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Author Archives: Jenn
Illustrator Brush Basics
In our Mac Lab at Sac City, I used to get all kinds of questions about making and using brushes in Illustrator. I also came across a great scatter brush primer online a little while ago, which reminded me I … Continue reading
My epic build: Update No. 3
I realized it had been a while since I last posted an update on my workings with the Go Green California Business site I was working on. Nope, the project didn’t die. We had an original launch date of February … Continue reading
Getting your act (and portfolio) together
Came across this great article from Smashing Magazine: 10 Steps to the Perfect Portfolio Website. Tons and tons of great tips, including how to make everything more concise and clear. I especially like the tip about having a tagline because … Continue reading
Drawing: It’s a useful skill!
Came across this excellent article by Chris Spooner of SpoonGraphics: 40 Free Tutorials on Advanced Drawing Techniques. There’s really a lot of good stuff in that post, including drawing manga-style things, drawing actual people, even a great tutorial on drawing … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration, Tips for You
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TGIHMF (Thank goodness I have my files!)
One of my design teachers used to emphasize the importance of naming files correctly and having some kind of convention so that if anyone has to fill in for you and look at your files, he or she can tell … Continue reading
Posted in Projects, Tips for You
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Abstract artwork in Illustrator
Sometimes you just want to practice certain techniques, like shading objects or making swirls. Or maybe you just want to practice your composition skills. Either way, there’s a great article in Vectortuts about making abstract artwork in Adobe Illustrator. I … Continue reading
Your own message
Design isn’t always about getting someone else’s message out. It’s often about you getting your own message across. Inspiration is all around, and sometimes it fuels something personal. This was sparked in part by the awful story about a Los … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration
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My epic build: Update No. 2
Wow, something like 11 days until the Go Green California Business site is supposed to launch. Is it time to panic yet? Admittedly, I’m running into a few problems (not site-building-related) that make me a little nervous, but sometimes there … Continue reading
Super logos?
It’s almost time for one of the biggest annual sporting spectacles of the year: the Super Bowl. Some of us watch it for the game (like me; I’m an unabashed football addict … not to mention a Steelers fan), some … Continue reading
Illustrator tip: Stripes and multiple strokes
As a tutor, I used to get asked by a lot of students how to do multiple strokes in Illustrator. Some people used to do it by eye, drawing two shapes of different colors and trying to align them perfectly. … Continue reading
Little ninjas in Illustrator.
A little while ago, I posted about a tutorial on SpoonGraphics about creating a gang of vector ninjas in Illustrator. I did get around to playing with the tutorial with these results: (OK, so it’s a single ninja, not a … Continue reading
Posted in Stuff We Make, Tips for You, Tutorials We Do
Tagged Adobe Illustrator, characters, drawing
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Textures, brushes and Photoshop, oh my!
Textures are always one of those things that if used tactfully and well, add a nice touch to a project. For instance, that weathered-looking note looks nice when you’ve got it on weathered paper. Or maybe you’d like some grass … Continue reading
My epic build: Update No. 1
It’s been about a week since I first wrote about the Go Green California Business website project I’ve been working on. It’s been a bit hectic and insane, but the project is chugging along. To recap, I had an Illustrator … Continue reading
A big, juicy apple … in Photoshop.
Usually, I’m messing around and drawing things in Illustrator. But I came across this tutorial on PSDTuts one day about making an apple in Photoshop. Now, I always associate drawing things from scratch with Illustrator. But I gave the tutorial … Continue reading
The cute, the cuddly and the bizarre.
I won’t lie — I’m a fan of cutesy Japanese-style characters. I liked Hello Kitty and My Melody and Kero Kero Keroppi when I was growing up. Heck, I could draw Hello Kitty in my sleep. It’s so simple. (Too … Continue reading