Intaglio First Assignment

I seem to always switch between entirely loving or entirely hating my projects. This was my first time doing any kind of etching, and I completely flubbed the aquatint (all the lovely background noise). At first, I hated how dark it ended up being. Once I got printing, though, I found that I liked the style more and more, much as it was not what I had envisioned. This happens a lot for me: what comes out is not always what the initial plan was, but seems to be a pretty good solution.

Also, a big thanks to my roomie Jess for helping out on the layout. She might do some more, but at least now there are some nice colors (Amelie palette via colour lovers).

Lastly, I really want this library and to go to the Netherlands and witness this.

What Happens When I Forget an Eraser and Am Too Lazy To Find One...

Just sketching out my idea for Intaglio, sans eraser, which is a must in my world. I ended up tracing the good parts on the light table. I really like her legs. Will scan the finished product next week, and hopefully my other two, once my prof returns them.


Doodling during class tonight. I'm really liking the two-tone mix. I'll need to buy some more staedtler triplus markers soon.
Type is coming along slowly. I'm really digging these three letters, but the rest need a lot of work. We're making posters from them, printed off the department's new plotter. Of course, hanging in the print studio has made me think in printing press terms, which might not turn out as well via a plotter.

Possibly My Next Project

http://www.tea-off.com/

"Tea Off! Tea Kettle Design Competition"

This would be for my metal processes class. I have to say, I am extremely excited, as I drink tea on average two-three times a day. I am currently using an electric kettle, but I always love to hear the whistling of a stovetop. It should be interesting to see what my class can come up with.

On My Mind

Probably my most prized possession, darling Harold the Ross Europa 2 I bought last summer. Poor Harold has been out in the rain twice this week and his chain has been protesting far too much. Hopefully, the bike lube Travis left is still around. Harold also needs some air in his tires. I am a horrible biker. I wish there were classes about how to take care of your bike.


My house has lots of spiders (there was a Daddy Long-Legs skeleton behind my nightstand), but none like this:

(sculpture by Louis Bourgeois)

I just found out that a band I very much enjoy has broken up. Sparrows Swarm and Sing is one of those bands that I saw once, really loved, and then stumbled across the music again two years later "Across Canyons/Canons" is 25 minutes of musical heaven that I find myself going back to every few weeks. I just love the movement in it, and that I always forget what will come next.

I saw Sparrows Swarm and Sing in high school, on a rainy night in a youth center. I was there to see another band, and my friends had left to go get food. Wanting to actually get my moneys worth, I stuck around to watch the opener, who seemed to have every instrument imaginable in front of them. This was before I discovered Explosions in the Sky and all those other instrumental bands, so I was completely blown away. I'm sorry it was an experience I'll only have one. Here's their myspace. For some reason, the tracks are separated, but I have "Across Canyons/Canons" mixed with "Father Death Mother Nature."

Listen, enjoy, have a good weekend.

Type is life

Current project for my typography class: make a minimally legible, undecorative (ie-"cutesy") typeface. I always feel the need to make everything three-dimensional first. My best letters so far:



I didn't realize it until later, but the A kind of looks like the Adobe reader logo:

Ah well, paying subconscious homage to the company that designers owe so much to (though, apparently CS4 doesn't have a release date? and some of their commands are counter-intuitive.)

More when the font is completely digital and tweaked to (near) perfection. Very excited about this project, as we get to make a 30'x40' foot poster on the school's new plotter.