Recently I finished up a very patriotic project that is a lot of fun to see all over town! I designed this year’s logo for Firecracker 6. The Firecracker 6 is a six mile race held every 4th of July, in downtown Indianapolis. It was spectacular to be involved with such a great community event, and to see such a great turn out! I’ve attached a few fun pictures from the race, as well as the final logo. Enjoy!
Official Logo for the Firecracker 6
http://www.amanderson.com/2011/07/firecracker-6/
Here you have it! My first official post for Illustration Friday! I’m excited to say I actually did it. Maybe I put too much effort into my first post-(I’m hearing Danielle Duncan’s eyes rolling around in her head)-ok perhaps I put way too much work into it. I won’t post how long exactly.
I’m excited to see this as a starting point for me. I have a decent handle on drawing, but I need to learn to paint as confidently as I draw. I’m excited how this one turned out, and I’m even more excited to do more and improve my speed.
Sometimes I believe that I can do great work without practice. But in fact, I believe the best artists in the field rely less on natural ability, and more on sheer hard work. I’m interested to see how this applies to my life as I continue to paint. I know that if I set my mind to it, I’m sure to gain confidence in this area.
But, I must talk about the inspiration for this piece! The theme “Midsummer Night” brought a wash of wonderful memories growing up on a farm, and tirelessly playing outdoors after the sun went down. My husband, Robert, and I went back to my parent’s place recently, and I was able to again experience the natural beauty of the rural countryside after dark. I enjoyed how dark the night actually became, and the glow of distant cities light up the horizon. And so many stars! I truly miss seeing stars.
But what I remember most about summer nights were the sounds. I would lie awake in my bed as a child and listen to the cacophony of sounds all night long. We have a small pond in our back yard, and our nights would be filled with this symphony of sound: crickets, toads, bullfrogs, bugs. It’s like Pavarotti to me. I had to illustrate, in my own way, the dramatic bullfrog wooing his mate, by singing in the moonlight.
http://www.amanderson.com/2011/06/if-midsummer-night/
Keeping busy is the name of the game these past few months. Robert and I have traversed the the midwest, as well as our fair city, and shot some wonderful photos of the botanical gardens here in town. I love finding pockets of inspiration hidden in unlikely places. I particularly enjoyed these macro shots of desert plants.
http://www.amanderson.com/2011/05/bits-of-inspiration/
A few months ago my cousin Jaime Frimpong and I were talking on the phone. She lives with her husband Kofi in Knoxville, Tennessee and is earning her masters in social work. We like to catch up now and then, as we’ve been life-long friends, literally since infancy. (I have photos to prove it.) She was outlining the details of her recent trip to visit her in-laws for the first time, in Ghana, Africa. She described the sights and smells and tastes of such a different place, and the joys of seeing her beloved family for the first time ever. She and her husband had a wonderfully memorable experience, and it was a joy to share in the retelling of that story. Read the full post »
http://www.amanderson.com/2011/04/883/
“Don’t take no for an answer, and leave no prisoners behind!”
I was in need of a battle cry, and I found one. These words were written to me yesterday in an email from a friend, probably in jest. However I found myself shocked at the weight that they carried throughout my day. My first thoughts were myself as a bloodthirstily pirate, brave beyond my years, and merciless to anyone who crosses me. I go about pillaging and plundering like a rogue, burning the villages and taking no prisoners. Boiling, slashing, and burning with red-hot ambition!
Traditionally I am considerate to a fault. Soft around the edges, and obliging in every respect. I’d rather be uncomfortable myself than make anyone else around me uncomfortable. I’m rather like my father, who is that way himself. However, also like my father, a true McDonald scottsman, I am deep down a scotts-woman with blood redder than a boiled lobster. My McDonald determination is raging inside me, ready to be fully realized. Here I go! Village people, close your shutters, dogs you must cower with your tails tucked! Look out world, here I come, and I’m not taking no for an answer!
http://www.amanderson.com/2011/04/dont-take-no-for-an-answer-and-leave-no-prisoners-behind/
In the past few months I’ve been developing the art of concepting, and slowly the time between when I start a project and when it’s completed is begining to shorten. In college I’d start to panic when I narrowed in on 3 days before a project was due. Now there are times I’m given a project 30 minutes before it is sent to the printer! Of course I prefer time to ruminate on a project to produce a holistic concept or interesting imagery, but some projects simply don’t allow me take three days to leisurely flip throughly magazines or photos for inspiration! Ideas must come fast, and now I’m getting on the offensive and take my projects by storm. Concepting a great idea is the place that generally takes me, or any designer really, the most time. It’s the hardest work I will ever do on any project—and it’s mostly done in my head. Read the full post »
http://www.amanderson.com/2011/04/the-art-of-concepting/
Totally inspired by "When Pigs Fly" by Mark Meyers. Be sure to check out more of his fantastically creative illustrations at his website: www.markmeyersart.com!
So, it’s time to begin again, and there is nothing like getting a second wind! I have some great ideas for future projects (stay tuned) and have lots of design work loaded on my plate to keep me motivated for a long time!
Just a quick update of what I’ve been doing since my last post (i.e. this past summer). I’ve been rockin’ some great design at Residental Warranty Services! Along with designing the Current in Real Estate, the nation wide publication that goes out to realtors, I’ve been producing scads of marketing collateral, print and web, for home inspection companies, as well as various other real estate related companies. It’s been great fun, and an excellent challenge to keep me on top of my game!
At home I’m in the process of building my personal business, rebranding my old college look, and updating my portfolio. Here I’m able to do projects I’m really passionate about such as design for not-for-profits, community events, and overseas mission work. With my work at RWS and my work at home, it’s enough to truly need that creative ‘second wind.’
http://www.amanderson.com/2011/04/my-second-wind/
It’s been entirely too long since my last post, however my lateness in posting is somewhat indicative of how outrageously busy I’ve been. The excitement of this new job coupled with Robert and I orienting ourselves to our new surroundings is quite enough to fill up one summer, thank you.
Robert borrowed an old record player from his dad, and a stack of carefully selected records. I’m currently appreciating the warmth of sound the player affords, and my first time listening to the acoustic melodies of Jim Croce. I’m also working my way through Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath and sitting dimly lit on the couch listening to the cicadas sing-song buzz outdoors. I’m savoring my few moments of peace waiting on my freelance clients to get back with me, having no homework for work, and happily remembering that at least the laundry is finished. Ellie across from me also seems to also be appreciating the peace, as well, though she always seems somewhat at ease because she happens to look rather like a teddy-bear. Read the full post »
http://www.amanderson.com/2010/08/appreciating-the-summer/
Character Design by Peter DeSeve'
Here it is, the long-awaited review of my first week on the job! I hear lately that many people have wondered what in the world Mandie Anderson is doing at her strangely vague job appointment in Carmel, Indiana. To answer you, Clint Harris, no, I have not unwittingly joined the mafia, and I do not believe that there is any money laundering scheme in the works. Read the full post »
http://www.amanderson.com/2010/06/words-from-the-first-week-on-the-job/
We’re home. At least home for now. I’m learning the definition of ‘home’ becomes more and more loose as I grow older. Home used to be the place where my parents and brother resided, with my friends and grandparents nearby. Then as I moved away to college I became more accustom to my material possessions as the constant in the different places I’d resided. However, the frequency of my moving from place to place now challenges my belief that home is simply a place where your belongings reside, or even where particular people live. In the past decade, I’ve lived with many different people, and all have greatly affected my view of ‘home.’
http://www.amanderson.com/2010/05/home/
