life is a work in progress; see it from behind the scenes

Délateur

I'm turning in my bottle series project tomorrow, and I've taken a couple of camera phone shots of it. I've got to pick up my camera from my parents' house to step up the quality here in a while...

The project was to create a pair of bottles for some product. I did a vodka/tonic brand called "Délateur" which in French means 'canary' in the sense of a tattle tale (according to my favorite dictionary). The company name ties into the design of the piece with a canary yellow color for the type, pattern, and the inside of the label (visible through the bottle), and the name also connects with the product, in the fact that the more you drink, the more you're likely to tell...

So, here's the pair and a crappy detail shot of the labels.

Into the Wild

SO, Netflix made even better on our relationship by shipping Into the Wild so that it would get here on the day it is released. Sweet.

It was all around good movie, but my friend Maria was kind to warn that if you know anything about graphic design, you have to work hard to ignore the terrible titling throughout the movie. I knew the overall storyline but didn't know too much about the details that get you to the end. It was pretty interesting how the previews had taken pieces of the movie totally out of order to put together their hook. (I watched the preview enough times to remember parts of it in anticipation of getting it from Netflix)

The experiences of the main character Chris demonstrate his rejection of mainstream society, suburban dreams, and the resulting more pure existence he was able to achieve. I was drawn into this notion, agreeing that the suburban dreams are not my own, but rather than seeking something in wilderness, I am running the complete opposite direction, towards the city, towards a world in which civilization peaks.

I've been thinking a lot today about how interesting it is for a medical doctor to be able to have any interest in art. I imagine they see life from such a biological standpoint, so much about what goes on inside the body, and artists are concerned with the ephemeral, the non-tangibles of life. I cannot fathom being able to do surgery on a person, forcefully fighting with someone's physical body to correct a problem. And in that same thought, I am at a loss to understand how someone so in tune with biology is interested in anything philosophical. I definitely recognize that countless doctors are very interested in the arts beyond emotional aesthetics, but it is a giant mental divide for me to comprehend; I see life defined by ideas, creativity, interaction, whereas a biologist sees the world as physicality and survival.

The movie's not about art, so don't expect that. Just a departure point for my thoughts...

New Space

In trying to get everything ready for the big move, I have to get a lot of designing done in the next two months. So, today I created a new space for myself, with a desk that doesn't face the wall for a change, but rather sticks out into my room and takes up half the space in there. I have a great 6' window to my right, a little hatch show print up on the wall, and a bulliten board of work & inspiration in front of me.

Camera phone pic isn't the best, but probably worth something...

BANKSY

The UK has this great street artist named Banksy whose identity has never been revealed... He's pretty incredible and is a really prolific artist. While some people call it vandalism, others find his street art more than grafitti; some towns have even voted in the past on whether or not to keep his work as an installation of art for the public's enjoyment.

He's very poignant in his social commentary, has a great sense of humor, and is quite the talented stencil artist.

Anyways, I saw a great little project called Little People on an interesting design blog, and then clicked over to 'other street art', on which I found the large image below.

The background references a Banksy piece in which a man (presumably Banksy himself) is smashing some flowers. If I can find a link to the original piece I'll be sure to post it here...