I have book supplies! Now, I can start my portfolio tonight.
I am quite lucky too. Saturday I walked into Ellis Art on J St. in Sacramento. And they had everything I needed. Not to mention, they were very helpful and friendly. In fact, they have a book binding club that meets there every month.
There are some place you go into find what you need ask if you need to and they point you in the right direction. If that was my experience on Saturday that would be the understatement of the year. They gave me a few pointers showed me a recent book they made. and also shared a book about two artist that specialized in book binding and cover art. I just wish I could remember the names.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Thursday, January 27, 2005
All's Quiet
The week is coming to an end and very quietly too. (now that I said that, I will get swamped tomorrow). Not much to talk about. I have had to put my portfolio book on hold until Saturday. There is absolutely no art stores in my are that have the materials that I am looking for.
For expample, I asked for book board and book cloth. The response I got was what do you use it for. (I was trying really hard not to show my suprise and tell them as nicely as I could) I told them it was used for making books. Anyway, I wasn't too shocked by the whole conversation, just a little disappointing. Another place I went to I asked the same questions. (i didn't expect them to have what I was looking for but there was a 50/50 chance) All I got from them was a blank stare. I finally had to ask (becuase, the silence was a killer) you don't have anything like that. Her reply, "No, but we have books and photo albums already made." I do have to give her credit for coming up with an alternative. Still, it was not what I was looking for.
I will have an update after Saturday. In the mean time I will keep on hunting.
For expample, I asked for book board and book cloth. The response I got was what do you use it for. (I was trying really hard not to show my suprise and tell them as nicely as I could) I told them it was used for making books. Anyway, I wasn't too shocked by the whole conversation, just a little disappointing. Another place I went to I asked the same questions. (i didn't expect them to have what I was looking for but there was a 50/50 chance) All I got from them was a blank stare. I finally had to ask (becuase, the silence was a killer) you don't have anything like that. Her reply, "No, but we have books and photo albums already made." I do have to give her credit for coming up with an alternative. Still, it was not what I was looking for.
I will have an update after Saturday. In the mean time I will keep on hunting.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
A Quest
I am on a creative quest. I have been looking into creating a portfolio book. The reason, most of what I have seen is too big and honestly very boring (nevermind the fact that I need a new portfolio). It is turning out to be an an interesting project, I have never made a book before (and I am not talking about a cheesy cardboard or posterboard book). I didn't even know where to begin (Well I had a slight idea, but it woud have been cheesy). I have found out a lot thanks to a fellow HOWie Ash. She makes handbound books and does a good job at it, as well. I would encourage you to visit her site, handbound.com
Anyway, this weekend I am in search of supplies. Right now, I am looking into the info I got from Ash and designing what I want my cover to look like. I will be sure to post a few pictures of the finished project here.
As a teaser, I am planning to make a Japanese Stab Binded book. Nothing too fancy, just simple, classy, and unique. I choose this method because it is simple and relatively easy to take apart When I want to add or replace work. At the same time, it will look like a finished complete book that appears to be permanent. Plus, I am going to keep it desktop printer friendly and cheap. I don't want to have to go to kinko's every time I need something done right.
So far, Things are coming together nicely.
Anyway, this weekend I am in search of supplies. Right now, I am looking into the info I got from Ash and designing what I want my cover to look like. I will be sure to post a few pictures of the finished project here.
As a teaser, I am planning to make a Japanese Stab Binded book. Nothing too fancy, just simple, classy, and unique. I choose this method because it is simple and relatively easy to take apart When I want to add or replace work. At the same time, it will look like a finished complete book that appears to be permanent. Plus, I am going to keep it desktop printer friendly and cheap. I don't want to have to go to kinko's every time I need something done right.
So far, Things are coming together nicely.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Bad Design Kills
Stop the Visual scourage!
There is a flood of designers and computer artists, becuase there is a flood technology. Unfortunately, they are not all good and in several cases they are just plain bad. That's where BadDesignKills.com comes in, it's propaganda by professional designers who want to make the world a better (designed) place. Not to mention, it is an opportunity to "fight" back and have a little creative fun at the same time.
There is a lot that can be said for the quality that businesses should be expected to have and deliver, advertising, marketing, and design should not be an exception. I can go on and on about how some owners of businesses want what they like, but forget what their customer wants (it's not always the same thing) or the business owner has a young releative who owns a computer. Unfortunately, just becuase you have a computer doesn't mean you can create a high quality design.
In the end, the best thing is to ask a lot of questions. Think about what you want to accomplish in your website, brouchure, or flyer. And don't forget if it is hard to read, too much small type, or corny artwork, chances are the average person looking at it will not look at it for very long and forget what you were trying to accomplish. In the end, find a designer that you like the their previous work and work with the designer don't fight with him or her.
"if it's bad design, then command z"
There is a flood of designers and computer artists, becuase there is a flood technology. Unfortunately, they are not all good and in several cases they are just plain bad. That's where BadDesignKills.com comes in, it's propaganda by professional designers who want to make the world a better (designed) place. Not to mention, it is an opportunity to "fight" back and have a little creative fun at the same time.
There is a lot that can be said for the quality that businesses should be expected to have and deliver, advertising, marketing, and design should not be an exception. I can go on and on about how some owners of businesses want what they like, but forget what their customer wants (it's not always the same thing) or the business owner has a young releative who owns a computer. Unfortunately, just becuase you have a computer doesn't mean you can create a high quality design.
In the end, the best thing is to ask a lot of questions. Think about what you want to accomplish in your website, brouchure, or flyer. And don't forget if it is hard to read, too much small type, or corny artwork, chances are the average person looking at it will not look at it for very long and forget what you were trying to accomplish. In the end, find a designer that you like the their previous work and work with the designer don't fight with him or her.
"if it's bad design, then command z"
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Masquerade!
Hide your face so the world will never find you.
Beware the Opera Ghost will always be able to find you. Perhaps, even to your grave. However, more recently it seems that this ghost is haunting the movies (not theatre). And manages to revive the full glory of the siver screen at the same time, quite literally too, and then bring it to life with vivid and fiery memories of the detailed threatre, that could put you into a trance.
Nonetheless, Phantom of the Opera has been an amazing film that I happen to thouroghly enjoy. There is detail and imagination that is very fitting to the story and the original music is just as powerful and proves to be timeless. There is a special thanks from the music that goes to all the voices. All of the musical talents choosen for the Phantom were well placed and executed, almost flawlessly. Even the artistic inturpretations that was taken to make this phantom came to life was woven into the story very well.
From an artistic view, the openning scene lifted me up into high expectations as the organ surrounded the theater and the silver screen came to life. And I was not dissapointed to the extremely high detail, and the celebration of the "Masquerade."
And what a masquerade.
Beware the Opera Ghost will always be able to find you. Perhaps, even to your grave. However, more recently it seems that this ghost is haunting the movies (not theatre). And manages to revive the full glory of the siver screen at the same time, quite literally too, and then bring it to life with vivid and fiery memories of the detailed threatre, that could put you into a trance.
Nonetheless, Phantom of the Opera has been an amazing film that I happen to thouroghly enjoy. There is detail and imagination that is very fitting to the story and the original music is just as powerful and proves to be timeless. There is a special thanks from the music that goes to all the voices. All of the musical talents choosen for the Phantom were well placed and executed, almost flawlessly. Even the artistic inturpretations that was taken to make this phantom came to life was woven into the story very well.
From an artistic view, the openning scene lifted me up into high expectations as the organ surrounded the theater and the silver screen came to life. And I was not dissapointed to the extremely high detail, and the celebration of the "Masquerade."
And what a masquerade.
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