Unabridged Excerpts

2008-01-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

This blog is being retired. The new one, for the Spring semester is
http://chrissilichfilmtv.blogspot.com/

2007-12-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.youthedesigner.com/2007/12/10/30-delightful-graphic-design-books/

good starting point for your collection

2007-12-05T15:27:00.001-08:00

2007-11-29T12:47:00.000-08:00

I have this new theory. Well, new for me at least.
Nobody makes anything new. It may seem new, but its really just something old that was copied, then to get far enough away from the old version to seem new, the artist copies themselves, over and over again. It gets so far from the inspiration/copied work that it seems new, and might as well be new, but its not.

I guess this is important because it allows at creative person (me) to stop trying to do something new. Its not nessecary to tear your hair out try to avoid pre-existing ideas.

Epiphany goddness

What did you do today?

2007-11-20T16:31:00.000-08:00

I scared the crap out of my neighbours. If you never hear from me again, I've been deported for suspicion of terrorism.

2007-11-20T08:41:00.001-08:00

this is harder than it looks.

2007-11-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make the box without using any nails, only glue, but when you want all the sides to be a perfect 90 degrees, it's really hard. i did one thing right though-- if you ever need quick drying glue (and you dont mind it drying black), used JB-Quick. It's a quick drying epoxy to be found in a hardware store and it will hold minimal weight in 4 minutes. Still, using the clamps and glue to make this box took longer than I thought it would so if you're doing something similar, leave yourself plenty of time.

Oh and don't tell anyone in the sculpture studio that you're not a scupture student. Just say you're making a sculpture. It's not lying, it's omission. Don't be afraid to ask for safety advice, and be sure you know how the machines work before you use them. Beth and I were in there 2 years ago when a girl cut off two of her fingers, so be safe. Wear shoes, safety glasses, and use the machines as you're supposed to.

Here's the progress on the box. It's nice and smooth, with rounded edges. Next steps- 1) make the top and bottom of the box 2) cut the logo out (negative) of a piece of sheet metal, and burn through it onto the box 3) make the box insert with the remaining info about the wine

2007-11-16T08:24:00.000-08:00

2 legged dog. Walks like a human.

So lots of people were asking on monday...

2007-11-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

So lots of people were asking on monday how I made my wine bottle look the way it does. Well I had to do it all again, because I decided the logo should be in the same frosted vs shiny contrast effect on the bottle. First I stripped all the old frosting off the bottle with acetone (use in well ventilated area if you want to remember how to do algebra tomorrow). Then...

http://chrissilich.com/blogfiles/mybottlehowto/

Do not try this at home if you want to maintain your sanity-- those tiny letters took forever

2007-11-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

No description.

Another Link Post

2007-11-05T08:17:00.001-08:00

99 Resources for Graphic Designers
100 Awesome Photoshop Brushes
How Symmetry and Asymmetry impact your Photos (can be applied to other design too)

2007-11-04T12:16:00.001-08:00

This isn't actually big fire, but its the same colour, and it has a nice cork cover, so I left it on for the time being. I'll get my own when I get my transfers for the logo.

2007-11-04T11:45:00.000-08:00

So I have my ideas about the wine bottle and case pretty much set. First the case. My wine is Big Fire, so my theme will be fire. First of all, I don't want to use the normal sort of media. I hate fitting in with all the other designs, thus the type-only egw logo, and the vote poster that didn't use the vote/voice alliteration or a check mark. And I love exploring ideas in different media applied to the same problems. So my media on this one is fire and wood. So burnt wood. I'm pretty good at working with wood because I built a home theatre projector with wood and I got some good fire experience in boy scouts. Anyway, I've been experimenting with my new toy (propane torch), and how to mask my logo on a piece of wood to burn it on there. Below is one of my experiments.

My new toy

Before

Burnt

Result... not what I wanted

I figured out how to fix this problem. It's a bitch to do, but I have to cut the mask out of aluminum flashing-- metal sheets used in air conditioning. They tend to lift up the same way the lighter metal did, but I can hold it down with a pair of pliers and at least they won't catch fire, fly away, and threaten to set a big pile of leaves on fire. No photos, but it works, trust me.

2007-10-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.instigatorblog.com/price-freelance-projects/2007/10/29/

Excerpt:

One of the biggest challenges for new freelancers is pricing.
Pricing projects isn’t easy. There are plenty of factors that come into play:
1. How long will the project take?
2. How clear are the client’s requirements?
3. How well do you know the client?
4. How likely are they to stay on course?
5. How likely are you to get future work from them?
6. How experienced are you on these types of projects?
7. How valuable is the project to you?
8. How valuable is the client to you?
9. How busy are you with other work?

good photoshoppin' times

2007-10-30T09:46:00.001-07:00

Since nobody ever taught us photoshop:

http://www.dobadob.com/design/photoshop-tricks/

You can learn a lot of Photoshop's more abstract concepts by following some of these tutorials, even if you don't need to make whatever the tutorial is for.

Partie Deux

2007-10-22T14:15:00.001-07:00

October 22 Proverbs Project

2007-10-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

bigfire frosted glass attempt number one

2007-10-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

So I had this idea that I could give a glass bottle an interesting texture by sanding it down. Not wanting to use sand paper and work my fingers to the bone, I decided to go with the more serious method of using a power tool. A Dremel with a sanding bit. Well I guess I didn't really think it through to well, because I ended up covered in glass dust (not good for breathing, impossible to get out of cotton clothing), with a slightly interesting misty, foggy sort of texture on a small part of a bottle, and a dremel sanding bit that won't live to sand another day. It looks quite nice, a lot better than the spray on frosting usually does but I have no idea how I would mask it to give any design hard edges, the mask would be sanded away long before the surrounding glass saw any change.

Tomorrow, I think I'll go to home depot and get another bit, designed for hard surfaces. I might also look into the other notion of setting fire to things (always a good time).

2007-10-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.freshnwdesign.com/gallery-wineries.php

This is some great design mixed with a very cool process. I think I might use this service, but even if I don't im sure someone will.

2007-10-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here it is-- Wine for all!

http://chrissilich.com/blogfiles/wine/

These are examples of good design, eye-catching design (good or bad), and unique methods and applications.

EDIT: I fixed the issues with the kroger wine label gallery. It should work for all now.

2007-10-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

So I took some photos of wine labels. 294 photos actually. Figured I should put them online so everyone can benefit from them.

They're uploading now and I have no idea how long it will take, but I'll post when they're done.

2007-10-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

2007-10-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

2007-10-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

how bout this one?

2007-10-03T11:04:00.001-07:00

I think this one has potential. Maybe it needs a pretty girl instead of a silhouette?

2007-10-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

W, F, now V.

Best prices on epson paper and ink I've found anywhere

2007-09-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Atlantic Exchange

2007-09-26T07:44:00.001-07:00

2007-09-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post this because I know I'm not allowed to use this idea for real, so my blog is as far as it will get.

2007-09-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

More Great Advertising

2007-09-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Not for children.

Phillips Body Groom

Ernest Welch School of Art & Design

2007-09-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

So I think it's done... But are these things ever really done?

Great advertising

2007-09-07T08:36:00.001-07:00

2007-09-05T11:36:00.001-07:00

2007-09-05T11:35:00.001-07:00

2007-09-04T08:41:00.000-07:00

Gregg showed me this last semester. Not for children.

2007-09-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design
EGWSoAaD
EGW SAD (ernest is sad, possibly because he's one hundred)
EgW A&D
Ernest G. Welch School A&D
Ernest's School for people who want to learn to design good and learn to do other stuff good too
ERNEST G. WELCH SCHOOL art & design
school of art and design, ERNEST G. WELCH
SoAD, EGW
Art & Design, Ernest G. Welch

ERNEST G
WELCH
school of
art and
design

ERNEST G. WELCH
school of art & design

ART & DESIGN
ernest g. welch

Ernest SCHOOL
G. OF ART
Welch AND DESIGN

2007-09-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

Art Education
Art History
Drawing and Painting
Printmaking
Graphic Design
Interior Design
Photography
Textiles
Interior Design
Sculpture
Ceramic
Jewelry/Metalsmithing

2007-08-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

Here's what's been occupying me for the last couple of days.