First Blog Post- Computer Graphics

Eclipse Information

As stated by Dictionary.com, a solar eclipse involves the passing of the moon in between the earth and the sun. (A lunar eclipse is the moving of the earth between the sun and the moon.)
According to a report from NASA, In 100 minutes fourteen states in the United States were able to experience the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017 (https://www.nasa.gov/eclipse2017). Some of these states included: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Tennessee (https://herrett.csi.edu/astronomy/observatory/2017_eclipse_faq.asp). NASA's website includes a series of live videos recorded from across the country. While searching the site, I learned that eclipses actually occur every six months! However, the solar eclipse of 2017 was special because it passed through a line of adjacent, or touching, states. Depoe Bay, Oregon was close to where the "line of totality" had first appeared. There, the sky went completely dark and animals reacted by calling out in a chorus of confusion. This was a suspected reaction, as birds were predicted to chirp under the assumption that the day was coming to an end (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/20/science/solar-eclipse.html). Many people who had gathered to enjoy the eclipse in Oregon felt awe-struck by the whole experience. (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/science/solar-eclipse.html). Unfortunately, in states like South Carolina and Illinois, people did not get to see much of anything due to clouds/cloudy weather (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/science/solar-eclipse.html). I myself was able to walk outside during the eclipse and was disappointed.


I have attached some (5) of the photos that I found to be the most captivating from NASA's website:

"The Earth Crossing the Shadow of the Moon."

"The Moon Passing the Sun"

"The Moon Passing in Front of the Sun"

"Lunar Transit."

"Venus Transit Path."

Steps carried out to finalize and send InDesign project

There are three main steps that must be carried out in order to successfully send off any InDesign document(s) into a magazine form: 1) export the finished InDesign interior pages as an interactive PDF. 2) Upload/ publish with a full bleed LULU. (a full bleed prevents any pages from having white edges.) 3) Purchase the magazine with a credit card online on lulu.com.
The front cover and back pages that are both single pages should be exported as JPEG images. They should also have a resolution of 300 and be set at maximum quality.
The interior pages that are at least 40 pages long should all be exported as an interactive PDF.
The InDesign document should not have any missing links, protected fonts, or overset texts. Missing links are links that do not show up or have not been loaded properly. Protected fonts are copyrighted and should not be used. Overset texts are any text boxes that overlap or do not fit properly within a box. A new folder should be made on the computer desktop named FINAL PORTFOLIO. This folder should include the two JPEG cover and back images, the complete interactive PDF InDesign document, used fonts, and other necessary components that are apart of the project. This folder allows everything to all be together in one place. Other older folders may be discarded for organization. Register an account on Lulu.com using an email and phone number. Click the "create" button, then "start print book." Choose full color on white U.S. letter (8.5 X 11'), then select perfect bound binding for the book/magazine's binding. Import the cover page, back page, and interior pages found in the FINAL PORTFOLIO folder.  Get a free ISBN to copyright and protect your work.  This IBN number will be on the back page. After putting in some personal information, a confirmation notification will appear on your email to verify that you have purchased the magazine.

Week 14-Mini Series #2, three small animal drawings

For my second mini series I decided to focus my work on three small animals. A pink fairy armadillo, axolotl, and chinchilla were these creatures. For starters, a pink fairy armadillo is the smallest armadillo weighing less than one pound. Tv remotes and phones weigh less than a pound. They also actually have a pink color on their shells. Much like the pink fairy, axolotls are less heard of. Axolotls are multicolored Mexican salamanders. These creatures have a very interesting back story, being named after an ancient god... Finally, chinchillas have some of the finest, thickest, fur of all other rodents. Unfortunately they are targeted for having such fur. It is sad that people make coats out of their coats. All of these animals weigh under ten pounds and are very adorable. 

Glinda

In the Wizard of Oz, the good witch, Glinda, is a powerful and cheerful sorceress who wears a pink gown. I decided to name this small, pink fairy armadillo after this character. Pink fairy armadillos are the smallest armadillos because they weigh less than one pound. Remotes and cell phones typically weigh less than a pound in comparison. By giving this creature a magic wand, crown, and some red wings I was able to play with its unique name.

Chilly Chinchilla

 Chinchillas have some of the finest, thickest, fur of all other rodents. Unfortunately they are targeted for having such fur. Their fur is used in many expensive coats that cost thousands of dollars. Since chinchillas are so small, it also costs hundreds of chinchillas lives to create one single coat. This chinchilla is wearing a chinchilla coat to make a statement about how ridiculous it is to wear another animal's fur. It is sad that people make coats out of their coats. The harsh red background represents blood shed.

Almighty axolotl

Axolotls are multicolored Mexican salamanders. They can be brown, albino, pink, and gray. These creatures have a very interesting back story being named after an ancient god. Xolotl is the god of the dead and the underworld in old Aztec mythology. Since axolotls have the ability to regrow limbs, spinal chords, and their jaw, they have an ability to sort of fight back against death. I gave this creature a pitch fork and a grim reaper-like black gown to represent this dark and interesting aspect of axolotls. 

Week 14- Gallery Post Carrie Ann Schumacher

I absolutely adored Chicago based artist Carrie Ann Schumacher's "Build Her a Myth" exhibit with her array of dress sculptures. She set up these decorative, detailed dresses in the chronological order she created them all in. Older pieces were towards the back area of the gallery while her more recent creations were towards the front. I felt that this was a very organized way of presenting one's work. Schumacher clarified that she loves both fashion and literature, having worked at Downer's Grove Library. These pieces revolved around the idea that paper fades and withers away, just as people and their past experiences unfortunately do. The titles seem profound, yet one dress was named after a Kesha song. This shows Carrie's hip side. A viewer can visualize the different kinds of women that may wear each dress. Some are more conservative with sleeves, while others are more showy, short, and outgoing. I personally would love to wear each and every one, so when Carrie said these dresses really can not be worn, unless you're a size o, I was a little let down. According to the artist, "when you don't know what you're doing, make more stuff." Clearly, Carrie Ann devoted countless hours to each work of art. There are tiny holes on each sheet of paper that she cut individually. After viewing this exhibit I will definitely be following Carrie's blog to keep up with her art.

"Anna and the Ocean Between"- a longer dress.

"Rose Believed She Could, So She Did"- a shorter dress.

"Daphne's Diary"

"I Hope I Made You Cry"

Back of "Ms. Priestley & the Letters From the Secret Admirers"

"We All Just Want to Hear Our Own Stories"- a quirky dress.

Week 13- Mini Series #1, three tall animal drawings.

For my first mini series, I decided to focus my work on three tall animals. A flamingo, giraffe, and kangaroo. At first glance, these creatures seem nothing alike. Yet they all have very long bodies. These heights range drastically, but I consider all of these heights to be significant for a wild animal.  When standing, male kangaroos can be six feet tall. Flamingos stand at a height of around five feet, and giraffes are about seventeen feet tall! It is hard to imagine the way the world must look ten feet (or more) above us. In the wild, an animal's height, among its other attributes, can make or break survivability. In the case of a giraffe, being so large may make them an obvious target for predators which is no bueno. Hands down, the giraffe is the tallest of the three.  Height may also be more intimidating. Kangaroos, for instance, may kick other animals to death with their powerful, long legs. All of these living beings use their sizes in different ways.

Flamboyant Flamingo

This dancing flamingo has some finesse. I made sure to articulate its thin, dainty legs that fit snuggly inside pink ballet shoes. Since pink is a common color in ballet uniforms- on leotards, tights, and shoes, I made sure to use plenty of it. Flamingos just so happen to also be pink. Pink hues play a dominant role in this piece, similar to the shades of gray I used in "Memory Man." A long ribbon encircles its side, drawing more attention to the elegant creature. 

Sentry

A giraffe's extended neck provides a view that most creatures do not get to enjoy. This long neck is both an advantage and disadvantage for the animal. Being so gigantic, it may make them an obvious target for predators. It could also be quite intimidating for smaller animals. Ultimately, I was in awe of this body part. I thought that it would be amazing if soldiers had these elongated appendages. With it, they could foresee any threats or enemies! This guard or sentry has binoculars, combat boots, and some camo to represent his or her commitment to the line of duty, so to speak. A musty, gritty watercolor backdrop accentuates its figure since war is, simply put, dirty. 

Boxing Brute

Many kangaroos are muscular. So much so that they will literally beat up other kangaroos in defense or for other reasons. Therefore I used the word "brute" in the title. A brute is a wild, savage, creature. Many people may not be aware of a kangaroo's brutal nature. There have actually been real boxing matches between humans and kangaroos- gloves and all. This kangaroo has its gloves together, prepared for a punch. I used darker colors to give a sense of fear or dark, menacing emotions. 

Week 12- Collaboration

Original artwork 

My version 

For this collaboration assignment, I decided to draw over a peer's digital drawing. Her work focuses on the creation of original characters. I really love this man's pose. His muscular arms and wavy hair instantly reminded me of a horse... Horses are strong, muscular creatures. Often, their locks sway in the wind, which fit perfectly with this character's hair. Since my pieces are all about incorporating animals and human fashions, I turned this man into a horse. Not just any horse, however. He is a mustang going to a masquerade! I was creating this piece right before Halloween, so I was inspired by fun costume ideas. The orange dress shirt and black cape hint at this. 

Week 11- 3 Different Versions of Clown Fish

Original Piece

Finding Emo

In the Dark

Swirling in the Sea

I decided to recreate my clown clownfish drawing in three different ways. "Finding Emo" is a punk rock fish with a black balloon and nose. I used a black sharpie and selected certain aspects that I wanted to outline more. In "In the Dark," I was in a dreary mood and allowed my emotions to play somewhat of a part in my work. At first I hated this creation, but the more I worked on it the more it seemed to make sense and flow. I used black and white acrylic paints along with my own finger to smear the paint around smoothly. There is a pattern of misshapen gray, black, and white dots. Lastly, in "Swirling in the Sea" I was thinking of Van Gogh's fantastic Starry Night painting. The swirls are so alluring and intense. Using more colored pencils I made thicker lines not only in the background but also on the fish to create a sense of movement.