.01 Fine Tip

I rarely ever post my own work, and even less than that do I ever scan in the sketches that I’ve done. I actually like taking notes in class, but for those off days when a subject is particularly sleep-inducing I take out some Microns and start drawing something in the room. Often times it turns into something completely different. Kind of like an episode of The Simpsons.

Tones & Type

It's been a while since I've posted something of my own. For one of my classes we had to design a poster for the movie Coraline using only two typefaces, no images, and no color. So I decided to make an image out of type. The technique isn't new by any means, but it was always something I've always wanted to try. It's just an overlay of text blocks overlapping and creating tone. If I have the time I might go back and add more flourishes. You can see the results to the right (Slow Internet Connection Warning: It's 15mb.)

Un Cœur de Papier

Your heart knows in silence the reason for days and nights and your ears would like to hear what your heart knows. –Voltaire

These lovelies come from the teeny tiny scissors of Aoyama Hina, which I found through Paper Forest.

MyPod Approved

Finally, tracking down fonts when you're on the go.

Walkin' On, Walkin' On Broken Glass

Here's a preview of what I'm working on for my site re-design. It's kind of like cross-hatching with pins. A lot more work to be done, this is only a test shot.

Keeping My Finger on the Shutter

I've been working on some major updates. New photography added to the photo section and I'm working on the design portion as I type this out. I just don't have the time to do a major re-design but I'm constantly thinking up new ones.

Since I don't have any shooting classes this quarter I've been finding other ways to keep myself motivated and in a creative flow. This summer I was asked by a film friend, Toby Orzano, to shoot his production stills for his thesis. Check. I also offered to help my good recently graduated comrade, Bryan Williams, shoot his dimensional pieces for his portfolio. Check. Now this weekend I will be shooting a wedding for my roommate's best friend. Check. Wedding photography is, in fact, the bane of my existence. However, I am given free range to shoot whatever I please so it should be fun. Especially since it's an environment with people I know and am comfortable with.

Also, a French Club has just been started up at my school. WOOT!

Geek Chic

It's already the second week of September, but just in case you still wanted a pretty little notebook to tote around or a creative planner that suits your style here's a few of my favorite places to shop for school supplies:

• Russell + Hazel
  I live by this company. I just dropped $90 on supplies from here just a few days ago.
  
• Essentials.
  One of my favorite places to visit whenever I'm in Northampton.
  
• Kate's Paperie
  They're very much into the eco-friendly, cause it's so trendy right now.
  
• Paper Source
  This place inspired me to one day open up my own stationery store.
  
• See Jane Work
  I don't know much about this place, but they do supply a few of my favorite designers.
  

PMS & Color Ovulation

Today I decided to compile a list of signature Pantone® colors for notable trademarked companies.

Barbie Pink Pantone 219
BMW Blue Pantone 293
Gap Navy Pantone 655
IBM Blue Pantone 2718
Kodak Yellow Pantone 123
T-Mobile Magenta Pantone Rhodamine Red
Volkswagon Blue Pantone 286

On the way: Tiffany Blue, UPS Brown, Starbucks Green, Coca Cola Red, and Home Depot Orange.

Resources:
http://users.ncrvnet.nl/mstol/56.html
http://www.forbes.com/global/2003/1124/056.html

XI

Eleven Magazine is a sharp, high-brow-but-relevant-to-generation-X take on fashion and culture for men from a group of (yes, you guessed it) eleven former and current school-mates of mine. Ever since I read Eric White's first draft I craved more and continuously bugged him about the first release. Well they seemed to have granted my wishes, because they now have a blog available.

The magazine itself is so promising when it has such dapper and dashing talents such as Ryan Haigh and Ross Thompson, all of whom I've shared the hallways with here at RIT. I may be a bit biased, knowing these fellows, but I truly admire their collective eyes for style.

Work Post Graduation

Yay! A good illustration friend of mine, Joe Dube, was just featured on Drawn! Congrats! Yes, there is hope for those graduating from RIT.

+ ∞

I'll be the first to admit that I have a fetish for stylish and multi-functional office supplies. Such as my loyalty to Russell + Hazel®. Last fall I was devastated when my R+H binder was misplaced and most likely thrown out. No Five Star notebook would suffice. These weren't just any binders, they were colorfully cloth-bound with a large handy rubber band attached to keep everything in place, and even slip in a few booklets in a compact little stack. The notepad within was neatly perforated to cleanly rip out and organize within the colored tabbed separators. Yes, I have a sickening obsession with aesthetically designed organizational tools. And the binder was promptly replaced by a new set that I quickly ordered.

I've also stuck by the classic Moleskine® for little notes and doodles. The durable surface has always withstood the many bags I've thrown them into. Well this summer my boyfriend and I are spending the summer ten hours apart. We've decided on sharing a journal to be sent back and forth with our daily musings and ideas. After all, pausing and writing is so much more romantic in a day and age of instant communication. But what of the journal itself? What happens when you run out of material and you come to the end of the book? That's where Start Here™ can help. These ingenious little notebooks have pocketed covers to slip into the next book. I wish I had discovered these sooner. How convenient for going back and reviewing past notes, or continuing a chronological journal, even better for organizing a series of writings. For now, they're only available directly from the website but hopefully they'll be further distributed by retailers in the future.

Apple Who?

I've always been a fan of Zune's creative advertising campaigns and push to support independent artists. So to my delight, I've discovered their website dedicated to such projects. Within you can find graphics and animations as well as interviews with the creators. And of course, oodles of downloads.

This featured image comes from the graphic design studio, iLoveDust.

As much as I would love to support Zune and stray from the rest of the iPhone 3G bandwagoners, the Zune player just isn't compatible with my dear Mac. But I look forward to discovering the next generation of emerging artists.

And the beat goes on...

One of the little things in life that I love is the rain. I love the smell of wet grass and hearing the beat of the rain while I fall asleep. The mist when it stops creates beautiful images, which inspired some of my recent photo series’. But when the New England weather gives you an influx of rain for two weeks straight and little breaks of sunshine in between, that's when little characters like this come in to bring that smile back to your face.

I found this at Etsy, where people can buy and sell handmade goods. And not just tea cozies and scarves either. It's a breath of originality in a world of cookie cutter clones.

Letterpress Chic

I'm a huge fan of letterpress designs, in fact I hope to be getting my own business cards letterpressed at some point. But I thought I'd get the word out about a couple of my favorite letterpress companies Hello! Lucky and Elum Designs. They're both very exquisite and definitely brings out the potential of the medium. They both primarily work in cards, but also offer custom designs for baby announcements and wedding invitations.

Style in the Workplace

If you've never heard of Russell + Hazel, you should. They're my favorite line of organizational and office supplies. The colors are bright and fun, and best of all the products are multi-functional. Such as the binders with a dry erase board inside. I loves it.