Making GIFs

A few weeks ago I volunteered to do my employer's website. After doing my own website, I had the itch to do another. That and I can't begin to describe how awful their previous one was. It was a Flash nightmare... a constant scrolling gallery... rollovers and drop downs that never disappeared... it was bad.  

Now I'm not here to brag about how much better the site looks (though it's a vast improvement!).  I'm here to post this GIF. Initially it was supposed to be like the Brady Bunch where everyone stayed in the same spot and their heads moved. Being that there were 11 of us who needed to be incorporated, we decided it would be best if people just moved around.  It turned into a huge undertaking. There are about 30 initial images which were edited and arranged in this beast.

This was the first take, where everyone stayed in the same spot. I think I like this one a little better.  It just needed to be slowed down.

Cuppy Cake

I found this bad boy hiding in my closet!  I painted him this summer.  I had a slight (-ly huge) obsession with cupcakes for a couple years.  I have about 4 or 5 cupcake pieces in repertoire.  But this piece is going be my inspiration for this weekend.  I'm dusting off my watercolors and adding some life to my Drake's Cove concepts. 

Last school year I took beginner & intermediate watercolor with Arthur Wang (the funniest man you'll ever meet!).  As it turned out... I was pretty decent at it.  I was even nominated for a scholarship (toot toot).  Hah, I knew I didn't stand a chance against the Fine Arts Majors, but it was nice to be considered (it was like the Oscars... everyone knew Meryl Streep was going to win Best Actress this year; the other ladies didn't stand a chance!)

A journal/planner that I designed.

  

Front & Back Cover 

I designed this as a final project last spring.  The ironic part was that I completely forgot about this until I started putting portfolios together and stumbled across it.  I was shocked.  You see, last spring was a blur.  I had two jobs, 8 classes, was a bridesmaid in 3 weddings and was lucky if I got 4 hours of sleep a night.  I was traveling every other weekend.  There was never a moment of rest.  I spent so much money on lattes...

 

Inside Cover

 

To Do Page 

This class was Styles & Concepts.  And it seemed like the only thing that got embedded into our heads was to take reference photos, use tracing paper and try to be a bad ass like our teacher, C. F. Payne.  The first semester I was using a lot of acrylics though I prefer digital.  By the time this project came around (it was a free for all), I said no more trace paper and no more references!  I do what I want!  I created these in Illustrator.

 

Monthly Page 

 Daily Notes Page

Coming up with the idea was a no brainer.  The only thing on my mind those days were dates... And how much I suck at using a planner.  As hard as I try, my brain and planners just don't work well together.  So I wanted to design something that I could use.  I can't remember why I chose the paper airplane/ banner motif (I think it might have had to do something with MIA), but I think it turned out well.  Maybe I'll make a couple more journal pages, print the book and sell it on Etsy one of these days!

 

Journal Entry Page

 

Journal Entry Page

Will Draw For Food

I made this for a promotional postcard because I need something to hand out at the career fair in a couple weeks. Who knows if I'll keep it. My mind is forever changing. I might try to make it a vignette.  Either way, I'll post the final card design when I complete it. Hoppy Easter!

Let them eat Pattycake!

With graduation and the real world looming on the horizon, I've been updating my portfolio.  I've been going through my old folders and reminiscing about old projects.  I wanted to repost this old one because it was a fun and quick assignment.  

The first part of the project was to redesign a food label.  I chose a local vegan bakery in Columbus because I wanted to design a cupcake.  I was slightly obsessed with cupcakes for awhile there.

The second part of the assignment was to create an advertisement using a classic work of art.  Marie Antoinette was the obvious choice for me because I wanted to incorporate her famous quote (which she supposedly never actually said), "Let them eat cake."  Who doesn't love a good pun? 

A siting...

Here is another scene about Drake... are you surprised? This is my only illustration class this semester which is why most of my posts are about this story. I mean, I'm taking some professional practices course (resume, coverletter & self branding stuff) but those don't produce that much imagery. Other than that, I have figure drawing, which might be a little too much for those of you who aren't desensitized to the naked body. But if you're interested in seeing graphic design projects, check out my portfolio site (alayart.com). But I digress...........

Here is the scene when Drake spots the Loch Ness Monster for the first time. This is right before the branch breaks, which is in an earlier post.  As you may have noticed, this is very rough coloring of a thumbnail in Photoshop. It seems like most of the work for this class has been put together very quickly. I'm excited about the semester coming to a close because that means I will be producing more refined illustrations! 

Another first- a storyboard!

"Yay!"  I'm sure that's what you were thinking because you've been dying for the latest Drake's Cove installment!  Well, you're in luck!  Here is a storyboard for the first scene of my story.  I'm not going to type it out... Just read through and perhaps you'll get the gist.  I know, I know, how lazy of me!

On a side note... I'm really getting tired of the name Drake.  Hah, I wonder if some parents have this problem after they've named their children...?  Maybe I'll find out one day...  

Fan art - Conan O'Brien

This is a blast from the past... I made this right before his tour after he quit his late show.  It was supposed to be a gig poster for this tour, which I never got around to because I got an A and didn't touch it since.  I've been meaning to scan this one for a long time... so here it is!  I've also added it to my portfolio site.  It's gouache on collage.

My first Flash animation

Yesssssssss!...  After 2 years of wanting to learn how to make a simple animation in Flash, my dreams have come true!  Luckily I have such a sweet boyfriend to show me the basics.  I can't wait to dress this up and make it a real character!