Just Another Break In The Wall

Yeah, I need to stop counting days.  I keep forgetting to actually update this and it’s just messy. So I’m stopping with the counting of the days. I’m about a quarter through the Typography Workbook and oh my god, I’m learning so much. Seriously, my designs have like improved a thousand folds.  The downside of this is now I’m super parnoid about my typesetting and kerning. It takes me longer to finish because I’m nitpicking over every piece of type.  Now, I did a design for a Harry Potter inspired book cover and Oh my god it took me forever, but it came out so well. Seriously, I love it and it’s the best so far.

I need to work more on having more than one subject in my compositions which is going to be so hard let me tell you. Also, apparently I’m blowing up tumblr, because my book cover for ‘Red Queen to Overwatch’ went viral last week.  It’s like at 65 notes on tumblr, and 157 kudos on A03. It just blows my mind.

I also plan to do some articles on this blog, other than my personal whinging.  I also want to branch out into wallpapers (which you would think wouldn’t be so hard to do but it is). Oh! And I’m very close to getting my first paid commission *bounces in my seat* It’s a fanfic commison, and I was very leery of taking money to do fanfic book covers, because that shit can be beacon for lawyers to go after me, and I really don’t need that type of drama in my life.

However, this can be like my foot in the door to being a paid artist.  So I’m very excited, and I hope this comes to fruition *keeps fingers crossed*.

 

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I’m currently undecided if I’m going to take tomorrow off. I might be too hung over to actually get any productive studying done. I’ve read a bit more into the typography book (currently at page 30).  And yes, it seems that I’m going at a snail pace, but that what works for me. I read until my head starts to hurt from information overlode and I stop.

I can google at people who retain information from 50 pages a day, because I can’t do that. I don’t think I ever could do that to be honest.

Also, after reading only about a quarter (or less than a quarter ) I have come to realize that my kearning is horrendous even on my own blog and I’m kinda alarmed.  It makes me want to RE DO EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE.

However, the point of this blog and my portfolio is to log my growth as an artist, so I can just push the big red delete button and delete everything. Ugh. I also realized that I’m going to have to activity start using the grid function in photoshop, because I can barely pay attention to the spacing problems without it. *hangs head in shame*. This why I’m kind of hesitant to start actually selling any of my work right now, because it’s painfully obvious to the other designers that I’m amateur, and when I come out strong.

There is just SO MUCH TO FREAKING LEARN. The cornerstones of my education is going typography, color theory, and layout, but that’s the freaking tip of the iceberg. I need to learn illustration (ye gods) because I can rely on photoshop and stock photography for everything. *headdesk*

I still want to just download all the information in my brain and instantly be a boss at typography. Why can’t I just do that?  Also to be fair, I have come so far since I started to seriously study the craft. I mean I use to stick two pictures together, put in some type, and blend mode it.  I’m so not kidding.

And speaking of my typography fails, I was one of those noobs who thought typography was just picking out a font and if it’s in bold. *groans* Nope, nopedity, nope. Who would have thought arranging letters on a page would be so confusing. I feel like I want to cry.

Oh, and one more thing I’m going to be posting some links to some resources for other people who are in the same boat I’m in.  So did you guys find it hard to learn typography, or am I the only typography noob?

 

 

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So I took a week off of studying.  I regret nothing. It’s Christmas time and everything was pretty hectic and I decided to take a week off.  However, the downside to this? Well, I have to REVIEW EVERYTHING. I”m reviewing everything by continuing to transcribe my notes into simplenotes.

What made coming back even harder was than I thought because I had a huge fight with parents about money, and basically I’ve been cut off which adds stress. So I might have to try to get a part-time job on top of EVERYTHING ELSE I’m doing.

While I’m reviewing, I decided to finally crack open my typography book. And I will be doing a few chapters, before I switch to visual communication. I really want to avoid making any typography mistakes. Especially since I am actively designing things like book covers and what not.

Speaking of my book covers, I have decided to finally get off my duff and start actively and aggressively promoting my blog and my art. I did this by fan groups (facebook fan groups are a great way to promote your stuff) and Archive of Our Own.  I decided to get some much needed practice in photoshop by doing some book covers for my favorite sterek stories.  I got permission from first KouriArashi and then later ShanaStoryteller and I was overjoyed  at the response I’m getting.

I’m making a stir, and slowly gaining a community of patrons, which is what I want. Someone even asked if I was taking commissions and my price range (I’m fervently praying that it does turn into my first commission).  Honestly, at this point I need recommendations.

Oh, and I have decided to start participating more in the m/m and f/f book communities and to start reading original books again so I might be able to make some connections with those authors as well. The name of the game here is just networking at this point.

I just know that I’m going to make it as an artist. I just need not to drop the ball, and to keep challenging myself. Sometimes, I just want to stop studying, stop doing photoshop tutorials, and go my own way. But then I have to remind myself that I will only grow as a designer with practice and study.

Oh by the way, I’m thinking of adding a log on my portfolio full of my mistakes so I can learn from them. I think that will just help me grow further as designer.

 

 

 

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Just because you are self-studying a subject, doesn’t mean that you don’t have tools that will help you.  Here are some tools that help you succeed in anything that you are studying in, not matter what the subject.
1. Don’t Break The Chain.
Inspired by comedian Jerry Seinfeld. ... http://gigikiersten.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/tablet2-1024x683.jpg -