Add It To The Queue
Well I signed up for the free Blockbuster Online trial today. I've barely watched any movies during my time at school, and have only been to Blockbuster twice since moving to Atlanta a year and a half ago. But I figure even if I only watch one movie a week, at $14.99 a month it's cheaper than renting four movies at the store. We'll see how it goes.
Old roommate Howard Hill and I are filming a Portfolio Center movie on Thursday that will be used for the upcoming new PC website and traveling presentations by staff members. We're interviewing over 50 students and going through a virtual video tour of the school. Should be fun. And Andrew is flying into town on Friday for my birthday weekend! We will be up to no good the entire time, so stay tuned to CNN because Atlanta will never be the same.
Sunday, February 20 at 4:53 PM
The Cav Daily Would Be Proud
Much to Tammer's chagrin, Environmental Defense asked me to spruce up last month's online editorial cartoon for a print version with new characters and some dialogue tweaks. I recolored the whole thing too with some digital watercolor brushes and am pretty happy how it turned out.
Thursday, February 17 at 9:00 PM
OKSMM CONTEST UPDATE
Quick Contest Update: The response so far has been excellent but I'm still looking for as many diverse styles and interpretations as I can get! I put the envelopes up as pack-of-three .sit files for easier access. Click on a link below to download that set:
ABC :: DEF :: GHI :: JKL :: MNO :: PQR
Remember, the deadline is March 1! Email your submissions (compressed, 200-300 dpi, CMYK .tif) by then to okaysamurai@gmail.com.
Wednesday, February 16 at 8:39 PM
OKSMM CONTEST: Design an Envelope, Win $100
I'm creating a faux magazine called Envelope for that Real Images project I talked about a few weeks ago. It's comprised of personal stories about struggles with female self-image. The print magazine would be related to an online bulletin board where women worldwide could discuss the stories and offer help and solutions. So this concept of community and communication is expressed through the name Envelope.
What I'd like to do is have a diverse group of artists design a diverse group of envelopes to accompany the stories. As compensation, your name, location and website or email will appear below your illustrated envelope in print and online interactive versions of the magazine. Because I'm a broke grad student on loans, I can't offer much monetary compensation...but as an added incentive, I'll have my class vote on what envelope they like the best and pay the winning designer $100.00 US. For me, it's the easiest and cheapest way I can think of to get a diverse collection of awesome artwork from talented people. For you, it's a way to show your stuff to a primarily female audience and possibly get freelance work or recognition (or money) out of it.
Here's how it works.
1) Pick an envelope.
Take one of mine below or scan in your own (200 dpi or greater on a white background). If you want one of my envelopes, click here for how to get the high-res versions.
2) Pick a theme.
Choose the theme you want to somehow creatively illustrate: weight, self-confidence, reflections, social/media pressures, relationships, clothes, the definition of beauty, or anything that deals with the idea of female self-image.
3) Design and send to me before March 1, 2005.
*What I'm looking for: Artwork that speaks to a mature 18-25 year old female audience. Creative interpretations of your theme. Any kind of mediums and styles: hand-sketched, painted, Photoshopped, vector, collage, origami, scientific...whatever. Better to be creative with the inherent theme than a literal depiction. Possible integration of the color purple, light eggplant or deep violet. Serious, not funny.
*What I'm not looking for: Cartoons. Graphic depictions of throwing up food or female body parts. Use of an overly-masculine style (grunge/robots/technology). Overly-cutesy feminine hearts or teddy bears.
When you're finished, send your final output TIF file (compressed, at 200-300 dpi, CMYK please) to okaysamurai@gmail.com.
Spread the word to any artistic friends you may have, and let me know if you have any questions. The results will be posted at the end of March when the interactive version of the magazine goes online here. Thanks, and good luck!
Sunday, February 13 at 9:27 AM
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Ah Project Runway, my sole reality TV guilty pleasure. Tonight's episode was surprising when one of the least talented designers in the show, Wendy, somehow made it into the final three. The only possible rationale is that the judges keep her around to add more drama and tension to the show. But it's a meaningless slot anyway; this final battle is between Jay and Kara Saun. Kara's the favorite, but I wouldn't be surprised if Jay pulls through...I'll be rooting for him. Jenny, Kara Saun's model, is drop-dead gorgeous...I hope she wins the model challenge portion of the show.
The internship at Iconologic is going great. Not the standard xerox-making and coffee-ordering stuff at all. Working a 20-hour week makes for an interesting balance with the high demands of school (aka Hank), but I haven't changed into a zombie yet. If I do I'll let you know, or eat your brains - you know, whatever comes to mind first.
Wednesday, February 9 at 8:32 PM
Thanks, Google
These are always hilarious...here are some of the 238 search terms so far in February that have led people to okaysamurai.com: so you want to be a cardiologist, calculus problems pikachu problem four, how to become a real samurai online, shia leboeuf, recipe using pop tarts, eskimo profanity, ashlee simpson off key, analysis of so cold breaking benjamin, pamela deguia, cadence of seasons, worst science fair project, what if i want to be a rapper, samurai drinking soda, killer whale dioramas, a picture of an imaginary animal called the hippogriff, exploding bunny, gavin degraw's favorite animal, jolly tinker bar bronx and why do i want to be a doctor?
Tuesday, February 8 at 10:20 PM
System 06
After learning the ropes by researching and creating a new handheld cheese slicer (including concept sketches, orthographic drawings and a full-scale foam model), I'm moving on in my Product Design class to a coffee machine. Having never once used a coffee machine myself (hot chocolate for life), we took apart an existing one in class and saw how a typical device works. Being influenced by I, Robot and the artwork of Feng Zhu, my project is a coffee maker for the year 3000.
The idea is to create a "system" line of individual kitchen appliances that are easily portable and could be linked together to form helper robots. System 06 is a coffee machine that can be plugged in anywhere to start the brewing process. Grinds and water are loaded by opening up the front garage door. Once shut, the front interface allows the user to adjust settings like temperature and time, and the machine begins whirring away. A pivoted leg can fold out to help stabilize the device, and an internal battery charger and handle allows you to carry a fully charged system around while it's still brewing.
Eventually I'll have a foam model and photorealistic 3D rendering of this piece, which should be a pretty satisfying end result. Click on the photos above to see larger versions of the prototype sketches. Starbucks R&D 3000, I'll be in touch.
Saturday, February 5 at 10:05 AM
Toasted
After eating about 579.4 Pop Tarts over my teaching days, the acquired taste of processed super-sweet chocolate now stings my teeth in the morning. Ferenczy, try Cinnamon Roll and you will be converted. On a related note, I miss your famous Hot Dog Soup. On another related note, I miss you spilling the soup on our stairs in a drunken stupor.
Edit: Oh wait, it was pasta and broccoli.
Thursday, February 3 at 5:56 PM
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