More than money

"Today the greatest single source of wealth is between your ears." - Brian Tracy

It is commonly believed that to be successful, one needs money and power. This may be true, but even the richest or most powerful people in the world started somewhere. Very few are born into the cushy lifestyle that they live. This site lists numerous celebrities that had a rough start. One of the celebrities listed is Oprah Winfrey. Everyone knows that Oprah hosted the Oprah Winfrey show for many years and that she is one of the richest and powerful women in television. What many may not know is that Oprah was born in a poverty stricken town in Mississippi to two teenage parents. She was sexually abused by a family member and she had some very unhealthy outlets to deal with her pain. Oprah overcame these adversities to become what she is today. To be successful, one does not need money. It takes hard work, dedication, and intelligence. 

Another, lesser example of creativity and wit being shown by the less fortunate comes in the form of homeless people begging for money. I came across a website that shows the top ten most creative homeless signs.  One sign says "Betcha can't hit me with a quarter". The humor and creativity is enough to get most people to comply. Another sign says "Why lie!! I need a cold beer." This is also clever because most people suspect that the homeless will just take the money they collect to buy alcohol or drugs. My dad grew up right outside of Baltimore, MD. In his young adult life, he worked for the American Rescue Workers and he was a pastor. He often interacted with the homeless, and to this day he still tells me how intelligent and creative the homeless are. He says that they can weave the most elaborate stories to try to coax people into giving them a dollar or loose change. This reminds me of the stone soup story. If they can make people believe their story, they will be able to make money. It may not be much, but it keeps them alive. If these people were given the opportunity, I am confident that many of them could be very successful. However, often they are not given this chance.

I am not the only one who believes this. There is an organization in Austin, Texas that works to get the homeless back on their feet. Art from the Streets was founded by artists in the Austin area who wish to see the homeless have a chance, financially and socially. Not only do the artists create pieces for the annual art show, but they also give free drawing and painting lessons to the homeless twice a week. The homeless who attend the classes not only gain art skills but social skills as well. At the annual art show they are able to sell their work. Many have made enough money to be able to rent a place, at least temporarily. Some of the art can be found of the website. http://artfromthestreets.com/ 

In the end, success is not measured by wealth. Fame might be, but success takes more depth. It is about doing the best with what you are given, not ever giving up, and pushing through difficult times because often our tribulations are what teach the most. A positive attitude can be the most important part of success. 

"Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light." -- Albus Dumbledore

Travel the World

Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” There are so many places to go and things to see in this world, and now is the time to do so. You only live once, and you are only young once. I believe that there is a lot I could learn if I just took the initiative to put myself outside of my comfort zone. I dream of traveling the world; but my fears, uncertainties, and doubts hinder my resolve. I think that if I could overcome these things and just pick up and go, I would encounter experiences that would change my outlook on life. 

The first place I would go would be Santorini, Greece. I don't know why, but I have always wanted to go there. It is beautiful, and I often feel inspired just looking at pictures. There is a famous quote that says "Not all who wander are lost." If I could go to Santorini, that would be my motto. I would love to leave my cell phone, laptop, and all my daily responsibilities behind and just lose myself in a foreign place. As a graphic designer, I think it would be amazing to see such a beautiful place. I would take the time to taste the food, meet the people, and be immersed in their culture. I think that stepping so far out of my daily routine would inspire me greatly. I could view things differently and I would be able to incorporate that into my designs.

Another place I would go is India. Not just because I have always wanted to go to India, because in all honesty I really haven't. I want to go because of the Holi Festival. It is an ancient holiday that  celebrates the triumph of good over bad. During the festival, people spread colorful powder all over each other and throw it in the air. The use of vibrant colors is nothing less than inspiring. I know that this experience would help me as a designer. Seeing how another culture uses color could teach me a lot. Besides the fact, I could take some pretty amazing pictures if I had the chance.

 

 I think that traveling is important because there really is a lot to experience out in the world, and if you never give yourself a chance to see it you may be limiting your creativity more than you realize. St. Augustine once said, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." When you put it that way, it seems nonsensical to not travel. It is important to open yourself up to other places and cultures because there is so much you can learn. Being able to see things differently could be what stands between your work being extraordinary rather than mediocre.

Flawless

"Art is beauty, the perpetual invention of detail, the choice of words, the exquisite care of execution. " -- Theophile Gautier

When designing it can be difficult to get the project to look just right. It takes a great attention to detail, loads of dedication, and ample amounts of time. This week, I came across a few photos that were edited (or recreated) flawlessly in Photoshop. These images have inspired me to work harder to create something as seamless and to execute something as perfect as the projects these artists have put together.

 The first image I found features an orange frog that becomes a peeled orange (fruit) in the center. The editing is so well done that the viewer cannot see where the combination of the two photos exists. This project makes me wonder how I could apply this technique to other objects. I have found that I start imagining what it would look like to cut other things in half and add something in the center to hold it together. This project is beyond clever, because the frog already looks like an orange, so literally adding an orange peel in the center almost makes sense. I am not sure if I would ever be able to think of something quite this clever, but this photo definitely makes me wonder and ask a lot of "what if" questions.

Another image I found combines a sketch and a background photo so seamlessly, that it is almost impossible to tell it has been edited. There were many photos like this one, but this one was my favorite. All of the photos that Ben Heine produces are perfectly aligned. The hand and the sketch were added in later, but in most cases you cannot tell. This is such a cool idea! I find that it inspires me to want to think more creatively about what I add to my photography. I never would have thought to add a picture or sketch that fits perfectly into a picture. The flawlessness of this project is what really makes it work. This project makes me wish I spent more time perfecting every project that I put my name on. It also really makes me want to think outside the box more and start combining different elements of art into one project.

The last project that I found this week involved photography and 3D wire sculptures. The final project is pretty amazing. This is definitely the most unique project that I cam across this week. The artist had to put a lot of work into this project, which inspires me to keep working hard so that one day I can create something as unique and interesting as this piece. The idea alone is magnificent, but the execution of the final product makes this project really something to be admired. All of these photos show the dedication to detail that the artists have. Flawless execution requires a lot of hard work, and after this week I hope to start implementing more of these elements into my designs.

Simplicity

 "Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity." --Charles Mingus

One of the hardest things to accomplish as a graphic designer is to find the  compromise between simplistic and simplicity. As the graphic here shows, simplicity is about being aware of your design and knowing what is most effective and what is unnecessary; where as simplistic is more of a lack of effort or wit. Too often, designers try too hard to come up with complex, fantastic ideas. However, a lot of the time designs that have the right element of simplicity are most effective. Hans Hofmann once said, "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." 

There have been rumors that major companies are gravitating towards minimalist branding. Good Design Daily had an article on their website that showed what packaging designs may look like in the future. Here are some examples: 

Red Bull can becomes progressively minimalistic.

The Nutella jar undergoes the same kind of change.

On a different site, I found the Pepsi logo timeline. The Pepsi logo has also become minimalistic.

I believe that these minimalist takes on branding can be very effective. Some may think they are too simple or plain, but I think they become more obvious or apparent on a shelf with other products that have complex or intricate packaging. Leonardo da Vinci said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." I believe this reigns true for these designs and the idea of simplicity in design. However, if this trend catches on and spreads like wildfire, the simplicity may not be as effective because it will be the norm. The unique quality that it holds now definitely helps the cause. Some businesses are using simplicity not only in their branding, but also in their advertisements. Take a look at this ad for a hat business:

This ad shows that a hat can make all the difference between looking like Adolf Hitler or Charlie Chaplin.

This ad is very minimalistic, yet it is so creative and clever. There is no need for a lot of text or explanation. The design speaks for itself. This design is what I hope to someday be able to accomplish. Eliminating unneeded parts of a design is often difficult because I have tunnel vision at times, but it is an important to skill to attain because it is often more effective. Another example of simplicity in a different context is the Hunger Games movie poster. I thought I'd include it in honor of it's premier tonight. There is not a lot going on in the poster. It is simply a picture of the main character, Katniss Everdeen. However, the darkness that consumes most of the poster and the lighting on her face speaks volumes about the story. It is not a happy, feel-good kind of story. It's dark and haunting. This poster fits the movie so well. The designer could have easily placed a battle-like scene on the poster to show the violence that exists in the movie. However, I do not believe that would have been as effective. The simplicity of the this design makes it extremely effective.




In the end, simplicity can often have more complex thoughts behind the design than an extremely intricate design. Accomplishing simplicity is not about being lazy or taking the easy route. It is about leaving only the most effective parts of a design to portray your message.

Graphic Design

It seems like just yesterday I decided to take on graphic design as my major. Second semester of freshman year was when I began to discover my love of the field. Sophomore year, I committed to the major. It was the third major I had switched to, but I knew it was the only one I would stick with. I'm sure before I know it I'll be graduated from Waynesburg and out in the real world searching for a job. It can be kind of intimidating to think of competing for internships and jobs. There are a lot of graphic artists who do amazing work. As I was looking at some projects that graphic designers around the world had published, I stumbled upon a website that gives hope to those of us who are just starting out. Here is the link. The site is called #50 Things Every Creative Should Know. It gives advice like: You are not the first, There will always be someone better, Share your ideas, and Take responsibility for failure. Each piece of advice has a title, an illustration, and a small description that can be easily tweeted. This advice was very encouraging and somewhat inspiring to me. Obviously, I am not the first graphic design student to look for an internship, but actually thinking about it made me relax. More people than I can count have gotten internships. This means it is possible. The same will go for the job market once I graduate. Like I said before, it is also intimidating to see others work at times. The advice that the site gives about there always being someone better was also encouraging to me. It is pointless to waste time worrying about the work that other people do. I need to do my best. That is all that really matters.

Although it is not good to dwell on how seemingly perfect other designers work can be, I often feel inspired by the work that others do. This especially applies to logo designs. I love creating logo designs, and as I was meandering around the web this week I found a website that showcased a few really cool logo designs. I absolutely adore logos that feature a play on words. I find them to be extremely clever, and I often dream of being able to create such a perfect design. Here are some examples of what I am talking about: 

Ed's Electric features an electrical plug that forms an 'E' in the negative space.

The Pink Umbrella logo illustrates the letter 'U' into the handle of the pink umbrella.

The Go Music logo transforms the word go into a guitar.

These logos are so simplistic, yet so brilliant. They inspire me to think outside the box when creating logos. They are so obvious, yet so unique because the designer chose to incorporate the theme of the logo in a creative way that you don't see too often. Right after I found these logos, I found a tool on a website that helps designers find variations of every color imaginable. The user only needs to click on one of the colored squares on the main page. Once a color is selected, the site shows every variation of that color. It has a copy button once you select a variation so that you can paste the color code into whatever program you are designing with. This tool is very exciting to me because often when I'm designing logos, I can't seem to find the exact color that I want. Here is the link. 


Overall, after browsing through some graphic design articles, blogs, and websites this week I have learned that what is most important is working hard and doing my best. The best part is , I'm not along. There are infinite amounts of resources out there to help me along the way. The color variation tool is something I am sure I will use a lot in my designs. Looking at others creativity can boost my own. And finally, reading advice from design veterans will guide me along the way.

Faith

This video is from the movie Facing the Giants. It is long, but worth watching. I wanted to start the blog post this week with this video, because it captures how I view faith. In the clip from Facing the Giants, the coach pushes one of the leaders on his football team to accomplish something the player thought was impossible. The player thought he might be able to get to the 50 yard line, but because he listened to his coach he went much further. If the player had not been wearing the blindfold he probably would have given up much earlier than  he did. It is easy to feel defeated when you can see all that stands in your way. That is why faith is so important. Believing without seeing can take you so much farther in life. Whenever you hear about a famous person in history or a story about a hero, one of the most common attributes that they had was perseverance. They stayed strong through hard times, hoping and believing that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel. 

When I hear the word faith the first thing that comes to my mind is God. It's the obvious word association choice. However, faith is not limited to believing in God. Don't get me wrong. I think that believing in God is one of the biggest tests of faith. I mean really, we don't get physical proof that we are right until after we die, which means for our whole lives we choose to believe in something that cannot be proven. Scientifically anyway. I see proof of God everyday, but I'm getting off topic. I guess what I am trying to say is that faith does not just pertain to faith in God, but I believe that my faith in God benefits all other aspects of my life. I think that C.S. Lewis said it best (see picture for quote). Through my faith in God, I see everything else. Faith teaches me to trust that even though things don't make sense right now, someday they will. 

This idea of believing when circumstances give no reason to can be carried over to creativity. I think that doubt settles in when we are not given a sign or an answer right away. Everything has to be right now. If we would all take a moment and look back at our pasts, the pasts of our families, or even the pasts of others recorded in history we would see that good things take time. You must believe that the amount of time and effort you put into something will not be for nothing. You have to believe that when you face a problem or a roadblock, there is a reason for it. I recently experienced this in a small way when I was working on creating an online portfolio. I was almost done when the internet went out. I tried saving it but it just kept saying that there was a problem with the connection. So, I let it sit and the next morning I tried to save it again. Luckily the internet was working again, but unfortunately when I went to save my work it asked me to log in again. When I logged in, it erased everything I had done as it refreshed the page. Hours of my time was wasted. I often give the advice to other people that when these sorts of things happen, being frustrated and angry won't change anything. Whether I am furious or apathetic, the truth still remains that I must do it over. I found that when I finished the portfolio the second time it was much nicer. In fact, it made the first one I made look awful. If the internet would not have went down, I would have posted a mediocre portfolio for all to see. Again, the point is that good things take time. I found this quote on Pinterest yesterday and I think it really goes well with what I have been saying. It talks about pushing yourself to be the best you can be and fighting to get where you want to be. You have to work hard, keep you head on straight, and have faith that it will all be worth it.

Formed by Family

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.” -- Thich Nhat Hanh

Family is what defines your character. Whether positively or negatively your family has shaped you into the person you are. From generation to generation, traditions and customs have been passed from family to family. You may not have ever met your great great grandparents or even your great grandparents, but their decisions in their lives have impacted yours. This process will always continue to progress as we make decisions that will impact the lives of our kids, grandkids, and so on. Being a part of a family is like being a part of an exclusive club. There are things that you have in common with your family members that no one else may understand. I think one of the most telling examples this is the family portrait. If you google "awkward family photos" some crazy things show up. It makes you wonder what those people were thinking when they all decided to wear 

matching green and red striped outfits or wear ballet uniforms and lay awkwardly on top of each other. They have some common bond that links them together and that is what makes them a family. Your family is the one group of people who you can completely be yourself around because there is a good chance they are just as weird as you are. Your family also gives you a sense of identity. You belong to your family. Whether it becomes apparent through matching leotards or similar personalities, everything you are stems from your interactions with your family.
 
There is also a sense of pride that can be related to family. The family name is something that most people try to respect and uphold. You do not want to embarrass or disgrace your family, so you work hard to be successful so that you can make your family proud. People show their pride in many creative ways. Some people get tattoos in honor of their family members. In a way this represents the permanent commitment that families are formed around. Other people use their family name to promote their business. There are so many companies that are house hold names today that started as a family business. One that sticks out in my mind is Carlo's Bake Shop. This is the bakery that is featured on TLC's Cake Boss. The bakery is family owned and it is often comical to see how they work together. Buddy, the main baker, took on this business after the passing of his father. He carried on the tradition and has now made their family name famous.
On the TV show, you constantly see the family working together, bouncing ideas off of one another, joking around, and creating amazing cakes and other baked goods together. The creativity that they have stems from the relationships that they have with each other. The whole family works together to constantly create a product that would have made their father proud. There is an old story that talks about how family traditions are formed. It goes something like this: 

 One holiday as a little girl watched her mom cut off the ends of the roast before putting it in the oven, she asked curiously why her mother always cut off the ends of the roast. Her mother replied that her mother had always cut the ends off. When the little girl's grandma arrived for the holiday meal, she asked her as well why she cut the ends off of the roast. Her grandma replied that her mother had always cut off the ends. Finally, when the little girl's great grandmother arrived, she asked her why she always cut the ends off the roast. The great grandmother replied that that was the only way the roast would fit in the pan at the time. 
Many traditions are formed in the same way. Whether we realize it or not some of our actions are a result of the actions of those who came before us. Our connections and ties that we have to our family are so numerous that we may not even realize most of them. As I started thinking about my own family and how they have impacted me creatively, I realized that I too am a result of all my family members. 

I have my mom's creative eye. I notice details and I really enjoy making things look esthetically pleasing. She loves to create and design everyday things. She is always coming up with creative ways to decorate our house.When I am feeling burnt out or out of creative ideas I talk to her and she helps me start thinking creatively again. I also realized that I get my humor from my dad. There are times that we start laughing at something that no one else thinks is funny. He also gives me my love of all things weird. Most importantly, it is from my dad that I have gained my confidence and the respect I have for myself. He has taught me to be the woman I am today. Aside from my parents, my brother has helped shape my competitive spirit. I always want to beat him at everything. Who doesn't have some sibling rivalry? It is from him that I have found my drive to succeed. All of these elements from my family mesh together to make me the person I am. My creative thinking process is directly affected by them and that is what makes the way I do my design work unique. Every artist or designer is creates differently because they all come from different families and backgrounds. It is through family that creative minds are formed.