For Intro to Computing’s final project, they built simple personal logos in Illustrator and constructed resumes in InDesign. This project was meant to create an awareness of how much or how little they have accomplished during their first years of college, as well as give them a little experience with logo development and InDesign. Many of the students had not typed a resumé before, and they found this project useful as they prepare to apply for part-time jobs and post-graduate jobs. The layout needed to be organized, easy to read, and fluid with a sense of style. Creating hierarchy with text was a new challenge to most of them.
Below are some resume examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website. Contact info is purposely fake for their protection.
Fall 2015 // 2 sections
by Abbey Rigdonby Alleigh Moffettby Carly Meltonby Jeffery Danielby Joanna Bauerby Katie Ericksonby Haylee UptonBy Justice Williamsby Lauryn Rodyby Maddie Marascalcoby Matthew Rogersby Rebecca VanHornby Sarah Cuevas
Spring 2016 // 1 section
by Cara Mooreby Conner Boothby Katherine Huangby Darby Taylorby Victoria Allgood
My students’ second Photoshop project was entitled “Pen & Pixel,” in which they had to construct a self portrait. It was a requirement to scan in textures, drawings, paintings, or items they could edit to become a part of the image. Many students demonstrated impressive concepts about themselves. Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
Fall 2015 // 2 sections
by Alleigh Moffettby Amy Farrarby Carly Meltonby Imani Smithby Joanna Bauerby Joseph Garlandby Katie Ericksonby Alex Caysonby Calli Nelsonby Lauryn Rodyby Maddi Marascalcoby Matthew Rogersby Sydney Armer
Spring 2016 // 1 section
by Abbey Goodmanby Connor Boothby Dion Colemanby Katherine Huangby Stephen Lathamby Taylor Darby
For my students’ first Photoshop project, I wanted them to think outside the box and create an “Impossible Reality”. They had to gather their original photography and make new photos as needed to compose their surreal image. The main artist of inspiration was Eric Johansson. He is an incredible Photoshop artist, but also kind enough to post photos and videos to demonstrate his entire process, which is great for beginners to see. Like Eric, they needed to produce an image that tricks the eye to appear realistic.
Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
Fall 2015 // 2 sections
by Abbey Rigdonby Alleigh Moffettby Amy Farrarby Carly Meltonby Imani Smithby Katie Ericksonby Phoebe Fitzgeraldby Alex Caysonby Haylee Uptonby Katherine Mooreby Lauryn Rodyby Maddie Marascalcoby Nicolette Johnson
Spring 2016 // 1 section
by Cecilia Lemusby Abbey Goodmanby Connor Boothby Gerard Woodsby Katherine Huangby Stephen Latham
For students to refine their skills using Adobe Illustrator’s Pen Tool, my students accepted the challenge of the OMG project, as in “Oh my gosh, this is so hard and time consuming!!!” But the effort is well worth the outcome. The objective: Recreate a movie scene with your own models and photography. Then use the photo as a template to make a vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator. Tiny solid shapes make up the entirety of the photo to make a realistic representation. They spent about three weeks on the project. The process is like creating a digital painting! Below are some examples that were turned in. I also included the outline imagery of a couple illustrations to show the number of shapes that were created to make up the compositions. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results! These illustrations are sure to blow your mind!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
Fall 2015 // 2 sections
O Brother Where Art Thou by Katie Erickson
The Hangover by Abbey Rigdon22 Jumpstreet by Alleigh MoffettThe Good, the Bad & the Ugly by Amy FarrarThe Hobbit by Carly MeltonMean Girls by Isabelle CottrellBreakfast Club by Joseph GarlandThe Other Woman by Kenan SimpkinsBreakfast at Tiffany’s by Phoebe FitzgeraldLove & Basketball by Tykia JosephNightcrawler by Alex CaysonShutter Island by Becca Van HornLegally Blond by Calli NelsonCool Hand Luke by Haylee UptonMulan by Justice WilliamsPrisoners by Matthew RogersPrincess Mononoke by Nicolette JohnsonFried Green Tomatoes by Samantha SumrallSherlock Holmes by Victoria Martin
Spring 2016 // 1 section
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Cara MooreFight Club by Cecilia LemusPhantom of the Opera by Connor BoothAnne of Green Gables by Katherine HuangScream 4 by Dion ColemonReservoir Dogs by Stephen LathamHarry Potter by Victoria Allgood
In Intro to Computing, students learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. For their first project, they had to choose an idiom (raining cats and dogs, hit the hay, you are what you eat, etc.) and construct an interesting, successful illustration. Brainstorming processes such as mind mapping and forced connections were introduced. Then they had to submit a series of thumbnails of their ideas, and narrow down to their top three. Those three were then turned into rough comps that were drawn with sharpies and micron pens, and critiqued with their entire class. The best chosen sketch was scanned into Illustrator, and vector shapes are placed on top. The focus in Illustrator was learning the Pen Tool and layer management.
Below are some illustrations that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
by Abbey Rigdon: Pinching Penniesby Alleigh Moffett: Whatever Floats Your Boatby Carly Melton: Sleep Like a Rockby Imani Smith: Easy as Pieby Joseph Garland: Eat Like a Birdby Katie Erickson: Broken Recordby Phoebe Fitzgerald: Eye Candyby Alex Cayson: Get Off Your High Horseby Becca VanHorn: Sick as a Dogby Samantha Sumrall: Quit Cold Turkey
At this point I would intend to feature the Idiom Illustration student work from my Spring 2016 classes, but I was unfortunately on medical leave. I am thankful my art department colleague and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Suzanne Powney was willing to step in to instruct my Intro to Computing class while I was out.
I will be writing blog posts in the coming months to make up for the year that I failed to document due to teaching a packed college class schedule in the fall, and sickness in the spring. It was a challenge to do anything more than what was required of me! I look forward to sharing with the world what my students were capable of accomplishing this past school year.
During Fall 2014, I was contacted by a publisher in China called DesignerBooks about the possibility of being included in a paper arts book. After much emailing back and forth, it became a reality. On July 23, 2015 I received an email that my work was officially included and was sent a copy of the published book a couple months later.
My chosen paper art from undergraduate and graduate school was featured in four full spreads with detailed descriptions of my idea and creation process.
It is a beautifully designed book, and I am proud to be included with many of my paper art heroes throughout the world.
Title: Paradise of Paper Art 2: The World of Dance Paper
Dimensions: 1.4 x 8.3 x 11.2 inches
Pages: 400
Color: four-color printing
Paper: Matte paper
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN-13: 9789881378217
Shipping Weight: 2.3kg (5.1 pounds)
At the moment, it’s available on the Australian book website Booktopia and other Chinese vendors, including DesignerBooks.
The bookBook jacket with laser-cut holes & the front coverTable of Contents & Biographies (see my ice cream cones on right page)Cloud Gazing spread 1Cloud Gazing spread 2Summer’s Day Treat & JacksEldritch Forest typeface promotional mailer undergrad project
All of these projects are featured on my portfolio website, brittanyspencer.com.
It’s amazing how the Internet makes our world so much smaller and offers connections we would not make otherwise. I’m grateful that a DesignerBooks representative found my website and offered me this opportunity!
Last week, Mississippi State University’s art department hosted their annual INvision art camp for high school students. These kids got to experience a taste of life as an MSU college art student by living in a campus dorm, eating campus food, becoming familiar with campus grounds through planned social activities, and making art.
I led three workshops– Photoshop, t-shirt design, and book binding. Other workshops offered by MSU faculty included ceramics and drawing. This event is a fun getaway that helps students decide if art and design has a part in their college future. Even more, we hope it attracts them to choose MSU for their college education!
This summer we had 10 high schoolers in attendance. This bunch of kids were an exceptional group. They were so polite and eager to learn. I enjoyed teaching them.
Below are images of what the students produced in my workshops, lasting a couple hours each. Action shots are credited to art department technology coordinator Aaron McElfish, originally posted on the MSU Art Galleries Facebook page.
PHOTOSHOP The goal was to design a surreal composition using stock photography found on the Internet.
by Savannah Alleyby Savannah Alleyby Shelby Hatfieldby Emma Jonesby Emma Jonesby Ginny Brownby Ivy Williamsonby Kendall Youngby Kendall Youngby Mary Ciochettyby Corey Mooreby Evelyn Hby Evelyn Hby Ty Talley
BOOK BINDING Students learned how to fold and bind a multi-section hardback book. See an online tutorial HERE.
MSU Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture and dear friend Elizabeth Tofte also joined us for the book binding workshop.
{Continue scrolling to see examples of their finished books…}
T-SHIRT DESIGN Students collaboratively drew patterns inside a bulldog’s face, representative of our school mascot. Information about the event will be typed underneath. It will be screen printed white on maroon shirts. I can’t wait to see how they turn out!
INVISION ART EXHIBITION Students hung and placed their artwork from the week inside MSU’s Visual Arts Center to share with their families before leaving for home. (Look at those gorgeous hand-bound books!)
It was a great week! If you know a high school student that has an interest in art, I hope you will share this opportunity with them so they can attend next summer!
Hello world! It has been awhile since I have documented my art and teaching experience on the web. You last heard from me in May as I was wrapping up the spring semester. Summer brought new experiences, visiting friends and family, making new discoveries to improve my health, lots of gluten free cooking, and REST. I also finished buying the supplies I needed to convert my apartment dining room and back porch into a papermaking studio! I will share in future blog posts how I’ve been using my home studio, what my students are doing this fall semester, and more exciting news.
Between June 5th-12th, I volunteered to lead three workshops for Mississippi State University’s art camp for high school students. The camp has been an annual event for three years now for students that are 16-years-old through incoming college freshman. I taught a recycled papermaking workshop, and beginner workshops about Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Students also learned about photography, graphic design, drawing, ceramics, and sculpting processes from other MSU faculty.
What is great about this event? Young students get to have a hands-on experience with all types of mediums and processes, and decide if art and design has a part in their college future!
Below are examples of what students produced in my workshops, lasting a couple hours each:
ILLUSTRATOR Students constructed and stylized an animal of their choice in the Adobe software.
by Thomas Kennedyby Sarah Hoingby Phillip Merrymanby Phillip Vosbeinby Natalie Blaylockby Mary Prestonby Kristen Page Stacyby Jordan Kirkby Jana Hubbardby Ivy Williamsonby Haley Lawrenceby Caroline Harris
PHOTOSHOP Students’ goal was to design a non-objective, abstract composition that creates space and interest. They needed to experiment to consider color and value as they worked in the Adobe software.
by Caroline Harrisby Tatum Roperby Sam Turbaby Phillip Merrymanby Emily Manningby Jordan Kirkby Jana Hubbardby Haley Green
PAPERMAKING Each student had the opportunity to make at least two sheets of hand-recycled paper with the supplied paper, leaves, flowers, grass, and dyes to their creative liking.
If you know a high school student that has an interest in art, I hope you will share this opportunity with them so they can attend next summer!
The fifth and final project for Intermediate Computing for Design was to create a band name, band logo, and CD package design based on a classmate. They all drew names out of a bowl, and then interviewed that classmate to gain insight about their tastes in music and more. Then the designer student had to research that person’s favorite bands and genres to get an idea of how logos and CDs look for inspiration. The student could choose to implement original photography and/or illustration with or without an image of the person they were basing their designs on. All students used online templates to design, print, and piece together their packaging inside a clear jewel CD case, and learned how to print on printable CDs. They were allowed to use Placeholder Text (aka Dummy Text) for large amounts of copy such as lyrics. The more realistic they built this project, the better the outcome. It was a big challenge! This was their first project involving logo development, “client” experience, and packaging design. They worked very hard on this extensive project.
Below are photographs of CD packages that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
FRONT by Anna Zollicoffer // based on Erin FrazierBACK by Anna Zollicoffer // based on Erin FrazierINSIDE by Anna Zollicoffer // based on Erin FrazierOUTER FOLDOUT by Anna Zollicoffer // based on Erin FrazierINNER FOLDOUT by Anna Zollicoffer // based on Erin FrazierFRONT by Aubrey Pohl // based on Brittany RobertsBACK by Aubrey Pohl // based on Brittany RobertsINSIDE by Aubrey Pohl // based on Brittany RobertsOUTER FOLDOUT by Aubrey Pohl // based on Brittany RobertsINNER FOLDOUT by Aubrey Pohl // based on Brittany RobertsFRONT by Brittany Roberts // based on Keats HauptBACK by Brittany Roberts // based on Keats HauptINSIDE by Brittany Roberts // based on Keats HauptOUTER FOLDOUT by Brittany Roberts // based on Keats HauptFRONT by Erin Frazier // based on Anna ZollicofferBACK by Erin Frazier // based on Anna ZollicofferINSIDE by Erin Frazier // based on Anna ZollicofferOUTER/INNER FOLDOUT by Erin Frazier // based on Anna ZollicofferFRONT by Ian Green // based on Paige KnappBACK by Ian Green // based on Paige KnappINSIDE by Ian Green // based on Paige KnappINNER FOLDOUT by Ian Green // based on Paige KnappFRONT by Jeremy Childress // based on Austin ThomasBACK by Jeremy Childress // based on Austin ThomasINSIDE by Jeremy Childress // based on Austin ThomasOUTER FOLDOUT by Jeremy Childress // based on Austin ThomasINNER FOLDOUT by Jeremy Childress // based on Austin ThomasFRONT by Kelsey Bishop // based on Marianna MyrickBACK by Kelsey Bishop // based on Marianna MyrickINSIDE by Kelsey Bishop // based on Marianna MyrickOUTER FOLDOUT by Kelsey Bishop // based on Marianna MyrickINNER FOLDOUT by Kelsey Bishop // based on Marianna MyrickFRONT by Layne Smith // based on Kelsey BishopBACK by Layne Smith // based on Kelsey BishopINSIDE by Layne Smith // based on Kelsey BishopOUTER FOLDOUT by Layne Smith // based on Kelsey BishopINNER FOLDOUT by Layne Smith // based on Kelsey BishopFRONT by Logan Sanders // based on Tori HolmesOUTER/INNER FOLDOUT by Logan Sanders // based on Tori HolmesOUTER FOLDOUT by Logan Sanders // based on Tori HolmesFRONT by Marianna Myrick // based on McKinley RanagerBACK by Marianna Myrick // based on McKinley RanagerINSIDE by Marianna Myrick // based on McKinley RanagerOUTER FOLDOUT by Marianna Myrick // based on McKinley RanagerINNER FOLDOUT by Marianna Myrick // based on McKinley RanagerFRONT by McKinley Ranager // based on Aubrey PohlBACK by McKinley Ranager // based on Aubrey PohlINSIDE by McKinley Ranager // based on Aubrey PohlOUTER/INNER FOLDOUT by McKinley Ranager // based on Aubrey PohlINNER FOLDOUT by McKinley Ranager // based on Aubrey PohlFRONT by Paige Knapp // based on Jeremy ChildressBACK by Paige Knapp // based on Jeremy ChildressINSIDE by Paige Knapp // based on Jeremy Childress
My students’ second Photoshop project was entitled “Pen & Pixel,” in which they had to construct a self portrait. It was a requirement to scan in textures, drawings, paintings, or items they could edit to become a part of the image. Many students demonstrated impressive concepts about themselves. Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
by Ali Meelerby Sarah Tewoldeby Randi Watsonby Morgan Linnettby Justin Mayfieldby Heather Hardman
![Vector Illustration [Recovered]](https://brittanyspencer.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/section1_phoebe-fitzgerald_breakfastattiffanys-01.jpg?w=636)
Brittany Spencer // Papermaking & Graphic Design 