http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:esodesign&section=today deviantART RSS for by:esodesign en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:29:46 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/4736461/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/4736461/ Sat, 05 Mar 2005 17:14:29 PST
Problem is... I don't have my handy-dandy internet connection anymore. Soo... I can't post as much as I like. Things will get better... ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/3826000/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/3826000/ Sat, 13 Nov 2004 14:19:26 PST
Peace. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2878870/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2878870/ Wed, 14 Jul 2004 08:49:39 PDT
In addition to my new cable modem, I recently procured a copy of... Illustrator CS. I've been spending the last few days getting used to the new features and stuff.

A bit of kinda-but-not-really bad news. The pieces I'm working on now (particularly the Impala in my scraps) will be put on temporary hold. I've got a few more important pieces to work on, specifically a series of illustrations of porsche that may or may not actually make it to dA.

Well, that's it for now.

PEACE BITCHES! ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2665039/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2665039/ Tue, 15 Jun 2004 08:44:01 PDT
But now I feel like I've got way high standards to live up to with all this attention. I'm a slacker... I'll admit it. I'm used to staying in my nice little vector artist niche in the corner of dA, popping out periodically to actually explain what the hell vector art is and then scurrying back. Now I've got people looking at me. What do I do?

On the bright side, I do have a hand drawn piece that I've been debating on submitting. It'll be up as soon as I get my scanner back.

Now that I'm out of classes for a few weeks, I'll have a bit of time between my internship and random freelance jobs to do some deviatin'!

Oh, check my scraps periodically for previews of my upcoming vectors!

PEACE BITCHES!

-eso ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2611653/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2611653/ Tue, 08 Jun 2004 09:37:21 PDT
When I got to my messages I saw that most of these messages were +favorites and comments on my stuff. Woah gang... hold the phone. What?!?!

Turns out that ^voodoo-prophet featured my piece as one of the deaily deviations while I was gone. Holy shit... so now I've got like 2000 views and 168 +favs on this one piece and it's not even my favorite piece. Thanks voodoo... I really appreciate that you thought that much of my work.

Well after calling my roommate ~ witchhunter-geist to gloat I went to bed. Well this morning I realized that I have t reply to every one of these comments and messages... I'm not one of those assholes who doesn't appreciate a +fav... I treat every one like it's my first one and appreciate them equally.

The positive is that the exposure will draw people to my page to see my other pieces... so responding to 300 messages a very small price to pay. But the moral of the story is that no matter how big you think that you'll get. Appreciate every bit of criticism and praise you recieve. People will respect you more if you respect them.. they took the time to +fav you, have the common courtesy to return the favor.

You never know when it'll be the last comment you'll get.

Thanks for all of your comment, positive, negative and otherwise. Whether you know it or not, you've been shaping me into the artist that I am today. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2144738/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2144738/ Sat, 03 Apr 2004 14:31:40 PST
I remember years ago, when I first decided to be an artist and make moves to support myself with my art. It's here that I see where I went wrong as an artist. Whenever I decided to create a piece digitally, no analog work went into it. My work was either on the computer or off the computer... there was no overlap or crossover. Here is where I went wrong.

When you create a work in the digital medium, there must be a large degree of conceptual work which goes into it before you ever touch the keyboard or mouse or wacom. Otherwise, whatever you do will be limited by what the computer can do. Ypu become a filter whore. The imagination of an artist is incredibly larger than any list of filters or effects can contain.

If you don't think about what you're gonna do before you do it, you'll find yourself only doing what the filters and effects allow you. Turn off your computer and think, sketch and conceptualize. Decide what you want to do. Stretch your creative haunches... you'll find that the things you can come up with are infinitely better than before. And if the program won't do what you want it to do. Turn the computer back off and find another way.

Let's become artists, not button pushing monkeys. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2058367/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/2058367/ Sun, 21 Mar 2004 19:59:34 PST
So, a few days ago I decided to post one of my first pieces: [Waaay Old Honda Integra Type R]. I'd like to compare it to my newest piece: [Silvia s15 poweredBy esoDesign].

.//Why compare?//.

I chose these two because they are so similar. Both pieces are of cars. Both are based on photographs. Both are vector pieces built in versions Adobe Illustrator. To get more specific, both pieces use points, paths, gradients and gradient meshes. The way I went about creating both piece in nearly indentical. But, if this is all true, why do they look so different?

.//Why the Integra sucks//.

The Integra is both an example of my inexperience and my impatience, two traits that ran rampantly in my life and dictated most of my actions of the time. The piece is by no means representative of my talents and potential at the time. I've got a [piece] a year or so older than the Integra in my gallery which looks incredibly better. That piece also took waaay longer than 2 hours to complete. More like 2 weeks longer.

.//What's the big deal?//.

The only difference (aside the obvious make and model of the vehicle) is time. The only difference is the amount of time spent creating the pieces. Where the Integra took less than 2 hours from beginning to end, the Silvia took more hours than I cared to count. If I'd quit working on the Silvia 2 hours after I decided to do it, it would have looked remarkably similar to the Integra.

.//What's the secret?//.
Patience. The Silvia has thousands more points and hundreds more shapes. Many more hours went into creating it. Aside from that there's no difference in the way I went about creating the pieces. Just the pen tool to create shapes, then gradients or gradient meshes. What I've learned this year is that greatness comes with time. By taking my time with a piece, I can be sure that it will be as good as I can make it. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1711050/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1711050/ Tue, 20 Jan 2004 08:25:18 PST
[begin shameless pimping]

// Carz //

[2004 Honda Civic Si]
[ZoomZoom]
[Ford Focus RS]
[MitsuLancerEvoVII]


// Girlz //

[U Still Miss Me?]
[Sexual Chocolate Retry]
[Purple Pool Babe]
[Purple Pool Babe Wallpaper]
[Neu Purple Bikini]
[Devious Miette]
[Devious Miette - Detail]


// Designz //

[The Velvet Elvis]
[the art of chessboxing]
[Kaponegro Illustration]
[Illustration Exercise No-1]
[EsoDesign - RESIST]


// Other //

[Geisha Girl -w- Umbrella]
[A Sword Named Izanami]

Stop look at my junk, feel free to comment.

[/end shameless pimping] ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1711033/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1711033/ Tue, 20 Jan 2004 08:22:12 PST
// What does "vector" mean? //

Vector Art is a technique, not a style. Perhaps a better term for the category would be "vector-based art," meaning art created in a vector-based program. Vector art consists of creating paths and points in a program such as illustrator or freehand. The program keeps track of the relationships between these points and paths. Everytime the image is scaled, the paths are regenerated... this creates images that are infinitely scalable without degradation. Great for illustrations, logos and things that need to be sharp. So vector art is anything that's created in illustrator, freehand, corel draw, flash or other & quot; vector" illustration programs. (vector programs: Illustrator, Freehand, Flash, Corel Draw...)

The other side of the coin is raster art. Raster art consists of pixel information, where every pixel is assigned a RGB or CMYK value. This can create smoother and more detailed images for photos and paintings, but if the image is scaled, the program has to create new information resulting in that crappy look too massively scaled gifs and jpegs. (Raster programs: Photoshop, Painter, Fireworks, MS Paint, Gimp, etc.)

// What isn't a vector? //

Just because something is "cell shaded" or "flat colored" does NOT MAKE IT A VECTOR. The CUTOUT filter creates a raster-based image and thus is disqualified from ever being considered a vector image. Only a vector program such as Illustrator or Freehand or Flash can create a vector image... a true vector takes time to create. The artist makes decisions on how much or how little detail to include. The artist makes decisions on colors to use. These are the same decisions one makes before sitting down with conte crayons, pastels or oil paint.

I understand that these days there is some program overlap. Yeah, Photoshop has some vector tools and Illustrator has some raster tools. But, if you use the lasso and the paint bucket, you are NOT CREATING VECTOR-BASED ARTWORK. If you run a filter, it is NOT A VECTOR. Adobe created two programs for a reason. Photoshop is a raster-based program. Illustrator is a vector-based one.

// What does vector-art look like? //

Long story short... Vector is not a " style" like anime, but a "medium" like charcoal. Asking what vector-art looks like is like asking what an oil painting looks like. It could look like Rembrandt, Picasso or a 5th grader. (A very talented 5th grader!)

Look at nyctopterus or pods or novenarik or chiggah714 for an idea of what really good vector looks like... no filters here! Each artist has their OWN STYLE and technique... but each is considered vector art because of the tools used in creation. [ Shameless plug: Hey while you're at it check out my [gallery].]

Vector doesn't automatically mean flat shaded, just like "painting" doesn't mean high detail. Vector-based programs include tools for use with gradients and meshes, and thusly can be used to create high detail illustrations.

// Isn't vector just tracing? //

It can be. Just like a color-pencil drawing of your favorite anime character could be a tracing. Or just like that photo-manip you just +fav'd could contain copyrighted work. Just like any other artist could use a photo as a reference.

There are those who would do things like tracing, but if they weren't tracing in illustrator, they'd be tracing on paper.

Granted, I don't personally believe that there's anything wrong with tracing if used in the right context. For example, if I trace this picture of Gambit, leave it as is and run around saying I drew it. THen you would be justified in stoning me. However, if I'm working on a package for a company and I need to trace their crappy bitmapped logo to sharpen it up.. it's cool. Or if you trace something, then modify it for your own needs. Many professionals use tracing. Just don't fake the funk, We will find out. If you traced something, say you traced it. It's like using stock photography on a photo-manip. Quote the source, you'll thank yourself in the morning.

// But I can't afford PS and Illustrator... //

Do you think that anyone cares what you can or can't afford?!?!? Just kiding. Check this out: ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1575524/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1575524/ Tue, 20 Jan 2004 08:24:28 PST
[begin shameless pimping]

// Carz //

[2004 Honda Civic Si]
[ZoomZoom]
[Ford Focus RS]
[MitsuLancerEvoVII]


// Girlz //

[U Still Miss Me?]
[Sexual Chocolate Retry]
[Purple Pool Babe]
[Purple Pool Babe Wallpaper]
[Neu Purple Bikini]
[Devious Miette]
[Devious Miette - Detail]


// Designz //

[The Velvet Elvis]
[the art of chessboxing]
[Kaponegro Illustration]
[Illustration Exercise No-1]
[EsoDesign - RESIST]


// Other //

[Geisha Girl -w- Umbrella]
[A Sword Named Izanami]

Stop look at my junk, feel free to comment.

[/end shameless pimping] ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1516060/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1516060/ Wed, 10 Dec 2003 11:58:00 PST
In the meanwhile, I'll try to keep commenting as well as I can.

Later dayz! ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1209112/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/1209112/ Sat, 27 Sep 2003 09:14:51 PDT
Don't blame me... blame my crap apartment. No cable modem, no DSL provider, and I can't get a landline for dial up b/c my credit sucks... so for now I'm connecting at work and at school and where ever else I can get in.

Good news, I'm getting my new laptop in a few days! Oh joy! So maybe I'll start using those new fangled T-Mobile hotspots at Borders and Starbucks. Does anyone know how expensive (or inexpensive) the rates on those hotspots can get? ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/869509/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/869509/ Mon, 23 Jun 2003 19:27:21 PDT






]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/841197/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/841197/ Mon, 16 Jun 2003 14:17:16 PDT Got some free time? Check out these artists that I think are worth a peek... or two... or three:

personal fave, great vector work.
new deviant, looks promising... check her out!
excellent photographer, check her out!
Too cool for words.
great photography... have a look.
lots of good stuff... just look and see.
great vector/ freaky photo-manip
just great all around! a bit odd, but great! ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/811529/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/811529/ Sun, 08 Jun 2003 22:12:29 PDT
Most people will notice that when I comment, I usually find what's wrong with the piece in question. This is good. I expect the same treatment from each of you. By pointing out the flaws in our work, we drive each other to perfection. Sure we could all go around posting and stroking egos, but no one would improve as an artist.

So when I say that your piece needs work, don't take it as an insult. If I were a negative person, I wouldn't point out issues because I wouldn't want you to improve. We're all imperfect and all can learn, even myself.

So let's develop thicker skin, get out there and critique.

Got some free time? Check out these artists that I think are worth a peek:
great photography
great vector work
great everything
great vector/ freaky photo-manip
just great all around! a bit odd, but great! ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/777090/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/777090/ Fri, 30 May 2003 12:24:44 PDT ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/742097/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/742097/ Tue, 20 May 2003 09:59:30 PDT foo reads my journal entries... but with foo, you don't need anyone else. (Love ya, foo!)

That being said, I'm gonna post anyway...

I recently have begun experiementation with the PNG image format. It's lossless and compact. Like getting the best of TIFF and JPEG without any compromise. Everytime you save a JPEG, you loose a bit of quality/sharpness/detail. This doesn't happen with PNG. And PNG files are significantly smaller than TIFFs. I like quality.

PNGs can also carry gamma/color profile information. This means that regardless of whether you're on a PC or Mac, have a bright or dark monitor, expensive or cheap, my images can appear more or less exactly how I want them to.

There's also the fact than PNG supports a fourth channel in RGB, the alpha channel. This allows artists to include transparency information for every pixel, much like Adobe Photoshop. Sure GIFs offer transparency, but GIFs function on an ON/OFF basis. There is no 50% opacity... you have to fudge it using a dither and the background color must be known in advance for smooth transition. With PNG, you can create drop shadows and glows similar to those created in Photoshop. Fun stuff for web designers!

Perfect contrast, perfect color & lossless quality. It seem like a win, win, win situation, except the format isn't as widely accepted as it should be... DA accepts PNG as a submittable format, but the problem lies in browser support... You can view PNG files in most browsers, but the advanced features (transparency, gamma, etc.) aren't as widely supported. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/697176/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/697176/ Wed, 07 May 2003 07:12:39 PDT
On the other hand, I think that being able to draw from various techniques to create a piece will make me into a better artist. For example, I can create a vector based work inspired by a photograph I've taken, or I can integrate raster aspects into vector pieces. This, in my opinion, creates a more dynamic aesthetic, as well as some interesting surprises.

Of course, I am but one idiot... with something of a skewed view of the world. However, I'm interested in what you think. Actually, I'm curious if anyone actually reads my journal entries. Leave your comments, ideas and concerns in my comments section. I'd like to know what you think. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/692739/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/692739/ Mon, 05 May 2003 19:56:48 PDT
I have been creating artwork, albeit slowly. If only I had an Intuos tablet, I'd be able to create a little more quickly and easily. Mousing hurts my hand and so I have to take breaks. Perhaps there's a Wacom in my future...

Anyway, be sure to check out my gallery. I just added an illo of the Mazda RX-7 and a colorist exercise (Kaboom Kyra, drawn by Keron Grant).

N-joi! ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/512871/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/512871/ Mon, 24 Feb 2003 23:52:41 PST
Once again, thanks for your comments. I really appreciate them... it makes me feel good knowing that people are looking at my stuff, but above all, when I get a comment, I look at your stuff. It's a win-win situation.

One last thing. I really like comments that have substance. Don't just tell me that you like the piece or that you don't like it... I want to know WHAT you like and WHAT you don't like... this way I can improve my work! Trust me.. I'll be telling you about your work in the future, so just let me have it!

'Nuff Said. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/510838/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/510838/ Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:04:37 PST
However, my real talent is Graphic Design, so most of the work I find on my hard drive consists of flyer designs, CD covers, etc.

There will be more of my crap uploaded soon... and trust me, it will be great. (As you can tell, modesty isn't one of my strong points.) Just kidding... I invite your feedback, positive and negative, so let me have it.

Anyway... I'm off to upload somemore.... oh look! I've got my first few views and (gasp) COMMENTS! Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy....

Gotta go. ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/505915/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/505915/ Thu, 20 Feb 2003 23:26:48 PST
I've got a few pics that I need to clean, matte and upload. I can hardly wait! I'm getting giddy just thinking of it.

I've also got a roll in the camera now that I think has some killer shots of something on it... my problem is I always forget what's on a roll by the time I develop it. I really need a digital camera, but I refuse to settle for what I can afford... oh well. It makes visiting the photolab loads of fun though! I just love surprises!

tee hee tee hee.

'Til next post...

Eso_Design / Esoteric Design Co.
Atlanta, GA ]]> ~esodesign http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/503015/ http://esodesign.deviantart.com/journal/503015/ Wed, 19 Feb 2003 12:48:02 PST
I've been living for 21 years, so I'm pretty good at it. A pretty carefree person with a total lack of responisibility. I'd rather Photoshop for hours than find a real job or go to class. My work is pretty diverse and I like to let it speak for itself, so I won't say much here about it...

I've got like 5 years of working with Photoshop and Illustrator and I'm just starting to understand it's potential... not that I'm stupid or anything, maybe a little dense...

I had more to say, but my short memory and even shorter attention span isn't letting me go farther with this... so, I'll try again later. I've got work to do, if I want some deviations in my gallery.

'Til next post...

Eso_Design / Esoteric Design Co.
Atlanta, GA ]]> ~esodesign