20 Leading Artists Share 20 Useful Tips That'll Make You A Better Designer

20 Leading Artists Share 20 Useful Tips That'll Make You A Better Designer

Artist Uses Beautiful Backdrops Of Nature To Fill Paper Cut-Outs Of Animals

Artist Uses Beautiful Backdrops Of Nature To Fill Paper Cut-Outs Of Animals

12 Pics That Show How Designers See Things Differently As Compared To Everyone Else

12 Pics That Show How Designers See Things Differently As Compared To Everyone Else

Comparison of Animation with Halloween Theme.

Hello again viewers. My apologies for being so neglectful with my blog. Anyway her are some videos showing how animation has changed over the years.

Here is the Danse Macabre Camille Saint-Saëns 1980s cartoon, PBS, Halloween, Music:

Below is another Danse Macabre 2010 ( Saint-Saëns ), this animation reminds me of the early playstation and nintendo 64 gameplay animation. You can see a big difference in how animation came from flat cartoon based to more of the modern 3-d animation style that is more popular today.

On a somewhat similar note, here is a video that has a more day of the dead theme which comes from the CGI Student Academy Award Gold Medal Winner Short Film HD: "Dia De Los Muertos" from Whoo Kazoo. This shows modern day animation style which is popular in movies like "The Book of Life" that also has a day of the dead theme.

On a side note, If any of my viewers wants me to write about a specific theme/art/digital program about graphic design or art in general, please leave me comments on my blog. I'm running out of ideas so please comment. That's it for now and I hope you enjoy my blog.

P.S. Here are some day of the dead pictures that I thought looked interesting.(images courtesy of google.com)

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to all my readers for neglecting my blog again for so long. I have had to work a lot of extra hours at my job. Anyway, I'll will have new graphic design posts for my blog next week. I also have a quesiton: Would you guys like me to do a seperate blog on movies, cd's, and book reviews? Please leave comments on my blog about what you think about this and any other comments about what you guys would like to see in my graphic design blog. Have a Happy Halloween and I'll see you guys next time.

Graphic Design Software and Fun MUSIC

Hello again everyone. I am going to post a video from Roberto Blakes youtube channel about the different types of computer programs you can use in order to create different types of designs for graphic design.

         On different note, here are some music videos that may interest you.:

                          That's it for now. Hope you guys enjoy my blog and I'll see you next time.

Getting back into the groove :)

I apologize to all my blog viewers. I have been busy with my job in which I have sadly neglected my blog. I am going to add music and movie reviews to my blog because I think it will be more fun. Plus it is good to listen to music or have a movie playing while your creating art.

Anyway here is a band that visited my work over the summer called the Old Salt Union band.
Here are a few of their music videos:

Getting back to graphic design here are photoshop CC tutorials:

Also here are adobe illustrator CC tutorials:

Finally here is an adobe indesign CC tutorial:

Thanks for relooking at my blog. I have to go and I will show some of my designs in future posts. Feedback about my blog is much appreciated. Hope you guys have a great day.

Graphic Design Career/Salary

Found some great videos about the realities of the job market for graphic designers. I let you know right now that after most college students graduate from college that it will take about 6 months or more to get a job that is similar to their major. College students are not going to get their dream job right off the bat like they think. So if your a college student reading this blog you have to know that it is going to be hard finding a job that applies to your major or skill set. Never give up though because one day when you least expect it your going to find that job, but it may 1 or more years until you find it after you graduate. Anyway, I found some more videos giving great advice on graphic design. Here is the link to more videos from Roberto Blake: https://www.youtube.com/user/robertoblake2

Here are some of his videos:

That's it for now and I hope you guys found these videos to be helpful. I'll see you next time.

Logo Designt Tips and the Design Process

Found some great videos with graphic design advice and narrowing down your ideas when creating a graphic design project.

That's it for now and I hope you guys find these videos helpful. I'll see you guys next time.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!!

Asking For Suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone has any suggestions about what they want to see or are interested in please leave comments on my blog or you can find me on facebook. That's it for now and hope you guys have a great day.

Stained Glass Art

Has anyone noticed how beautiful stained glass is, especially in church's. Well you can make that stained glass look using graphic design. It takes a while but you can do it using a lot of gradients and make it look like it has light coming through it using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Here is a link telling you how to create a hummingbird stained glass window effect: http://www.lynda.com/articles/dekes-techniques-how-to-create-a-stained-glass-effect-with-photoshop

Here is video of how to create the stained glass hummingbird:

Here are some more videos on how to make the stained glass effect:

Here are some Examples of the stained glass effect (images courtesy of google):

Well that's it for now. I hope you guys enjoy my blog and I'll see you guys next time.

Painting Tips Continued......................

Hello again. I almost forgot to mention a great book I found that has excellent painting tips. It's called the artists bible:essential references for artists in all mediums by:Helen Douglas-Cooper

This book has everything you need to know about working with watercolors, oils, pastel, acrylics, and how to use different brushes and palettes with each type of paint.

Here are examples of different paint styles(images courtesy of google):

Well that's it for now. I hope everyone has a great day and I'll see you guys next time.

Painting Tips.

Hello again everyone. This is my second post of the day. If you want info on the free t-shirts today look at my previous post. Anyway, I'm going to talk about painting tips and tricks. Since I can't include everything about painting tips in one blog post I will give you links and videos so that you can explore on your own time each type of painting style and the different tips that go along with each.

 Here are some links to websites that provide painting tips: http://painting.about.com/od/paintingtips/
http://painting.about.com/od/paintingtips/a/100PaintingTips.htm
http://painting.about.com/od/paintingforbeginners/

Here are a few videos on painting tips:

Here are explanations on the different painting medias:

Oil

Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body and gloss. Oil paint eventually became the principal medium used for creating artworks as its advantages became widely known. The transition began with Early Netherlandish painting in northern Europe, and by the height of the Renaissance oil painting techniques had almost completely replaced tempera paints in the majority of Europe.

Pastel

Pastel is a painting medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder.^[14] The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation. The color effect of pastels is closer to the natural dry pigments than that of any other process.^[15] Because the surface of a pastel painting is fragile and easily smudged, its preservation requires protective measures such as framing under glass; it may also be sprayed with a fixative. Nonetheless, when made with permanent pigments and properly cared for, a pastel painting may endure unchanged for centuries. Pastels are not susceptible, as are paintings made with a fluid medium, to the cracking and discoloration that result from changes in the color, opacity, or dimensions of the medium as it dries.

Acrylic

Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted (with water) or modified with acrylic gels, media, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media. The main practical difference between most acrylics and oil paints is the inherent drying time. Oils allow for more time to blend colors and apply even glazes over under-paintings. This slow drying aspect of oil can be seen as an advantage for certain techniques, but in other regards it impedes the artist trying to work quickly.

Watercolor

Watercolor is a painting method in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle. The traditional and most common support for watercolor paintings is paper; other supports include papyrus, bark papers, plastics, vellum or leather, fabric, wood and canvas. In East Asia, watercolor painting with inks is referred to as brush painting or scroll painting. In Chinese, Korean, and Japanese painting it has been the dominant medium, often in monochrome black or browns. India, Ethiopia and other countries also have long traditions. Finger-painting with watercolor paints originated in China. Watercolor pencils (water-soluble color pencils) may be used either wet or dry.

Ink

Ink paintings are done with a liquid that contains pigments and/or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing with a pen, brush, or quill. Ink can be a complex medium, composed of solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, surfactants, particulate matter, fluorescers, and other materials. The components of inks serve many purposes; the ink’s carrier, colorants, and other additives control flow and thickness of the ink and its appearance when dry.
 

Hot wax

Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used. The simplest encaustic mixture can be made from adding pigments to beeswax, but there are several other recipes that can be used—some containing other types of waxes, damar resin, linseed oil, or other ingredients. Pure, powdered pigments can be purchased and used, though some mixtures use oil paints or other forms of pigment. Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint before it cools, or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax once it has cooled onto the surface. Other materials can be encased or collaged into the surface, or layered, using the encaustic medium to adhere it to the surface.

Fresco

Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, done on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Italian word affresco [afˈfresːko], which derives from the Latin word for fresh. Frescoes were often made during the Renaissance and other early time periods. Buon fresco technique consists of painting in pigment mixed with water on a thin layer of wet, fresh lime mortar or plaster, for which the Italian word for plaster, intonaco, is used. A secco painting, in contrast, is done on dry plaster (secco is "dry" in Italian). The pigments require a binding medium, such as egg (tempera), glue or oil to attach the pigment to the wall.

White Angel, a fresco from Mileševa, Serbia

Gouache

Gouache is a water based paint consisting of pigment and other materials designed to be used in an opaque painting method. Gouache differs from watercolor in that the particles are larger, the ratio of pigment to water is much higher, and an additional, inert, white pigment such as chalk is also present. This makes gouache heavier and more opaque, with greater reflective qualities. Like all watermedia, it is diluted with water.^[16]

Enamel

Enamels are made by painting a substrate, typically metal, with frit, a type of powdered glass. Minerals called color oxides provide coloration. After firing at a temperature of 750–850 degrees Celsius (1380–1560 degrees Fahrenheit), the result is a fused lamination of glass and metal. Enamels have traditionally been used for decoration of precious objects,^[17] but have also been used for other purposes. In the 18th century, enamel painting enjoyed a vogue in Europe, especially as a medium for portrait miniatures.^[18] In the late 20th century, the technique of porcelain enamel on metal has been used as a durable medium for outdoor murals.^[19]

Spray paint

Aerosol paint (also called spray paint) is a type of paint that comes in a sealed pressurized container and is released in a fine spray mist when depressing a valve button. A form of spray painting, aerosol paint leaves a smooth, evenly coated surface. Standard sized cans are portable, inexpensive and easy to store. Aerosol primer can be applied directly to bare metal and many plastics.
Speed, portability and permanence also make aerosol paint a common graffiti medium. In the late 1970s, street graffiti writers' signatures and murals became more elaborate and a unique style developed as a factor of the aerosol medium and the speed required for illicit work. Many now recognize graffiti and street art as a unique art form and specifically manufactured aerosol paints are made for the graffiti artist. A stencil protects a surface, except the specific shape to be painted. Stencils can be purchased as movable letters, ordered as professionally cut logos or hand-cut by artists.

Tempera

Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigment mixed with a water-soluble binder medium (usually a glutinous material such as egg yolk or some other size). Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings are very long lasting, and examples from the first centuries AD still exist. Egg tempera was a primary method of painting until after 1500 when it was superseded by the invention of oil painting. A paint commonly called tempera (though it is not) consisting of pigment and glue size is commonly used and referred to by some manufacturers in America as poster paint.

Water miscible oil paint

Water miscible oil paints (also called "water soluble" or "water-mixable") is a modern variety of oil paint engineered to be thinned and cleaned up with water, rather than having to use chemicals such as turpentine. It can be mixed and applied using the same techniques as traditional oil-based paint, but while still wet it can be effectively removed from brushes, palettes, and rags with ordinary soap and water. Its water solubility comes from the use of an oil medium in which one end of the molecule has been altered to bind loosely to water molecules, as in a solution.



Painting tips continued in next post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm back talking about t-shirt designs!!!!!!!!!!!!

I apologize to all my readers. I took some time off from my blog and was brainstorming about what to write about next. Plus several severe thunderstorms interfered with the days I could have wrote on my blog. Anyway, t-shirt design basically involves printmaking. Now printmaking is  the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints that have an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. The only difference between regular printmaking and t-shirt design is basically you use paper or canvas in original printmaking instead of a t-shirt. Furthermore I found a great place in Evansville, Indiana where they make creative designs for shirts that use the printmaking process and make your shirt right in front of you. The store is called Threaded Canvas and all you have to do when you get to the store is pick out the design you want and the color/size of t-shirt, which come in womens/mens sizes small-5x. Then they will print your shirt right in front of you. If the design has a lot of colors it might take 5-10 minutes for them to make. Here is a link to their website and facebook page: http://www.threadedcanvas.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/threadedcanvas

Today they are having a free t-shirt day, so if you want to try one of their shirts for free get one today only. They are located next to zuki, jcpenny homestore, and blick art materials on the east side of town.
Here is there address:
Threaded Canvas
Eastland Shoppes
1442 N Green River Rd
Evansville, IN 47715

Here are examples of their designs and t-shirts:

 Well that's it for now. I will have more posts today on my blog. See you guys next time and thanks for reading my blog.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Photographic/Image Effects

Photographic/Images Effects are predefined algorithms that enable you to add special effects to your images. The actual effects will depend on the software you use. You can usually choose different effects that will change the edges of your image, noise level, gradient and other aspects of your image. Many graphics and image-editing programs offer image effects specifically for digital photos. These types of effects are used to remove problems that can appear in your original digital photograph such as various lens corrections (pincushion or fisheye) and red-eye removal tools. With most programs you can simply select the name of the image effect and the program will produce the image with the effect, then you can save the changed image. You can also choose undo if you don't like it and select another one to try. Also, you may find your program offers an effects browser, which will open your image as a thumbnail in a browser window that allows you to quickly preview how each effect will look before performing the action. Image effects are used as a way to change your image to add an artistic look, make textured patterns, or produce an enhanced real-world view. Some graphics programs will offer a few predefined effects, others designed with effects in mind may offer hundreds of image effects to choose from.

Here is a link to a website that will show 8 photographic effects, which are the Golden Rectangle, Contre-jour, Long Exposure, Fill Flash, Bokeh, The Golden Hour, Rule of Thirds, and Panning.
http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/eight-photography-effects/


 Here are examples of some photographic effects (photos courtesy of google.com):

                  Well that's it for now. I hope you guys enjoy my blog and I'll see you next time.