Saturday, December 8, 2007
Show and tell: Collections
For this week's show and tell I brought in some of my postcards that I collect. I always purchase them from the gift shops at all the museums that I go to. I have postcards from the Met, the BMA, the Walters, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the AVAM, and several museums in Italy and Switzerland. My favorite museum is the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice. I will post some of my favorite cards soon.
Friday, December 7, 2007
McDonald's Ad
I saw a McDonald's ad on the side of a bus recently, and I thought the design was interesting. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find an image of it. The designer shaped the straw in the cup to look like "$1" for the dollar menu options. I thought it was a pretty neat typographic solution. I will keep looking for an image of it.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Show and Tell: Anything
I have already posted about these, but I brought in my chicken books by Sloane Tannen. I just think that they are incredible. I would love to see some of the dioramas in person. Again, if anyone is interested in purchasing the books, go to Deadalus. They're only $3.99 and they're such great quality.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Process Booklet Draft
I was unable to bring my draft into class for the process booklet. If anyone has any feedback for me, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks!
Pysanky: Making Ukrainian Easter Eggs
Amongst Ukrainians, the art of egg writing, Pysanky, is the result of a long popular tradition that has developed over the centuries. This process of creating traditional folk art has been passed down from generation to generation. Ukrainian ancestors believed that Pysanky provided happiness, health, prosperity and protection. Today, to offer a Pysanka as a gift is a gesture of friendship and love. While these eggs are traditionally decorated during the season of Lent, they can be created and enjoyed all year round.
Tools you will need:
Kistka
dyes
pencil
beeswax
candle
egg blower
pint size glass jars with lids
vinegar
newspaper
old, soft cloth
paper towel or tissues
Preparation:
Begin by using the drill from the egg blower to drill a tiny hole at one end of the egg. Then use the needle to break the egg yolk and pump air into the egg to force out the contents. Once the egg is empty, flush out the inside by pumping water through it. Gently clean the exterior of the egg by wiping it down with some water and mild vinegar. Allow to dry.
While the egg is drying, prepare the dyes in the glass jars acoording to the instructions on the packets. Allow the dyes to cool before use.
Set up your workspace by covering the surface with newspaper and laying out your remainging materials (pencil, kistka, beeswax, and candle).
Process:
1. Choose a design for your egg. You can either use an existing design, or create your own. Lightly sketch your design on the surface of the egg. Do not attempt to erase if you make a mistake. The eraser will smudge the surface and could possibly crack the egg. The pencil is light enough that you will not be able to see it on your completed design.
2. Heat your kistka in the candle flame. Fill the well of your kitska by drudging it through your beeswax. Return it to the candle flame to thoroughly heat the wax. Before drawing on the surface of your egg, test your kistka on the newspaper to make sure the wax is free flowing. Then use your kistka to cover over the part of your design that you want to remain white. Be sure to fill the hole you drilled in the top of your egg before dying. Place a small piece of beeswax over the hole, and use the heated tip of your kistka to melt it into place. Then start the dying process by gradually dying from lightest to darkest shades. Yellow is the first shade for this design sequence. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
3. Once your egg is dry, cover the part of your design that you want to remain yellow. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the green dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
4. Next you will cover over the part of your design that you want to remain green. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the orange dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
5. Next you will cover over the part of the design that you want to remain orange. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the red dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
6. Next you will cover over the part of your design that you want to remain red. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the blue dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
7. Next you will cover over the part of your design that you want to remain blue. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the black dye. This will be your final and darkest dye. Remove from teh dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
8. Once your egg is dry, place the surface of the egg near, but not in, the candle flame. Allow the wax to begin to melt, and using and old, soft cloth, begin to rub the wax off of the egg in circular motions. Continue until all of the wax is removed and all of the colors are revealed.
9. Complete your pysanka by creating a glossy sheen by rubbing your egg with linseed oil or dipping in an oil based polyurathane.
Thanks!
Pysanky: Making Ukrainian Easter Eggs
Amongst Ukrainians, the art of egg writing, Pysanky, is the result of a long popular tradition that has developed over the centuries. This process of creating traditional folk art has been passed down from generation to generation. Ukrainian ancestors believed that Pysanky provided happiness, health, prosperity and protection. Today, to offer a Pysanka as a gift is a gesture of friendship and love. While these eggs are traditionally decorated during the season of Lent, they can be created and enjoyed all year round.
Tools you will need:
Kistka
dyes
pencil
beeswax
candle
egg blower
pint size glass jars with lids
vinegar
newspaper
old, soft cloth
paper towel or tissues
Preparation:
Begin by using the drill from the egg blower to drill a tiny hole at one end of the egg. Then use the needle to break the egg yolk and pump air into the egg to force out the contents. Once the egg is empty, flush out the inside by pumping water through it. Gently clean the exterior of the egg by wiping it down with some water and mild vinegar. Allow to dry.
While the egg is drying, prepare the dyes in the glass jars acoording to the instructions on the packets. Allow the dyes to cool before use.
Set up your workspace by covering the surface with newspaper and laying out your remainging materials (pencil, kistka, beeswax, and candle).
Process:
1. Choose a design for your egg. You can either use an existing design, or create your own. Lightly sketch your design on the surface of the egg. Do not attempt to erase if you make a mistake. The eraser will smudge the surface and could possibly crack the egg. The pencil is light enough that you will not be able to see it on your completed design.
2. Heat your kistka in the candle flame. Fill the well of your kitska by drudging it through your beeswax. Return it to the candle flame to thoroughly heat the wax. Before drawing on the surface of your egg, test your kistka on the newspaper to make sure the wax is free flowing. Then use your kistka to cover over the part of your design that you want to remain white. Be sure to fill the hole you drilled in the top of your egg before dying. Place a small piece of beeswax over the hole, and use the heated tip of your kistka to melt it into place. Then start the dying process by gradually dying from lightest to darkest shades. Yellow is the first shade for this design sequence. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
3. Once your egg is dry, cover the part of your design that you want to remain yellow. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the green dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
4. Next you will cover over the part of your design that you want to remain green. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the orange dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
5. Next you will cover over the part of the design that you want to remain orange. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the red dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
6. Next you will cover over the part of your design that you want to remain red. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the blue dye. Remove from the dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
7. Next you will cover over the part of your design that you want to remain blue. Once that is complete, place into the next darkest dye. For this design, dip the egg into the black dye. This will be your final and darkest dye. Remove from teh dye once the desired color is obtained and pat dry with paper towels or tissues. Allow to dry.
8. Once your egg is dry, place the surface of the egg near, but not in, the candle flame. Allow the wax to begin to melt, and using and old, soft cloth, begin to rub the wax off of the egg in circular motions. Continue until all of the wax is removed and all of the colors are revealed.
9. Complete your pysanka by creating a glossy sheen by rubbing your egg with linseed oil or dipping in an oil based polyurathane.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wine Bottle Labels
I absolutely love wine label designs. I think that it is a great area of design that allows for a lot of different options. You really need to be inventive and create a mood, feeling, taste, etc. I've started to save the ones that I really like, but I'm not sure what the best way would be to remove the label from the bottle without destroying it. Anyone have any thoughts? My kitchen counter is starting to become cluttered with bottles!
Above is Stag's Leap... an elegant design and an awesome bottle of wine.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Show and Tell: Definition
As a definition, I brought in something from "Madame Bovary," again, since no one else in class, besides me, was familiar with it.
Flaubert's defines love through the main character, Madame Bovary.
"Love, she believed, had to come suddenly, like a great clap of thunder and a lightning flash, like a tempest from heaven, that falls upon your life, scattering your ideals like leaves, and hurls your very soul into the abyss."
Flaubert's defines love through the main character, Madame Bovary.
"Love, she believed, had to come suddenly, like a great clap of thunder and a lightning flash, like a tempest from heaven, that falls upon your life, scattering your ideals like leaves, and hurls your very soul into the abyss."
Show and Tell: Narrative
For show and tell I brought in Flaubert's "Madame Bovary," as my example of narrative. It is a novel that is told by Monsieur Bovary's school mate. I don't have the book with me at the moment, but I will post a an excerpt soon.
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