Logos

This is a logo I did for a client who is in the custom cake business. I did this one a while ago, but only got a chance to upload it to my blog now.

Speaking of logos, I signed up on this site called LogoTournament.com. It's basically a site where you can win money if you design a logo the client likes. But you are up against other designers, so the client has many to choose from. Right now, I am just a Probational Designer, and I have to enter 20 contests, and from that point they get to decide whether or not you are deemed 'good enough' to keep on entering the logo contests. That's a long way to go, but I figure if I have a chance to win some money, then why not. It is also a chance to get my creative juices flowing. It's pretty neat to see what other designers have come up with for the same client. I just entered my first one tonight! My goal is to enter at LEAST one logo contest per week.

Lightroom: Before and After Shots

My Initial Review
I decided to try a photo editing software from Adobe called Photoshop Lightroom. I have heard many good things about it, so I wanted to see what it was all about. I downloaded the 30 day trial (which is a FULL version) a couple days ago. It seems easy enough to use "out of the box", but there were a few things that I got confused on regarding saving and publishing that were not as obvious to me.

After playing with it, I found it pretty fun. I *might* consider buying the full version (which is $300! eeek!). I can essentially do this stuff in Photoshop, but Lightroom has taken all the photo editing aspects and placed them in one program with a pretty bow on it! It makes editing so much easier than if I had just used Photoshop.

The only thing you can't do are detailed photo edits, such as taking out something from the background or taking a frown and turning it into a smile. The fun stuff I like to do. heehee But then again, I have not really explored deeper into the program other than the color edits. There's also the batch editing, that I have not played with yet, either. But I have a whole month to play and learn!

Also, I tried the Facebook uploader through Lightroom. I noticed that when it uploads the images to Facebook, some colors look muddy and gross and some contrasts are not as high as I set them.  Oh well, that's FB for ya.

++++

BEFORE and AFTER

The pic on the left is the original UNEDITED photo, straight from my camera.
The one on the right is the Lightroom edit.

I posted these and some more of my edited photos to a public Facebook album here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150886443725043.752712.823390042&type=1&l=a7aa4dbfef

This one was the first and my favorite so far. I love the B&W version A LOT! (P.S. the yellow text box was obviously not in my original... it was just on the screen when I did the screenshot! oops)



The white balance was off in my original, so the photo turned out too warm. Instead of trying to correct the color temperature, I decided to try to turn it into a B&W.

I didn't do too much to this one. I added some fill light and vibrancy to the overall color. I like all the textures in this photo... 
and of course the cute little guy too!

With this one, I decreased a little of the clarity to give it a bit of a "dreamy" feel.

I tried the high-contrast look on this one...

++++

My next post will be about another program that I have been playing with called Portrait Professional. I purchased it and it's really fun to see what it does to a face!! Insta-airbrush!!!

Running on reserves

Between my cousin's wedding, going on vacation, dealing with a "terrible" toddler and stressing about our upcoming move, I've been totally drained of all creative energy. I try not to stay up late to work on projects anymore - I don't want to risk weakening my immune system due to a certain health issue I have. Maybe one late night a week. But even so, most of the time I am so tired anyway, I just want to sleep.

The last creative thing I did was make a handmade wedding card for my cousin and her new hubby... I was inspired by South Park... one of my top 10 favorite shows. :)

In other news, I am REALLY EXCITED about my birthday gift I am getting from Joel. Yeah, I told him want I wanted, so what?! haha Well, there are a bunch of things I want but the one I dropped obvious hints on is the coolest thing on the list, in my opinion... it's also one of the most expensive... haha. Anyway, it will be something that I hope will be a new hobby for me and I plan to use it to make Christmas gifts this year! YES! Another year of handmade gifts! Woohoo!!! Last year's paintings were such an undertaking... I obviously don't want to spoil what it will be, but I will be sure to post pics of them in January 2012!

Rainbow

It was a drizzly, rainy day today. I had to run some errands after work as soon as Joel got home. On the way, I noticed the rain subsiding, but the clouds were still dark. Then the sunset started peeking through the clouds, which reflected into my rear view mirrors. The sun created a really nice glow on every thing in front of me - trees, road, cars, buildings. Now I know why they say that sunrise and sunset are the "magical times" for photography. I kept my eye out for any rainbows because I knew this was the perfect time for one. After driving some more, I saw the most beautiful, brightest rainbow I have ever seen. EVER. And as I drove even more, it got brighter and bigger and even more brighter!! Truly an eyegasm, if you will. There were at least 12 cars that I saw pulled over on the side of the road taking phone pics of this awesome natural color display. I, on the other hand, did not think to play it safe and pulled out my phone and started snapping pics as I was driving... haha.

Of course these photos do it no justice at all. It was so large that I couldn't get it in my cameras view finder. I saw the entire arch... breathtaking! This is one of the times I wish I had my new camera on me! The following are my phone pics... camera phone settings were on low resolution :(

Triple rainbow?

it was so bright!

The pot of gold = Wallyworld?

conte

I'm taking it back old school...

This is an old Life Drawing 1 figure drawing I did out of black and white conte on brown wrapping paper. I got a 95 on it with the professor's remarks: "Nice work, a little too dependent on line though." What can I say, maybe that is my style.

I recently saw the move Art School Confidential - very funny and satirical, and brought me back to my own art school days. I want to get back into drawing... I can't even remember the last thing drew. I want a new sktechbook/drawing pad and some charcoal or something.

If I post more old drawings, maybe I can motivate myself to draw more now...

Projects list, as of 8/30

Project images coming soon


- Family tree project (freelance project = $) COMPLETED and got paid
- Nursery paintings x 2 or 3 (friend project) Still TO-DO... They had the baby... paint is still in the bags...
- Couples portrait painting x 2 (friend projects - similar style to Christmas paintings) Also still TO-DO
- Wedding logo (cousin project) Figured out a simpler solution
- Business card design (friend project) TO-DO
- Website update (personal project... desperate need of an update) NEED TO-DO!!!
- Investment/Travel Guide layout (freelance) COMPLETED and got paid
- Website update for past client Still TO-DO, but I updated the important stuff and just need to update photos
- Logo Design for a new client (freelance) COMPLETED, pending payment
- Macaron Order (250) for a Christening Party In-progress, having challenges, but I'm going to try to make as many as I can before Sept 4
  

Cursive vs. typing: Which should schools teach? (Article from CNN.com)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/IREPORT/08/24/cursive.writing.irpt/index.html?hpt=hp_bn8

Seriously. Everyone NEEDS to learn how to write. Sometimes I hate technology.