FF Trixie is a new typeface from Fontfont. I particularly enjoy the amount of texture that is produced from the mechanics of an old typewriter and this type face perfectly captures every detail. I think I may need to go pick up the family. Check out Fontfont. They have some amazing typefaces. Also, check out the Fontfont catalogue.
Cheers,
Aaron James Trigg
I found this video while cruising Youtube. I feel it sums up everything that I am learning and working towards at school. Bryan Peterson tries his best to explain the graphic design process in 60sec. I hope most people realize that graphic design isn’t just a kid and his computer but a series of step that require a design to be well thought out and executed.
Cheers,
Aaron James Trigg
I just want to say this before you read further: I love Radiohead. In no way is this a smash session on the In Rainbows package design. This is only my interpretation of what I feel could have made the design stronger.
Cheers,
Aaron James Trigg
Color Theory Defense
Old Design
As a whole the Radiohead CD package is a very well put together design. The front of the case can jump out at someone at any record store. The current theme is very warm with its brightly colored paint splatters and rainbow color scheme. The CD Sleeve however, breaks the color scheme with its white and light blue graphics. Kind of a shock to have this sleeve fall out of the package and seemly have no connection with the design what-so-ever. Upon listening to the CD its seems that the rainbow scheme doesn't fit the listening style of the CD either. While one listens to the CD one will notice significantly more cooler undertones flowing rhythmically throughout the music then warm. Using the CD title may have not been the wisest choice for the direction of the CD package. Yes, it does pop off the shelf at stores but does it represent the content properly? For me, no. I have listened to the CD through and through studying and interpreting the music. I will like to take a more genuine less literal approach to the CD package scheme.
New design
Keeping with blue analogues background images would suit the “In Rainbows” album best. It will help better describe the overall musical subtleties of the album as they are more predominately cooler than warm. The outer image is an earth perspective of the moon beginning to erupt. There is derby raining down on earth as it destructs. A more abstract view on "In Rainbows". If the moon ceased to exist so would we. But we were told that the world would never be destroyed again. A promised sealed with a rainbow. There is one ray of light signifying one hope. The CD sleeve itself is a space perspective of the moon before complete destruction. The analogues blue conveys the feeling of cold nothingness. When the sleeve is folded it will make for an interesting double sided composition. The rainbow text style will be salvaged to have some reference to the original “In Rainbows” titling. The brightly colored text has been tinted with blue to better blend into the composition and keeping with the cold blue color scheme. These changes will be a sure fire way to make the album one cohesive masterpiece.
Blue is calming. It can be strong and steadfast or light and friendly. Almost everyone likes some shade of the color blue. In many diverse cultures blue is significant in religious beliefs, brings peace, or is believed to keep the bad spirits away. Blue conveys importance and confidence without being somber or sinister, hence the blue power suit of the corporate world and the blue uniforms of police officers. Long considered a corporate color, blue, especially darker blue, is associated with intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism. Blue would fit Radiohead's “In Rainbows” for these exact reasons. The calming nature of the entire album deserves a blue scheme. There are moments in the album that I wouldn't consider calm. They are chaotic and put you at the edge of your seat. That is where the moon destruction comes in. The music is meant to calm a sooth you.
For a project in my Intermediate Drawing class at school I was assigned a gallery to visit and gather some inspiration for our next project. I did not intend on participating more then just viewing the art at the gallery but when I came across Snowberries it was clear to me that I should make my feelings known. I hope Neal doesn't find my blog and kill me.
Cheers,
Aaron James Trigg
Snowberries
Artist: Neal Philpott
Medium: Oils
Dimensions: H 48in x W 54in
I found Snowberries in the last gallery I visited. It was displayed in the Lawrence Art Gallery close to a side window and was being blasted with light from the mid day sun. It stood out to me, not because it was well-lite, brighter or better then any of the other compositions in the gallery, but because it was seemingly incomplete. The artist Neal Philpott had a few other paintings on display at the gallery. They were a fully flushed out and full of life-like details; an accurate representation of the world around us almost like a photograph. Naturally, if there is an incomplete work next to these beautiful life-like compositions it will stick out like a sore thumb as it did to me.
Upon doing research on snowberries I found that they are a small winter fruit. Many animals rely on this fruit to survive the cold winter months. Snowberries are poisonous to humans and are used for seasonal decoration. In Philpott's composition one can see the changing of the season. The looming winter months are just around the corner as the forest floor turns from a lush green to the vibrant yellows and oranges shown in the painting. Snowberries could be symbolic of the struggle winter brings to the forest or symbolic of the beauty found in the struggle to achieve.
Philpott is working in a relativity large size for this painting as he usually does; H 48in x W 54in. Oil paint seems to be his choice medium on canvas. There is some sort of sponge brush work in the foliage which gives it an organic spark. The rest of the painting looks to be done in short brush strokes giving the bark a fairly pleasing smooth tactile texture.
Deploying the theory that the farther a line recedes the smaller, darker and less saturated the line becomes helps this composition immensely with its illusion of depth. Also, the over lapping of the trees (line) helps this illusion. But what seems to be missing in Snowberries that is well executed in other Philpott work is the value contrast which really hits the illusion of depth home. If the overall value contrast of this piece was bumped up it would be beneficial for its depth illusion. Atmospheric prospective could also be utilized in this piece toward the top left where there seems to be a clearing giving the piece a much more dominate focal point. Just a little bit of gradation could have made the background seem much deeper too. Philpott uses this technique often but seems to have neglected it on this composition. (I wonder if it was intentional?)
The upper two thirds of the composition is dominated by the repetition of trees. These trees create an interesting rhythm throughout Snowberries and keep the interest of the viewer. One might feel that the repetition of the colors, however, is not so pleasant, almost distracting. A solution to the monotony of the limited color pallet could have been the increasing of contrast between light and dark, not only helping with the illusion of depth but breaking up the colors just enough to capture the attention of the viewer for a bit longer. A simple solution for a major problem.
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