Loosely based on a flower, these abstract watercolors look great in any home—traditional to contemporary.
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Category Archives: logo
What do you get when you mix a Duke Blue Devil and an Oregon Duck?
In our neck of the woods, Medford Oregon, otherwise know as the Rogue Valley, or Southern Oregon, or the “State of Jefferson,” we love our sports. In recent years, South Medford High School Basketball has become especially popular. Why, because of the quality of the program and quite notably, brothers—Kyle and EJ Singler. Kyle Singler is now a senior at Duke and EJ Singler is a sophomore at University of Oregon, both continuing in some amazing basketball. So you might think this post is a little off topic for my blog…well actually, it fits right into my design and art skills, so I have decided to share with all of you who may be fans of Oregon or Duke or both. Yes, Oregon Ducks are currently ranked number one in the US for Football and the Oregon State Beavers are doing extremely well also. Both teams are well followed in Oregon, but I am now looking forward to next month, when basketball begins. At the Rose Garden, in Portland, on November 27, 2010, the Duke Blue Devils and the Oregon Ducks will come face to face, brother to brother in one downright exciting game. The big question is—for those of us in Southern Oregon who love and follow both teams—what do you wear to the game to support both teams—and there will be fans for both teams—almost 900 block tickets were ordered through South Medford High’s Coach Murphy for this game in particular.
So, I was approached by a friend to create a t-shirt that dual fans could wear to the game. A “Devil of a Duck Fan” was born. We cheer both teams. We love both teams. We look forward to college basketball season with wonder and excitement. And we look forward to the Rose Garden in Portland for one awesome Duck vs. Blue Devil game!
If you are a “Devil of a Duck Fan” you will might want a t-shirt, printed with the design below—design removed for legal reasons— to show your dual pride. Unfortunately, we can not print this design because of copyright infringement. You may be a “Devil of a Duck Fan,” but I can not print this shirt for you. Too bad, we had many people who wanted to wear this design to the game. We are Fans and we will be decorated to show our pride!
New paper: recycled plastic paper—fake paper.
Hi friends, it has been a while since I have posted. Summer has been ultra busy, but so much fun. I love having the kids home, taking trips, visiting with friends and family, gardening and sitting by the pool. What will I do when the weather changes? Will I paint more? That will be the question. Meanwhile, an opportunity has possibly opened up to join a sort of Art Co-Op. “Creator’s Gallery.” If you are the praying type, or even if you’re not, please pray that the Lord would guide me on how to approach this new adventure.
I am technically challenged, but always willing to try something new, with art that is; I am not ready to skydive, although zip-lines are not out of the question. My new art exploration is called “Yupo” It is a ‘paper’ that is 100% polypropylene—plastic. Yes plastic paper. I am always willing to try something that is recycled. It is very different from wood pulp paper. It does not absorb any paint or water at all. Not surprising, but what is surprising is that it actually works with watercolor paints—”works” is the operative word here though. All of the pigment sits on top of the paper and takes a very long time to dry. The first time I used it, I hated it. The second time I used it, I think I liked it. I found that I had to really let loose and paint fast because the watercolors did things I did not expect. For example, the pigments do not move on the paper unless they have a push advantage. By this I mean a dominant color will push a less dominant color out of the way. Also, the more water you put on the paper, the more it will push pigments out of the way. (look at the rose I panted and see what the yellow and green did).
The second watercolor painting I did on Yupo was the “Blue Dog.” A totally different experience than the “Pat Austin Rose.” The “Blue Dog” is a subject I did from my memory and painted fast. It is also more abstract than the rose in that the colors are more adventurous. I don’t know anyone with a blue dog.
Take a look at these two paintings and give me feedback. If you have any experience with Yupo paper please let me know. Send me samples of your paintings or any hints on how to use it. Any painting or art on Yupo paper will possibly be selected fro a future blog about Plastic Paper and Recycled Art. Send your samples to hollyherick@charter.net.
Below are my first two paintings on Yupo. No. 1 “Pat Austin Rose” and No. 2 “Blue Dog.”
Blue Dog:
Please give feedback. “I love it” or “looks great” are not constructive, please give input. Be specific, I won’t delete you as a friend—don’t worry. And remember, send in your pix of any Yupo art so I can post them on my future Yupo blog.
“Coco” third painting on Yupo below.
Just added a ne painting on Yupo. This is Lucy.
Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold.
I seem to have some sort of connection to photographers these days. First I worked on a logo for Tim Tidball Photography, and now for Soulful Heart Photography. Soulful Heart Photography is the business of an old high school friend Patty Rader Williams. Above is one of my favorite photograph’s of Patty’s. Below is her revised logo.
Isn’t it amazing that we can still keep in touch via this social network called “facebook.” Maybe you’ve heard of it?
My mother used to say, “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.” She also used to say, “You’ll never remember those friends from high school.” Well, Mama was right in some ways and wrong in others. Patty is a “golden” friend who now lives in Texas. I have never been to Texas, yet she contacted me recently for some small business design work. What an amazing tool facebook is to display my creative efforts.
I am so impressed with Patty’s collection of photographs that I thought I would share a few with you.
As a graphic designer, I have learned that friendships made over the years are one of the strongest factors in finding work. Although it has been years since Patty and I have seen each other, I get to maintain a friendship and appreciate her talents by keeping in touch. Maybe I will get to travel to Texas to see Patty again. If you live in the Texas area or are interested in Patty’s photography visit her website at Soulful Heart Photography.
Well, I am really finding this is true. Today on FB, I realized that a jewelry designer that I like went to High School and College with me. Funny, she may even know Patty—the friend I wrote this original post about. It took a little time, but we both figured it out and remembered each other. FB is a small world and a huge world at the same time. “Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.” Nice to know you again Karen, AKA “Little Bridget Jewelry” on FB.
Little Bridget Designs above.
My designs below.
April Fool
“Adventures in Design” is taking an adventure.
This month I will have an alter ego called Mimi. Mimi is a perfectionist and is obsessed with watercolor paints, only three colors of watercolor paints—the primary ones—of course. Red, yellow, and blue. The primary colors make up all colors on the color wheel and Mimi likes to be efficient— why bother with anything that is not needed. Mimi has decided that she will paint at least three times a week for the month of April. Hereby known as “International Fake Journal Month” or IFJM. In this journal she will study primary colors with watercolor paints, focusing on color harmony and focal point. Mimi likes to make a point. Only perfection, only necessities. Mimi says things like, “of course” and “I knew that” or “practice makes perfect.” She really thinks she knows it all. Don’t let her know that “practice makes progress”—not perfect.
Mimi’s—Day one entry—”For Cassidy”
Follow along with Mimi this month. Please note: International Fake Journal Month idea came from officialinternationalfakejournalblog.blogspot.com/ Check it out by clicking the dog button on the left side of my (Mimi’s) blog.
You know it when it is right
So recently, I have been working on a logo for a very talented photographer and friend, Tim Tidball. This is one of my favorite shots of his.
Trying to capture what he does was difficult. He needed to stand out from other photographers by having his own identifying mark. It took about a month to get it right. I had an initial concept that was perfect, but the execution was not. Tim liked it, but needed to see more. So I kept sketching thumbnails and mocking up logos—still not right. We went rounds and rounds; trying to capture Tim and his work in one image was proving to be one of the more challenging logo jobs I had worked on—but I love a good challenge.
Tim creates “Art in the Moment” capturing emotion, nuance and quickly fading memories. Do you remember as a child, or even as a parent, the special moment of blowing on a dandelion and watching the seeds magically float through the air. The joy and the lightness, the effortless movement lasts only a fleeting moment and then it is gone. This is what Tim is able to capture with his creative skills and raw talent behind the lens. I kept telling him things like “I won’t give up until we get it right,” and “We’ll know it when we get it right.” It is finally right.
I would love to show you the whole process, but unfortunately my camera is broken—yes I dropped it—so I will just upload the final logo.
You can give Tim a call at 541.770.1610. His studio is located in downtown Medford right above Hot Pots. Check out his website at timtidball.net.
Refueling
So what happens when a small town designer hits the city with her son to explore his education opportunities? For one, I remembered that there are buildings taller than two stories. Another, that book stores exist that cover the same square footage as our entire downtown. And finally, that I am a very small part of a much larger world. As a creative person it is so important to get out of your environment and see what others are doing, what’s current, and look for inspiration. It can come from anything—buildings, bridges, trees, sky, clothing, books, signage—man made or God made use it all. Get out and refuel. Go somewhere new, or go to your favorite spot and clear your mind so you will have room for some new fresh ideas.
