Website Part 2: Design Portfolio

My website took a little detour from my original sketch.  I had planned on a traditional style, but when paired with the graphic I was using it looked cheesy.  So, I changed the website design to something more sleek.

Here is my finished product:

Instead of using a small banner, I opted for a larger banner and smaller menu buttons up top.  The bottom are examples of my work.  I really designed this website with mouse-overs in mind.

I tried to make the website functional as well as stylish.  I feel like many design portfolios are so hard to navigate because the designers are trying very hard to be "artsy" and different.  I think a simple layout will allow a website user to concentrate on the subject (in this case, my art).  I am very proud of the work I have done in this class and I have learned so much. 

Website Part 1: Design Portfolio

For this project, my idea was to create a simple blog.  I wanted it to be a traditional style two-column blog with a banner image and text.  Here is my preliminary sketch:

Here is the image I want to use for the background of the banner:

Some social media icons I used:

Avatar Part 2: Emilia Clarke

This is the final product:

I had very few issues with this project.  The instructions in the video were very clear, and I executed them pretty much the same as the narrator with the exception of color.  I enjoyed this project and I learned so much.  The only issue I had with her was trying to maintain the light in her eyes so she did not look like she had dark eyes.  I eventually did more dodging at the end to lighten up the area.  

Avatar Part 1: Emilia Clarke

For this project, I decided to go with a simple, clean design.  I did not create any sketches because I wanted to do what the video tutorial instructed me to do to the best of my abilities.

I chose this picture of Emilia Clarke:

And I went with the mask graphic provided:

Book Cover Part 2: Mumford and Sons

Here is my finished product:

I hope that the book cover accomplished what I wanted it to.  It was a challenge to chip away at.  I decided to add a few more Victorian motifs than I originally planned.  In order to make it look less busy I adjusted the opacity on them so they were still there, but not as obnoxious.

I wanted to achieve a book cover that speaks to the band's audience.  Because the band represents an older style of music, and attempts to do so by drawing on a lot of vintage elements (in their music videos, album covers, etc.), I wanted to honor that vintage feel.  I think I did a pretty good job.  Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Book Cover Part 1: Mumford and Sons

I chose Mumford and Sons as my band.  The band is considered to be a new style of folk/bluegrass/rock, and they are one of my favorite bands.

Here is my sketch.  I wanted the cover to be the band inside an antique frame.  The band is known for their vintage style, so I wanted the book cover to reflect that.

I wanted to incorporate a lot of vintage/Victorian elements to the cover.

These were the choices for the background.  All are old blank movie frames.

Here is the frame:

Some embellishments:

Photo of the band:

I decided on this photo because with some doctoring I could make it look older.