Angle of Vision

The angle of vision in art is used to show what things are thought to be important to the piece.
This is an important factor in photography. The angle in which one shoots the photo, orients the viewer and shows what the photographer wants the audience to see.

Aerial views can "provide the sweeping panorama" (p.101) such as the view of land from an airplane or a bridge. An example of an aerial view is of this painting of sheep. "Sheep Playing Cricket" is found on https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelmurrayart/3341163396/ by Michael Murray. 

Contrast in Art pieces

Contrast of color in art pieces is one of my favorite ways to see art being expressed. Seeing the eye catching pop of color in a black and white background is dramatic and classic.

One amazing example of an eye catching object against a black and white background is found on http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247513/The-magnificent-Instagram-images-iconic-London-2012.html. The reaction I have to this picture is one that reminds me that life is more than the monotonous routine of doing the same thing every day.

Scale in Art

Scale refers "to the size of a form when compared with our own human size"(p.82) Exaggerating the proportions of an art piece stands out and makes a statement. An example of an overexaggeration of proportion is this statue of an eyeball in Chicago. Called the EYE, it stands at the height of three stories. It was created by Tony Tasset. It can be thought of as watching over the city. 



Here an an example of the EYE in comparison to a person.

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2010/08/19/chicago-and-milwaukee-large-public-art-and-placemaking/

Stereotypes in iconography

Described on pg. 162 of Launching the Imagination, a stereotype is a "fixed generalization based on a preconception." In order for stereotypes to be recognized, group characteristics must be emphasized. This way, it can be interpreted by a mass amount of people. This is useful when showing exit signs or bathroom signs. Having a different sign for the men and women's bathrooms are very important. These show different stereotypes. According to the textbook, because stereotypes are a generalization, they require little thought on the basis of the audience and elicit an immediate reaction.

Video

For my video, I chose to make a story that was based on the experience of a drug addict. I want to make a series of video clips that can tell the story of someone who is in the midst of abuse, who decides to get clean, and gain their life back. I was inspired by my work at a clinic those with opiate addictions. I was also inspired by the album from the band, Boat Race Weekend. "No More" is the song that I will focus on, when filming my video. Here is the link: https://soundcloud.com/boatraceweekend/sets/chin-up-ep

Rhythm in Art

Rhythm in art is defined by Launching the Imagination as "a sense of movement that is created by repetition of multiple units in a deliberate pattern" (p.83). This can be related to the rhythm in music, with similar deliberate patterns that tell a story. The only difference is that rhythm in art is seen with the eyes. I am very attracted to art that conveys rhythm. An example from http://www.writedesignonline.com/resources/design/rules/rhythm-pattern.html#regular, shows how certain shapes are repeated with colors that create a sense of movement off of the page.
 

Rhythm can be used in order to satisfy our need to see things in order. In this painting by Grant Wood, the brain creates order from the different shapes which have been repeated multiple times. http://www.writedesignonline.com/resources/design/rules/rhythm-pattern.html#regular

Lithography

Lithography is a type of art that I am just now learning about. According to Digital Visual Culture, Aloys Senefelder discovered lithography "through a wonderful mixture of chemistry and physics with art, craft, skill, and luck, Senefelder made it possible to print multiples of an illustration drawn upon a perfectly flat stone surface" (p.25). Lithography is described as a way to produce multiple prints with a special press as well as with grease and water. According to Brittanica, the "ink is applied to a grease-treated image on the flat printing surface; nonimage (blank) areas, which hold moisture, repel the lithographic ink" which is then used to print more images. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/343748/lithography#toc4234

This picture shows how lithography is done. The screen easily prints the image through the process of lithography. 

http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Lithography-Process-final-print-2

This is an example of a lithograph done in shades of black and white. By George Bellows (American, 1882-1925), The Drunk, c. 1924

http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/kl/lithography.html

Avant-Garde Art

Avant-garde art is an aspect described in Digital Virtual Culture. It is described of having the goal to "deconstruct the barrier between the viewer and the work of art" (p.51) I think this form of art is very exciting and can be seen as refreshing yet strange. Avant-garde is defined by the Oxford dictionary as "new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts, or the people introducing them" http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/avant-garde

An example of avant-garde art is known as deconstructive play. An example given by Digital Virtual Culture is that of Gabriel Orozoco's, My Hands are My Heart, 1991.

This piece involves the audience and invites them to look into the story that Gabriel Orozoco is trying to tell about his life. The way he uses a model of his hands to give the appearance of his heart is unusual and somewhat strange. I find it is also a refreshing way for him to describe how important his hands are for him to be able to do what he loves, telling stories by making art.

Logo Fonts

In designing my Law firm logo, I am researching different types of fonts. In researching different law firm logos, I have found a lot of clean lines, and capital letters. I have yet to find a logo that has any sort of cursive lettering on it. Most logos convey a sense of professionalism and would not be able to do so if there was a large amount of cursive lettering being shown.
 This logo is one I like because of the clean lines and capital letters.

http://www.backyardstudios.com/work-print/logo-branding-design.php

Another example of a logo that I find conveys professionalism is from Townsend, Lockett, and Milfort, LLC. The use of the grayscale lettering is attractive. The only problem I have with this logo is that there is no comma between the first two names.

http://townsendlockett.tumblr.com/

I did find one logo of a law firm with cursive lettering. I believe that this logo does not convey as much of a sense of professionalism when compared to the other logos.
. 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ibrachy_Law_Firm_Logo.jpg

Continuity and Closure

Continuity is the fifth aspect of Gestalt Psychology described in Launching the Imagination. Continuity is defined as " fluid connection among compositional parts" (p.70). When the shapes of the piece are touching, it means that the piece has actual continuity. However, when a piece has shapes that are not joined together, the continuity is implied because the brain makes the connections between them without the pieces actually having to touch. (p.70). An example of this is this figure of the different shapes conjoined by one wavy line.

http://peace.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/Images/


Closure is the last of the Gestalt Psychology aspects in design. Closure is "the mind's inclination to connect fragmentary information to produce a completed form" (p.71). An example is this picture of three circles with implied closure. It is implied because we mentally connect the three which shows a triangle in the middle.

Repetition and Proximity

Repetition is another aspect of Gestalt Psychology in art. Repetition is when the brain unifies objects when the element or effect is repeated throughout the piece. Launching the Imagination explains, "repeated shapes create a strong connection" despite the differences between them (p.70). An example of repetition by Darren Rowse on http://digital-photography-school.com/using-repetition-and-patterns-in-photography is of repeating circles that create a unifying scene even though they are different colors. 

Proximity is an aspect of Gestalt Psychology in art that is "the distance between visual elements" (p.70). The closeness in distance between shapes, no matter the differences, can create some aspect of unity. Another part of proximity is that a negative shape can occur between two shapes that are in close proximity to each other. An example of this is the painting of two face that share such close proximity that the negative space makes a shape of a face. http://www.hearthcricket.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

Grouping and Containment

The view in Gestalt Psychology as defined by Launching the Imagination, is that "visual information is understood holistically before it is examined separately" (p.68). This means that the viewer is looking at the picture as a whole before recognizing and analyzing the separate parts that make up the whole picture. According to Launching the Imagination, there are six different aspects to this view, two of which are grouping and containment.

Grouping is an aspect that details how the brain will group different objects by either location, orientation, shape, and color"(p.68). The act of grouping can happen even when the objects are differentiated by shape or other aspects. The brain chooses to group shapes together in order to create connections in what we are seeing.

Mandy Behrens created an excellent example of grouping with this painting found on http://www.poppytalk.com/2012/05/affordable-art-weathered-silo.html

To me, the different squares are all grouped together despite the different sizes and colors of the shapes. 

The next aspect is containment. According to Launching the Imagination, containment is, "a unifying force created by the outer edge of a composition or by a boundary within a composition" (p.69). A way of using containment in order to create unity is by applying an outline or other boundary in order to close off the group of shapes from the outside. As explained in the book, a vertical rectangle is "often used when a rising or sinking movement is needed, while a horizontal format can create an expansive effect" (p.69)

Bezold Effect

Described in Chapter 2, the Bezold Effect is used to describe how a color may appear to be either brighter or darker depending on the colors that are near it. I think that this effect is really interesting because it changes the way that you perceive how the color looks. 

An example of the Bezold Effect is this design found on http://artistrendezvous.cansonstudio.com/web/guest/displayimage/-/display_image/1566563/kp1606/bezold-effect

The yellow appears brighter when it has a blue backdrop, compared to when it you see the yellow is in front of the more subdued yellow. 

Another example of the Bezold Effect is this picture of how cyan appears next to white, compared to how it appears brighter when next to the black color.

http://personal.uncc.edu/lagaro/cwg/color/bezcyan.gif

Psychology of Colors

Doing more research for my logo design, I am trying to decide on a color palate that would convey a positive message for a law firm.

The message that I would want people to recognize would be one of wisdom, compassion, trust, and strength. I want people to be able to recognize that the lawyers at this firm are smart, will work hard to do what is best for the client, and that they can be trusted. I did a search online for the psychology of color and found this picture from the Logo Company. http://thelogocompany.net/blog/infographics/psychology-color-logo-design/

According to this color chart, colors that would be acceptable when it came to conveying my message would be blues, purples, and greens. I also really like the look of the grey color promoting neutrality. I think that purple would prove to be too much of a childish or infantile message. 

Trompe L'Oeil

Trompe L'Oeil is an effect of texture that means "to fool the eye"(p. 26). The use of this texture is to make a 3D structure, or to fool the eye into thinking that they are looking outside a window compared to a 2D painting. I love how these pieces of art can expand a space and make the viewer imagine a world outside of the one they are living in. Some of these pieces can make me imagine that I am a few steps away from being in a whole new place, such as a castle or hillside. The effect of this painting tricks the senses into believing that something is there when it is not.

An example of Trompe L'Oeil is from the artist named, Edgar Mueller.


The Crevasse is a street project in which Mueller made a 3D image in the form of a ice scene. The images are fantastic. Drawn on streets, this form of the Trompe L'Oeil tricks the mind into believing that there is a whole ice scene below them. This fantasy art piece is one that can truly trick the senses.

Invented Texture

Chapter 1 of Launching the Imagination also focuses on texture. Invented texture a form of texture used in art that has a very appealing aspect to it. Invented texture is when the artist "can activate a surface using shapes that have no direct reference to perceptual reality"(p.23). An example that was used was Psychedelicatessen Owner. by Bruce Conner.



The thought that texture can be drawn with all different symbols that have no reference overall picture, is fresh and exciting to me. The different symbols drawn together give the piece a 3D feel. To me, it seems like the man is coming out of the picture to give me a flower. The more I look at it, the more I am drawn to all of the smaller symbols that make up his face and the details that appear the more I look at it.

Another example is of an elephant found on http://katiemyk.wordpress.com/drawings/invented-texture/. 

This is a good example because each symbol has its own entity and can be seen by itself, or if looked at from a distance, can be a part of the larger picture of the elephant. The eye can be drawn to so many different points in this painting but all of the points function as one whole painting. The elements of the black elephant on the white background, definitely makes the elephant stand out, further showing the 3D element of invented texture.

Law Firm Logo Inspiration.

I decided to look online for some inspiration for my law firm logo. I found some really interesting concepts.

The Hamm Law Firm logo is neat because it incorporates the "HLF" in a similar way that I want to incorporate "SLG" into my design. The cool colors of the logo convey a more calming aspect and I like how the "L" is attached to the "H. I think it is a cohesive design and the colors complement each other. http://www.hammlawvi.com/



Another really interesting logo is one by Miles Caldwell for Mays Byrd and Associates. Found at http://milescaldwell.com/work/mays-byrd-law/. I love how the colors complement each other. The letters are defintely distinguished from the background and negative space makes the letters stand out even more. Having the blue and gray as negative space is an interesting concept. I believe that it does make the logo look somewhat "busy" and my eyes cannot seem to find one place to stay. But I do like the concept of the white letters against the colored background.


The next logo is one that uses a picture of the New York Skyline. I like the way that the "S" is drawn to allow for the picture to be placed inside of it. The letters underneath the "S" are in all caps and a lighter blue against the negative dark blue space. I think the letters stand out well and convey a message that they are professional and the colors convey a calming aspect. http://spire-law.com/

After reading the first chapter of Launching the Imagination, I have come to realize all of the different types of lines there are. I recognize that the orientation of the line conveys different meanings. The book explains that lines drawn horizontally are "stable" whereas lines drawn vertically convey "potential" and diagonal lines are "most dynamic." I had never put much thought into the message that can be conveyed by the way the line has been drawn.

Something that I found interesting in the book is the thought that "primary colors, combined wiht the slanted title block, immediately attract attention." (p. 11). This was explained by showing the picture of the Cover of Ulysses by James Joyce, designed by Carin Goldberg. https://forums.designrelated.com/forums/8/topics/6


I think this is a really cool idea. My eye is immediately drawn to the big blue "U." I am considering trying to incorporate the use of the slant and tile block for my logo. If I were to do an "SLG" in separate letters, with one being a different color and all three letters would be against a negative space, I think it would pose a more modern look and sleek style.

I am brand new to anything having to do with DTC. That being said, I am completely fascinated by all of the amazing things that can be done. I feel like this class is one where all creativity is welcomed with a passion. This is definitely not a class I am used to because of the fact that I have not done any activities for school that require me to be creative with pictures, sketches, and so on.

For our logo project, I decided to design something that I could potentially use if I were going to have a law firm. My plan is to go with clean lines, something that draws attention to the eye, but conveys wisdom and strength. My goal is to avoid anything with calligraphic lines. I think staying away from anything that seems whimsical or silly is the best idea.

Right now, I am drawing creativity from The Allen Law Group logo. This is from http://mariasdesignportfolio.com/logos.html. I am really attracted to the strong lines and the modern aspect to this logo.