Student Art Part 2: Designing the Poster

I'm a volunteer on the Art Committee at our local Elementary School.
We are getting ready for the Annual Student Art Exhibit.

Of all the tasks I do to prepare for the show, designing the poster is one of my favorites.

After a student illustration is selected to be used for advertising the Art Show (see previous post), the next step is to turn the artwork into a poster by adding informational text and words prior to going to print.

The first step is to scan the original artwork for importing into a graphics program. I like to take my images to be scanned at Kinko's Copies. They made a high resolution scan and saved it as a jpeg file. It cost $10.00.

I imported the jpeg file into an Adobe Illustrator file with page size set to 11x17 inches. I chose 11x17" because most photocopy shops can inexpensively reproduce posters at an 11x17" size, which is what I needed. If you choose to go larger, it will cost more money but will be visually stronger in the community. You'll have to decide what is more important to you: Smaller size, less impact, less expensive versus Larger size, more impact, more expensive.


The illustration was larger than 11x17", so I cropped off the bottom. I allowed plenty of space at the top for a headline.

I tried different type styles for the headline and landed on one that had a handmade appearance - which was in keeping with the look of student artwork.


The typeface I chose came from a free font website called da font
The name of the typeface is: "Got Heroin."

I experiemented with typeface colors.


I tinkered with the font size, and added a brush stroke below that served as background for the show dates.


Once the headline was in place, I added some small detail copy giving credit to the artist and other information the viewer might need.


The poster design is now completed and ready to go to print. I save it as a PDF file, and load it onto a disk.


I took the completed poster to local print shop called Rhino Digital. They printed a quantity of 30 posters and gave me a discount on the pricing.

Sometimes local suppliers are happy to work with you on the cost if you ask them. I always make sure to give them lots of free publicity and referrals when they contribute in this way. Word of mouth is what keeps the small shops in business. When I do have a print job that pays in the future, I will remember these small shops and give them my business. I never take their generosity for granted and I try to spread their name as much as possible.

I took one poster to be framed at a local shop called Chrismans Picture Frame and Gallery


Chrismans is the oldest frame shop in Portland and they do a fabulous job.


After the Show, the poster will hang in the main hall stairwell at the school, along with all the posters from previous years.



Links:
Chrismans Picture Frame and Gallery

Rhino Digital

da font

Student Art Part 1: Art for a Poster - 700 pieces to choose from.

I'm a Volunteer Chair for the Art Committee at our local Elementary school.
The next few weeks will be quite busy as I help get ready for the Annual Student Show. The entire process is a lot of work, but incredibly creative too. I'd like to share what goes on behind the scenes of hosting an art show for over 450 families and the community at large.

Of all the tasks to do, there are two that are particularly fun for me.

1) Creating bulletin boards for the School.
2) Designing the Art Show Poster.

IT ALL BEGINS THE YEAR BEFORE...
Each year during Duniway's Annual Student Art Exhibit, several pieces of student work are selected as possible poster candidates for the next year. It's a tough decision, since there are usually 700 pieces of student work to choose from. Selections are based on personal impressions, and some general guidelines:

a) Will it look good in a poster format - 11X17" vertical?
b) Is it a good representation of the art lesson it was based upon?
c) Is it visually bold enough to draw viewers attention from 3 feet away?
d) Is it interesting to look at? Good use of color, balance and proportion?
e) Will it serve as a good showcase piece for the Duniway Art Program?

Once the initial set of poster candidates are selected, a bulletin board is created to display them in the main hallway of the school. Everyday, students, faculty and Duniway parents can see them.


Each piece is given a number, and all the students of the school are invited to vote for their favorite.


Votes are collected in a box during library time.


After two weeks, votes are tallied, and the winner is announced.

In this case, the winning piece was created by a 4th grade student who painted in the style of Pablo Picasso.




This is Michelle Smit. She's the mom who wrote the lesson plan about Pablo Picasso. She has written a lot of lessons for our Art Program at Duniway.


(this photo was taken by Christine Claringbold of www.EyePopArt.com).

To learn more about Duniway, click here Duniway Website

Christine Claringbold, a past Duniway parent, wrote an excellent article on how to start your own art program at your school. To read more:
click here

Is she related to Imelda Marcos?

There's an obsession going on in my house...


It involves a girl and shoes...

I walk around the house and see this sort of thing everywhere...


Or this...


And when she goes to sleep, it's usually something like this.


The girl's got it bad.


Occasionally I'll catch her in the act.


But how can I get mad at a face like this?


Could Prada and Christian Louboutin be in her future?

How To Shred Your Blue Jeans

These are just your ordinary kitchen graters.
You grate cheese. Carrots, lemons, chocolate and whole nutmeg too. Occasionally you might push play dough through them to get imitation spaghetti, or mermaid hair. Any way that's what I've always used them for.


But the other day, I learned a completely new way to use a kitchen grater.
Oh gee golly miss molly. Hold onto your britches now.


You can shred your blue jeans with them too!
Didn't you always wonder how to do that? I know I've been dying to find out.


According to the most fashion savvy teen in my life, a grater works wonders to remove the outer layer of blue threads, leaving only the white threads to show through. You pay big bucks in the retail stores for jeans that look like this.

Hmmmm, can't you just see all those little worker bees in the bluejeans factory rubbing their cheese graters in perfect rhythm back and forth across the yards of denim?

You can take things a step further...rip the holes bigger


or write words with a permenant sharpie marker.

Then you'll have a real valuable pair of jeans like this.


Oh, and lest you judge my parenting skills too harshly, leggings are worn under those jeans SO NO SKIN SHOWS THROUGH!

Can you smell this?

Ohhhhh. It is a heavenly smell.
If you have never smelled a Hyacinth flower, put it on your "To Do List" before you die. I plucked this lovely specimen from my garden.

Before Photoshop


After Photoshop



What I did:
MCP High Deffinition Sharpening
MCP Color Magic
Adjusted color balances again.

I experimented some more: First turning the photo to Black and white.


Then, with a soft brush, I brought color back to the purple flower only.


I also boosted the contrast and sharpened the image several times.

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

- Moslih Eddin (Muslih-un-Din) Saadi (Sadi),
Gulistan (Garden of Roses)

And the winner is...

First things first...
The temperature in my neck of the woods (Oregon, USA) is 52 degrees Fahrenheit and rainy.
Chances are I am cold and wearing 3 layers of fleece as you are reading this.

The chosen winner, randomly selected, and not by the content of their comment, (though I did like hers):

Anonymous (aka Becky) from Fruitport Mi.
You have won a glass pendant with sterling silver plated snake chain. Congratulations!

Email me and it will be on it's way to you.

A beautifully sad story...

I mentioned in a previous post about taking a trip to Canada where I was frantically snapping pictures of the scenery from our moving car. We were traveling along the aptly named "Sea to Sky Highway." At one point, I seriously needed the car to stop so that I could be sure of getting at least ONE good photo of what I was seeing out the window.

My husband pulled the car over, but not with a photographer's eye in mind. He picked a spot directly behind a large mountain of rocks and dirt that completely blocked the view.

I got out of the car anyway and began to walk back along the roadside, hoping to find a clearing. I saw a gravel road leading away from the main highway and decided to follow it. What I discovered next was something beautifully sad and mysterious.

Follow me as I take you there.

See that rock pile? And those steps? Look closer.


They lead to a well tended memorial of a beautiful 20 year old girl.


Shannon Archer. Born October 24 1985. Died October 5, 2005


There were flowers everywhere. A vase of wilted pink roses hung from the center of the cross. Cans of flowers sat at the bottom. Hyacinths and Tulips were emerging from the warmed spring soil.
I saw Gardening tools and a watering can, a candle and lighter.
Someone had fabricated a table from a piece of granite and welded steel in the shape of the letter "S".



Clearly, this was a place visited frequently by people who cared deeply and still mourn the loss 4 years later.

To my left, I noticed a moss covered trail leading away. I followed it to the top of a bluff.


Resting quietly at the top was an inviting wooden bench and a magnificent view.


I sat down and took in the moment.

The sense of loss was palpable.


My heart weighed heavy as I felt what others before me must have felt as they sat on the same bench.


When I returned home, I googled Shannon Archer to learn the story of her life and death. I couldn't find anything about her.

Her marker lies next to the road between Vancouver and Whistler Mountain. Whistler is the location of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Thousands of tourists will be traveling that road next year.

One thing I know for sure, on this Easter Sunday...
Shannon Archer, whoever she was, will not be forgotten.

April 13th Update:
Thanks to an anonymous reader who left a comment on this post, I now know the cause of Shannon's death. It was a deadly car accident on the turn known as Doodsons Corner. Read the comments below.
Please see the link below if you would like to read more.
http://www.theprovince.com/story_print.html?id=1234500&sponsor=http://www.theprovince.com/story_print.html?id=1234500&sponsor=

The Pendant Giveaway has closed.

Please Check back Monday for the winner!

A Reason to Ground your Teenager.

I've said it before. Parenting is hard work. Throw in a teenager and the work doubles. Welcome to thecraftjunkieblog.

I love my teenage daughter more than life itself, so as a consequence for poor behavior I recently grounded her from her cel phone FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK! That sounds like a contradiction I know.

A couple days went by. She was angry with me for cutting her off from her friends. Apparently she thought they would forget her existence. Apparently she also forgot how to use a traditional land line phone (but I wasn't about to show her).

She hated me (in a teenager sort of way), and I felt sick (in a mothering sort of way). When I spoke with her, she would only reply in one syllable grunts.

My children think I relish passing out punishments. I really don't.

Then...something miraculous happened. She began to create artwork during all the free time she had.

This is what she made:



That skull? I think it represents my head.

Those missiles? I think she wanted to toss some my way.

Those peace signs...maybe she felt bad for what she'd done.

Yeah right.


When I asked her about it, she told me it represented what was going on politically in the world.
(secretly I think she was just being polite).


None the less, I love this piece of artwork. For me, it represents so much on many levels. I want a T-shirt with it plastered on the front.

I feel validated for grounding her- knowing that if I hadn't done my job, the world would be less one amazing piece of art.
for other art related stories, visit thecraftjunkieblog.

Photoshop Before and After

Before Photoshop...

After Photoshop...



Photoshop Actions:
MCP High Deffinition Sharpening
MCP Color Magic

A great craft for boys...

I'm always on the hunt for something fun I can do with my 9 year old son. Something that holds his interest as well as mine.
I recently found an exciting project: Blinky Bugs! These clever little guys are made of simple componants and when you bop their antenae, their eyes blink.


Everything comes in a kit you can purchase online for $14.00


Pipe cleaners, battery, wire, and simple electrode eyes.


The only things you have to provide are scissors, needle nose pliers and scotch tape.


My son thought they were totally cool. We spent a good hour working side by side on this project and I thought THAT was totally cool.

About the junkie

Oops! the page you were looking for hasn't been developed yet.
Please check back again soon.

Crummy Camera, Amazing Photos!

My family took a trip to Canada over Spring Vacation. The scenery was stunning.

I snapped pictures along the way - mostly from the back seat of our moving car, (with a broken point and shoot camera). Really. I had to hold the bottom together to keep the battery in place.

With scenery this beautiful, it's hard to take a "bad" picture. Even with a broken camera.


My kids kept yelling at me "stop rolling down the car window" - it was cold.

I duck taped their mouths shut and kept on snapping pictures (just kidding).


I took some of the photos through the glass of the car window, then ran them through photoshop to eliminate window glare. I boosted the color and cropped out the guardrail.

This photo is Before Photoshop...


After...


Before...


After...

It's a lesson that you can get beautiful photos with a crummy camera while zipping along in a car.

The important thing is to take the photos while you have the chance.

I still want a new camera. Is anyone having a camera give away?