I'd like to say how truly bright you are.
You don't know me but I know you,
See, you're my favorite star. - Jason Mraz
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Who Needs Shelter?
I'd like to say how truly bright you are.
You don't know me but I know you,
See, you're my favorite star. - Jason Mraz
Life is a Beach Chair
Friday, April 2, 2010
Quick Spec. Book Cover Design
As I look for freelance positions online, I see a lot of Publication company's looking for Freelance Graphic Designers with **book design** experience. While not everyone has experience in the exact fields that some employers are looking for, designers make Spec Designs which are Designs made by the designer, but on their own creativity and terms, and not a clients. So, take this Publishers, and allow me to show you my Book Cover Design Experience!!!!
Book cover for "Friends, Lovers, or Nothing"
Book cover for "Friends, Lovers, or Nothing"
It's obvious to see that I was listening to John Mayer's "Battle Studies" while working on this, but that's the beauty of Spec work! When the design is speaking, the inspiration for content can come from anywhere!
Artful Meaning
In the journey down the long road that is my fascination for art, one of my stops was an infatuation with traditional Japanese Art. From old canvases scribbled with beautiful depictions of ancient Japanese mythology, to the sushi we get at lunch, its clear that the Japanese have a strong tradition in art (I mean, sometimes a Japanese meal is presented so beautifully, sometimes I feel bad eating it).
Around the same time, I was weighing the option of getting a second tattoo on my arm and the two ideas interchanged in my mind beautifully. I began researching traditional Japanese art that I really enjoyed looking at (after all Mike, this is going to be on you, forever). Koi fishes stood out most to me, mainly because of how they are drawn, and they symbolism behind them.
According to Eastern Asian traditions, a Koi fish swims upstream, against the tides of the Yellow River, onto Dragon Gate. If it succeeds in doing so, it becomes a Dragon. I thought of getting a Koi fish swimming upstream, symbolizing the determination to reach great achievements in my life.Looking at a fish by itself swimming upstream as a symbolic meaning to my life is beautiful to me, but as an artist, I knew I could maybe add either more elements of eye popping traditional art, or some more symbolic elements. Why not have my cake and eat it to and do both?
Cherry Blossoms and lotus flowers are also elements of Japanese art and happen to be a favorite of mine. Cherry blossom flowers tend to be a little smaller, so the idea was to symbolize my family by getting 5 Cherry Blossom flowers (3 children, 2 parents) surrounding the Koi fish's journey to success....we could all use support from loved ones to help get anywhere in life. Lastly was a Lotus flower that I dedicated to my Opa, that I shared a strong relationship with before he passed away.
So, idea in my mind, I took it to an amazing artist named Jimbo at Lark Tattoo to put my ideas into a beautiful piece of artwork that would last forever. In the end, I could not have asked for anything more. The result was dead on to what I imagined, and I am happy to own this piece of art and wear it every day:
Outer arm.
Around the same time, I was weighing the option of getting a second tattoo on my arm and the two ideas interchanged in my mind beautifully. I began researching traditional Japanese art that I really enjoyed looking at (after all Mike, this is going to be on you, forever). Koi fishes stood out most to me, mainly because of how they are drawn, and they symbolism behind them.
According to Eastern Asian traditions, a Koi fish swims upstream, against the tides of the Yellow River, onto Dragon Gate. If it succeeds in doing so, it becomes a Dragon. I thought of getting a Koi fish swimming upstream, symbolizing the determination to reach great achievements in my life.Looking at a fish by itself swimming upstream as a symbolic meaning to my life is beautiful to me, but as an artist, I knew I could maybe add either more elements of eye popping traditional art, or some more symbolic elements. Why not have my cake and eat it to and do both?
Cherry Blossoms and lotus flowers are also elements of Japanese art and happen to be a favorite of mine. Cherry blossom flowers tend to be a little smaller, so the idea was to symbolize my family by getting 5 Cherry Blossom flowers (3 children, 2 parents) surrounding the Koi fish's journey to success....we could all use support from loved ones to help get anywhere in life. Lastly was a Lotus flower that I dedicated to my Opa, that I shared a strong relationship with before he passed away.
So, idea in my mind, I took it to an amazing artist named Jimbo at Lark Tattoo to put my ideas into a beautiful piece of artwork that would last forever. In the end, I could not have asked for anything more. The result was dead on to what I imagined, and I am happy to own this piece of art and wear it every day:
Outer arm.
Inner arm. Tattoo done by Jimbo, Lark Tattoo.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
And I'll know my songs well before I start a-singin,
Yes, I'll know my songs well before I start a-singin,
It's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard....
A hard rain's a-gonna fall" - Bob Dylan
Catching up to speed (with a ton of inspiration)
As may rolls around, I'm coming closer and closer to my Master's Degree in Advertising. I am hoping the job search will be more successful than it has been for the past year, because it was anything but successful.
The good folks over at GoDaddy.com canceled my ManyouMedia.com domain and my new portfolio site will now be hosted at the domain, www.mikemanusama.com . I'm stoked, as it gives me a reason to almost re-brand myself, do some more creative work, and design more things for my portfolio. I've decided to outlet myself, and my name into any creative outlets possible, weather it be graphic design, production, web design, or copy writing. I like to blog, as it serves as a column-like editorial for people to publicly review my writing ability. My portfolio will showcase all the creative work I have done, from simple logos, to short documentary production, editing and filming.
Inspirations for the design for mikemanusama.com are taken from various vintage era's, mainly early 1900's, an era in design that interests me.
Praying this change in attitude and determination will land me a gig that I have always been waiting for!
Hope to see you all on the greener side...
The good folks over at GoDaddy.com canceled my ManyouMedia.com domain and my new portfolio site will now be hosted at the domain, www.mikemanusama.com . I'm stoked, as it gives me a reason to almost re-brand myself, do some more creative work, and design more things for my portfolio. I've decided to outlet myself, and my name into any creative outlets possible, weather it be graphic design, production, web design, or copy writing. I like to blog, as it serves as a column-like editorial for people to publicly review my writing ability. My portfolio will showcase all the creative work I have done, from simple logos, to short documentary production, editing and filming.
Inspirations for the design for mikemanusama.com are taken from various vintage era's, mainly early 1900's, an era in design that interests me.
Praying this change in attitude and determination will land me a gig that I have always been waiting for!
Hope to see you all on the greener side...
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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