer to see that it is a bridge, but moreso, focus on the text in the center. All in all this was a good project, it was pretty fun but kinda difficult to make sure everything was even. Attached is a picture to show my final product. As far as the new project goes, we have to take a sample text box, and give it a weathered feel, which will eventually be a sign of some sort. It should be pretty cool, its something different than a logo =D

God Bless,
Mike

Another New Project

Here is the picture I meant to attach to my last blog, these are my finished products for Army Athletics and BYTE magazine. I think they're pretty cool, I like them a lot. Not trying to sound pompous or conceited. As far as the new project we were assigned, we have to design a logo for CSU's bridge program. It seems to be a lot of fun, and I really can't wait to get started on it! I have to incorporate the ravenel bridge in some sort of way and I think I will enjoy it.

God Bless,
Mike

Logo Completion

Today I finished both logos for the assigned project. Despite me running into a creativity block, it was interesting when I came to completion. I did logos for the companies of Army Athletics and Byte Magazine. I decided to take AA's knight logo and do a more "brutal" picture of a knight, something that looks more powerful, and I also incorporated the words AA into the logo for recognition, while keeping the color scheme of Army Athletics. For BYTE magazine I did a simple font change, color change, and a drop shadow. It was pretty fun overall and I enjoyed trying to keep things as simple as I could. Tomorrow should be fun to show off this project.

Logo Project

in reference to my last post, we were assigned a project earlier today to take a pre-existing logo and expound on it; in essence take the logo and try to make it better. I picked Army Athletics and BYTE magazine, both of these should be interesting to redo and I think I will have a lot of fun with it. I have to keep in mind not to use anything big and flashy but to really keep it simple, yet effective. this is going to be really challenging because part of me wants to create something epic but I need to keep it basic essentially, basic and effective, like i said.

God Bless,
Mike

New Logo

today in class we are learning about what actually constitutes a logo. Its actually quite interesting to learn the technique that some of these artists use to create their logos for big companies. Some of the most simple designs took weeks upon weeks of planning to appeal to everyone and make sure it was attractive at the same time. All these big fancy logos that people want to make are too busy and won't print on different mediums. Its so interesting to see that the simpler the logo the better. I might have to really study more into this for the company of my own that i want to create.

Power Point!

I am almost excited about this new project that has been assigned to us in class! We have to have a 10 slide powerpoint presentation on the history of something about computers. My topic is about Vacuum Tubes, which essentially powered old computers by storing electrons and regulating their use. It should be a really interesting project and I am actually kind of excited to learn about this! I am setting up a Sepia-esque background for the project, giving it a 30's feel to it for originality! this should be a lot of fun and a lot of work at the same time. Wish me luck!

God Bless
Mike

A late night post

Aside from my unneeded ranting earlier, I am at a loss with this logo project. I need to finish a logo for the department of corrections, and I have no idea where to start. I have a slight idea in mind for a basic seal, and I hope it will be good enough, I cannot afford to make a low grade on this, but i find nothing exciting about the organizations in which we design these logos for. My muse is lost so to say. I will do my best to do something useful and not too flashy, being as this is a state organization and a character or some inane logo would not be taken seriously. Wish me luck

God Bless,
Mike

Pondering

Yesterday I turned 20. Sometimes I wonder where the time goes, at 20 years old, I have virtually nothing but the things ive been through in life to show for this. I have nothing to show for this, nothing of my own. How does this relate to Graphic Design? Easily. With nothing to show, no great artistic ability, how will I ever reach my dream of opening a clothing line? With no great artistic ability how will I ever succeed in showing these youth what God has done for me? How can I succeed?
Im sorry for this enigmatic post, it relates nothing to the class, but it relates to my future. I can only Hope and pray that I will gain enough skill to be noticed.
I wish I was better, I wish I could do this with more style and not just get "Average" grades and "average" remarks when I try my best for this.

Many Apologies,
Mike

My second blog for this week will be updated on Saturday

This week has been filled with just fun stuff. we have been through two different logos to complete. one for SACSCOC (The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) and the South Carolina Correctional Association. It should be interesting, SACSCOC already has a logo, but it needs an extra "oomph" so to say, and the SCCA used to have a logo, but it was shameful (just kidding). Hopefully I'll be able to do a great logo and get it chosen. The SACSCOC logo is a competition, and seems to be pretty cool, first prize is five hundred dollars or some amount like that. I may or may not do that one just for the fact I might get money, but also I probably won't win at all... I might try it though.

God Bless,
Mike

This logo is coming along nicely

Today I've been working on the Mr. Sparkle project for hours. It is quite intimidating, I am not so good with hands on drawing like most of the other students in this class, nor am I good with creating cutesy little characters. My opinion, I think it should just be a basic logo able to be put anywhere or on anything. Maybe that is just me, I am just trying to make it convenient, usable and not too flashy or anything of that sort, just convenient but cool. I hope this won't affect my grade though, honestly its just a business thing, you don't want something that will blind people but you don't want just drab art either, so something with some basic gradients some glares and a basic but proper font should do just fine. Attached is a picture. Tell me what you think?

Other than this, we must also design a logo for a pediatrician's office, but Mr. Sparkle is on the top of this priority list.

God Bless All of You,
Mike

Mithter Thparkle

Today I completed the basic tutorial for color swatches in Adobe Illustrator. It was pretty interesting, I learned a lot about color combinations. Attached to this blog is a photo deal from the finished project, one thing to keep in mind though is that I did not draw or create any of these logos or anything, I just messed around with the color combination.

Our newest project is a real world one though, we have to create a logo for a cleaner called "Mr. Sparkle".....I can't help but laugh every time I read this name.
I am trying to think of some cool ideas, hopefully I'll come up with something they will use.

God Bless,
Mike

my gosh, Its done

I finished it. My work is complete, an M107 sniper rifle, completely colored and all. This project was fun once it was completed (as most are), but getting there was comparable to taking a magic ring to a Volcano to stop middle earth from being destroyed. In fact I'm pretty sure Frodo himself would have screamed at this project.
Enough of my nerd-power though. The sniper rifle had hard parts, but I am thankful the overall color scheme was just different shades of green. Overall, this project was comparable to slave labor, but I take great pride in the finished project.

On other news, in the other Graphic Design class, we are going over how to use excel.
fun.
and i mean that in the most sarcastic of manners.
utter fun.


God Bless,
Mike

this is completely inane....yes i mean inane.....

Oh my gosh. This project is frustrating, even more so than the "Less is More" bit. The pen tool bends to its own will, not where I want it, and keeping it proportional and dimensional is killer. I almost hate this, but I love it at the same time, so we'll call this a love/hate relationship. Overall, this project looks cool when each individual section becomes complete, but to get to that point is a pain worse than being body slammed by Chris Farley at his peak.

Pain.

utter pain and suffering.

but kinda fun too

God Bless,
Mike

New Day, New Project

Today I am getting on with the coloration project assigned by the prof last week. Its a pain in the butt, but it looks pretty cool when some of the parts are complete. I am working on a fifty caliber sniper rifle and the coloring is pretty weird, Illustrator wants to always choose a different color and screw up my gradients. All in all it looks pretty cool though, despite how hard it is, I really am having fun.

Hopefully when its complete it will look really awesome, its already starting to, so I can't wait to see the end result!

God Bless,
Mike

It is FINISHED

Its complete. Finally. My Project is complete. After hours of countless grueling to complete this, after hours of of working and tracing to get every single detail down. I finally completed this work. All in all the project was pretty cool, I know its not the worlds best six string bass outline, but I'd like to think its pretty darn good. It was actually a lot of fun despite my bickering and ranting, although it was frustrating as heck, I really enjoyed being able to learn Adobe Illustrator. It took me forever, but I am taking great pride in the finished product! Look at the picture, basque in its glory. relish it =D.

On a lighter note, the brochure for Narnia is done too. That was a simple but fun project as well! It took me a little over one class to do it and I found some cool pictures to go with it. Anyways, I hope to continue more fun projects like this in the future. Today we're learning coloring and I'm excited (I sound like a kindergartner I know.

God Bless,
Mike

Almost Complete

For Graphic Design Tech, we are working on a project that deals with creating a brochure in Microsoft Word. I'm doing the brochure on Narnia, so its kind of funny but it looks cool in my opinion. Its pretty easy but its just a pain in my posterior really.

As far as Visual Communications goes, this project will be the end of me, I swear. On the last third of the project I can't get the image i need to enlarge, or anything. I'm thoroughly disturbed. But hopefully Prof. Speyers will be able to aid me in my complications. I just can't resize this image at all, nor can i really trace the details I need in a perfect outline. It shouldnt take me too long to complete this and I should have this done by today hopefully, if not, I will pull a "300" and spartan kick this computer.....not really because I don't have that kind of money, but I'll strongly think it.

This is Madness
This Is Graphic Design

God Bless,
Mike

The After School Special

I sit here in my classroom pontificating as to what details to put in this new project. But enough of big words. Im not at a loss, just at a temporary stand still. While working on outlining this six string bass guitar, I am trying to figure out exactly what details I need to work on and at what level I need to work on them. With that out of the way, I am almost done with this project and can either finish this by the end of this afternoon, or by tomorrow's class.I just hope that this project is up to standards, I am busting my butt on this trying to get exactly everything I need.

On a happier and less stressful note, this weekend is my band's first band practice and I am so excited, I've been practicing the drums everyday for a while now, and am able to get my speed up to fast 16ths/borderline 32nds on my double bass. The "Flying Fingers" technique is also helping my hand speed.I hope God can truly bless me and the guys as we endeavor to create music.

God Bless,
Mike

Second w33k =D

This is the second week of classes, I'm actually pretty excited for everything going on this semester. My teachers all seem to be pretty copacetic,but the classes will be very challenging.

In my Graphic Design class, we're working on a project where we have to trace a photo and then trace the same image zoomed in, and then trace the same image zoomed in again.... needless to say it's kicking my butt ha ha, but it seems like it will be a lot fun in the end. I am trying to trace a six-string bass and although the general shape is easy, the details are very intricate.

Hopefully all will go well

God Bless ya,
Mike

Graphic Design Adventures, Prologue Chapter 1

This is day one of Graphic Design and day one of this blog. The graphic design program here at CSU is actually pretty cool for lack of a better colloquialism. Although we haven't started any true projects so to say, I am actually looking forward to the classes in the Mac lab this semester and what challenges it will bring. I mean challenges in the most positive of ways; I am not the most artistic of people, but with the positive results last semester brought I am sure I can only go further from here. Not trying to sound pompous or anything.

The teacher, Professor Speyers, is actually pretty helpful and cool. Although I did okay in his classes, my hands on drawing skills rose exponentially. I went from not being able to do stick figures, to learning what shading was and how to use it properly, just to kind of put things in perspective. If Speyers can raise my skill level with hands on drawing, I can only imagine what I will learn with the beautiful Mac.

On a personal note, I think I am in love...... With this mac! <3
Its a heck of a lot better than the mediocre PC I currently have. Everything about this computer seems to be aesthetic and ergonomic. Silly adjectives to use I know, but its a lot more comfortable and awesome for me to use.

Anyways, I'll keep you folks updated as I progress here. =]

God Bless,
Mike