Top Ten Songs That Inspire #7

This is getting harder.  If you notice any lull in between posts of this series, it's because I'm trying to decide which songs should make the list.

Without further ado, number 7 in songs that inspire is...

"Dream" by Priscilla Ahn





This song...  it always reminds me to keep my dreams in check and live my life well. So when you're old and toward the end of your life you can look back on it and smile.

 I get chilllllsssss whenever she sings "..I'm ready noooow.." toward the end.  

It's just such a calming and comforting song for me.

Also, when I heard this song play in that movie "Bride Wars" I was pretty excited.
You see... I love that movie.





Song Number 1
Song Number 2
Song Number 3
Song Number 4
Song Number 5
Song Number 6

Think those happy thoughts.

I've got inspired today to type a list of happy thoughts.  Something I think we should all concentrate on, especially when we are not in an ideal situation.  Instead of thinking down on ourselves (or others), let's all put together a list that is easy to remember.

  It doesn't have to be certain events.. it could be something small.  As small as a favorite of something.  Anything that makes you smile.

• The feeling of anticipation of something. (i.e. a vacation, book release, etc.)
• Walking outside and it's warm ...but it's raining.. only it's one of those misty rains.
• Laughing until there are tears.
• Getting lost in a good book.  Like, you're loosing track of time but you don't care because IT'S SUCH A GOOD BOOK. 
• The silly feeling when you're favorite show/movie comes on and you getting all giggly when something sweet happens. 
• Warm summer nights sitting around a campfire.
• Everyone is equal.  Everyone is on this earth to do something: No matter where you stand on the social ladder. 
• The feeling that anything can happen if you just work hard at what you do best. 

I'm sure there are more, but this is just a start. 

So, what are your happy thoughts?

-Cindy

Top Ten Songs That Inspire #3

Why, hello there!  Been awhile, huh?  I know.. I know, no excuses... I will finish this list... I WILL. :)

The third song in My Top Ten Songs That Inspire is....

"I Won't Give Up" -Jason Mraz




I loved this song as soon as I heard it.  It's a gorgeous melody with gorgeous lyrics that just lifts you up to help you be the best person you can.

"..we got a lot to learn... God knows we're worth it.  No, I won't give up."


Mr. Mraz has done it again.  I... Love... It

Song Number 1

Song Number 2

My Top Ten Songs to Inspire... #2

The second song that inspires me is a song from the Narnia soundtrack (Prince Caspian).  "The Call" by Regina Spektor.

This song gives me hope that just because things change...  just because people may leave... you always have those memories.  You can always think back to those times.  
"Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light.." This is one of my favorite lines in this song.  The way I illustrated this line is different because I didn't include a star, but you get the picture.  Following the light is key.  

Song Number 1

Next song should be up in a few days!  

Find some songs that inspire you! (:

-Cindy

My Top Ten Songs That Inspire... Intro + Song # 1

I have decided to create a series of posts for you all.  I know that I get inspired by music and I'm sure I am not the only one.  Throughout the next week or two (depending how quickly I can work) I am going to be posting ten sections of this series.  A song and how it inspires me.  

First song... One of my very favorites that can easily put me in the most positive mood!

"Feeling Good" -Michael Buble





When I think of this song, I think of anything that makes me FEEL GOOD.  I think about starting over.  New beginnings. "...a new dawn ... a new day..." 


So, I came up with a quick little sketch in Adobe Illustrator.

Pretty much an abstract view of a sun rise, birds included! 

Do you get inspired by this song?  What are some songs you're inspired by?

Keep checking back throughout the week for the next song/artwork!

-Cindy

Want to view my entire list?

Song Number 1

Song Number 2

Song Number 3

Song Number 4

Song Number 5

Song Number 6

Song Number 7

Song Number 8

Song Number 9

Song Number 10

Exploring Color: How I handle it.

I LOVE color.  I've thought about designating one day a week to a post just on COLOR.  How great would that be?! Awesome, huh?  ...just me?  I'll even give it a way cool name and everything!

Anywho, haven't even started THIS post yet.


I think color is super, uber important.  Every artist, no matter what your medium, should have a color wheel.

It makes your life easier and eventually you'll be able to go without it.

Colors on the opposite of the color wheel is called "complementary" for a reason.  Those colors show the best in each other.  Even the muted tones, I tend to grab colors that are opposite each other.



Mixing cool colors with warm can really tone done the warm colors. In the picture to the left, if I had gone with a yellow background (i like yellow), the project as a whole would not come across the way that it does.  There really wouldn't be a calming effect, at all. Which is what I wanted.


Pretty self explanatory, but I like talking about it.  Yay, color! Three cheers for color! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

.......

Ignore me. 

How do you use color in your day to day life? Even if you aren't an artist, look at the color around you.  Especially in your home decor.  What kind of colors have you used in decorating your home/room?

 I've been on a blogging spree this week! I mean, every day so far! Not to shabby, huh?

Off to send out more resumes.  Peace. 

Be Creative!

Cindy

Been awhile + Jar of Optimism

Well, hello there!  It's been awhile. 

I've wanted to post something in the past couple of weeks, but we've been short-handed at work and it's been crazy busy.  Also, the projects I've been working on has been Christmas gifts.  Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the snazzy 'Cindy-fied' knitted scarves before wrapping them.  I'll have to knit one quickly sometime and post it.  What I did with these scarves was knit the 'eyelash' yarn and regular yarn (is there a better name for it?) together I think it went together well.

For one gift that I do have a picture of, which is a Christmas present for a friend (she doesn't have it yet.. I am refraining from posting this on facebook until she opens it) is the Jar of Optimism.   "What is this 'Jar of Optimism'?" you may ask? Well, it's a jar that has a much of inspirational quotes inside that you can keep on your dresser/table/wherever and when you are feeling down, open the jar and read a quote. 

I got the inspiration from this jar from this video and just tweeked it a bit.  Added a bit of my own flair.

I'm thinking that I should have made the tag a little smaller, huh? Next time.

One last week of 2011 left!  Enjoy it and make it worth it. :) 
I, for one, am in full swing of 'Get That Full Time Job in My Field By the New Year'.  Positive thoughts, please!

Hope everyone has a great Christmas.

Cindy

Favorite Art Blogs!

There are so many great art blogs on the web that I have enjoyed reading lately.  Today I have decided to share some with everyone.

I'll get right into it:
(in no particular order..)

• Awkward & Beautiful- http://www.awkwardandbeautiful.com/
• I absolutely adore this blog!  She is such a talented person and you can get so much inspiration from her!I always get excited when I see a new post by her, whether it be via twitter, or bloglovin'. 
• Studio Sweet Studio- http://studio-sweet-studio.com/
• This is a new blog that I recently started reading.  With each blog post, I yearn to have my own studio space instead of a few random places in the house.  They feature different artists, which is wonderful!  I love finding new and upcoming artists. 
• Travel Write Draw- http://travelwritedraw.blogspot.com/
• Love, love LOVE this  young woman's illustrations!  She's only been blogging for a year, but I have a feeling it's ONLY the beginning. 

There you go!  Three of my favorite art blogs.  I have quite a few others, which I will list next time. :) Check out these three for now.

Smile!

Inspiration through pictures! Jewelry Edition.

As you may know if you are a frequent visitor to my blog, or read my tweets on twitter, I have been on a jewelry making kick lately.  I tend to get inspiration by looking at other pieces and seeing if I can put my own spin on one of my own.

This Y necklace on amazon.com has gorgeous colors that please your eye, well, my eye, anyway. :)

Sometimes even browsing the shops on etsy strikes some inspiration or an idea for a gift for someone! This shop has some nice pieces for wrap bracelets: http://uk.etsy.com/shop/DesignsbyMindy

Or vintage!! 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78178361/27-pcs-vintage-jewelry-lot-destashcreamy?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_type=all&ga_includes%5B0%5D=tags&ga_search_query=vintage_jewelry&ga_facet= 

Check out some of her other great stuff, while you're there!

What are some of your favorite jewelry?

What are ways that YOU look for inspiration?

Music speaks part dos

As I was going through my (forgotten) flickr account, I noticed one poster design that I came up with, just because and I was wondering why I had forgotten about it. 

I remember when I started this, I was trying to create something primarily with typography.  I remember that I originally didn't want the black part for the 'hair' because I wanted to create that just with words, but it ended up looking better this way.  Eventually, I'll have to make something new and ONLY random fonts.

Things I would change?  I would change the words that I placed in the hair so that the person was thinking about something creative.  I think, anyway. 

Do you know/have of any art that uses ONLY typography?

Books to Inspire! 3 of 3, Your favorite artist...

Now this might sound a bit cliché, but the 3rd book in my Books to Inspire! series is any book by your favorite artist.  Now you may be asking why I would even suggest this after mentioning in my first part how much books for school never ended up being used much... I have an answer for that.  Atleast for me, those books weren't chosen by me.  When you are in the bookstore next time, browse the arts section and if you find a book of an artist you love, purchase it.  Since you are looking yourself for a book, you'll use it. 

Even if it's just for the pretty pictures.  Inspiration can come from this.  Of course, one should never just lean on books for inspiration.  Sometimes it doesn't help.. so if this happens, look out your window.  Go outside.  There is inspiration all around you.

Thank you for reading!

For the rest of this series:
Part 2
Part 1

Inspiring books 2 of 3! "The Complete Typographer"

The second book in my inspiring books 3-part-series is "The Complete Typographer 2nd edition" by Will Hill.

Unlike my last post, this book was actually a book that I needed for my class.  Did I use it during the class? Sometimes.  So, I suppose there are some books out there that you should hold onto after the class.  This one is one of them.  It's not one of those boring books.  It tells you what you can do with typography. 
To make a graphic in Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop, yes, you can make images and snazzy shapes (yes, I did type snazzy..), but you can do so much with just TYPE. 

After reading this, I dare you to open which ever graphics program you like best and create something using just typography.  BIG&BOLD, small, and even tilt some of the words side ways.  Why not?  Even change the kerning.  Making the letters squished close to each other sometimes forms a picture in it's self.

So, in short.. "The Complete Typographer" has some really great stuff in it.  It'll take you to a whole different level with your art. 

Where can I purchase this?

Amazon, I find lots through you!
Complete Typographer: A Manual for Designing with Type, 2nd Edition
I suggest looking through the used books!  This book new seems quite expensive.. eep! I mean, buy it new at 100 bucks, or used at 6/7 bucks? Yeah. I wonder which. :)


Check out the first in the Books to Inspire! Series:
"The Imagineering Workout"


Have a wonderful day, friends!


*all opinions are my own*

Books to inspire! series, Up first: "The Imagineering Workout"

Books?  As in the same books you had to get for a class in college, but you ended up barely using it?  Yep, except better.

I have found a few books that has helped inspire me into creating something.  In this 3 book series spread out into 3 days (hopefully!), I will show you my favorites. 

First up for today..

SMILE! Taped Canvas with meaning

For this next project, I actually got the idea from watching tv.  I know, insane, huh?  Well, last week during the new show Switched At Birth, the character 'Bae' was putting tape on a canvas (she's an artist) and it got me thinking about how it would come out and what ways would work with this method.

Of course I would have to try it out because I became so excited about this. 

before the tape...

First and foremost I put masking tape on a canvas in an intriguing design. 

 It is quite hard to get a curved line with tape.  Just saying. :) 

After I got it perfect I decided on a color I wanted.  I chose a blueish/green this time.  Took me awhile to get the color perfect.  On this specific one, I may have put too much paint on it, the next time I may try not to paint so many coats.   

final outcome

I'm thinking about trying some where the color fades to different colors.  If you have any ideas leave a comment below, or tweet me on twitter @cindydesigns!  

I'm hoping to do more of these styles as it is fun and easy.  Gets your point across quite easily as well.  (:

Now go out there and smile!! ( : ( :