"Grid" all day

Well today I did nothing but try to complete my publication work .  I woke up really early to get a phone call from a friend, and then conked back out till 1130. it felt goood, but since then Ive been staring at the computer Screen.  Its been nice having two days off in a row.

I have to say InDesign is not my favorite Adobe program to work in..maybe its because I haven't used it enough..or I just hate publication lay out. Above is is a jewelry book and Annual report for Harley Davidson. two completely different styles...but I think I'm getting better at breaking grid! 

My goal is to finish these two things tonight.. and work on my sketchbook..which is going really well.

Till then,

 Hank

Must start blogging..

Wowzer, I suck at keeping up with these.
I added it to my goal list to post on here more often.

• Find paying Job

That's about the only thing I have accomplished this far in my journey. Not to say I'm not getting things done, because I am. My portfolio is my number one concern, since the review is about two weeks away.

Dottie and I sat down sometime last week , she was kind enough to lay out my syllabus for completing my work. Which I present...

*Do for Webster Portfolio Review

Packaging

• Guy Ritchie Packaging
• New packages*
• Re-trim covers and back covers*
• Vegetus Food Packaging
• Re-do drink container*
• Re-look at Vegetus logo, re-kern type*
• Logo, color and 1-color version
• Reprint packaging*
• Yo! Squeeze Packaging
• Good!
• Reprint logo and mount*

Publication

• Kepler Type Book
• Re-look at spreads*
• Text color and size
• Page numbers
• Jewelry Design Book
• Find actual book to use for mock up
• Pick 3 spreads
• Design Title page, table of contents
• Re-mock up
• Cover: good!
• Back cover: readdress content
• Amsterdam Travel Book -round two
• Keep size
• Typography
• Grid breaking
• Re-print and mock-up
• Harley-Davidson Annual Report
• Re-address cover*
• Text consistency*
• Graphs?
• Typography

• Play on Words
• Reprint/Remount
• Hand done Type (1st project)*
• Good!

• Handmade Font, Blockhead
• Trim/mount poster
• Trim/mount photo
• Acetate box for sample of letter

Poster Design

• G-Love Poster Design
• Print larger
• Remove white border

Photography

• Photography Series*
• Scan first
• Remount

Fine Art

• Mixed Media Posters*
• Needs Title
• Mount

Printmaking, choose 6*

• The Sad Man
• Housewife, print + design
• Mad Man, print + design
• Blustery Man Woodblock
• Gypsy
• Owl

2-D

• Ship
• Branches

Drawing

• 1 Nude drawing
• Pumpkins
• Skull Still Life
• Shoes

Painting

• Amanda, acrylic
• Mikey, watercolor
• Self-Portrait, oil-pastel

As you can see, it is not a small list to accomplish...besides completing all that I have to write out all my descriptions and Mount all them to same size Mat board. phew.

This morning I started working on my branding identification. This includes things such as my logo, letterhead and business card. This is what I have so far..

These are just really going of theories of Gestalt principles, I'm really struggling with conceptualizing a logo for myself. Id like to incorporate somehow, a way to show my 2 main interests; Printmaking and Graphic Design. The first one kind of goes off of serving and thought for creativity, using a "D" for design. the other two are just a play on my initials using neg/pos space as a figure. Id really think they'd be great as a letter press or a actual di-cut for my business card. Kind of contemporary feel? 

Anyway, I promise to myself I will be a better blogger and actually start using this.

Until then,

Hank

This is just the beginning..

Well I really need to get use to doing these things on a daily basis. Though I don't have much of a social life anymore, (which is okay) I've been applying and interviewing at as many places as I can get.  I replied to a few places on craigsilst last night, and actually heard back from two of them this morning to set up interviews for the next up coming days!

Besides finding a paid job, I'm just getting in the swing of things with my sister. The whole reason I made the move from the great STL to Lansing was to find my identity as a designer and prepare my portfolio for my admission into Webster (which where I'm going to finish up my BFA in the fall). Also for Scholarships and any other portfolio competitions I can get into. This process is very tedious and a very critical one. I just finished going through ALL of my artwork I have saved since 2003 when I really started taking art serious as career goal.  I probably have about 60-75 pieces (not including digital work) I'm in love with, but I have to cut it down to 15-25 pieces for my portfolio, not going to be so easy.

With that, I'm laying out my goals for the time I have while I'm here. This blog is more for my personal endeavor, to actually document this process for my future to come. 

Things to Accomplish:

Layout/organize all my pieces of work.Refine and finalize 10–15 existing portfolio pieces to be used in final  Go through and choose which I think are strong contenders to use in my portfolio and critique ones that need changes.  (makes those changes) this is going to be the most tedious of all goals, because I will be taking original work, striping it down, and reworking it to PERFECTION!

• Make a list if what I want to accomplish this semester (10+items) in regards to my portfolio and myself. This will turn into basically a mini syllabus for the time being it will set me up for my end goal of  a.) formal portfolio b.) my web portfolio and c.) interviews regarding my portfolio. This is what my sister and I brainstormed this morning. 

 Things I need for Portfolio 
-1 new publication piece

-Self ID; business cards, resume, letterhead, website

Portfolio website, cargo collective(free portfolio website)

-1–2 new design pieces to be completed this semester (Chalk of the Town Poster for Lansing)
-MMCA Portfolio Review, April 26th/27th, FREE OR 3 Informational interviews with local professionals

-Enter one design contest, Tiger print or creative allies 

-Read design related article, which my sister will pick out for me

-Some type of typography project; using type hyarchy and proper use of fonts

• Other project ideas: Cd Case, Visual Puns, Movie Poster, Tattoo design, or some type of packing for an existing product or made up

As you can see, I will have my plate full and a lot to accomplish. Hopefully I can finish it all!

I'll be keeping up to date daily from now on, its a good motivator and a reminder on what I need to finish.

Until then, toodaloooo

-Hank

Heres some pictures from the valentine cards I made the other day!

First blog post!

flat black & circular record store

Well I arrived in Lansing Last friday night. I’ve officially been here for a week, what better to do than my first blog post? Though I miss St. Louis dearly, I am very much enjoying Michigan. Its cold, snowy and I LOVE it.

I have been basically trying yo get acquainted with this city, theres a lot of one way streets which is pretty annoying, but other than that it seems pretty easy to navigate. I am currently on the job hunt, I had my first interview today with Payless Shoes..not really my cup of tea, but its a job, I got the second interview , so WOOHOO! I have another interview with a cozy little tavern called Dagwood’s. We went there one of the first nights I was here for some grub and drinks. Cool place, great food and cheap drinks. So Wish me luck!
Other then that I’ve been watching a lot of Netflix , hanging out with my sister and working on my portfolio. My next blog I’ll go more into detail on what I actually moved to Lansing for.
Thursday I went to my first Educational Luncheon put on by the Mid-Michigan Creative Alliance , twas very educational. I handed out raffle tickets and helped my sister (and others) check people in to the event. There was Lunch, and cake pops followed by a very insperational speaker named Robb Bliss. He’s a year older than me and already has soooo much accomplished, he was such a great speaker and very insperational. Im really glad I got to go.
Today I went on a walk in the neighborhood, met a cute dog , enjoyed the beautiful snow and houses. I then took my first venture to Michigan States campus, walked around down in East Lansing came across The Record Lounge and Flat Black and Circular where I purchased a Jack Dupree and Jackie Wilson record and was told the sad news about My Queen Etta James, may she rest in peace.
Ohh and then my car died on my way to my interview..so thats always good. Tomorrow I am having a little day date with Dotties friends, were having lunch and making valentines and various crafts. Cant wait to post pictures!

Till then,

Hank

Picked up some old letter press blocks 

found a great steal on some records

cute little vintage store called Lamb Scape in Old Town