Closet Connections

Yeah I color organize my t-shirts, what of it? My theory is that all designers are obsessive compulsive by nature.  We have to be to be able to keep such weird hours, to spend hours working on a tiny type correction or getting the colors in your piece just right. Most people would hang up their laundry in any random order. Not me, I spend many many minutes every time I hang up my clothing...organizing it. Its better than therapy!
What weird things do you do when no ones looking?

Back again with a brand new edition

So I haven't been doing that well at keeping this thing updated. I'm going to start trying harder...starting tomorrow, Ha.  Right now I just wanted to let all yin's (as they say in Pittsburgh) know about this amazing photographer MatthewAlbanese. I stumbled across his work on the Public school blog and it kind of blew me away and I had to share it with you.  He recreates miniature landscapes using all kinds of non-conventional model building substances (check out his site. Under each photo it explains what the model was built using) and then photographs them.   Until tomorrow I bid you goodnight.

Book Covers

My final project in Typography was to make a series of three book covers from a category.  I picked "crazies."  This included the book One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Wide Sea Sargasso and Notes From The Underground.  The books were supposed to feel like they connected and felt like a series.  Check the rest of the photographs as well as a better explanation of the concept on my flickr.

CD Assignment

Here is a little post-computer production work, getting my cd case a haircut, trying to make it look good. For this project we had to design a cd case for a single song by a band of our choosing.  The limits were that we couldn't use imagery and had to stick to a strictly type exclusive design.  The case was also suppose to reflect the song we chose.  I chose to represent the Canadian rock band Broken Social Scene and their song 'KC Accidental.'  The song starts raucous and chaotic as the 9 band members light up the night with explosive thundering guitar riffs and lightning drum beats. This all eventually cools down into melodic crooning. I had hoped to express this chaotic moment through the use of crumbling type on the cover and then the cool down on the back where everything comes to a rest.
It was a fun project and now know how to make simple cd cases.  Next its finding time to screen print.
If anyone has projects or work they might want me for let me know. I'll finally have a moment to myself in December.

Typography Rules!  

Poster Project

Here is a picture of the "Show & Tell" designer lecture series that I worked on for my Typography class. Fun!

Stamp Project/ Top 5

So its Been a while since my last blog post (despite my best efforts to do this thing weekly), I have no time for anything else besides work and school. So with nothing new to report here are a few projects I have been working on this term.

1. Stamp Project: I was given the task of creating stamps that commemorated 5 American Artists. I know Neil Young is Canadian, but close enough, he's lived in California for most of his life.

Top 5 Things I'm into right now:

1. Ezra Furman & the Harpoons

2. Next Adventure

3. Nick Felton

4.Frank Chimero

5. Charles Bukowski

Till next time: Enjoy your day

I'm Back

Ok, I swear I'm gonna start making this a weekly thing. School has started and were racing right out of the gates. Lots of amazing things to see and do and hear. Some of which I will post up here for your viewing pleasure (If anyone even bothers with this blog). I started taking a Typography class and I am finding it so interesting and creative. One week in and were already creating our own modular typefaces. I call it New Crave, Its a play on New Wave because it reminds me of something I would associate with club culture or something "hip" like that (ha). The other class I'm taking is Communication Studio I, also lots of typography and layout design.

I recently procured a job at Next Adventure in Portland...great outdoor store that prides itself on great new and used gear at really affordable prices...not joking, some things are a complete steal here. The staff is great, its very relaxed and allows me to work full-time and go to school. Safe to say I won't be doing anything else this year but learning and working. So here it goes, these are somethings I'm into hard right now.

Joanna Newsome...clam, crab, cockle, cowrie

The guys over at Public school, put up some of the most visually compelling, make you want to be a better artist work.

This is a really cool photo zine that I want to get my hands on called "Tell Mum Everything Is OK."

The food carts in Portland are amazing and cheap and I have been trying to pick them off one by one. my favorite is the New Taste of India...there all so good though!

Command Save is a blog dedicated to the Graphic Design department at PSU and has tons of great work and imagery to peruse while your bored at work.

And finally, I've been re-listening and re-listening to the Beatles Magic Mystery tour Album, and cannot get enough of the tripped out melodies...especially Blue Jay Way

I'll be putting some of my work up here from classes soon. Expect more.