Simply Lemonade

I am going to redesign the label for All Natural Simply Lemonade.  It also happens to be a favorite of mine.  The design seems simple enough to recreate.

The assignment this week is to bring in 3 rough drafts.  All words that appear on the existing label must appear on the recreation.  

I started by going to the web and looking at images relative to the Arts and Crafts Movement.

I made my choice and downloaded to Illustrator. 

 From here I used the pen and the pencil tool to recreate the image adding a little of my own touch.

Through trial and error I am finding my way to around the layers pallet.  It is still taking me a while to accomplish my assignments. 

 What took me 7 hours to do, could probably be done in 15 minutes by someone more familiar with the operations of Illustrator.  It might not show in my art work, but each week I am learning a new technique.

The shapes used the most in the Arts and Crafts Movement were very basic; squares, rectangles, triangles, etc.  The design of the image contains those very  basic shapes.

I could not remove the funny colored image.

Arts and Crafts Movement

I chose the Arts and Crafts movement for the next assignment. I had no idea until I did the research of this historical design that it was my favorite since the décor of my house contains materials described below. I am happy with this choice.

The Arts and Crafts movement initially developed in England during the latter half of the 19th century and lasted well into the 20th century. Eventually, this style was adopted by American designers, with different result. In the United States, the Arts and Crafts style was also known as Mission style.
These terms are often used interchangeably, especially in reference to furniture, but the arts and crafts movement includes light fixtures, stained glass, pottery, wall coverings and textiles.

This movement challenged the tastes of the Victorian era and was inspired by social reform concerns. The support of this movement came from progressive artists, architects and designers, philanthropists, amateurs and middle-class women seeking work in the home. They set up small workshops separate from the world of industry, revived old techniques and revered the humble household objects of pre-industrial times.

Their notions of good design were linked to their notions of a good society. This was a vision of a society in which the worker was not brutalized by the working conditions found in factories, but rather could take pride in his/her craftsmanship and skill. The rise of a consumer class coincided with the rise of manufactured consumer goods. In this period, manufactured goods were often poor in design and quality. Many proposed that it would be better for all if individual craftsmanship could be revived. The worker could then produce beautiful objects the showed the results of fine craftsmanship, as opposed to the shoddy products of mass production.

The goal was to create design that was “for the people, and a source of pleasure to the maker and the user.” Workers could produce beautiful objects that would enhance the lives of ordinary people, and at the same time provide decent employment for the craftsman.

The Mission style, as it was known in the United States, was a blending of arts and crafts rectilinear forms with Hispanic and Native American architecture, furnishings and accessories of the American Southwest. The collecting of Southwestern artifacts became very popular in the first quarter of the twentieth century.

Common design includes items made of natural materials and earthy organic colors. The design incorporates clean simple lines. The use of earthy organic colors—mossy greens, mustard, terra cotta, warm brown and amber reflect the warm, earthy feel of the period. The forms were typically rectilinear and angular, with stylized decorative motifs reminiscent of medieval and Islamic design.

Tree of Life

Here is the final image of my assignment.  I like the way it turned out considering what I started out with.  I learned a lot of new techniques.  I have got to keep on using them before I forget what I did.  I took about 3 1/2 hours to come to this final point.  The easiest part was gathering the images of the Lincoln family from the web.  Reducing the image to fit was a new experience.  Well not new, I just had not done it for 3 years therefore I forgot how to do it. 

I used the paint brush tool a lot and Prof. Peck showed me how to vary the width of the stroke.  I played with that a while trying to my the log look as wood like as I could.  I even added some extra branches to the trees using the paint brush tool and varying the width. 

I learned some things about Lincoln unknown to me before this project.  I knew nothing about his family. 

Abraham Lincoln was the son of Nancy Hanks Lincoln and Thomas Lincoln who later remarried Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln who became Abraham's stepmother. 

Thomas and Nancy had three children, Sarah, Abraham and Thomas, who died as a child.  In 1818 Nancy died of milk sickness, so Thomas married Sarah Bush Johnston.  Sarah was Lincoln's older sister and there was no image available for her.

Abraham married Mary Todd Lincoln and together they had four children; Robert Todd, Edward, William, and Thomas.  Robert Todd was the only one of Lincoln's children to survive to adulthood.  

 

Week 4

The assignment this week is to chose and perfect the information graphics of Lincoln.  Prof. Peck was kind enough to meet with me and Rachael on Saturday to go over the main steps used in Illustrator.  It was very helpful.  I have spent at least 18 hours on my illustration of Lincoln.  I have referred to books, looked at the videos and got frustrated.  I'm not there yet.  I will still keep clicking, moving, and trying.  I have done a lot of things that I don't have a clue how I did it.  Didn't think this project was going to be so difficult for me.  Practice, Practice, Practice.

This picture of Lincoln is what I am attempting to illustrate.  I'm doing his family portraits on an oak tree.

Week 3

I am having problems uploading my image.  I will try later.

The assignment for this week is to work on my information graphic that I chose.  I am doing Abraham Lincoln's family.  I pondered on how I would get this info across and I have concluded on using the usual family tree style.  I will start with the roots underground (mom and dad) and continue upward, branching out into Abe Lincoln and his siblings, branching out again with Abe beginning his own family.  I decided to use actual images of the Lincoln family.  I went to the web and research the family downloading the available images.  This took me about 2 hours.  I will now open illustrator and start to draw my conception a sprouting family.  The image I wanted to download with this blog refused to open so I went to the web and chose this one.  This one might even work better considering the assignment.  Here we have the entire Abraham Lincoln family excluding his father, mother, and stepmother, all of whom I am going to include in the information graphic.  I am currently trying to see if there is a eye pleasing way to include a little info about each member of the family.

Week 2

Second week and I still don't have a picture of myself, therefore I'll post the icon of "The Black Madonna", which history states was painted by St. Luke, the Evangelist;  and it was while painting the picture Mary told him about the life of Jesus, which he later incorporated into his gospel.  I am a big fan of religious art and would rather use it than a picture of me. When I finally post my picture, you will see why.    

I did not mention in my blog Week 1 the amount of time it took me to actually sign up for a blogger as requested by the Professor.  Going through all the steps again and again it took me about 45 minutes.  The only internet access I have is dial up through my job and it is very slow. 

 

The assignment for this week is three fold.  One assignment is to create an identity by means of a business card.  The main focus of this assignment is to create a logo that will be a reflection of who I am.  The second assignment is to gather various examples of information graphics.  Third, information that is chartable must be researched regarding related facts about Abraham Lincoln. 

 

I am again using an image of Mary and Jesus instead of myself.  There is no image of me or my family available yet.  I’m still working on that.

 

Illustrator is new to me; therefore, I am collecting information from 4 to 5 books and a VHS tape.  After opening the program I went to the Rectangle tool and made a rectangle 3.5x2.  I took the type tool and typed in my personal info somewhat where I wanted it to be.  I then used the eclipse tool to place a circle in middle of the rectangle.  The pencil tool was used to draw a rugged cross through the center of the circle.  I think my business card looks rather amateur, however. I will get better as I become more familiar with the tools in Illustrator 10.  This process took me about 3.5 hours.  I need work on making the logo square and this one is not going to be my final choice for a personal logo.

 

I spent about 1 hour going over the various information graphics that are available on the Internet.  I downloaded various ones that appealed to me.

 

It took me about 45 minutes to search and download some interesting facts about Abraham Lincoln.  I downloaded information about him that is chartable. 

It's just 5 minutes before class and I just found a template for business cards in Illustrator 10.  I took me quite a while and reading books to figure it out.  Well, I now know how to size a shape to my specifications.

Adding my 1st time ever done and will improve on it eventually business card for viewing.

Divine Designs and  name was chosen because we frequently use the word divine to describe something that is appealing to us.  For instance, "that outfit looks divine on you" or "this meal is divine."  The circle is to portray the world.  The name divine is symbolized by the cross.  This is to imply that I have designs that are appealing the world over.  The logo of the world needs improving.  Right now it just looks like a brown circle with a cross going through it.  It intend to add some graphics to make it mirror the universe.

Week 1

Assignment #1- I set up blog for the first time successfully to my suprise.

There is no picture of me available on my computer or the internet, therefore I chose this photo. The photo contains some of my favorite colors and I am aware of the history of this image. This is considered a painting miracleously done on the cloak of a Mexican peasant Indian in 1531. To this day the image looks as it did in 1531. The cloth is in excellent condition and the colors remain vivid.

The template I chose is black and this color is currently very trendy and seems to be very easy on my middle aged eyes.

The lady in the image happens to be my hero. This painting is the image of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. My religious background is one that has belief in her assistance in all areas of a person's life. Mary is closest to Jesus because she is His mother. Whenever you want something from a man , if you are close to his mother, she will always put in a good word for you. I have always done this and it is the truth. Whatever I have asked for in prayer, I ask via her intersession and my prayers are answered. This has brought me closer to Jesus and closer to Mary.

I am happy when I have a goal or a task to complete and I get it completed on time and I am well pleased with it because I have done the task to the best of my ability.

I intend to go wherever God leads me. I want to be open to changes in my life so that I may be lead down the right road. If I am traveling the correct path, I will succeed in all that I do.

My last test was today, when I became frustrated that I could not edit my previous blog. I did not quit but continued trying and finally I saw a familar screen and went from there. Since the beginning of writing this blog I have experienced at least 3 additional tests. After each test is over and completed with success you look forward to the next test, one can bet it is coming.

I get out of bed each morning to complete, to the best of my ability, each task laid before me, whether it is planned or unplanned. Each new day is different and brings with it new ideas that are useful and even plesantly surprising.

To get what you want is a matter of knowing and showing others that what you know or/and can produce is the best option for that particular situation. Someone might have a certain idea in mind, however, giving them what they want along with new ideas and explanations why or why not things should or should not be done most often can convience someone else to see things your way. It is very important to be honest with yourself and others. It is important to be fearful but polite when dealing with others.