Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Gift Boxes

This is my worst one so far. Working with the 3D Effects was really difficult for me. I could not get the wrapping paper to look right or the ornaments on the paper to have a more solid fill. I also do not like the ribbons, I should have put more variety in the gradients. This tutorial was very lengthy and more difficult than any of the previous ones.

Strawberry

Strawberry image! I thought this came out particularly well, especially the leaves at the top. The only thing I don't favor is the awkward gradient on the chocolate drop at the very bottom.

Close-up

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Holiday Ornament

This was pretty easy, but it had a lot of steps. I really like the way this turned out.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dirty Water Drop

This was fairly lengthy, but simple. If I were to do it again, I would change a few colors, but that is about it. I am happy with the finished product.
Up-close image of the face.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Argyle Pattern

I created the argyle pattern and gave samples of it in three different sizes. This was an easy tutorial, and I am pleased with the results.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Foundation Logo

This was a relatively easy logo to create. I used the shape of an actual CIA badge and added the words of our school's program. There is also a gradient in the navy to add interest.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Business Card


Front: basic and simple but not plain. Logo stands out and text is easily readable.


Back: a slight gradient in the background adds interest and the contrast between the grey and blue and white makes the text stand out.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Logo Practice

This logo tutorial incorporated many skills that I had not previously used, but can now utilize effectively. I am happy with the results of this tutorial.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Mesh Art

This was a really simple tutorial. I used the mesh tool to form the shapes of the curves.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Logo Create

I really enjoyed creating this logo. The most difficult part was figuring out how to combine the strokes, like the additional lines on the Z and last A. It was also hard to have the R loop through the O, but still have the G rest on top of the O.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Flower Vase

This was relatively easy to create, I am happy with the results. I learned how to use the 3D Revolve tool and worked more with gradients.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Jack O' Lantern

This tutorial was very difficult and time consuming. I gained a lot of experience in using the pen and gradient tools. I also learned how to create new brushes and use them effectively along with clipping masks. The highlights/shine could have come out better, but I am overall happy with the results.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Personal Expression

I really enjoy working with the live trace tool, however it was difficult to use in this picture, and my edges did not come out very smooth. The background is blue-green to represent my relaxed personality and love for nature. I chose orange for the words to show my optimistic side. I have a gradient to represent the difference between the person I used to be and who I have become.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Type on a Path

I learned a lot about how to manipulate the shape of text in this tutorial. This was not very difficult, just time-consuming to pick out effects to apply to the image. This will be useful for creating any number of projects that contain words.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Live Trace

This tutorial was very challenging and lengthy, but fun. It was difficult to create nice shapes for the "swooshes" in the background and select coordinating colors. I learned how to "live trace" an image and layer patterns. I will be using this skill again, as the finished product has a very appealing look.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Personal Logo Trace



The first picture is the original. Creating this logo was relatively similar to that of the Las Vegas sign. The most difficult part was getting the text to match. I had to individually outline every letter and move the anchor points. It was also very difficult to get the shape of the white box inside the green.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Logo Trace

The most difficult part of this to create was the diamond shape. The "Las Vegas" font was also really hard to match in addition to the "Nevada" text spacing.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Quote Revisited

The first quote is the original. On the second, I alternated the font size between small and large to give the image balance. I changed the color of the author's name to put less emphasis on it and expanded the entire quote to make reading it easier. I also increased the stroke points on the orange words to emphasize them more. I changed the purple and the orange to deeper shades, to make reading easier.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Glyph Monster

It was difficult creating different "shades" to represent colors. I did this by clumping and shrinking the glyphs.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Type Project

I used purple and orange text to accent the important words. I shaped the words into a small square and balanced the quote with text size, color and placement.

Type Design Tutorial


Thursday, August 25, 2011

10/3

This is a simple picture, which is a characteristic that captures my attention. The picture also gives a sense of calmness that appeals to me. The lack of brightness makes the picture feel aged, or vintage, especially with the sunlight streaming through the tree branches in the background.
Horizontal lines divide the picture, not exactly in half, balancing the picture. The focus of is on the bicycle. This is also made up of neutral colors.

 This image is one of bright colors, drawing my attention-seeking eye near. The swirls that dive into the center of the picture draw the viewer closer, peering into the vortex of abstract shapes. The cool to warm range in colors also gives it a calming, psychedelic feel.
The purple in the picture creates a playful feel, while the continuation and the spiral shows movement.

 A city skyline is one of the most beautiful sights one can find. The reflection of lights on the water provides a sense of enchantment and magic within the city. The contrast of the light on the background of the night sky also grabs my attention, by accenting the boldness of the buildings.
The building lights and their reflection create a sense of power, drawing the eye upward. The bright yellow of the lights also represent a modernized area.

This is one of the most interesting pieces of art I have come across. The hands are so detailed and shaded, it looks so realistic. One of my favorite effects is black and white and in this drawing it really highlights the shadows and creases on the hands.
The circle that the hands make the picture come to life, the continuation shows movement. The grays give the image a melancholy, informative feel. The black and white colors and diagonal lines depict contrast.

Giraffes are my favorite animal, they are elegant and powerful, and this picture really shows that. I also love the bold, almost straight line that divides the sky and the land. The animals in this picture also seem to say, "This is my best friend."
The diagonal lines that the giraffes' necks and the horizon give a feel of movement. The green and blue depict nature very boldly. Their necks draw the eye upward, representing power.

This picture makes the balloon stand out by layering the open spaces behind it: the sky, then the clouds, the far mountains behind the closer ones. The balloon also appears so bold because of the yellow and green contrasting each other and everything in the background. It also seems to show the significance of "one," and solitude.
 The rounded balloon gives this picture a sense of movement. The horizontal lines and greens and blues make the image feel calming. The yellow in the balloon feels very upbeat.

What a peaceful picture. The rolling hills and beautiful mountains all convey a sense of calmness to the viewer. A small cottage in the middle of a vast valley has many "arrows" pointing to it: the layering of the mountains and clouds and the green, grassy hills drifting slowly towards it. I also enjoy the contrast of the warm and cool colors, all very bold and bright.
The curved lines of the field and mountains make the picture graceful and the natural colors depict the calming, lively personality of the image. The mountains and yellow flowers are very textured.

Vincent Van Gogh's "Road with Cypress" is one of my very favorite paintings by my favorite artist. The brushstrokes make this painting come to life for me, the tree blows in the wind, the people are having a conversation as they walk and the cycle of the sun and moon all appear before my eyes. The picture is almost divided down the center by the cypress tree that shows the daylight and nightlight.
The brushstrokes give the eye a path to follow, creating movement. The tree draws the eye upward, directing emphasis to the sum and moon. The green and blue and neutral grass color all give the painting a calming, relaxed, almost melancholy feel. 

Winter is my favorite time of the year, and this picture shows any viewer why. This is such a beautiful place, the white snow lighting up all of the details. The air even looks crisp, I can almost feel the cold in my lungs. I also like the way the tree stands out, in front of the mountains, with its bare branches covered in snow.
The continuation of the tree branches out of and in to the picture as well as the diagonal lines give a sense of movement and the blue color makes the picture feel cool and calm.

This picture also shows the magical effects layering can have on a photograph. The color of the autumn trees is beautiful, especially compared to the vibrant, green grass. The tall mountains in the background tower over this orchard, decorated with the snowy, white caps.
The angled lines and red leaves provide a sense of excitement and the horizontal lines make the scene seem peaceful. The natural greens and blues accentuate the natural view.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

My Brief Biography

My name is Rachael, I like the color red, flower prints and winter time. I live in a small house with my beautiful family including my mother and sister; we have a lot of fun together. I enjoy listening to music, reading books, and painting. I am excited to be taking a graphic design class and look forward to being creative.