Week 5, Day 2: It's a Little Sketchy

I follow quite a few blogs, and one of my biggest pet peeves is getting something that says: 

"Fabulous Free Fonts"

I'm a sucker and I look at the fonts and say....

"You really think these are fabulous?  Really?  REALLY? "

Can you tell I got another one today and it really bothered me, but that's OK since this subject goes perfectly with my inspiration this week and has given me an idea for today's blog.

I'm not saying that all the free fonts are bad, but some (and I may mean most) really are not fabulous and they are not well designed! There are times when using a "not well designed" font is applicable...I have done it many time.  In fact, I designed this Character Traits T-shirt using a lot of "not well designed" fonts.  It was appropriate for the subject matter.

If you like the tee, go to Leave A Trace and make a request.

I guess you could call me a typographic snob! My opinions come from years of Typography and Visual Communications classes where I learned about the history of type, about fonts with serifs and fonts sans serifs. We learned the history of visual communications, and we learned about the old masters of typographic design. We were taught calligraphy very methodically and sometimes painfully repetitive. I feel like I know what I am talking about.  If that makes me a typographic snob, then snob I am. (I'm a design snob, too, just in case you wanted to know!)

This is one of the many calligraphy exercises
I did during typography classes

I also found this project which is a graphic
representation of serif and sans serif letters.

So just where am I going with this?  Well this week I am exploring typography and how we communicate visually.  For example on the t-shirt above, I tried to create a feeling of each word with the font that I used.  Was I successful? Mostly, there were a few that were harder that others.  Sometimes it's hard to find the "perfect font".

I digress, but I will keep it short.....one late night, when I was searching for the "perfect font," going to web page after web page when I decided it was probably like looking through mug shots for that elusive criminal.  What an analogy, huh?

Anyway, did you know that many of the old masters of Typography, and type designers today use math and engineering principles to design type? It's really interesting!  So for my sketching today, I decided to try to design a letter or two. Maybe one day I'll design a whole typeface, but I doubt it since it's not my cup of tea.

This is an example of a typeface designed by Philippe Grandjean from the 1690's:

Construction of the letter G

Romain Du Roi Font

I started to gather my supplies so I could sketch fonts, but I was missing a few things I really need, so I decided to do it on the computer.  I thought it might be easier, but it wasn't.  A pencil and eraser are much easier to use!

So I started with a grid

Then I figured it I could do an S  ...  HA, the joke was on me!  

Starting Grid

2 sets of 2 circles for an S

Subtracted small circles from large circles

Cut away areas...it sorta looks like an S, but not even close.

I'll try an easy letter....H.  

Now if I make a few changes, 

and adjust the height and width of the crossbar,

I have an A

HA!

Yes, I do have a sense of humor.  'Til tomorrow!

Week 5, Day 1: An Inspirational Sunday

This week I decided to do something a little different.  


You may notice at the top of my blog I have a saying from Rainer Maria Rilke.  I first heard this quote at the end of the semester while taking 3-D art.  It's important to understand that at the beginning of the semester our instructor came into class and said "Draw me an egg."  That was the only thing that she would say to us.  We all wondered why, but she would never say anything except "Dray me an egg."  At the end of the semester, she gave us a copy of this quote which was typed in an egg shape.

Be patient 

toward all that is unsolved 

in your heart 

and try to love 

the questions themselves. 

Do not now seek the answers, 

which cannot be given to you 

because you would not be able 

to live them. 

And the point is to live everything. 

Live the questions.

It took me a long time to understand that what she was trying to teach us is that art, like life, is a process.  You have go continue to do and search, even though you may not always understand everything.  Eventually, you might look back and say....Ooh, I get it now! And if you don't, look at what you have learned in the process. 

Last week I was contemplating what I could use for inspiration this week and started noticing signs.  All kinds of signs, and words everywhere.  Words are such a huge part of our lives.  I started thinking about how would we communicate without words? We speak, sign, read and write words.

Are you wondering where am I going? This week I am taking a journey in typography.  My format will be a little different this week, depending on where I go with it. Below are some photos that are examples of some of the many, many different places we encounter letters, words & signs. 

Transportation, to identify who it belongs to

Team uniforms
(my son, S, in '07 at the Wax Museum in NYC)

Times Square, all different kinds of signs

Museum displays
(my daughter, K, in '07
at the Wax Museum in NYC)

In case you forget what restaurant
you are eating at, or even for photos
like this one, I know where I was

This is where you are

Advertising

Store signage

Packaging

Flags to convey information:
Open, I'm a Saints Fan....

We sell this in our store...

Historical informaiton

My nephew, G, showing us on a map
where he was adopted from in Russia

Historic Site Information

Museum display information

Just a few different ways we communicate with words.

Week 4, Day 8????

After finishing up the week, Jess introduced me (electronically, of course) to a missionary in Haiti.  I thought I'd share his blog with you!  Talk about inspiring!

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/

Week 4, Day 7: It's A Wrap

This has been a crazy week!  It's been like a roller coaster ride for me.  I've had to finish up several freelance projects, start and finish a few other projects, send out proposals, sick kids, sick me, unscheduled doctors appointments, schedule doctors appointments and, of course, my creative journey.  I did manage to finish all my challenges this week although I didn't get to make my tap-tap model.  A project for another day!

Day 1 - Inspiration Sunday:  My week started off with photo inspiration from my friend Jess.  She is a nurse and goes with a group, HaitiMedicalMission.org, to Haiti every year to perform surgeries free of charge for the Haitian people. I believe she's been going for about 4-5 years, but the group has been going for about 10 years.  When looking at Jess's photo's from her trip, I was inspired by the bright and crazy images of the tap-taps.

Day 2 - It's a Little Sketchy Monday












Day 3 - Creative Tuesday, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Day 4 & 5 - Colorful Wednesday and Graphic Thursday

Day 6 - Freebie Friday

Next week: Adventures in Typography

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 6: Freebie Friday, Part 1

A new card is coming tomorrow.  Today I woke up with a sore throat, and sniffles. By the time I finished with my work, I felt a nap coming on....woke up 4 hours later.  Must have needed it.  Until tomorrow!

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