M6 CP - Final Submission (Part 2, Stage 4)

I'm done! That was really challenging - but so worth it, and so fun! I'm really happy I had this experience; this is the first animation I've ever made (clearly) but I will definitely keep working on my skills and try making more. I hope you enjoy seeing what the Fiji Mermaid, Two-Headed Lady, Strongman, and Snake Girl like to do on their down time.

Since I had such a hard time saving this to share on my blog, here's a link to my video ⇨ Behind The Curtains

The beginning is a little wonky but I think it gets tightened up as it goes. Like I said, this was challenging 😅

M6 CP - Animation (Part 2, Stage 3)

These are the drawings of my characters for my animation.

M5 CP - Anmiation (Part 1, Stage 2)

I guess I posted a storyboard for the first part already, but here’s a little more detailed version with some of the images I already have drawn.

M5 CP - Animation (Part 1, Stage 1)

For my final project I decided to stick with the side show theme and create an animation showing the behind the scenes of the circus tent when all of the “exhibits” are hanging out. My idea zoom in on the circus tent and pan around each character like a fly on the wall.  I’ve never made an animation so I’m a little nervous about this endeavor but hopefully I can make something cool. 

M4 CP - Design Competition (Part 2)

This is my final project - Snake Girl. I think this will be the first part of a series of drawings I'm going to work on. I drew the image in Adobe Sketch, added the background, text, and did some editing in Photoshop. I'm having a lot of fun exploring different tools and techniques in this class! Hope you enjoy!

M4 CP - Design Competition (Part 1)

The competition I am entering has little to no restrictions other than size, so coming up with an idea in a sea of options was pretty challenging. At first I thought I wanted to do a portrait-type project, with interesting designs and textures. These were the first few sketches I came up with:

After sketching these, I just wasn't feeling it. It just didn't feel creative or like anything I felt like drawing. I was bored, and it felt like work. So, I decided to just doodle, and as I was doodling I drew a girl with a really long neck.. which eventually turned into a snake body. This gave me a little spark and reminded me of the carnival sideshow posters and exhibits that I've always been so fond of. 

While drawing these I was having fun, which makes me feel like I might be on the right track. I'm going to take inspiration from vintage sideshow posters with the colors, fonts, and image style, but instead of showcasing a single "show" I will be making a collage in an almost "flash tattoo" type of way. 

Final CD Design

This is my final CD booklet, in order. I had a lot of fun doing this!

M3 CP - CD Design (Part 1)

For this CD I mixed a eight songs that have an overarching theme of good times, partying, and being weird. My initial thought was to make a party sequence in the booklet, but I felt that just didn't speak to who I am really, so taking inspiration from that strange "90's" art I love, that Alice Donut, Primus and some cartoons (Ren and Stimpy, Beavis & Butthead, Squidbillies) often use, I chose to create a different image for each page that gives a nod to something from the music videos, song, or the band itself. Since I like to listen to a lot of different music, I thought it would be fun to have a lot of different things to look at in the booklet, but with the same artistic style connecting each.

The songs included are:
The Fruit That Ate Itself - Modest Mouse
The Denial Twist - The White Stripes
Dance Yrself Clean - LCD Soundsystem
Lounge (Closing Time) - Modest Mouse
Rise to the Skin - Alice Donut
Animal - Miike Snow
Badfish - Sublime
Tommy the Cat - Primus

Initial "Party Sequence" Idea

Video/Song inspo

Video/Song inspo

Rough sketch of pages 2 and 7. This is the general style idea I'm going for. 

Original cover and back cover ideas. I'm going to change the name to "Present Company" which is a lyric from the LCD Soundsystem song included in the mixed CD, and makes you think of all these weird drawings as your "present company" while listening to the CD.

M3 Discussion (Album Covers)

Tenacious D – Self-titled:

         This album cover uses the rule of thirds nicely, catching your eye with the wings and arms of “Satan” and moving your eyes down to little demons Kyle Gass and Jack Black, then onto the giant pentagram they’re standing in. The imagery is perfectly fitting (as any fan of the band will know) because Tenacious D claims to be “fueled by Satan.” It’s memorable because of the comic relief of the naked (out of shape) men covering up with their guitars while the devil hovers behind them.

Nirvana – Nevermind:

         This album is one of the most popular and iconic album covers of the nineties. It’s a beautiful underwater bright blue and features a naked swimming baby boy smack dab in the middle, swimming after a dollar hooked on fishing line (which some say is a jab at their record label.) Some controversy spread over the showing of the baby genitalia, but the shock value made for an eye-catching and memorable (and often recreated) image.

Chaplin the Musical – Broadway cast Recording:
     Chaplin the Musical’s recording album cover is brilliantly simple at first glance, yet complex when taking a closer look. Against the bright yellow background, the black images are sharp and clean. It features a stylized image of Chaplin’s face with filmstrips framing characters and movie cameras. Chaplin’s iconic comedic stance is silhouetted at the bottom, bringing your eyes to the text that reads “Chaplin” in which the letters are made to look like musical notes.

Charcuterie Business Card

Final Hudson Valley Inn Logos

These are the final versions of my Hudson Valley Inn logos. I took the hard outlines out of the preliminary sketch and kept the brushstrokes. For the restaurant and bar logos I decided to keep the same icon but change the color/style. I chose a charcuterie and a taproom because when I think upstate New York I think meats, cheeses, and beer!

Preliminary sketch for Hudson Valley Inn logo

This is a preliminary drawing for Hudson Valley Inn logo done in Adobe Sketch. I wanted the logo to let the viewer know that this will be a cozy mountain getaway by using the style sometimes found with camping signs. The logo includes the mountains, the valley, the river, and a sunset - all things relating to a hotel in the Hudson Valley region. I kept it simple by using three colors and thick black lines to create stylized symbols. I’m working on taking an abstract symbol from this and creating the logo with that, making it even more simple and original. 

M2 CP (Preliminary Work for Main Project)

My idea behind my sketches for the "Hudson Valley Inn" logo was to incorporate the obvious Hudson River and valleys that make this region so beautiful (and make up the name of the Inn). I was going for something more contemporary by using very stylized lines that emanate the mountains that create the valley. I think the icons can make very good and easy-to-read logos that can be placed on anything that needs to be branded.

M2 CP Exercise 2 (Illustrator Word Recreation)

Bow

M2 CP Exercise 1 (word illustrations)

Swing 

 Bow

Stitched 

Artist's Statement

I spent my entire childhood creating. As a youngling I enjoyed all sorts of activities, from coloring books to macramé, now as an adult not much has changed; I enjoy dabbling in everything from metal stamping and sculpture, to photography and illustration. When I’m creating, I’m happy, focused, and relaxed. Oil painting has a special place in my heart, although I find it one of the most difficult mediums, I love the process, the feel of the paints, the smell of the oils, and the accomplishment I feel after completing a painting. I like to play with angles, perspectives, and colors and I try to capture moments that may otherwise go unnoticed.