On a Vector High...

I have really been enjoying my Digital Arts class! It's an introductory course to Digital Arts, which covers Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Flash. We started class with Adobe Illustrator, and our first project is a character and scene creation using vector imagery in Adobe Illustrator. We have to write a brief scenario/story that creates a character and scene from our imagination... much like a children's book. The outcome of the project is to create a scene that is drawn solely in Illustrator. I worked really hard on my character and story, and decided to make a poem about my character as my overall story. We shared our stories one on one with our instructor yesterday, and I'm so happy to say that she was really pumped and excited about my story and character! She LOVED that I made a poem, and thought it was so cute... she kept giggling with enjoyment when I read it to her. Her words exactly... "This is going to be awesome!" That made me feel really good, and now I'm even more motivated than ever! Next step is to sketch the characters and objects, then after that, sketch the whole scene out to scan into Illustrator. The final project is due on October 4th, but I'll have to turn it in before I leave for Japan. I've been diligently practicing with the Adobe Illustrator pen tool... and I'm finally getting the hang of it... learning how it moves and curves... I feel like such a dork for being so excited about it, but I can't help it! Call me a dork all you want... I don't care! Haha. Anyway, here are some simple exercises I worked on in class. I hope no graphic designers are reading this, cause I know this is pre-school stuff for them... but I am new to this and have never used Adobe Illustrator before, so naturally, I am a pre-schooler at this stuff. Bear with me...

This was a pen tool exercise we did in class. We had to use the pen tool to trace the Apple Logo. Here's my results... it's not prefect, but not too bad either... for a beginner, that is. (Click image to enlarge)

Here's another exercise we did in class to create a three dimensional egg with shadows and slight gradients. How do you like my egg? (Click image to enlarge)

P.S. Sorry for the insanely bright colors... I was feeling super poppy yesterday...

Flush Act

While making a quick pit stop at KCC's KOPIKO building before my class last night, I couldn't help but notice this sign strategically placed above all the toilets in each stall. It got me thinking... whomever placed these clever signs may be onto something here... perhaps we can implement these signs in ALL public restrooms! There have been one too many times where I've seen things in public restrooms... things you don't want to see, but have during your search through many 'opening doors' to find that seemingly perfect little stall. It's a nasty sight, and I can't even fathom why anyone in their right mind would leave a public restroom stall in such disarray and unrecognizable destruction. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about, and if any of you reading this is guilty of this crime, shame on you! I propose that a bill be introduced next legislative session... a bill which would require the mandatory placement of these signs above every single toilet in all public restroom stalls! Together, we can stop the madness! Who's with me?

Rested...

Hope everyone had a nice and relaxing long weekend... I sure did! I soaked it up and got as much R&R as possible, knowing that Monday (today) marks the first day of school for Fall Semester. To be honest, I'm shocked that I slept quite well last night... I was afraid that anxiety would keep me tossing and turning. Hopefully all goes well for my first day of school! I'm sure I'll blend right in since I still look under 18... I say this because this weekend a sales clerk at Macy's asked me if I was 18 and over to sign up for a Macy's card. Haha! (I didn't sign up for one, btw... in case you were wondering...)

Good luck to everyone starting school today... I know I'll need it...