Amazing Origami

I've always been a fan of origami.  I've made quite a few attempts at it after begging my mom to buy me a fancy origami set in "Japan" at Epcot Center back in the early 90's.  I remember not wanting to waste the decorative papers that came with the set, so I cut up and folded a lot of construction paper.  In fact, I believe that those pretty papers are still sitting untouched in a drawer somewhere!  Maybe I'll give it another go one day...

The following article showcases some truly amazing efforts at origami. 

Incredible And Creative Origami Artworks

Stop Motion Animation

A student shared this video with me recently.  I think it's a really nice example of what can be done with Stop Motion animation.

Photoshop Design Contests

Visit Worth1000 and enter contests to build your portfolio and web presence.  Some contests have cash prizes, some do not.  Adding Contest Winner to your resume can't be a bad thing, and any winning entry would be a great addition to your portfolio.  Some contests are just for fun, but with some, you can win money and exposure.

Worth1ooo Photoshop Contests

Burton in Wonderland?

I for one, am very excited for the Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland", coming out next year.  The costumes and makeup look amazing, and it will be interesting to see Burton's view on a tale that most have grown up with.

Alice in Wonderland Throughout the Years

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

Loving Oil Pastels

Recently, I have been drawn to my neglected set of oil pastels. The varying effects and blending capabilities of this medium result in a wide array of styles. Most interesting to me, was the addition of oil pastel onto an existing, unfinished oil painting. Similarities in texture and appearance of the two substances create a nice combination of materials, and an unusual outcome for the artwork. The pastels can be blended until the look is very similar to an oil painting, or left with a rough appearance almost similar to chalk. Chalk pastel would not adhere very well to an oil painting, but the oil pastels stick just fine. I've always been a fan of mixed-media and will be exploring additional combinations in upcoming art projects.

Painters You Should Know

The 101 Most Important Painters of All Time?

"Although this list stems from a deep study of the painters, their contribution to Western painting, and their influence on later artists, we are aware that objectivity does not exist in Art, so we understand that most readers will not agree 100% with this list. In any case, theartwolf.com assures that this list is only intended as a tribute to the painting and the painters that have made of it an unforgettable Art"

- theartwolf.com

High Speed Photography

"High speed photography can be described as the science of taking pictures of very fast phenomena. It allows photographers to “freeze time” and capture spectacular images."

Check out the following article: http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/04/08/beautiful-and-creative-high-speed-photography/

Bitmap to Vector Portrait

Experiment with Livetrace in Adobe Illustrator

The History of Logo Design

Logo design is extremely important for any business.  Traditional designs cover a wide array of layouts, some with text and images or graphics, some only with text.  In the last 10-15 years, as more and more designers have become proficient in products such as Adobe Illustrator, logo designs have gone farther than pen and ink could take them.  Logos are becoming brighter and more modern in appearance.  Even older companies are rethinking their outdated logos, and opting for new and bolder designs.  The following link shows examples of the evolution of corporate logos.  

Logo Design History

3D Illustration

The addition of 3D graphics and animation has become almost standard practice for many designers and artists. It is widely assumed that these types of images have to be created with 3D specific software such as 3DS Max, or Maya. If you need complex 3D animation, then this is true, but is still 3D graphics are needed, you can use Adobe Illustrator to create realistic 3D vector art! It is usually quicker and less time consuming than using 3DS Max or Maya, and the final result is ready for print or web content in one quick step.

In Illustrator, there are options for 3D listed under the Effects tab. The Extrude and Bevel options is best used for flat shapes that need to be expanded into 3D objects. For instance, it will make a flat rectangle into a cube. You can adjust the angle or perpective using the Z-axis. The Revolve 3D option will revolve a shape or line around a central axis point. You can use this option to easily create objects such as bowls, vases, and wine glasses. Adjust the opacity and add a solid object to create the illusion of liquid in glass. Make sure to expand your 3D options and explore the different shaders. Plastic will have more reflections than diffuse.

Modern Portfolio Design

The art portfolio has changed significantly over the years and still varies greatly depending on your area of expertise. Do you need high quality prints arranged carefully in a large display book? Should you design a basic website with thumbnail links to large images of your work? Should you create an elaborate and interactive Flash movie? Does the content have to be on the internet, or can I mail out a CD/DVD?

These are all good questions, and some of them have multiple answers.

The decision on portfolio type will depend on who is looking. A traditional artist will need an old fashioned display book to showcase their work, probably in addition to a basic website. A graphic designer might want a book to go alongside an interactive portfolio or nicely designed webpage. An animator will almost surely need to have a demo reel available both online and on DVD.

Ten years ago, the trend was in interactive CD content, usually designed in Macromedia Director or in Flash. Up until five or six years ago, Flash was unable to process rasterized images or video content, so Director was the program of choice for most art/design portfolios. Some artists also had a website, but it was less common than it is now. It seems everyone has a website or blog these days. A blog is actually an acceptable format for a portfolio in some fields. For a graphic designer specializing in print, it might be fine, or for a traditional artist that wants to post and discuss new work, a blog is a great tool.

New trends in portfolios lean towards content that is both web based and interactive. There are many beautiful and creative examples out there to draw inspiration from. If you aren't proficient in Flash/Actionscript, then use tools like Dreamweaver to lay out a well planned HTML site. Dreamweaver writes the HTML for you and functions similarly to other Adobe platforms such as Photoshop and Illustrator. You can even design your site in one of these applications, and then slice it up to save for web. There are numerous tutorials available through a simple google search.

Check out the following link for inspiring portfolio design:

Creative Portfolio Sites

I want my MTV?

I recently heard a complaint that MTV never plays music videos. It wasn't that MTV doesn't show music videos ANYMORE, but that they don't... plain and simple. I realized that the younger generation, to which many of my students belong, never had the experience of an MTV that had music playing almost constantly. There was of course a show or series playing from time to time, but one could rely on the network to air music.. a lot of music.

It seems that along with the evolution of the MTV logo, the station's content has changed just as much.  Obviously reality TV has played a large part in this derailment of music video air time.  The Real World has been an influential and lasting entity in the realm of reality TV, and it appears that MTV as well as VH1 and many other stations are feeding off of the Real World's success.  Almost any time of day, or rather all of the time, you can find many examples of reality television shows playing on more than one network.  But, what other types of programming are monopolizing air time?  There are animated shows, awards shows, game shows, sitcoms, and films aired on many of the networks supposedly dedicated to music.  How does this affect the station's branding and identity, and specifically, how does this relate to the company logo? Should a station redesign their logo based on the content aired?  Many stations have multiple logo designs or variation on design depending a particular show or genre of shows.  For example, HBO has adapted their logo many times over the years to reflect the current technology trends or specifically a show that will be played.  Youtube is a great resource for a visual history of network branding.

The How and the Why..

I was noticing that my blog posts seem to cover a wide range of subject matter and topics. I occasionally feel compelled to write about lessons and projects that I am working on with my Multimedia students at the College of Westchester. I will also try to keep up with blogs about my own art. I've been slacking in the traditional arts, and need to start (or finish) some new paintings. I'll try to put up some pictures soon. This blog basically serves as an outlet for whatever I've got on my mind from day to day. Because of the wide array of projects I work on, and classes I teach, the topics discussed will probably vary greatly in theme and subject matter. I try to keep posts about web design on my other blog that focuses more on design specifically. I will include tutorials from time to time, and also share my thoughts about art, animation, and the world at large. I welcome questions and comments and will continue share daily and weekly.

Photo Restoration & Colorization

Using Adobe Photoshop, there are some quick and easy ways to restore damaged photographs, and also to colorize a black and white photo. There are many websites that provide these services for a fee (sometimes a large fee, sometimes not), but why pay for something that can easily be done all on your own?

To get started, scan in one of your own photos, or choose a photo you've found online. Open it up in Photoshop and set your image size and resolution. Don't forget to change the resolution to at least 300 if you are going to print your photo.

Method 1:
This method uses the Hue/Saturation feature of Photoshop to color on the existing photo.
To begin, make a selection of the area you want to color first. I recommend using the Pen tool, and then making the path into a selection. You could also use the Marquee, Lasso, or Magic Wand tools to make a selection. By adding a slight feather to your selections, the edges will be a little bit softer and blend easier. Once you have your selection, go to Image> Adjustments> Hue/ Saturation, or hit Ctrl U. Check the box that says "colorize" next to it, and then adjust the hue until the desired result is achieved. If it looks muted, then increase the saturation level.
Repeat this process for each differently colored section of your photograph.
*Cons to this method: You have altered the original image and changes or revisions are not as easy as Methods 2 and 3

Method 2:
For this methods 2 and 3, you will be assigning colors to different layers, and then blending these layers with the photo.
To start out, select the first area you would like to color. (Use the selection tools listed above)
Once you have an area selected, you will create a new layer, and use the Paint Bucket tool to fill in the selection you have made in the new layer. It will appear as solid, opaque color in shape of your selection. To blend it with your photo, use the Blending Modes listed in the top left of your layers tab, or look for Blending Modes under the Layers menu. The modes that seem to work best are Multiply, Overal, Soft Light, and Hard Light. Try several until the color looks natural on top the photo. You should still be able to see all of the shadows and highlights from your photo.

Method 3:
This technique is very similar to Method 2, the main difference being that you will use the paint brush to paint in on different layers. Instead of making a selection around the area to color, simply create a new layer, choose the color that you would like to use, and then paint into the empty layer. (Set your blending mode 1st so that you can see the photo underneath)

For a finishing touch, use the Burn and Dodge tools to bring out highlights and shadows.

Print Green!?

When choosing an online printer, there are many many options. If you look closely, a new trend in emerging to "PRINT GREEN". Some of the large, discount companies offer green options such as recycled paper, but there are other sites that offer green choices such as soy-based inks and plantable papers that have seeds incorporated into the paper fibers.

It can be challenging to decide which online company to go with, so researching all of your options is a good place to start. Generally, for faster and more economical printing, choose a national or global company rather than a regionally based company, unless you are in the same region. Most of the larger printers offer price quotes or price lists on their websites. This helps trememdously when comparison shopping. Depending on ink, quanitity, and paper weight, the price can change dramatically from site to site, and from product to product. Decide what your budget is first, then start your searches.

Plantable paper is being seen more in more in products such as business cards, post cards, and invitations. I recently attended a wedding that used plantable programs for the guests to take home. Most companies will offer options for seed choice.

As threats to our global climate become more and more "real" to the majority of Americans, green printing will probably grow in popularity and eventually become less and less expensive. One way to view the slightly higher expense relates to the corporate image you are trying to portray. If your company targets a younger, more environmentally concious consumer, then it might be worth the expense to win them over with your "green" marketing decisions.

A couple green printers to try:

Greener Printer

Got Green Printing

Green Printer Online

Field Trip!!

It All Started Here! New York's 103 year relationship with the Animation Industry
Arts Exchange Gallery, 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY

“Within a decade after the invention of the motion picture camera, New York became the nation’s center for film production as well as animated cartoons for theaters. The first true character with a mind of its own was Gertie, the Trained Dinosaur, animated in 1914. Gertie was but one of a long line of cartoon stars that would follow. Each succeeding decade introduced new characters, from Koko the Clown and Felix the Cat in the 1920’s to Skrat, Manfred, Sid and Diego from the feature film Ice Age.” -Arts Westchester

On Tuesday, February 3rd, the entire Multimedia department took a trip to the Arts Exchange Gallery in White Plains to see an exhibit on New York’s historical relationship to the animation industry. Many iconic characters dating from the early 1900s through 21st century were created right here in New York, many of them in Westchester County. Today we have Blue Sky Studios of Greenwich, CT (formerly located in White Plains) and many other large animation studios located right here in Westchester and New York City. These studios are responsible for blockbuster films such as “Ice Age” and “Horton Hears a Who!” as well as many of the animated shows seen on Nicktoons, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. One of the show’s curators, renowned animator J.J. Sedelmaier, works here in our area.

Multimedia Instructors accompanied 84 students to visit the Arts Exchange Gallery. The group took a guided tour through the two-story space. The first floor exhibit featured early animation including Gertie, the Trained Dinosaur, Betty Boop, and Mighty Mouse, to name a few. Upstairs, the gallery focused on modern animation and featured a room dedicated to Blue Sky Studios. The level of interest exhibited by our students during the trip was very impressive. Many were taking notes and asking questions to be answered by the tour guides. Some students were even using their cell phones to input information. For each class, the students will be required to complete an assignment related to the trip and the information gathered.

Instructors will be stressing the historical impact that New York State has had on the animation industry. It is widely assumed that most animation originated on the West Coast, but in reality, almost all of the big studios started right here!

This trip was a very positive experience both for students and faculty. It will be exciting to see the impact that this has made on our students and to view the presentations they are working on in the coming weeks. Several students were even inspired to create new artwork immediately following the trip.

Thoughts from the Art World

As an artist, I make a lot of observations into the fields of Graphic & Web Design, Animation, and Art Education. I have worked as a web designer, visual effects creator, animator, and multimedia instructor, and feel that these jobs have given me a wide perspective into the art world as a whole. I will share opinions, thoughts, and ideas through this blog, and hope that readers will feel compelled to comment and share their own ideas.