Dark Inspirations

Another inspiring hero of mine is Tim Burton. He definitely has his own style, a true artist who happens to be highly successful. My first Tim Burton film (he was a producer) was James and the Giant Peach; I love the stop action animation and the charisma he provides these characters. The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories is dark humor stories and poems of Tim Burton's own creation. In college I was inspired by this collection for my own small story "Creature by the Sea". My favorite films tranfer constantly between Big Fish, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. I can watch any of his films and be inspired.

Illustrations in Process

I am still in the first 3 weeks of resolution season, and 40% of us who make resolutions will drop out by 3 weeks. I am still going strong (for now). I have mostly stuck to drawing with pencil and pen, but in the coming weeks hope to bring and color and maybe some computer drawings. (I have done a little bit with color on my ipad. I have been enjoying trying out different sketching apps for iPad). Staying passionate becomes increasingly difficult as work picks up again and my house just seems to be falling apart. "When it Rains it Pours".

 I may be struggling to create my own personal work, but luckily work has provided some suprises with some projects that need some "affordable" illustration.

Taking Inspiration from Others

Last week I attended an AIGA event, and the above image is just a sample of one of my spreads during the speaker Tad Carpenter. Plus, I threw in some of his illustrated buttons, did you know how much I love buttons? Being introverted it is an acheivement to go to an event where there will be tons of people I don't know. Going to public events takes a lot of my energy. I am no where near voluntarily enter the discussion, but it is baby steps.

Tad Carpenter is very passionate about his work, and that is infectious. Love What You Do. Shit Happens. Have Passion Projects. Exercise. Take Risks.

I have a hard time accepting any of those qualities, which is maybe why I have been so bummed out lately. Doing a complete 360 is out of the question, but maybe I can incorporate some of these and the rest will follow. I got to accept that for my day job sometimes my work will suck, but if I take the time to take on passion projects will let me know the joy of being in love with my work again. Something else that would lift my endorphin levels is exercise. It has nothing to do with design, it would just be good for me. Taking Risks? Now that is something that has never been easy for me. I will probably put that off, and save to take some more secured risk (is that a real thing)? Risk is scary, but as Tad said there is never a good time—you just have to take the leap.

Making a Mark

With my efforts to improve my illustration skills I have been thinking more about mark making tools. My weapon of chose is usually the nearest pen or sharpie lying around. They are good enough tools, but do not allow for much variation in line width or my illustration characteristics. Different tools that have some interesting qualities to add to my pen drawings:

1. Watercolor: one of the easiest marking tools to add, since I have a watercolor set from my grandmother and some brushes that I can begin to dabble with this fluid form.
   
2. India Ink: this thick black ink was a great tool for my serigraphy prints in school, because its light-fast qualities. I still have some lying around. Similar to watercolors is that this ink can be very fluid, but you can use it with a calligraphy pen for more control.
   
3. Potato Printing: I have always wanted to try this technique. I have all the tools I need for this, but have always been hesitant to waste these delicious spuds on something other than food. But the texture these prints can supply would be worth the risk. Definitely it is on my must try-list.
   

Do you have any favorite techniques you like to use?
Photo from Oh Happy Day!

Blank Page

I love looking at a blank page—knowing its potential and the fresh start that it provides every time I pull out a new sheet. I am known for having a piles of "used" paper cluttering my desktop. I tend to keep paper around until I have used both sides of the paper to its fullest potential.

Whether it is a sketch, painting, doodle, or just a lengthy list; the process of filling a blank page is cathartic and stimulates my brain. I can more quickly see a solution and new ideas in the few minutes it takes me to fill a page, and that is refreshing.

So FILL a page today.

Sketch

I knew there was a reason that my year of design fundamentals included 2 semesters of drawing and my major required another semester of developing my drawing skills. Computes are fast pace and the programs more sophisticated. Sketching is becoming less common for a starting point. It had been grilled into us at school that all projects begin with a design brief and then beginning with sketches that fit the needs outlined in the brief. I have a plethora of sketch books filled with minute sketches.

One of our early projects in Visual Communications was the task to create symbols. The first day we had to do 400 sketches and 400 more each day after that. This grilled into us that sketching was essential, because it is not always your first one that is best. As i began professional work I used to sketch more often, but as months have gone by i find I am sketching less. I am not sure why, since sketching has a lot of benefits:

• It's Fast! Faster than "computer sketching. You can quickly see if a layout will work rather than wasting time building something a computer that may not work. 

• Sketching is not biased. When you work on the computer it is to tempting to add color and make work more complicated even before the layout is realized.

• It activates a different part of the brain, and can re-inveterate your creative juices.

• Rest for your eyes. Even if you don't sketch it is a good idea to take a break from the computer screen and give your eyes rest from those little lights.

Illustration Aspirations

I am trying to work through my goals, and someday I want them to lead me to a place that has me sketching and creating like this:


our creative process/. 01 from Casey Warren | MINDCASTLE on Vimeo.

Importance of Drawing

Whether you have the skill to make a realistic portrait or you relate more to stick figures, I find that drawing is a skill that every designer should continue to hone. It is easy to fall into the trap of doing everything on computer, because it ends up there any way right? Well the speed and ease of drawing comes naturally. Even simple drawings of squiggles and boxes can be the quickest way to cycle through a variety of layouts. My new year's resolution of doing something creative everyday can become a challenge on the weekends, all week I make ads and when I am home I begin to vegetate. But the importance of drawing and keeping the creative part of my brain enticed is essential to who I am as a designer and as a person. Drawing stimulates a different part of the brain than using a computer and is faster than what we could achieve on the computer. Drawing also has brain development benefits. Studies have shown improved memory cognition if a person utilizes drawing, and that can help prevent and slow brain deterioration due to Alzheimers.

So get out there and draw. It won't cost you much. Grab a pencil or pen and some already used computer paper, and you are ready to activate your brain cells and get inspired.