Week 4, Day 6: Freebie Friday, Part 2

It's Freebie Friday Saturday and I have to say I really enjoyed creating this art today.  I used Adobe Illustrator and found some tools that I had never used, and tried them out.  I learned so many new tricks and processes...see, you can teach an old dog new tricks!

This week I made 2 cards.  One card has "HaitiMedicalMission.org" as part of the art. I would love if you use this one to send to friends.  Let's spread the word about the wonderful work that they do for the Haitian people. If you are interested in learning more about them,to see photos of their trips, the surgeries they perform visit their website.

Haiti Tap-tap inspired card art for
HaitiMedicalMission.org

Click to go to the download link for this card.

The other card is all art, with the Haiti Medical Mission.org information on the back of the card.

Haiti Tap-tap inspired card art

Click to go to the download link for this file.

I hope you enjoy!

Week 4, Day 4 & 5: Colorful Wednesday & Graphic Thursday

Ok, so since I am behind, I combined my 2 days into one.  I created a graphic icon based on the sketch from today/yesterday, then I tried it out in various color schemes.

The Final Image:

The Process:

A few steps in the process of creating a graphic image in Illustrator.

Color Palettes

In no particular order.  

Monochromatic

Warm Colors

Miami Dolphin Colors/Complimentary

Bright Haiti Inspired

Monochromatic

Another bright, Haiti inspired color scheme

Week 4, Day 3: Creative Tuesday - Not Building a Model, Part 3

Today I had my coffee shop Bible Study and Jess showed me more photos of her trips to Haiti. She has been going for about 5 years, but the team has been going for about 10 years.  If you want to see before and after photos of some of the surgery patients, go to www.haitimedicalmission.org.

Jess in Haiti

Surgery

Jess checking a patient after surgery

So I continued through the day to snatch a few moments here and there to work on my tap tap.  I'm not the most patient person, and I wanted to just get it done so I can get caught up the blog.  Then I realized that it's not about the finished product, it's about the process -- something that's been drummed into my head since I was in design school. So I decided to take my time, work through the process and get done what I could. The fact that I didn't finish the model is not important. I will make it another day.

These are my final images that I created.  It took me a total of about 1 hour to draw and color all of this.

The bus/taxi roof

Random bubble pattern

Image of an angel, style is inspired by
a graphic in my sketches

star pattern, inspired by one of the taxi images

While I was working on this, K decided to join me and make her own designs.  I think she did an awesome job.

K's art

I think it's fun and festive. I loved making the patterns, but I think it could have been more fun with paint...another idea for another day!

Week 4, Day 3: Creative Tuesday - Building Models, Part 1

Good day! When I googled Tap-taps I found some photos of a collection of miniature vehicles.  It looked like a souvenir collection from the different places this person had visited.  There were all kinds of vehicles, but the one that caught my eye was a toy tap-tap. This inspired me to create my own tap-tap.

My routine has developed that I work on my creative journey at night.  This is mostly since I have had a lot of freelance work, and honestly, as much as I love doing the blog, I have to do my paying work first.  Working at night usually gives me uninterrupted time, unless I still have work. After my daughter is in bed, I get to play...if I waited for my son to go to bed, I'd never get any sleep! I also like working at night because it gives me time during the day to stew over what I want to do for my projects.

As I went through the day, I thought of the things I could use for my tap-tap, how I could put it together and how I would decorate it.  To limit myself, I decided that I would use only what I could find at home.  No going out to buy paints, stickers or even a model. Recycling, or is it repurposing.....

Tonight, I had to finish up a freelance job, so I am still in the gathering stage for my tap-tap and figuring out how will I express myself.  Can't wait to see what develops!

Week 4, Day 2: It's a Little Sketchy!

After posting the photos of the buses and taxis from Haiti, I had to find out more.  So I googled, and finally found out that they are called Tap-taps.

Although tap-taps are privately owned, they are the public transportation of Haiti.  The name tap-tap comes from the sound the passengers make when tapping on the metal to indicate that they want to get off.  Tap-taps are elaborately decorated by their owner with bright colors and other artistic elements, which stands in contrast with some of the bleak city blocks in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien. Christian phrases and secular slogans usually in French, although increasingly seen in Haitian Creole and English, are often imprinted.

 Most tap-taps operate over fixed routes, departing only when full. One can usually ride a tap-tap for approximately five gourdes, but the charge will depend on the distance you ride or your overall destination for longer trips. As a tap-tap passes, simply shout 'alé' to join the ride, but when ready to get off, say 'mesi chofè' and pay as you leave.

Tap-taps are also notorious venues for local gossip and politically charged, but light-hearted kompa music.    -from wikipedia

I'm so totally fascinated!

My daughter told me today she had her Art By Me stuff (her words).  For those who aren't familiar with Art by Me, it's a school fundraiser where the kids submit a drawing — usually to a theme the art teacher determines — then they get magnets made for you and if you like it you can pay for it, or have any other item imprinted with the image at an outrageous cost (but I still get it!).  I have collected tiles of the kids art work through the years.  Anyway, K told me she hates what she did, then takes it out and shows me.  I love it!  What do you think?  And it goes so well with this week's inspiration!!

K's Art By Me Pattern

Now for my sketches. In addition to the images Jess gave me,  google d"tap tap Haiti" and went to view images, and got even more inspiration from there!  This week I tried something different...I didn't use my eraser.  It was challenging because I can be a perfectionist, but I managed just fine!  (little pat on the back)

Sketching on Monday

Sketching more on Monday

There is so much this week that I can focus on that I'm having a hard time narrowing down.  Is there something here or on the photos that you want to see further developed?  Let me know.  I may just use your suggestion.

Don't forget to go check out Haiti Medical Mission!

Oh, and Happy Valentines Day!

Week 4, Day 1: Inspiration from Haiti

My inspiration photos this week comes from Haiti.  There is not one particular photo, just photos of their taxi's and buses.

The story behind the photos.
My friend Jess is a part of a medical mission team (14-16 people) who goes to Pignon, Haiti to perform surgery for the people of Haiti free of charge.  The team pays for all costs associated with the surgeries including the supplies needed, the OR costs and the hospital stay.

This is their story:

     Every year, a team of doctors, nurses, anesthetists and other healthcare professionals travel to the mountain village of Pignon, Haiti. The team works out of the 'Comite de Beinfaisance de Pignon', a hospital started by a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Dr. Guy Theodore, who himself is a native of Haiti. The hospital serves the poor. The village has dirt roads, no power and little running water. 
     For one week every January, the team travels to Pignon to perform over forty major surgeries for the native people of Haiti. People from all over the country come and line up to see if the team can help them. Each fall, in preparation for the trip, the medical team collects and packs recycled but quality surgical equipment and operating room materials from various Fargo-Moorhead healthcare facilities.

When I saw the photos from her trip, the vibrant color of the busses and taxi's caught my attention.  Jess told me that they are all different from each other and quite unique.  She is also fascinated with them and has tons of photos.

If you would like to learn more about the Haiti Medical Mission, please visit their website.