Karlisha Gray

2012-01-04T12:46:00.002-06:00

Coming.....

2012-01-04T12:43:00.004-06:00

NEW LOOK! NEW WORK! COMING IN FEBRUARY.....

Pride

2012-01-04T12:27:00.004-06:00

The third collage for the second volume of my zine, Man's Tendency to Sin
And of course I'm not sure if I'm done.
Medium: Handmade & digital collage

Inspiration

2011-12-14T12:19:00.000-06:00

The Birth of Venus by Botticelli

You are the prototype

2011-12-13T10:28:00.005-06:00

Much sorrys for not posting this soon.

Here's the actual Prototype for Five Down Amelia Doll

Much thanx to Ella Schreck for sewing her outfit & Andrew Vomhof for making her accessories

2011-10-25T11:34:00.000-05:00

2011-10-11T12:39:00.004-05:00

Fresh to Death SHE is!

2011-10-11T12:22:00.008-05:00

Ever since I’ve hit about 17, for my birthday my mom has bought me Barbie related
items (i seriously don't know why and honestly don’t want to ask; their sweet either way it goes.)

She found 5 Vintage Mattel Barbie Doll(s) Fashion Catalogues from the 50s-70s.

I love these things! A sweet documentation of the fashions and history of Barbie, Ken, Skipper, Midge and the rest of the gang through out the years!

I never knew there was a Twiggy Doll!

Cute fashions, layouts are pretty sweet and the illustrations are great!

Refine Refine Refine

2011-08-10T12:27:00.015-05:00

Logo process for an online store called, Snozzberry....More to come

Work Work Work

2011-07-18T16:25:00.003-05:00

So many things I'm working on, so many things I need to work on, so many things I want to do...................

I be Collage'in

2011-06-13T06:29:00.004-05:00

Finally getting down to doing some personal work, feels good! In total I've started 3 personal projects and got an email to do a freelance.

I'm working on some collage work and here's the start of the first one, "Sloth". I'm mostly a by hand kind of person, but I decided to do this on Photoshop for the mere fact I don't know how to make spider webs/cob webs by hand. I'm new at using Photoshop to do things like this but it does look good; it has a painted feel to it.

Anyway comments and advice would be greatly appreciated since I'm out of my element.

I’m Nicki. Slick like Ricky, Rhymes be so Icky

2011-05-12T14:04:00.000-05:00

Nicki Polaroid Animation a video by Karlisha Gray on Flickr.

Teaching myself the ends & outs and what nots of old school Stop Motion, Animation, Motion Graphics with a lil bit of Polaroid action.

Here are some of the Polaroids

Aimee Hagerty Johnson Illustration Give Away!!!

2011-03-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

Aimee Hagerty Johnson is giving away two signed and numbered linocut prints on handmade paper!

Click here for more information

Something Old, Something New

2011-02-03T01:38:00.000-06:00

Damn I've been slipping on these post.
Well rightfully so, I've been crazy busy earning a living and enjoying this thing people call EATING. I haven't been able to take on any work {person or freelance}. Now I have a window of time, so I'm taking it!

Something Old
1st Imagery Board is for Damn Giraffe. I started the thumbnails in July and that's as far as I got {like I said got crazy busy}. Now I'm back on it, crazy excited :)

Something New
The 2nd Imagery Board is part of a pitch for an Identity System for a macaron shop. And that's all the news fit to print about that that so.......

STAY TUNED.....................

The Kid is back

2010-07-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

Damn I haven’t made a post in a good minute!!! My apologizes.

I’ve been getting a couple of Facebook messages asking what I’ve been up to, saying “I went to your blog & you didn’t have anything recent on there, so what have you been up to?”

So here’s your answer……

1. LOGO FOR DAMN GIRAFFE
Right now I am in the process of making a logo for Damn Giraffe, an Illustration & Fine Art company. I rarely put work in progress {never I think have I put a logo at all} on here, but here’s a sneak peak.

2. RESEARCH
Right now I am working on a project in collaboration with Damn Giraffe examining the ideology of Black Nerds.
And right now we are in the research phase so nothing to show J But here’s a picture of Urkel….

3. REDESIGN OF MY LOGO
I’m redesigning my Art Director/Designer logo. Since I’m more a process driven, hands on kinda person, with some type of sophistication... So my logo should show that. And I think I might just drop the Art Director part for right now.

But them ago I might just say fuck it!! I’m not one for logos.

4. NEW WORK
Besides the Black Nerd & logo thing I might have a few collaborations coming up.

Fresh from the Land of 10,000 Lakes

2010-04-28T09:50:00.000-05:00

I checked my mail today and got a sweet surprise from REALLY GREAT Graphic Designer Miss Julie Roche.

From a past post I put a series of Postcards that I created during my Elec Pre-Press class, Julie was in that class as well.
In addition to the postcards, we also had the option to make business cards. I didn't like mine as much, but loved Julie's {I also loved her postcards} I even loved the stamped she used to mail them!

THANX JULIE!!!

Back in the Long Star State

2010-01-21T15:40:00.000-06:00

Back at home in Houston trying to get focused once again.

After being in a big design town like Minneapolis for 3 1/2 years and having to pack my life up then leaving to to come back to a not-so design town, it’s been hard to get things going.

After getting my website up and running, I sent out a couple of emails to some industry professionals to get some advice/feedback.

I am now in the process of fixing my website

THANKS GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I have to......

1. NEW WORK!

Right now I am in the process of working with a fellow Art Director/cool cat, Taylor Snyder & Copywriter/fly chick Katie Bode on a Nissan Campaign.

I plan to also to pick up the ad work that got pushed to the side during the final weeks of preparing to graduate (J.W. Hulme & Dillard’s) and do some personal design work.

2. UNPACK!

As of right now since moving back from Minneapolis,MN my life is still in 7 boxes & 1 suitcase in the living room.

3. JOB HUNT!
(Not really #3 on my list of things to do)

Figuring out 1. Where do I want to be? Who would be a good fit? What work to show? Promos, etc....

4. NEW LAPTOP!

It’s old!! Not really working which is making things challenging.

I woke up a GRADUATE!!!

2009-12-12T13:36:00.000-06:00

HELLLL YEAH!!! The day finally came!!! MY GRADUATION FROM MINNEAPOLIS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN!!!!

For those who don't know I graduated with a B.F.A in Advertising Design (Art Direction)

Much thanks and love to all my friends who came through and my family who made the trip from Texas to see the Baby Girl graduate!!

Oh yeah, shout out to Aimeme G @ MCAD Design Works for designing the commencement invits, tickets, programs, etc... (Click here to see them)

Binary Opposition Postcards

2009-12-04T05:32:00.000-06:00

An assignment for my Elec Pre-Press class. Exploration of how the printing process itself can contribute to the meaning of your design and to understand “binary oppositions”.

My postcard represents my hometown of Houston,TX and the division between Southside Houston (woman in red) and Northside Houston (woman in blue).
And my love for vintage female wrestler pictures.

Black Layer: Lyrics from "Chunk up the Deuce" by: Lil Keke (Houston based rapper) represents the fact that we're all pride about being from Houston.

Silver Layer: Just cause I could I made a textile of a bunch of gang girl fights
(C. Silver layer will interact with all 4 layers separately. This layer can conceptually relate to your previous concept, or completely ignore it. This layer is primarily for formal exploration and will be hard to visualize before we actually see it on press)

Surprise prints! Seeing what happens when we turn off the different plates

If you would like some please let me know. You can see more on my Flickr page as well.

@ Spyhouse

2009-11-30T15:30:00.000-06:00

Assignment for my Digital Illustration class.

An illustration that represents a Spyhouse Coffee Shop experience.

Go check it out!! It's at the Spyhouse Coffee Shop @ 2451 NICOLLET AVE S (I think it's up til the 4th)

It's about to be a Girl Fight

2009-11-18T03:26:00.000-06:00

The 3rd layer (Metallic Pantone plate) to my Elec Pre-Press postcard assignment. A textile of a bunch of Girl fights. LOL (It will probably make sense when you see the finished postcard)

My favorite one is the 2 girls stomping the girl on the ground!

I’m seriously considering making this an actual fabric and making a outfit.

Me and the digital drawing world

2009-11-08T17:03:00.000-06:00

I’m taking Digital Illustration this semester with the renowned James O’ Brien. A really great teacher and a really nice class. As we all know I have said before I don’t like Digital Illustration work, I am a lover of putting pen to paper, but I’m all about giving things try. But I do still stand behind the main reason I don’t care for Digital. IT GIVES YOU TO MANY CHOICES!!!

SOME STILL ASK, THEN WHY ARE YOU TAKING THIS CLASS?

Some reasons for taking this class is:
1. my long disliking for Digital Work
2. anything that can help me step up my craft, I’m all for
3. learning something new
4. getting a better understanding and an appreciation for it

The Plight of a Soon-To-Be Graduate

2009-11-01T15:33:00.000-06:00

Almost a month until I graduate AND THE PRESSURE IS ON!!! God where did the time go!! I have so many things on my plate to do.

1. MY SENIOR SHOW
I’ve decided on a simple display showcasing 3 projects with a simple print. Most people have described my Senior Show like a wedding.
Something Old- My American Red Cross project)
Something Borrowed- "Five Down" (Toy Concept from Illustration & Concept which I –only for this putting it into the world of marketing) and I’m making an actual doll.
Something New- An Integrated campaign I’m working on with a great Illustrator, Francesca Buchko
Something Blue- my graph paper

2. WEBSITE
After months of trying to fix my old website, sketching, finding domains, remembering how to code and what not I have decided to go through Cargo Collective.

It’s not done but I’m loading and putting stuff on there as we speak (CLICK HERE TO SEE MY WEBSITE)

3. TWEAKING WORK
Since I will not have the lovely amenities of MCAD anymore I must “use the water before the well runs dry”. Some of my work can be better, point blank.

I’ve been fixing work that has potential to be then it is right now.

4. NEW WORK
I’m an Art Director with a bulk load of Designer work in my portfolio. It’s nice/bad to hear
“You have one of the best portfolios I’ve seen in a long time… If you were a Designer.”

So 5 new Ad pieces coming your way soon!!! HOLLA!!!!
I’ve been working with a few copywriters lately, most of them I just met so it’s really refreshing to work with new people.

5. PROMOTIONALS
My short attention span, my need to always change things and never like anything has delayed this necessary project.

6. 5 CLASSES
I am a full time student with classes and homework

7. LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
I’m not from Minneapolis. And as a freelance which is good, but I would like to have a stable job with a paycheck.
So I need to figure out if I’m going to stay up here after college and if I do and if I don’t I need to…….

-Job Search
-Apartment Searching
-etc…..

Me in a Fashion Show?

2009-10-15T14:17:00.000-05:00

September 25th I had the opportunity to be in the Eat Street Style Fashion Show hosted by Head to Toe Salon. It showcased vintage fashion from Blacklist Vintage, Lost & Found and Head to Toe all boutiques found on Nicollet Ave Minneapolis,MN.

Of course your girl was the Show Stopper, the grand finale. I wore a Steampunk outfit designed by the ladies at Blacklist Vintage, Mrs. Vanessa Messersmith & Mrs. Jennifer Sapiro. Beautiful cool outfit, but the metal corset got stuffy, but the shit non the less.

You can see some shots of me and the other fashions shown on the Digital Crush Photography website or if you my friend on Facebook my bestie Allison Welch took some for all to enjoy.

Article by L’etoile magazine about the show. (SHE SAID I ROCKED THE LOOK)

Elec Pre-Press InDesign Exercise book

2009-09-29T19:41:00.000-05:00

InDesign exercise for my Electronic Pre-Press class to show our knowledge of scanning, character & paragraph styles, type flow, and swatches.

A 10paged book that uses images from the Children’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with lyrics from “I’m just a girl” by No Doubt.

Click on the images to see the full spread.

I'll be working on this somemore I think. Knowing me I'm pretty sure I will be.

One of my Dream Shoes

2009-09-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

Sometime ago I did this pattern for a kids back to school product line. It’s really not my style but I really like this textile a lot.

So I wanted to see how the textile would look on a pair of Vans since I’ve been looking for some but not liking any I’ve found.

an end to himself

2009-08-07T09:18:00.000-05:00

A personal project I’m working on focusing on the Objectivism view of “the highest moral purpose is the achievement of his [mans] own happiness” and the word “SELFISHNESS”/ "every man must live as an end to himself and follow his own rational interest" as Ayn Rand sees it. Screenshots from 1959 film "Imitation of LIfe"

Peter Seitz: Designing a Life Social Media Project

2009-07-17T00:04:00.000-05:00

So Tuesday and Thursday of this week I have been busy working with others (Megan Baxter and Ben Wood) from my Futures of Advertising class and Tim Brunelle working on a social media foundation to promote the book “Peter Seitz: Designing a Life” published by MCAD in 2007.

Social media project encompass everything from making a Facebook Fan Page, Peter Seitz his on Wikipedia Page, and more.

READ MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DID HERE

QUICK BIO OF PETER SEITZ
Peter Seitz (1931-Present) is a legendary graphic designer, author, teacher and business owner who served as the first Design Director at The Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, MN), helped establish the graphic design curriculum at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and took out the very first listing as a Graphic Designer in the Twin Cities Yellow Pages

JOIN THE PETER SEITZ: DESIGNING A LIFE FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

PETER SEITZ WIKIPEDIA PAGE

PETER SEITZ: DESIGNING A LIFE FLICKR PAGE

PETER SEITZ: DESIGNING A LIFE on MCAD DESIGN CLUB BLOG

PETER SEITZ: DESIGNING A LIFE DELIOUS ACCOUNT

PETER SEITZ: DESIGNING A LIFE EXTENDR.COM PAGE

PETER SEITZ: DESIGNING A LIFE AMAZON.COM PAGE

My work spotted

2009-07-07T00:36:00.000-05:00

Here's one of my print Ad from my American Red Cross Campaign, seen on some blog. NICE
click for that blog

CHRISTO COLLINS

2009-07-04T17:39:00.000-05:00

CHRISTO COLLINS a fucking good photographer took some photos of me for my promotional stuff this Spring. I truly love what he did, very 90s (and I mean that in a great way). Check his stuff out! Click here

Jean Patou’s Joy

2009-06-04T12:52:00.000-05:00

A project for Illustration 2 (now known as Concepts + Metaphors). A packaging redesign of Jean Patou's Joy perfume, which is considered the most expensive commercial perfume you can buy. For my redesign I wanted to gear the perfume to a younger crowd, so I thought more fashion editorial. I took one of the definitions of the word Joy (4. a state of happiness or felicity) and made is into a textile.

Later I added this print work that could be used as ads or the signs in the stores.

Josephine Baker- Series based on missionary work

2009-05-13T07:34:00.000-05:00

The final project for my Concept &Metaphors (Illustration 2) class. Create a series of 3 images for one of the given topics below. The topic I choose was a "Series based on missionary work"

I choose Josephine Baker, an African-American entertainer and actress.

This series shows Josephine the Actress, Josephine the Solider, Josephine the Adopted Mother.

I guess with these I was trying to get away from my sketchy style of drawing, kinda worked.

The Lost Collage

2009-04-24T07:04:00.000-05:00

So last year I made this collage for a Women's shirt product line for the T-shirt and Skateboard Exhibition. I think I lost the actual collage and didn't have any record of it. Thank God that I was cleaning my hard drive out last night and came upon it.

Slide Library Virgins

2009-04-15T02:25:00.000-05:00

I poster I did a while back that I just now found (I did it before I had my hard drive and had to put stuff on cds). Glad I found it

Screenprinting Illustration

2009-04-05T23:58:00.000-05:00

So last semester or last year (can’t really remember when), I taught myself how to screenprint.

You might remember this illustration from a past post, but I used it for an illustration assignment for Illustration 2 a.k.a Concept + Metaphors that I’m taking this semester. The object of the assignment was to create an illustration based on the word LOST. Pair LOST with the word you drew from the envelope (my word was BAKERY). The illustration had to be Black and white + 1 color, I picked red.

Internshiping

2009-03-31T16:55:00.000-05:00

As you can’t tell from my blog I’m an Ad major! And the time has come to try out for Summer Internships. Joy! (I really mean it!!)

This is a mailer I did for the Martin|Williams Velocity Internship.

In it:
Cover Letter to Martin|Williams
Resume
Question/Answer Sheet
Mini-book (inside is my resume and 5 pieces of work)

Here’s one of the layouts in the mini-book.

This is the first time I’ve shown my identity system (I trashed the one I just created that only my Senior Project class has seen and did this one late Sunday night/Early Monday morning). Tell me what you think about it.

My you Live in Interesting Times

2009-03-31T00:42:00.000-05:00

Assignment for Illustration 2 (Concept + Metaphors). Create an illustration for one of the phrases on the paper and incorporate the type (phrase) into the image.

My phrase was “May you live in interesting times”. After figuring out what that meant I started thinking about Marie Antoinette and the whole “Let them eat cake” thing (I know she really didn’t say it). Carrie (my teacher) thought I should watercolor, but I like the line drawing for it better.

I might do a “print roll-up” of the image later.

Customized Bottle Labels (The Process)

2009-02-13T03:22:00.000-06:00

I got an email in late January (sorry I’m just now posting it) from a chick name Tia, who saw my orange soda bottle labels & wanted me to make some customized bottle labels for her, her cousin & their friend's Glitz & Glam Party.

I screen shot some of my process as I went along….

I hand drew all the elements, & put them in Illustrator. Kinda mad because I lost some details when I vectored the images.

*She doesn’t have a head cause I really couldn’t see her face details in the pictures that were given to me so I had to draw those later.

Started adding in text. The colors at the bottom are the colors for the party.

The layout of the almost finished label. Yes I did do those scribbles.

I colored them digitally (you can tell I’m still not good at that, but I use very little color anyway).

Sorry no images of the labels on the bottles I will post those when I can.

DOODLES AND WHATEVER

2009-01-13T15:36:00.000-06:00

What is green?/What is “being green”?

2008-12-11T02:13:00.000-06:00

For my final for Futures: For Society, Community & Self (teacher: Abbi Allen) I wanted to explore what is green?/what is “being green”?; since I had no understanding of the word/term. I decided to do an installation and just put my notes/research/thoughts/process of finding out in my own way what it all meant on the wall.

I also made a small book to go with my installation documenting the 4 months of my process and research I did.

P.S The images are set on the medium image size so if you want you can look at them on a large scale.

Here's the Wall

The Details....

I love my Corn!!

Treat Yourself to Something

2008-11-27T02:47:00.000-06:00

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

A new illustration I did while looking at a fortune cookie ticket (quote: "Treat Yourself to something of quality. You deserve it.") and listen to the Big Rock Candy Mountain song.

I usually don't do illustrations using the computer (just the background is digital, the drawings are ink). The computer gives me too many choices. So I have a problem with making up my mind.

Which one looks good?

Dear Mr. President Exhibition

2008-11-05T01:22:00.000-06:00

Voting is over and OBAMA regions supreme!!!

This semester we had a school wide project called "Dear Mr. President". The objective was to write a letter to the next President of the Free World. (Please note this project was due in September)

Anyway it's on display at MCAD right now (open Oct 31) and will be taken down November 12th, and mailed to the White House.

This is mine

My Artist Statement

2008-10-21T21:07:00.000-05:00

I’ve always been able to show better than I could tell. Every time I had a project in elementary, middle school and even when I could get away with it in high school I would always draw it. One of my personal experiences I can remember was in third grade. My elementary school and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program had a drug poster contest. The rules were that the class that could come up with the best D.A.R.E poster would have an ice-cream, pizza, and soda party and their poster would be on display at a local grocery store. Since I was known as “the class artist”, my teacher put me in charge of coming up with an idea for the poster. Of course the poster had to have something about drugs, being drug free, and how doing drugs is bad for you and since it was October the class wanted to put a little Halloween influence in the poster as well. By working with the class and the teacher we came up with a poster that infused everything suggested. It had a dark blue background, black crows flying around with cigarettes (the ones flying low to the ground and smashing into things) and some without cigarettes (the ones flying higher in the air), a scarecrow and orange and black lettering across the top. Our class won the poster contest and got to have an ice-cream, pizza, and soda party. I guess you could say that was my first experience at being an Art Director.

To be able to draw, sketch, or paint what you see or imagine I believe sharpens your skills in any career. As a designer/artist I am constantly pushed to see myself and the world around me differently, and to persuade others to see it differently as well. The profession of Advertising Design requires you, to have the desire to connect with people, but it’s also what you as an individual can bring to the profession that sets you apart. These few years at MCAD I have not only been taking ad and design, but I have also taken classes in fine art and illustration. The first reason for this is to become more comfortable with my drawing style and to go further in my founded love for illustration. Secondly, it is so I can take what I’ve learned and done in these classes back to my ad classes. I also feel these classes will help me in my future goal of being an Art Director.

As Art Directors we must be both artists and designers to reach people. I find that we, future Art Directors and even current Art Directors tend to forget that we (at one point) were artist ourselves. By forgetting this we fail to see the value in how a conceptual artist helps to bring a fresh approach to a visual communication and the end result being better work.

Most of my work in Advertising up to this point uses Illustration as the visual component. This comes from a desire to rebel against photography, as well as to develop work that hasn’t been seen, and a scripture in the bible that henders me, but at the same time pushes me, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Look at photography. How is one photo different from the next except in subject? Now look at illustration. Different approaches taken, different mediums used and you see the artist’s individual statements all within the same subject a lot of the times. There’s nothing wrong with photography, and I understand why clients usually go with what they know and something they can understand right away. But to show that there is something else out there (like illustration) to a client that can get their message out in ways they aren’t considereing is something to fight for.

Lil Girl Blood Portrait

2008-10-06T02:41:00.000-05:00

Another Portrait to add to my American Red Cross Campaign.

Making Integrated part 1

2008-09-27T17:17:00.000-05:00

In my process to make my Toy Concepts into an Integrated project, I decided to make packaging for the toys, a website for the video game (since they’re based on a faux fighting game), and an EBOX 360 concept (still trying to figure out what that will be).

Gwendalyn and Amelia

Here is a newer sketch of Gwendalyn I started today. On the right side is the 1st concept for Gwen I did like probably a year ago for Illustration 1 out of colored card stock (her outfit was aqua and she had a hat back then).

MORE TOYS!!!!!

2008-08-25T00:17:00.000-05:00

In May I posted a toy concept I did for my Illustration and Product class (Spring 2008 semester). The Barbie/Ken doll size action figure dolls based on a fake video game I made up called "FIVE DOWN". I posted Amelia (the assassin with a fascination with Lucy), and was still in the process of fixing the other 2. So here they are.... Thomas Brasi, a pretty-boy Mafia boss' son, and the one that started it all Gwendalyn, a young vain powerful little lady. Gwendalyn I did the concept for back when I was taking Illustration 1 (all I did was change her outfit and her power from fireballs to plasma blasters), and carried her into this class. Along with Amelia these 2 are the first drawings I have ever done in Gouche!

Gwendalyn comes complete with Compact Mirror (opens), Purse (opens), and 3 Plasma Blast balls. One special feature about Gwen is that she has a flesh-tone button located on her arm that fires her plasma blasters, which I thought was nice idea.

Thomas comes complete with Sunglasses, Glock (gun), Cell Phone, and a Suitcase full of money. An added surprise about Thomas’ suitcase is that when his enemies open it that are blinded by a bright flash of light (I figured maybe a small LED Light).

MnDot Radio Spot

2008-08-08T16:10:00.000-05:00

Early this July I produced a 30 sec radio spot for the Minnesota Department of Transportation or MnDot. I finally figured out how to put the mp3 on my blog so here it is.

I put it on my unfinished site, but that page is good I promise. I also put the "scratch track" on there too so anybody who wanted to hear the orginal could take a listen. So listen to it and enjoy!

Introducing "Happy Death Jingle". Big Thanks to Seri Johnson, the voice actress on this spot. She did a great job.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE SPOT!!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR IT AND OTHERS ON MnDot's website

Drawing Again

2008-08-04T17:08:00.000-05:00

I should just stop thinking…. Every time I don’t think and just do I always come up with stuff I like.

These are some drawings I did while not thinking and looking at a $5 bill. I’m thinking about putting them on copper plates and turning them into etchings.

A bunch of Graphic collaging stuff

2008-07-30T19:53:00.000-05:00

Just thought I should put this up. A collage poster assignment for my Graphic Design 2 Class I took this last semester, which lasted for like 2 months (or it seemed).

The assignment was to pick an area of the school’s library and make a poster about it using collage. I chose the MCAD Slide library.

Here’s the assignment in its stages. As you can see I used Richard Avedon (I LOVE THIS GUY!!).

I used this collage to cover my sketch book.

The Final Poster

B is for BORED!

2008-06-27T16:06:00.001-05:00

Lately to deal with my insomnia and keep my idle mind busy, I started making little sketches for each letter of the alphabet.

Good News

2008-06-24T16:16:00.000-05:00

This last semester I took CopyWriting for Broadcast (CopyWriting 2), which is a class we make commercials for radio. Anyway one assignment for the class was to make a spot for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDot) geared towards teenagers to be cautious driving around Work-Zone areas. Fri, June 13 the teacher informed me that the Government of the State of Minnesota has selected my spot for production. Meaning it will be made into an actual commercial with professional voice actors, and the whole 9 yards and heard on the radio!

Happy!!!

Improvements

2008-06-24T16:14:00.000-05:00

I have the tendency to work on things that I already did and it seems to get on a lot of my friends’ nerves. I can’t help it I always think work can be better. So to prove my point, this is my American Cross Campaign I did in my CopyWriting 1 class (Fall 06, I think). From left to right is the original to what it is today.

Illustrations for Stationary Set

2008-06-24T15:56:00.000-05:00

Some illustrations I did for my stationary set of Alice in Wonderland using my giraffe, Antonio Juan for my final in Illustration and Product. Along with the textiles at bottom I’ll be turning them into actual products. Hopefully soon.

Textiles

2008-05-14T22:12:00.001-05:00

For my Illustration and Product Final I did a stationary line based on my Giraffe, Antonio Juan Esquivel (a third identity, part of my “Damn Giraffe” brand. A more Japanese cute inspired) based around “Alice in Wonderland”. The stationary line has a schedule/Planner, To Do list pad, Pencil Case, Tote bag, and a Note Book.

These are some textiles I made for my Illustration and Product Final.

Quick Business Card

2008-05-14T22:05:00.000-05:00

The 5 min. business card I made and handed out the night of the Skateboard and T-shirt exhibition. Acetone photos of me when I was a baby and of my mom in the 70s, with doodles I’m making for a stationary line.

Skateboard and T-shirt Exhibition

2008-05-14T15:28:00.000-05:00

So during the month of March and April my skateboard and t-shirt design were up at the Tea Garden (Minneapolis in March and the one in St. Paul in April). This is the opening of the exhibition in March.

Both designs are two separate style identities of may brand, “Damn Giraffe”. With the skateboard you have the CITY/STREETS and the t-shirt you have the ART GLAM.

TOYS!!!!

2008-05-14T12:43:00.000-05:00

A toy concept for Illustration and product. A series of Action Figure Dolls (barbie size) based on a faux Fighting style video game called “Five Down”. I have two morein the series, Thomas and Gwendalyn that I am in the process of fixing. This was my first time using Gouche!!!

Amelia,an assassin with a fascination with Lucy comes complete with bon bons, scarf, wrist knife, Kodachi knife and case.

Blood Drive Poster

2008-04-27T03:28:00.000-05:00

So my school asked me if I would use my campaign series I did for the American Red Cross for the schools annual blood drive (April 8). Anyway the initial campaign has six print ads of blood portraits with both genders ranging from young to old, but we only used the young female for this poster.

The posters came out beautiful!!

Website

2008-04-27T03:05:00.000-05:00

Potential layout design for my website. A very rough draft , it’s still in progress.

Do a Randy!

2007-10-28T17:43:00.001-05:00

A project for my History of Advertising class, a salute to Paul Rand. I really love the simplicity oh his work.

Seven Deadly Sins

2007-10-26T23:26:00.000-05:00

My first try at making a book (well a zine) for Typography 1. I have never used InDesign never the less make a book, but it went okay. I was more excited about making the layouts of the book then actually making it.

Anyway here are a few pages from my zine about the Seven Deadly Sins with essay excerpts for “Seven Deadly Sins” by Rev. John Stalker. This semester I also discover the wonderful world of Acetone transfers, so I layered them with some illustrations I did.

I LOVE CRAYONS!!!!

2007-09-20T11:30:00.001-05:00

I carry around a pack of 48s for those bored moments. Crayons always bring you back to when you were a kid, 8 colors were all you needed and trying not to go outside the lines was your biggest concern. I openly admit I’m a big kid with the attention span to match any 5-year-olds. So I made a couple of illustrations just using pen & crayons. My thoughts were of coloring books. I apologize for some of the crayons look and colors, my scanner at home is not so good.

My little brother Steven.

City Lady

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A friend of mine, Melina

HELLO SWEETIE contest entry

2007-08-19T20:08:00.000-05:00

This is my entry to the Hello Sweetie Illustrated Dessert Contest. Basically the rules were you had to illustrated a dessert along with the recipe using pink, white, grey, and black. The recipe I selected was Strawberry Wontons, a recipe my roommate Dolly Vu showed me how to make.

Unifinished Illustration

2007-07-30T15:37:00.001-05:00

This is an illustration that I just started on using Adobe Illustrator. MY FIRST!! YEAH!! A goal of mine this summer, to learn how to use illustrator (well at least better than I do now). This illustration is from “Alice in Wonderland”, when Alice falls down the rabbit hole.

Untitled Illustration Design

2007-05-19T01:31:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite illustrations. It shows my illustration style the best. Simple, sketchy line work, white background, with color here and there.

I use this illustration in many design applications, here are two.
Stamps

iPod body sticker

Poster Series: Architect Lecture Series

2007-05-14T03:09:00.000-05:00

Movie Poster: Imitation of Life

2007-05-14T00:58:00.000-05:00

Assignment for Illustration 1. Make a Movie Poster.

I chose the movie "Imitation of Life" (1959) starring Lana Turner. Even though it dosen't go by "Imitation of Life" the novel written by Fannie Hurst it's definitly one of my Favorite movies of all time.

Medium: Digital Print

Logo and Letterhead Design

2007-05-14T00:54:00.000-05:00

Soda Bottle labels

2007-05-14T00:16:00.000-05:00

Here it is on an actual bottle

Here it is on an actual bottle

Both Bottles from the back

Editorial Illustration: Get the Door It's the Doctor!

2007-05-13T23:55:00.000-05:00

An Editorial Illustration based on a article about modern Doctors making house calls.

Medium: Watercolor Pencil, Marker, Tech Pen

Self Portrait with Animal (Spring 2006)

2007-04-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

I had the time to scan in a bulk of work today and I came across this assignment I did in Foundation Drawing: Figure.

KiKi Smith exhibition was in town at the Walker and she had a lot of pieces with people with animals. So my teacher made an assignment inspired by Kiki's artwork, the problem is is that I don't like animals and most of them scare the shit out of me. So I did a bunch of taxidermy birds and found a died raven on the street and photographed it.

Medium: Collage

Historical Illustration: Amelia Earhart

2007-04-29T16:32:00.001-05:00

Historical Illustration assignment for Illustration 1. I did chose to do one of the first female aviators, Amelia Earhart.

Medium: Charcoal and Blender Marker

Portraits of Amber for Foundation Photography

2007-04-27T22:00:00.000-05:00