Not a big admission because you probably already GOT that about me. I have been addicted to cool graphics and imagery for years. At one point, back in my 20's, I thought about going back to school to get a degree in Graphic Design. And although my degree is in architecture, I have alot of self-imposed training in graphics. I'm self-taught in Photoshop - THAT is a serious addiction.
A year ago I wrote an article about Maximalism. I wasn't even sure if that was the proper name for the graphic style I was discovering, but I had found a book by the same name and it seemed the right thing to call it. Here you can see how I began making journal pages from collected imagery in magazines, and then I began playing with layering images digitally. I've gotten much better since these were done because I stumbled upon making custom brushes. Hello? How come it took me so long to discover THAT? In my article I emphasized the words above. When you are attracted to something (for me it was magazine and tshirt graphics) you TRUST that is is something worth taking notice of, even if you don't know where it will lead. Then you need to STUDY. Learn as much as you can about the thing. Next is to IMAGINE all the possible ways you can incorporate this thing into your art. How can you make it happen? What tools do you need? Lastly, you need to determine how to make it your own. PERSONALIZE your inspiration by processing through your own filters to make unique, individual, signature art.
My fascination with layered graphics has been evolving and growing for about two years. In addition to my observation of interesting text treatment in magazines, I found printed tshirts to be a fabulous resource of inspiration.
The more I studied this artform, the more I found.....books, websites, artists, who really got my attention. Here is one of the first guys that made me nearly faint.....
And of course, I've talked about this one before.....a household name by now. What? You don't know him but you shop at Target? Pay more attention! Crossing fingers he's the featured artist again this xmas.
I could spend an entire day putting together a post about tattoos. And about KatVonD. (She inks V.V.!) And about L.A. Ink. I have a CRUSH on that show! My most favorite thing is watching them sketch out their ideas. I especially love watching Corey draw free hand right onto the skin. Makes you want to draw, doesn't it? I do make a practice of drawing alot, like a few times a week....but he makes me want to draw first thing every morning. But that's not what I'm introducing as my next crush. It's actually about tribal tattoo design. I love the stark, slick, linear and curving graphics of tribal ink. I've turned these photos into b&w so if you are not into this kind of thing it won't gross you out too bad. I'm totally working tribal into my new line of rubber. Are you surprised? Not!
It was nearly 2 years ago that Graham got his first tat. It had the tribal flare. Really cool. NEVER did I think I would get a tattoo. Even after he got his it was not even on my radar. Then about a year ago I caved. This is on my lower back......the b&w graphic on the right, you silly, not the "You Rock". THAT was created on a website....a very cool little trick. Try it HERE. But back to my tat...I love it so much I may have a mini version done on my ankle. Who knew I'd be saying this!
EDIT: Forgot to include a Shout Out to Laura of MadScienceCreations on Etsy, where I got this cool ribbon because it's TRIBAL! Don't you need some? Go HERE.
So there you have it......a SMALL SAMPLING of visuals to express my CRUSH on graphics. The tip of the iceberg really. You get the idea. I wondered for a long time where all this interest would take me - beyond designing stamps. This week Susanna and I began a course in silk-screen printing. I am thrilled to learn we will be making our screens through a film and emulsion process - although cutting the stencils would have been fine with me. I can hardly stand how cool it will be to make my own graphic ts. Editing my ideas will be the only drag.
Have a crush to share? Of course you do! We are passionate people and have alot we crush on, and we use our blogs to share big and mini crushes everyday! Come over and share a few with the Street Team and see what else we are crushing on.
