Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts

Thursday, May 04, 2017

Dear Kerby,

All I can say is that it has been a while since I last wrote. I have had things going through my head that I have wanted to write you about things going on lately. It is more of me being afraid of telling you rather than being lazy and not writing. 

Here I go:

  • relationships
  • computers problems
  • design work
  • photography
  • exercise

With this being 2017 and I not being in a relationship I wanted to start over. I have been taking to some guys but never sure where it goes. They talk to me as if it is going to lead to a first date but they fade away. In the past week I found someone new to talk to. This one had lead to me going on a date/ hanging out with him in a few days. On the outside I am excited but on the inside I know not to get my hopes up.

Last year I had a computer problem with the new update. The Apple Store wiped my computer clean and did a clean install of the operating system. Since that incident I have been using Time Machine on my iMac. have not had to restore anything from it so far. 

In the past week I found out that I had an external drive start failing on me. The bad way to notice it is when files start to disappear. The Genius Bar at the Apple Store told me to put the files on the Mac hard drive itself. Time Machine will take care of backing up the files. In the future, I would like to get a new portable external drive. Not a priority because life changed and I hardly have a place to transport the files; not going to school any more. I would still like something portable for those large files.

I have been doing a little design work from time to time as always. I find little projects I do for people but noting that major at this point. I keep up with what I like to do.

Photography is also keeping me busy. I have had two shows so far to display work in and I am working on a third. All I can say is that creativity takes time. Executing the photograph is the main chunk of the project when you do things as I do. I hope one photo will sell. 

When feeling healthy I get back into exercising. I am sticking to the 5 days a week goal that I set for myself 95% of the time. It works for me as long as I watch what I eat and log it. My goal is to be more fit for a special event I have planned in June. Maybe, this goal makes me more fit.

Lately, I feel better about myself. Things can only get better.

Talk to you later,
Bluelaugh

Keeping On

Friday, November 11, 2016

Dear Kerby,

In the late '90s somewhere between 4th and 5th grade I got to go on another summer vacation. Summer vacations were a regular thing for me, even if it was only a week long. I remember spending time Salem, MA. It was only about a day or so but none the less it was still enjoyable when I was that young.

The town had some sort of antique/resale shop that peaked my interest. I got a few things from that shop. One of them was a hefty, metal peace sign belt buckle. The belt buckle was hand made in fashion with the hammered metal feel. When I got home I knew the exact belt I was going to use the buckle on. This belt came from one of the novelty venders at the county fair. It had a stamped design of eagles all around. I even had an arrow head eagle buckle on it. This buckle was no more. I took off the old buckle to use the new peace sign.

I had many problems with the belt buckle when I was using it at school. The buckle would come unattached. I remember in P.E. I had to keep adjusting it. I adjusted it so much that the teacher was wondering what I was doing. With this problem I stopped using the belt and the buckle. Years later after I started college I rediscovered the buckle. I got a belt that fit me. This made all the difference. The buckle never slipped off. The belt became something that I wore with every outfit I owned.

Recently, I got my Fitbit and I started watching what I eat. I was not "fat" but I was not in the most healthy state. This resulted in the belt and buckle not fitting quite right even though it was as tight as can be. I gave in and got a new belt. Along with the new belt came a new belt buckle. I ended up ordering this belt from Foster Weld and a customized copper wooden buckle from Shop Joyo.

Yes, I did mention that the belt buckle was customizable. I had some song lyrics from a Kimya Dawson song put into the wood. When read sideways the belt buckle reads "I am grounded   |   I am humbled    |   I am one with everything" These lyrics from the song are with me wherever I go. I am reminded to be better and do better. Overall, it is a fun song to sing as are all Kimya Dawson songs. I am sure that I will not buy a new belt or belt buckle for years.

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Peace

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Dear Kerby,

Months ago when I was experimenting with some trial logos for a friend I had the 1980s in mind. I am not sure why. I must have seen a logo, design, or inspiration that sparked my creativity. I am talking about designs that would look electric, neon, metallic, and full of 1980s nostalgia.

My friend ended up not liking the tests on the chance that this was not an appropriate style.

In the past year the Pinterest app on my iPad has been used more times than I can remember. Hardly used it before last year. I have now been using the app to find design inspirations all over the place. I even now have a board for inspirations of the 1980s style designs I am talking about.

Some of the designs remind of using 90s Microsoft Word's "word art" feature. Others remind me graphic design/layer styles in early instances of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. These programs featured premade gradients that were complex (to me) to produce. I, myself, never used them. Designs I produce relate to themes, feelings, color schemes, and specific design styles. I remember designing a Native American style for a school project. I even done designs related to decades. I am not sure why but I can not say I have my own distinctive design style.

One of my goals with Illustrator is to master the effects panel so that I can always have live type. Live type will hep me if I want to try the same effect on a variety of fonts. Repatriating the same steps over and over can be time consuming. Some of the 1980s styles are heavy in layers and effects when deconstructed.

I feel my go to style is rooted in classic design from the 50s and 60s and sometimes even earlier than this. I fine myself starting to add some rustic elements into the mix. What is one style that you always come back to? Does one style define you or are you a collection of different styles?

Talk to you later,
Bluelaugh

Styles

Monday, March 07, 2016

Dear Kerby,

This past Friday was First Friday in Michigan City. The first Friday of each moth places are open in or around the northern part of Franklin street in Michigan City. This area is referred to as the uptown Arts District. It has been designed to celebrate the arts. I am a member of an art gallery, Southern Shore Art Association, where I have been displaying art on an off for the past 5 years or so.

Over the time I have been involved with the art gallery I have seen places and people come and go. A group that had a grand re-opening this past Friday was the FADA group. I have come to know the artist involved with this organization due to the camera club I belong to in Michigan City. It started when a few members of the camera club wanted studios to work at. Not all FADA members do photography some of them are in jewelry or the beach. To some of them this has evolved into a mini gallery/business.

For a while I was having date night on Fridays. My date would understand about skipping date night when it would come to First Fridays and the art. Somehow, I found myself always hanging out with the FADA group after the art gallery closed even though I am not officially a member of this particular group.

I appreciate the artists I meet at the art gallery as well as other art events I attend on First Fridays. I am not sure where I would be today if I did not have this aspect of art in my life. People keep asking me what I do. I always tell them that I am I graphic designer. They stare back at me in a tad of amazement because I do not think they met someone with career choice. I bet they have met many doctors and lawyers in their lifetime.

This past First Friday gave me more inspiration and rebirth to know that I am in the right place. I am not sure what will happen when I get an apartment of my own in the near future. I want to move out of Indiana to be in a place where I feel more comfortable and fits who I am. I grew up in Indiana but I am not attached to it. Farm land is not too exciting.

What has inspired you lately? How has this inspiration affected you?

Talk to you later,
Bluelaugh

Art Time

© letters from bluelaugh 2008 Dapinder