Week 9

Assignment: Complete 8 more spreads to have a total of 10 done.

Craft: I used a lot of boxes filled with colors that went well with the illustrations. I made the pictures and titles the biggest so they stood out the most since they are the most important part of the spread. I used different fonts to make each spread look different. Another thing I did to personalize each spread was that I made the columns all look different. Some were wider than others, some took up the page more than others and some spilt on to both sides of the spread. I used pull quotes on almost every spread and behind every pull quote is a solid colored rectangle with a drop shadow. I wanted them to all look the same so they stood out and the reader looked for each pull quote. 

Concept:I wanted each and every spread to look different but fit together so they feel like they all belong in the same magazine. I used a lot of different colors in each spread as well. I want them all to stand out and look unique in each of their own ways.

Composition: Almost all of my spreads either have the picture on one side and the text on the opposite side. The pictures that were vertical took up the whole page. The pictures that were horizontal usually have the title on one side and the text on the opposite side. I tried my best to make sure nothing of importance on the pictures were cut off in the middle.

Week 8

Assignment: Make 2 spreads for our magazine using InDesign. One of Lincoln and one of our own illustration.

Craft: I started out by making boxes the size of what I thought the picture and text would fit in and adjusted them accordingly on the pages. I also used the text tool to create the title and by line which was on the second page. For the Lincoln spread I made the picture run across the middle and onto the other side of the page. It is extremely large. After putting in my text I added a pull quote and made it blue to match the color of the title. I wanted to make the illustration of Abe big and bold so the reader's eye is drawn to that first, then to the text. For the spread of my second illustration, I did it a little differently. I put the text and by line on the left page along with the picture which only fit that side of the page, it did not run over to the other one. On the right side I have all of the text along with a pull quote.


Composition: I did the layout for both projects differently. The title for Lincoln's along with the text was on the right side when the picture took up the whole space on the left. For the one with my illsutration I had the title and the picture on the left side which took up almost the whole page. Then I put just the text and pull quote on the right side. I chose a font for the Lincoln spread that I felt fit with the picture and text very well. It is a bulky text whereas the text for my illustration spread is flowy and matches the feel of the picture.

Concept: For both of the spreads I wanted the pictures to be the main focus. When I look at magazines I notcie the pictures along with the titles first and after seeing them I decide if I want to read that article. It is the first impression you get when flipping through a magazine. I also think that the title is very important so I made both of them stand out as much as I could but both look unique and relevent in both spreads. The colors I chose for the text and titles directly corolate with the pictures. I would use the eye drop tool and match the colors with those that are in the pictures to solidify the overall look.

Week 7

Assignment: Another draft of our second illustration.

Craft: I changed the palm tree by changing the brush stroke to more realistic looking strokes. I also added some text in the sky and brought down the opacity so it faded into the sun. I am going to change the text to different words and make them more noticeable, or change the location of the words.

Concept: I still like the beach concept with the dramatic sunset and single palm tree with a hammock. I think it will look much more put together when the feet are put it. It is still somewhat unfinished.

Composition: I still need to add the feet laying on the hammock and fix up the footprints a little more. The text is what I am having the most trouble with. I am trying to find a place for it to fit and make sense. I want it to be faded so it doesn't draw all attention to it but I also want it to be noticeable.

Week 6

Assignment: Create our own illustration using Illustrator and incorporate text.

Craft: I used a lot of paint brush strokes. The sunset is a gradient along with the sun. The water and sand are a mix of different strokes with lots of lights and darks to show the movement of the water and the wet sand.There is also a slight reflection of the sun on the water. I need to fix the palm tree to make it more detailed and life-like.

Composition: My portrait is set on a beach. There is a dramatic sunset against the water. There are footprints on the sand to let you know someone is around, even if you cannot see them. Off to the right of the picture is a palm tree with a hammock. When I am done with the picture you will see someones feet on the hammock showing that they are laying down, relaxing and enjoying the sunset. The last thing I have to do is put the text in. I havent decided where to put it. I want to make sure it fits in perfectly.

Concept: My main goal is to portray the state of relaxation. Someone set in my portrait would most likely be stress free and relaxed. I wish at this point in the semester that I could be that person laying in the hammock enjoying the beautiful weather. I want the person looking at this illustration to feel relaxed and I wanted it to be simple enough so it wasnt distracting and you dont have to look at too many things to get the point.

Week 5

*I put my portrait of Abe above my bed between a frame full of pictures and one of my favorite paintings.


My Idea for the next project: I am thinking of doing a sunset with palm trees and having a person laying in a hammock enjoying the beach life. I think sunsets are amazing and show the difference in each day. Some are brighter than others and they keep you wondering how everday after that will turn out. I want my illustration to be as clear as possible and give the person looking at it a sense of peace and relaxation.

Week 4

Assignment: A finalized version of Abraham Lincoln illustration

Craft: I put Abe in 3 over sized frames on a concrete wall in a museum setting. I played with illustration and found a borders tool box within the brushes tool box. I found a wooden border I liked and made 3 of them. I took the beard off of the youngest looking Abe since he did not have a beard in his younger days. I also made a concrete wall with the color gray and a lighter gray brush stroke on top of that to make it look more like concrete. I made a brown floor with light brown brush strokes. I also added a woman looking at the 3 pictures of Abe.

Composition: All 3 frames are the same size in order to keep everything symmetrical. It is a very simple looking illustration which in meant to give a simple message to anyone who sees it.

Concept: It takes place in a museum. It shows the 3 stages of Abe's life. Museums hold and show important artifacts or pictures, and information on interesting things in history. Abraham Lincoln is a very renowned person and president so it makes sense that people would look at pictures of him and learn about his life and history.

Week 3

Assignment: Design 3 different versions of Abraham Lincoln portraits.

Craft: I made all 3 of the versions of Abe have different color hair along with a different kind of brush stroke. His beards also had different brush strokes but maintained the same shape. I also changed the style and color of his jacket in all three.

Composition: All of them have a gradient background so it doesn't really show where Abe might be. They are also all from the same photograph. I chose to have the same picture in order to show the aging effect.

Concept: For all 3 of my portraits I wanted there to be somewhat of a theme. I ended up doing a young version of Abe, a middle aged version and an older version of Abe. The backgrounds were a gradient patter of some sort. I plan on putting Abe in a setting where he might be looking into a mirror before giving a speech, or maybe he will be shown with a crowd behind him with photographers and the public waiting to hear breaking news.