Phil and his brother are planning a family trip for his mother’s birthday to Acadia National Park in Maine. I wanted to make something that they could give her so that she has an idea of what they’re planning and to get her excited for the trip. I decided to make a little box that looks like wood to go along with the National Park and forest theme. The inside of the box is covered with 2 maps, one of Mount Desert Island and the park, the other shows their journey from the Philadelphia area up to Maine. Then I made a series of 6 envelopes connected in an accordion style to go inside of the box. The envelopes unfold to reveal pictures and information relevant to the trip activities. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out, and I know that Phil’s mother really enjoyed it. Here are a few photos of how it turned out:
Chicagobeermap.com Update in Progress!
Recently, I started to feel that the website for the Chicago Beer Map could use some work. The biggest problem is insufficient space for adding new features that we’ve been discussing for the site. So, I am currently working on a sleeker layout that we hope will connect us with people who have seen the map and the beer community in general. It’ll feature our new twitter page and also an updated (finally) Facebook page. Stay tuned for more!
Additions to My Web Toolkit
Over the last few months, it’s become very clear how much I love making websites. I am by no means an experienced web designer, and it’s very much trial and error as I put sites together, but I truly enjoy the process of solving the problems that arise when translating the need for certain content to a design and then to code. I’ve also started to realize just how many tools are out there to help me along. I’v recently researched both Joomla! and jQuery, and I’ve just completed my second Lynda.com course: Joomla! 1.5 Essential Training. It seems very similar to WordPress in a lot of ways and I’m not too concerned about the learning curve with that, but I do find jQuery to be significantly more intimidating. A lot of websites I see these days, though, have slick but simple effects such as drop-down menus that expand in a nice sliding fashion and jQuery seems to be a great way to accomplish these types of things. If I can have even just a few of these tricks in my back pocket, the learning curve would be well worth it.
Miniature Motion on Twitter
Just a quick update to share my new Twitter account. I’ll be integrating it more with my site in the days to come, but feel free to hook up with me there!
Intro to [wire] stone
I recently started a new job at [wire] stone, a digital marketing agency in downtown Chicago. I’m on the video team that works primarily with Motorola, along with 3 other motion graphics artists. Working downtown has been pretty cool so far, being able to take the train and having a lot going on around me. Here are a few pics of the new office.
Making Progress in Cinema 4D
Not terribly exciting news, but I’m happy to say that I’ve made it through my first full training course on Lynda.com. I completed the many hours of “Cinema 4D 11.5 Essential Training” and have my certificate to prove it! Now on to the next one.
Threadless T-shirt Submission
Still on a roll from all the drawing Phil did for the Chicago Beer Map, he decided to do an illustration for a Threadless t-shirt submission. Then I added the color. I like the design for many reasons. First, I like the perspective and the distortion in scale. Second, I think it can be interpreted in many ways, i.e. why exactly is this man standing on top of this building? Third, I think the title we chose, Don’t Look Down, adds to the mystery. We are currently in the voting stage, so if you have a moment, check it out and rate our submission!
New 5 Second Project
Last week, I finally submitted my first 3D entry into the 5 Second Projects. I’ve been using Lynda.com to learn Cinema 4D basics, with the intention on signing up for FXPHD at the end of the year when I can get a new computer that can handle the work. Lynda.com has been working great so far as an inexpensive way to fill in some of the holes in my basic knowledge of the interface and the tools, and in conjunction with other tutorials I do online, I feel I’m learning very rapidly. This 5 Second Project was a simple test to learn attractor objects and to practice Mograph a bit. Check it out on my vimeo page!
“Loell Duinn” Premieres This Week on MTV Croatia!
The Orange Strips were kind enough to share the with me from MTV. “Loell Duinn” is last on the list, but certainly not least! What an amazing feeling to see that a music video I created is premiering in the same week with Eminem and other world famous musicians. Sure, it’s in Croatia and I may never see it air, but I’m still pretty excited.
Music Video for The Orange Strips – “Loell Duinn”
I’m pleased to share the news that I’ve completed the 2010 “digital remaster” of my animation “Maybe Baby.” It has been transformed into a music video for The Orange Strips. I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised how well the song fits and I’m very happy that they asked to work with me. Check it out on my work page, and please check out their other music videos on their YouTube Channel!