Good bye Michael Jackson....

I can't say that I was particularly a fan of Michael Jackson but his music provided the backdrop for many wonderful childhood memories. Yes, I grew up during the the "King of Pop's" reign. I remember the very first moment when MTV came on the air and the first video they played (The Buggles,Video Killed the Radio Star) During those early years, Michael was a huge presence on MTV. I will never forget getting together with all of my friends to view the premiere of the "Thriller" video. Even if you didn't "love" Michael you couldn't help but be amazed and excited by something so new, different and creative.

In the spirit of our current class assignment, I can't help but think about how powerful those background noises (and music) are in our lives and particularly in our memories. We all know how quickly a sound or song can bring us back to another time in our lives. Michael, Farrah and Ed all have the ability to do that for me. "Pretty Young Thing", "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "Thriller", "Charlies Angels" episodes on the tv, and "Heeeeeres Johnny..." are all quietly set behind so many scenes of my childhood and teenage years. Although they are not the focus of any particular memory they have the power to immediately bring back the rest of the sounds, smells and feelings of so many great moments! Something to consider as we work on our video projects.

So here's to Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, each who have helped to set the tone of an era in American Pop Culture.

This one will always be a classic.....

THRILLER video

Rest in peace.......

Bathroom as art?

Matt Nolen is another artist who has had a tremendous influence on me. He was actually one of my professors at NYU during my undergraduate studies and went on to become a great friend.

Check out his website: Matt Nolen

A few years back he was commissioned as one of a few select artists to design one of a kind, unique bathrooms for the Kohler Arts Center in the Mid West.

Check out the clip aired on Extreme Bathrooms:

Prehistoric Art

So here it is... project 2. I know I was not alone in the frustration with file sizes! I must say I was also struggling with my technical abilities. There were alot of things I would have liked to have done but I just couldn't get there. Oh well, that is why I am taking classes, right. It is all part of the learning process.

Psychology of Color

As my husband and I work on this home remodeling project, I have been thinking a lot about color. I have contemplated the simple enjoyment of looking at certain colors over others as well as their affect on one's mood. The right color can set the tone for the day, make you feel confident about your appearence or encourage you to go for that impulse buy! It really gets fascinating when you throw in cultural significances!

Understanding the effect of color is especially important in any kind of design endeavor. It will assist you in communicating your particular message. Below I have compiled a list of links on the psychology of color. I hope you find the topic as interesting as I do.


Psychology of Color
Color and Marketing
Color in Presentations
Color and Mood
Color Symbolism in Buddhism

Sunshine

This gray and rainy weather is starting to get to me! I pulled out a few photos from my last trip to Costa Rica for an momentary escape.

Wish I was here!

Playa Naranjo, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, The Mistress and The Tangerine...

What a great title for a biography of, what I consider to be, one of the most fascinating female artists of all time. I haven’t seen the biography yet but I am anxiously awaiting it’s DVD release on June 23rd.

Louise’s work was very influential for me when I was working on my undergraduate degree. She is an incredible sculptor who at 97 years old is still producing great works of art. Her sculptures deal with relationships and extreme emotions. They are strongly influenced by her childhood, more specifically the war, her adulterous father and a mother who refused to acknowledge his affairs. She seems fearless to me. She has said that her emotions are so big that she must get them out. Her sculptures are the vehicle to accomplish just that.

Whew.... I finally finished project 1. This was my first time using Illustrator and I knew absolutely nothing about it when I started. It was frustrating at moments but I learned a lot!

I started with some needle nose pliers that I use when I am doing my beading projects. After many sketches and many more hours using Illustrator, here are the results.