Second Set of Futurist Posters

Here are some more illustrator practices. I've been sick in bed for all of yesterday and some of today, so there's no excuse for me not having them done :P

I really don't have a theme for these. I just really like flowers.

Entschuldigen Sie, parlez-vous l'inglese?

Last weekend I took a trip to Geneva, Switzerland and Munich, Germany. The trip was exhausting, but totally worth it. I left for Geneva on Thursday, and arrived at 4 in the morning. The next day we toured the UN headquarters and walked around Geneva a little. The lake was gorgeous and the UN headquarters was very interesting (the bitchy girls who were bored and wouldn't stop talking detracted from the visit however). After that, we toured a chocolate factory. I actually didn't get any chocolate because you can actually by this chocolate in the states. I'm going on a mission to Belgium later to get more chocolate.
After visiting Geneva, we went to Fribourg which was also beautiful. We ate dinner, and visited the historic quarter of the city. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but it was dark, so they probably wouldn't have come out anyway. What I found interesting was that they spoke French in this area of Switzerland. As it turns out, there are 4 national languages in Switzerland. I studied a little German before I came thinking that I'd be able to at least ask for directions, but I barely know a word of French and I forgot the German that I studied anyway.
We left for the Alps the next day, and took a gondola to the top of the mountain (again, bitchy girls complaining about how there was only one gondola, and how it was not as 'technologically advanced' as Colorado ski resorts, once again detracted from the gondola experience. Luckily I abandoned them in the mountains and enjoyed my time there in peace).
Anyway, the mountains were incredible and we ate a delicious meal on the top of the mountain. I also tried some delicious, but a little girly, beer in the warming hut at the top of the mountain. We left for Munich that afternoon and arrived there around 9.
I spent the day in Munich at Oktoberfest, so I didn't get to see much of the city. Oktoberfest was a blast, and I met a lot of interesting people. I really wanted to get a hat, but I think that I'll hold out until I go to Poland and get one there.

UN conference room

UN building courtyard

Shack at the top of the mountain

Me hanging over a precipice

A little church on the top of the mountain

FEAST!!!

Sketchy corner of Fribourg

Oktoberfest

My next adventure is to Pisa, Siena, or Lucca this weekend. The trains are not that expensive, and Pisa is really close to the coast, so that will be nice. I'm not sure if I'll make it day trips, or if I'll find a hostel there. After that I'm planning on going to Cinque Terre, and Venice for the art biannual. Further in the future is my week long trip to Morocco, which should be the trip of a lifetime. I've also booked tickets to Amsterdam, but I have to work out the details about hostels and such. I have a very busy semester, but it's  going to be awesome

Still Playing Around in Illustrator

I'm playing around in Illustrator some more as part of my illustration class. Here is the first series of Futurist posters that I made. I theme that I cam up with was a city in different seasons. I kind of like it so far, but it's still just me playing around with illustrator.

 Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Ciao!

Reaction to 'Understanding Comics'

I enjoyed the reading, not only because I love comic books and graphic novels, but because the ideas that the author discussed could be applied to graphic design in addition to cartooning or comics. Simplifying an icon to the point where it becomes universal seems to me to be a very important concept in graphic design. I think that finding the most simple, abstracted, universal icon and designing it to fit your uses (graphic design, cartooning, etc.) helps greatly in communicating information effectively. When an icon is more universal, it relates to a larger audience, or communicates and idea more effectively.

    This is something that is hard for me to do because I over complicate things all the time whether it's drawing cartoons or other things unrelated to art. Also, I'm just really bad at drawing cartoons. I make things too specific myself to the point where it is hard for other people to understand. In order to become an effective illustrator, I have to break this. I think that the reading has helped me to understand better, the concept of simplifying images to make them universal.
   The author also talks about how words and art has to work together for it to be effective, another concept that applies to graphic design in addition to comics.
  I liked how the author showed that even though an object or icon can be abstracted almost beyond recognition, people can still relate to it.
  Overall, I think that the reading was helpful in clearly explaining and illustrating these concepts which are very helpful to a graphic artist.

Last Weekends Trip

Last weekend I went to Maremma in Tuscany. The countryside and the coast was gorgeous and I was able to spend a lot of time at the beach.

The beautiful coast.

A medieval fort.

It's finally gotten cooler so not I can wear most of the clothes that I brought. My next weekend trip is to Switzerland and Munich for Octoberfest!

More Practice in Illustrator

Here are some flower designs I made in Illustrator for my Digital Graphic Illustration class. I've learned a lot of shortcuts which is great, I think I'm gonna play around with it more.

 

They're kind of fun :)

Futurist Poster Practice

First futurist poster practice for my Digital Illustration class.