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All images in this blog are the personal work of Megan McFall. Use them by permission only and give credit to their creator.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Brendan Murphy

Brendan Murphy was an inspirational speaker in that he had seen surprises in his field, had made positive contributions to society, and still enjoyed what he did, despite working with people that had such tight deadlines.  He had several good quotes, and stressed working with strengths rather than to improve weaknesses.  Someone else can help fill in where you aren’t as strong.
Although Murphy’s job was perhaps not what he expected, he learned it and excelled. He viewed himself as more of a story teller.  He also noted that after the first year or so the college degree earned isn’t as essential, but knowing what your career is is important.  Murphy said a lot of what he did was writing, and that can be disappointing if you’re not expecting it, but he obviously made the most of it, which just goes to show how flexible he is. 
One of Murphy’s best attributes is his ability to handle change.  He said technology changes.  Over the last fifty years, we’ve seen leaps and bounds of change, from records to audiocasts on mp3’s. He personally has had to make several changes.  He moved to Pittsburg for college.  That was a big change.  He moved back to New York, also a big change.  He went from design classes to writing 75% of the time, and he was able to move right into the heart and bloodstream of the city.  In the middle of all of that Murphy has found some constants, such as honing in on design skills and ideas, being able to work with people, and good communication.
I find one of the most inspiring things about Murphy was that even when he was in college he was looking down the road, knowing he may need a fallback career, choosing to go to college at all.  At the same time he’s not afraid to look back and give credit to the people that supported him as he made his way through college.  This is a very admirable trait, one that tends to disappear with success. 
It isn’t much of a mystery why Brendan Murphy has been so successful.  He’s got talent, gratitude, an eye on the future, and strong perseverance. 

Color Essay

Johannas Brahms

Color is an incredible tool to the artists.  I chose an illustration from designarchives.aiga.org/#/home byRichard Mantel called Johannas Brahms, painted in 1984.  I noticed it first for the way the elements did not fit, particularly the odd angle of the beard, and was impressed by how color did in fact pull the disjointed elements together.
First we’ll discuss color choice, then composition, mood, and overall success.
The main color pallet for this painting was analogous.  Violet was the main color used, but in several different tones.  The violet on the pocket flower is not the same as the side bar.  The side bar has much more blue in it, although that is not the same blue we find in Brahms’ beard.  The face does not have many yellows but there are several shades and tints of red that would technically disqualify this work as analogous.  The greys used in the hair, clothing, and shadows are permissible in any color scheme as they create tints, and show depth.  Black and white and their tints are not considered part of the color wheel.
Composition of this piece focuses strongly on the stern face of the man because of the dramatic color difference. This is usually the case when you interrupt a color scheme. Most particularly the highlight on Brahms’ forehead catches the attention first, which leads the viewer to the stark whiteness of the text, then back down to the off-white, light violet of the eyes and down into the light colored beard.  Similar colors in the background then pull the eye back upwards along the hair lines, and the very dark colored suit is left almost invisible because of its almost lack of color.  This is good as Brahms himself was the main focus of the artwork, and the color contrast made him stand out dramatically.
Mood of this piece is primarily determined by color.  The shade of violet used for the majority of the image is a blue violet, which makes it at once calming and droll.  The very dark colors of the suit and hair intensify this feeling, making the violet seem almost eerie.  This piece remains stern and almost reproachful despite the stark color contrast of the face.  Though the reds should warm up the picture, the expression on Brahms’ face is severe enough that the emotion is not changed.  Even the bright white of the text is so stark it is not comforting.  I have not listened to Johannes Brahms’ music but I have a very good idea what sort of record it would be.
The overall success for this image was fairly high.  The beard still throws me, but as far as use of color it has done everything it means to.  There is a defined subject, a stern mood, cohesive color scheme.

The Notepad Project

The Word Map.
The Vertical Thumbs.
The Horizontal Thumbs.
The First Rough.
The Rough Chosen.
The Critiqued Work.

The Final Product.