Sewing the Seeds of Art (Week 7)
by skocko on Oct.19, 2009, under Blog
It seems, then, to be one of the paradoxes of creativity that in order to think originally, we must familiarize ourselves with the ideas of others.
— George Kneller
Just as we used the first self portrait gallery as a reference for our self portraits this year, so we will use the first logo gallery as a starting point for our next project. Similarly, I expect the quality of this year’s logo/identity creations to surpass prior efforts (Hannah Johansen). Today, your task is to research, to familiarize yourself with the work of others. First, as I’ve said, look at last year’s gallery. Next, I’d like to introduce you to something I call Grand Central Linkage. Please watch this short video to understand today’s quest for inspiration.
Progress Report: A word about grades. Grades are on time sheets.
1020: A bit of synchronicity in that Terry White (who’s responsible for us using InDesign for our initial Website designs) posted The Importance of Attending Workshops a few minutes ago. (He’s an early riser too!) I was at Ben Willmore’s Photoshop for Photographers seminar yesterday and boy do I have some new ideas to share with you! It’s not too early to begin exploring your photographic vision. In fact, the adventure may be right outside your door.
Want a Freebie? Have you noticed the NAPP link in the right sidebar? (That’s the group who throws Photoshop World and Seminars like I attended yesterday.) If you’re serious about learning Photoshop (and the rest of the Creative Suite), NAPP a bottomless learning resource. If you ever do join, use the link from the blog and I get a perk or two. If 12 people join, I won’t be the last technology teacher on Earth without a cell phone any more. Note: There’s a freebie for you too (see: lower left of page). Discounted rates for students and educators.
1021: Because of the presentation yesterday, most of you didn’t get a chance to read yesterday’s update. Please do so now. It’s okay, I’ll wait.
Now, while I’m at a Final Cut Studio workshop today, here’s what I expect from you. After reading and following the instructions above, explore the 5 Stages of the Creative Process. That’s a post I wrote over the summer and I want you to begin to understand the creative process. Read it. Reread it. Click the links. Ponder the quotes. Spend some time there. Have you really tried to understand? No? Try again. Yes? Watch this video. What are thumbnail sketches? Link to a quick overview. One last link. And just for students in multiple periods.
Reminder: Thumbnails are small, quick sketches of your logo ideas. You should be able to fit 10 or more on a single page. DO NOT make finely detailed drawings. This process is quick and simple. You’re brainstorming and capturing ideas without trying to refine them. No one, and I mean NO ONE will be “finished” with the assignment today.
1022: Yes, I’ll be asking to see your thumbnails today. Yes, you’re supposed to have saved them. Yes, I told you that yesterday (and the day before). Yes, you finally get to work in Illustrator today. And yes, you’ll continue to work out your ideas in thumbnail form for the rest of the year. Now watch this video.
Visitor Update: The Palestinian Territories makes 125 countries to visit the blog. Yes, I know the word “country” is a bit nebulous in this case, but it’s only a matter of time. To be honest, I never even imagined we’d see a visit from there. Our 175,000th page view will occur in a few hours. Little milestones recorded here. Side note: Both New Jersey and Florida have visited over 1,000 times (from 150 different cities).
If I were Looking for a Job: I’d apply right now. Note that an online portfolio is required. If the job is filled and the link is a 404, here’s a snapshot of the page.
1023: I just noticed that we had our 2,000th comment a few days ago. Simply amazing participation! All who’ve commented are to be commended.
Looking Ahead: Some of you are wondering what’s on the horizon and I figure now is a good time to give your right brain a preview so it can begin working on ideas while you’re otherwise engaged. (If that makes no sense, you didn’t read or understand this.) Digital Arts and 3D students will soon part company but not before both classes complete their own logos (including the Pathfinder workflow — trust me, you’re going to love it), avatars, favicons, and one optional typographic project. After that, 3D students will begin with the Mac Lab 3D 1-2-3 Intro to Cinema 4D: the spaceship, the logo animation, and the animated camera projects. (Old tutorials here. New ones coming soon.) Digital Arts will dive deeper into typography but will have expanded freedom of choice in their subject matter. Examples include redesigning corporate logos, movie or band posters, book covers, CDs or DVDs, or anything that begs for a new and improved version (including public service posters promoting appropriate causes of your own choice). The overarching goal is implementing the elements and principles of design while developing a mastery of typographic form and function.
Do you want creative freedom in here? Play by my rules and master the fundamentals. Read everything I post and follow the video tutorials. Resistance isn’t really futile, it’s just self-defeating. If you’ve not lived up to your end of the deal, it’s not too late to change your ways. And remember, if you want to catch up (or get ahead), we’ve got another Mac Lab Saturday School™ tomorrow. I’ll arrive around 6:30. As always, it’s first come, first served. Alright, back to your logos.
P.S. Almost forgot to mention that I’ll be loading piles of cool fonts (and other resources) on your computers within the next week. And while I’m mentioning things I forgot to mention, Rotoball 2010 is on the horizon (cue Shaun) as is this 15 seconds of fame project! Oh, and did I mention photography? Painting with Light? And what about… (Too much to mention. Though, interested parties might check this at home. Hint, hint.)
It’s going to be a fun year!
Opportunity: The Student Creative is asking Mac Lab students to submit designs for a logo. Who’s going to step up?
Leave a Reply
Translator
Paint the World with Light now available
October 19th, 2009 on 7:48 am
The paper is a lie. Skocko forgot to put it out before he left, now we have to use our own.
October 19th, 2009 on 8:04 am
Grant Central Linkage has a lot of links but I found this gem on there to be relevant, impressive, enlightening, and probably the best sampling of brilliance I’ve seen.
http://abduzeedo.com/logo-design-z-e
So if you didn’t know WHICH link to click or stare at them all in awe before giving up; then there you go.
October 19th, 2009 on 8:52 am
Thanks, Michael. That’s exactly what I needed. Being Mr. Short Attention Span, I wouldn’t have had much success going through GCL, unless I duct taped my hands to the desk so I couldn’t hit command-W or click the back arrow.
October 19th, 2009 on 11:01 am
I have no paper. I must create my own, to fulfill Skocko’s wishes. Somebody get me a chainsaw, a plad shirt, a forest, a paper mill, and a pencil.
October 19th, 2009 on 11:06 am
Skocko, you forgot to link the speaker of the quote to wikipedia! I don’t know George Kneller is! I’m freaking out!
October 19th, 2009 on 11:53 am
Alright then Skocko, I will give myself two more weeks starting now, to stay in the mac lab, but if I still feel the same or a little bit worse then I am leaving, but I will inform you on how my other class is doing. I just can’t believe I am doing this I just have to do what’s right for me and just let go
October 19th, 2009 on 12:42 pm
I find it easier to look through a dictionary and search for a word you can make a logo out of. In fact, I found a few that could work but I’m not telling which.
October 19th, 2009 on 2:16 pm
you should do the word “the”
October 19th, 2009 on 10:27 pm
shlockmeister.
’nuff said.
October 19th, 2009 on 11:11 pm
OK, guess who is coming to visit tomorrow!!
You better not be at a meeting…
Can I talk to people about how logos really ARE IMPORTANT!? Cause I’ve really been realizing it lately!!
I am so excited ;D
October 20th, 2009 on 12:09 am
Is it possible to make a decent logo using the colors:
Hot Pink
Green (0 255 0 in RGB)
Red (255 0 0 in RGB)
?
I have this project from, what appears to be, an aesthetic masochist.
I’m fairly convinced I’d have better chances of teaching Helen Keller color theory.
October 20th, 2009 on 4:03 am
Oops, I did forget to put out the paper. Sorry ’bout that.
John B, you’re not going anywhere so stop with the two more weeks. You’re going to finish out the year and you’re going to learn the power of perseverance.
Hannah, we have a presenter in class tomorrow and I have to chew the kids out on Wednesday (for their mostly pitiful efforts on their Websites). How ’bout Friday? Steven Moyer and Michael Werner (who will show his beautiful solution to the color challenge) will also be dropping by.
October 20th, 2009 on 4:31 am
You better hope she reads this before heading over!
She was planning on a 9:30-10:30 visit.
October 20th, 2009 on 5:58 am
I was going to meet her there but now I get to sleep instead
So is friday and all day event / until I get Mac Poisoning or kind of a creepily pop in and JUDGE EVERY STUDENT ONE BY ONE VIA THE BIG BROTHER MONITOR. CAREFULLY ANALYZING EVER CURSOR MOVEMENT AND COLOR SELECTION.
October 20th, 2009 on 6:34 am
Not all day unless you want it to be. We’re in the intro to typography stage. Student logos followed by posters, and redesigns of book covers, CDs/DVDs, movie posters, etc.
I’m thinking you’ll be letting Hannah know since she’s part of your global enterprise.
October 20th, 2009 on 7:39 am
She has MY number but I forgot to get HERS.
And yes I do rent her talent
October 20th, 2009 on 9:02 am
Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooo I got up early and I’m all ready to go ;_; cry…
October 20th, 2009 on 9:37 am
Early?! It’s almost afternoon! See you Friday, girl.
October 20th, 2009 on 1:34 pm
Daytime sickness is lame. In a nutshell, what was the presentation about? o,o
October 20th, 2009 on 2:05 pm
morning sickness Christian?
Just Devry and why you should go there.
October 20th, 2009 on 2:55 pm
Christian? With morning sickness? I thought he was showing. Off topic, the pens that Devry gave us are great. However, I wish Devry would give us the PDAs instead.
October 20th, 2009 on 7:14 pm
Our district has no policy, no college presenters in the classroom. In order to have them visit now we need two forms, admin approval, and some other kind of nonsense.
October 21st, 2009 on 2:46 am
Sounds like a lot of red tape.
I like presenter’s that are more informative rather than ‘recruity’.
More of a “Did you know that ______ ” instead of ” JOIN US “.
October 21st, 2009 on 3:40 am
All I had to do was call the front desk to let them know a presenter was arriving.
And though each presenter will highlight what their particular school offers, they’re all good at keeping the hour on the informative side. The downside to yesterday’s gig was that the PDAs weren’t fully charged in advance.
October 21st, 2009 on 5:59 am
Public Displays of Affection? What kind of presentation was this?
I get it:
You told Valhalla that you wanted a Graphics Presentation and instead you got a graphic presentation. I’m sure using ‘flash’ as a keyword is looking like a pretty big mistake right about now.
Why did I ever graduate?
October 21st, 2009 on 6:38 am
We used to have no problems. I don’t know what is up with the new policy. Especially since Perkins and ROP want us to have these types of visits. I am sure admin would change their tune if we lost all of that funding.
October 21st, 2009 on 6:48 am
Michael, there’s simply no way to stop students from loving the Mac Lab.
Hayes, I’m soooooo lucky to have 100% support from admin and guidance. I hear other teachers tell their stories of hostile, or at least strained relationships with those folks and I wonder what went wrong. Programs like ours can help to put a school in the spotlight (in a good way).
October 21st, 2009 on 9:34 am
Hey Skocko,
i just wanted to say thanks…
i’m pretty sure you know what i’m talking about…
You to James…
October 21st, 2009 on 9:46 am
I think you mean ‘too’ Michael.
October 21st, 2009 on 10:33 am
Maybe if this works out Skocko if I make the team to come to any of themi’ll invite you to a couple of my games if you have the time
October 21st, 2009 on 10:51 am
Skocko I cant believe this, you make me do something I am not good at and you know that I am not good at it, this is totally going to mess up my grade man
October 21st, 2009 on 11:57 am
No problem, Michael!
John B, I can’t believe you’re not excited about learning something new. That’s what we do in here!
October 21st, 2009 on 12:26 pm
Yes… that is what we do in here.
October 21st, 2009 on 2:10 pm
Johnnnnnnnnnnnn, calm it.
You’re learning, which means YOU AREN’T GOOD AT IT YETTT.
practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, and so on and so forth.
October 21st, 2009 on 2:22 pm
Fadi’s on illustrator
Johnny’s a witness
So is Craig
Punish, Punish, Punish!!!
(Snitching freakin’ RULES)
October 21st, 2009 on 2:23 pm
Now it can NEVER be taken away! muahaha.
October 21st, 2009 on 2:31 pm
I concur with Chris’s statement.
October 21st, 2009 on 2:39 pm
Big Trouble in Little Mac Lab. [Bows to Chris]
October 21st, 2009 on 2:43 pm
Chris and I = amazing.
BANANA COMPUTER!!!!
ring ring ring ring….BANANA PHONEEEEEE
you’ll love it skocko.
October 21st, 2009 on 8:07 pm
look man I am sorry alright
October 21st, 2009 on 8:13 pm
Don’t be sorry, John. Be inspired. Be excited to learn!
Did you read what Kyle wrote to you?
October 21st, 2009 on 11:07 pm
John B. Hi.
It’s just like any other class in the sense that you use one fundamental ability (learning) and apply it.
It could be biology, accounting, cooking, or Shakespeare. You just apply the learned knowledge to various areas and fields. But it’s just all applied knowledge none the less. All (if not most) students started from nothing and just accumulate knowledge over time.
You can feel comparatively behind; which I have no idea if that’s true or not. And it could be disheartening or even intimidating to see others excel, but the best part about Digital Art is that there are so many niches and specializations that there is no jack of all trades. You can have someone amazing at vector art but dismal at photo manipulation. Or an action script wizard with no knowledge of the pen tool. You just kind of sift through all of the various roles until one catches your eye and tickles your fancy. It’s pretty much safe to say you are better at the pen tool than I am just from the fact you’ve been in the class as long as you have. And honestly I cannot stand half of the content and it took me awhile till I found something that clicked and I ran with it and never looked back.
But when you start setting yourself time limits or quotas on inspiration or satisfaction you are just setting yourself up for self-fulfilling prophecies. It’s not a good habit.
For example: Skocko’s 3D class would teach the fundamentals of modeling, texturing, lighting, and animation (I actually had his 3D class and it’s good that he doesn’t have examples of my work from it). I sucked. I hated it. Everyone else was making movies with perfectly modeled Yoshis and Marios or helicopters and mech-warrior battles and I was too overwhelmed to really move forward. The only reason I stayed in the class was the super cute girl to the right of me (Ashley) and the fact that the points&bridge tool really captured me (3/4ths through the semester. Just one tool.) I stuck with it and made it my own. Passed the class and impressed the girl.
Although his class covered:
modeling, texturing, lighting, and animation; no person does all four jobs in a real world scenario. One person specializes. Consider the class just a giant sampling platter.
Just keep jumping through hoops until you find one you want to leap through.
October 22nd, 2009 on 3:53 am
Well said.
How is Ashley, btw? Noël was asking about her just last week.
October 22nd, 2009 on 4:16 am
She’s great! Busy with school, pets, and work.
I still wish she’d get back into web design. If she kept up with CSS she’d be in the ZenGarden.
Her css site “ink filled veins” back in the maclab was awesome. But I can see the appeal in sculpting habitats for living creatures versus the appeal of… style sheets.
I SUPPOSE.
October 22nd, 2009 on 9:28 am
Aha moment… best logo idea ever… yay can’t stop now…
October 22nd, 2009 on 11:02 am
well yeah Michael you had someone to work hard for and it probably was worth it, but I got nothing in this class, the only thing I am best at is basketball. are you still in one of Skocko’s classes?
October 22nd, 2009 on 12:46 pm
You shouldn’t need someone to work hard for aside from yourself. It’s good to be selfish in some regards. You don’t need an incentive to be able to learn.
The only thing you are best at is Basketball. That’s fine and great! You can only ever be the best at one thing (in regards to yourself). You can be proficient at a lot of things, good at several, but only one can be the best.
You don’t need to be the best at something to be able to do it. If that held true then only 1 kid per class would pass that particular class.
I graduated 4-5 years ago so not in one of his classes, no. But I’ll be visiting the MacLab tomorrow. Still not sure what time I should drop by.
Why not incorporate basketball into Skocko’s class? Introduce the theme and capture it’s essence? If I told you to answer the question: “Why are you so good at basketball?” by crafting an image or picture; how would you go about it? Why shouldn’t you be able to answer it and how can you go about finding ways to answer it?
October 22nd, 2009 on 12:58 pm
THE WHOLE DAY MICHAEL!!!! :D?
October 22nd, 2009 on 1:52 pm
NOT THE WHOLE DAY.
Give me a good time frame!
October 22nd, 2009 on 2:04 pm
8:25 am ~ 3:10pm.
October 22nd, 2009 on 7:07 pm
I am sick, again. If I feel better by tomorrow I will visit but I have only left my bed to eat today… I had to skip school :/
October 22nd, 2009 on 9:18 pm
So you are in college is that right Michael?
Hey thanks for all your help guys. Skocko, Kyle W, and Michael. sooner or later i’ll keep it together probably in a couple of weeks or so. Just till I get back on my feet
October 22nd, 2009 on 11:08 pm
Hey Mr. Skocko
Just dropping to say “hi” and hope everything is going smoothly at the MacLab
Been REALLY busy at work ^^
Hi Hannah!
I hope u feel better *hug*
A nasty flu is going around
Just make sure you rest! Okay?!
October 23rd, 2009 on 2:08 am
John, I keep telling you that I’m only interested in long-term goals. Everyone works at their own pace, but everyone works (and works hard). You don’t compete with the kid at the next computer, you compete with the kid in the mirror. You learn a little every day. Like I’ve said a dozen times by now, it’s a Tortoise and the Hare scenario. Keep working on the fundamentals and everything else takes care of itself.
Hannah, I hope you feel better but don’t come in if you’re feeling terrible. We don’t need a modern Typhoid Mary in the Mac Lab!
Do we call you 24-Hour Fit Kim rather than Tardy Girl now? BTW, as you probably know, busy is good!
Werner, you pick the time. I know you’ll read the blog so you’ll know what we’re doing. (No, I haven’t written today’s post yet.)
October 23rd, 2009 on 9:29 am
Get well soon Hannah D:
Don’t let yourself fall John, it can be hard getting back on your feet.
October 23rd, 2009 on 10:41 am
haha thats a very long nickname
haha
I kinda still like my nickname TG
I’m always early at work like 5 to 10 min.
So, they don’t call me TG there
Yes! Busy is good
A couple of times I watched 30 kids all at the same time
I was proud of myself on those busy days
There was two other works with me to help me out tho.
But still, I love having busy days.
I thought it was funny, at one time, how all of them wanted to draw and they are all crowded up in the corner at this little table, with little chairs.
Also, the kids call me ‘Teacher’ a lot
haha
They pulled me in the corner and said “Teacher! Draw with us!”
The workers saw what I drew ( it was Cindrella in a pumpkin costume
) and said that we should make copies of my darwings, so that we have more pictures that the kids can color
So basically, I absolutely love my job!
October 23rd, 2009 on 12:37 pm
yay TG/24-Hour Fit Girl!
October 23rd, 2009 on 1:21 pm
Rrroooooootoooooooballllllllll!!! That is all.
*Burrows back into his hole in the ground*
October 23rd, 2009 on 1:25 pm
I knew it. Shaun hasn’t been around in forever. Rotoball is mentioned and his toaster sense lights up.
October 23rd, 2009 on 2:05 pm
Typical Shaun. I think…
Very interesting Shaun. I think…
October 23rd, 2009 on 7:15 pm
Well its good to see that changing schools hasn’t changed Shaun too much. He is a tad predictable when it comes to Rotoball though.
October 23rd, 2009 on 7:26 pm
I am always here… Always watching… I am the symbol the Mac Lab needs… I am the night…….
October 23rd, 2009 on 7:29 pm
Danny I clicked on your link, saw your site, and noticed the “My work isn’t good enough for the wall,” bit and realized I never got my Hamwow print!
Sad face…
Anyway off I go.
*Fawoosh!*
October 23rd, 2009 on 10:31 pm
Yay! Kyle W. !
haha
Wait!
Kyle W. needs a nickname Mr. Skocko!
October 23rd, 2009 on 10:32 pm
Wait a second!
does my lil brother have a nickname too?
October 24th, 2009 on 7:10 am
Congratulations on the 2000+ Comments, and the many views this blog has received around the world from 125+ Countries. Truly amazing, with time, we will definitely earn a spot in the top. Surely this blog has everything to offer. And now I leave you to your work <3
October 24th, 2009 on 8:09 am
Would have been amazing if you have seen it coming and wrote it down. “2000th comment. Yay!”
October 24th, 2009 on 2:28 pm
:O!
nickname you say?
October 24th, 2009 on 2:28 pm
nickname you say??!
October 24th, 2009 on 2:29 pm
sorry skocko for the mass spam. not intentional.
i want a nickname :O
October 25th, 2009 on 11:59 am
Hmm… a nickname for Kyle… I dunno, don’t look at me. ^_^
I missed Friday’s presentation, now I’m sad. ;_; Someone tell me what it was about! Was it amazing? It sounded amazing. Even though all I could really hear was this person talking and I when I peeked through the door all I could see was the top of Skocko’s head and this kid leaning halfway out of his chair staring at some person I couldn’t see. (I was in the Performing Arts Assembly and had excess free time on my hands so I was going to annoy my favorite sister but the door was locked and there was a person talking and I couldn’t get in… ;_;)
So I left and came back later and there was still a person talking and the door was still locked and the kid was in the exact same position (like Medusa had turned him into a statue) and Skocko /still/ wasn’t the one talking, and that’s when I remembered about Michael Werner. So I left because my call time was coming up soon and my choir group was going to be mad at me if I didn’t show. That was during 7th period.
So what was he talking about and what did he say?
October 25th, 2009 on 7:16 pm
Long story. I’ll tell you in class.
October 25th, 2009 on 11:03 pm
yes, I said nickname
October 26th, 2009 on 7:33 am
October 29th, 2009 on 8:45 pm
Mr. Skocko , did i told you that i am a big fun of Photography ? Well i am , I just got my new camera, i really have the passion for that , for anything related to Designs .. i would love to show you some of my pictures
I loved the video, it push people to make their dreams true.
October 30th, 2009 on 2:31 am
I’d love to see your photographs, Diana. Bring them in!