Project 8 Sell sheet Redux

In this assignment, I approached re-working the sellsheet with the goal of creating something that would be part of my personal situation - Following the specs of the original assignment, but completely changing the context of the page.

I wanted to keep the color scheme of the original sellsheet, as it worked well for me and complimented the color in the art pieces feature in the new sellsheet. Utilizing the new logo I had designed for Ichthyography Ink, I put together an newsletter style “infosheet” called the Ichythograph … featuring a couple short informative articles, along with some visual draw from my illustrations, and a short sell paragraph, directing people to the business website for more information and eye candy.

I kept the page in a standard 2 column arrangement, but wanted to change the feel of the sheet, so loosened up the presentation with a couple of bleed images, some interesting text wraps, and a new logo, with the logo image unrestricted by its framing. I researched the content and rewrote the text entirely into two short articles, one explaining how natural science illustration is different from other art forms, and the needs it fills, and the other article with a brief definition and summary of a newer printmaking method called Gyotaku.

Project 6 - eNewsletter

The objective of this assignment was to create a informative e Newsletter that reflects our web page design from project 4. This assignment required us to come up with our own mission statement and to incorporate nine pieces of artwork that are included in our portfolio page in order to promote ourselves and our work. As in my website design, I wanted to work only in the viewable area of the screen so that my message could be communicated quickly and for the recipient to immediately get the overall feel of my email without having to scroll through the page. The major obstacle is this layout however is a limited area to arrange all of the elements of my design. The first step in creating this project was to do a good amount of research into practical examples of newsletters being used today with this format. Most examples I looked at tended to be scrolling pages and did not fit my criteria. I decided to use the overall feel of my website and kept the logo and top navigation where it is in my site. As for the body of my newsletter I chose a complimentary off white color and created a stamp like shape with elements of my design embossed into it. I chose this look to reflect a retro style type of mailing system with an antique feel. This also helped me choose the serif typeface, Georgia which I believed help to get my message across successfully. I enjoyed adapting my website design for this project and think that it is was beneficial assignment for our steps toward integrated marketing.

Project7 emailNewsletter

The concept I have for this project was to present an email newsletter trying to maintain awareness of the limits of email browsers. I wanted to present some of my Illustrations to entice readers to visit my website, the ultimate goal of the email.

To avoid the appearance of being a direct webpage, I decided to combine a few of my illustrations into a single image which would show the detail of the individual works, yet illustrate the message of the email itself. Direct connections to the website are offered by 3 buttons, and a link on the name, Ichthyography, Ink . Websafe Verdana is use for text, and the other styles of Font are offered as images, generally part of a logo or a link.

The entire concept was kept to one “page” area with a live screen of 800 X 600 pixels, keeping both the text and tempts imagery available upon opening the email

Project 7 - eNewsletter

The reviews last week really snapped me back into focus. I need to refocus my energies into being more productive; many hours of work do not necessarily result in a better product. I probably spent as much time researching and planning this project as I did executing it in Photoshop. I began with looking at eNewsletters from on-line, both templates and ones that I receive personally. I found that the over-all set-up is rather generic: logo/company name at top, title, and other company info. This was all encapsulated into a header of sorts. The items below varied from text to images but followed a rather pre-set standard. I wanted my design to have some traditional attributes (such as the top header) but to still deviate harshly and not seem like just another newsletter. This idea could blow up in my face when employers disregard it as junk mail. I’m hoping that companies that would compliment my personality would appreciate the non-formality. I then stood at my drafting table, conte crayons in hand, and sketched out various layout concepts. As each one was completed I’d take it into another room and tape it to the wall. I did this so the new idea wasn’t influenced by the previous idea. I was then able to look at all the candidates, pick aspects I liked from each layout, and draw up a more rigid, well defined layout. I also mentally laid out what needed to be done when and how. Still trying to focus, I choose the ink splats from my website as the page theme. The header is black ink flowing down and transitioning to colored tips (which echo the splats around the page). I came up with my title (and a few stand ins) with ink as the theme. The addition of the Micron pen was a last minute detail that adds to the theme and gives my title(s) a ‘just written’ look. My gallery pic bar is simply an aligned and cropped version of my gallery images. The inclusion of the drawing I did as a kid is to say “Yes I really have been creating since I was a little one. I’m not just saying I have to sound like an artist”. The New Yorker cover at bottom is a class piece that I’ve done in the past few weeks. I’m proud of how it turned out so I decided to showcase it. In the Photoshop file I didn’t specify what objects would be links so here they are: The Ink Splat logo (at top left; to home page), ‘See More’ (to gallery), ‘Read More’ (to artist statement), pic bar and The New Yorker cover (to gallery). As I’ve said with all my pieces thus far, I’m happy with how this turned out. I actually think, in my opinion, that this is my best piece. It’s more my style (kind of goofy yet still serious).

Project 5 newsletter

After reading through the text a few times, and searching the web for typical newsletters, I decided on a concept and approach to the project. The appearance of the newsletter, along with its logo would be based on one of the earliest newsletters known, a short news report in ancient Rome, known as “Daily Acts”, or Acta diuma. I wanted to express the feel of an ancient newsletter by using a brown/tan color scheme and a background (or represented paper type) of possibly, parchment.

I went with a background JPG I found called “old paper” which wasn’t parchment exactly, but gave the feel I was looking for, while representing a course paper rather than an animal skin parchment.

The photos were chosen to illustrate the text of the newsletter, and sized and worked in photoshop. The text illustrations were made into duotone, but the newsletter logo header and a single background image, use for the character of the newsletter itself, not the article presented, worked better in CMYK, while keeping with the color scheme of the piece. The logo was constructed in Illustrator. All other work was done in Indesign. Right from the first read, it seemed to me that a table would be the best approach to present the comparative information in the article.

Project 4 Web page

Revising the first webpage design, I chose to create a new studio logo in Photoshop, focusing on one of my recent illustrations using a subtle lighter colored palette for the page. Link Buttons were made from close-ups of eyes of several of my pieces, illustrating the Slogan, “eye for excellence”

The portfolio page features the original thumbnails of my illustrations as link buttons, a smaller version of the logo, and the same subtler page colors as the revised web page.

The top navigation bar includes Home, Portfolio, About the Artist, and Contact.

Project 5 Newsletter