new logo & first t-shirt design!

this semester, for an assignment, i was required to create a logo which represented myself in no more than three colours. i learned through brand research, draft sketches, and Illustrator vector that the final artwork had not been a simple process. to cut the story short, i managed to design something i like (albeit it may not be to the tutor's expectations) and the result is printed on t-shirts. (you will see more of this logo on my website too!)

i bought two plain tees from Giant, and heat transfer paper from Digital Mall, then i printed and ironed the logo. ta-dah! the result varied from one tee to the other because i printed each one on two different inkjet printers and each tee were of different sizes (M for white, S for black).

i submitted the black tee and kept the white one (as i was only required to submit only one) but i hope it will return to me next semester after assessment is done. if it does not, meaning it has become the university's property as student artwork - i would be in dilemma on how to reflect on this.

anyway, have you ever thought of making a custom printed tee for yourself?

Inspiration #12: The Art of Letter-writing

... In other words, snail mail. Over the weekend I went to a couple mainstream bookstores in search of a letter set (usually a few envelops and writing sheets together with cute prints) and was disappointed to find no such stationery, even in the children's aisle where cute stationery is located. This disappointment quickly developed into an erratic fear overnight, thinking that the art of letter-writing is dying in today's electronic-based communication in the society.

I enjoy the time I spend writing letters, and this requires a certain concentration which turns into appreciation. There is an art to letter-writing because I know it is something I can appreciate. People who do not indulge in this satisfying little hobby do not know what makes penning a letter artful. To me, it begins with the choice of stationery. I put effort in selecting the right pen, the right sheet of paper, the right envelop and the right stamps; not to forget, the occasional embellishment such as stickers. After tinkering with stationery, I find the right time to write - because you just can't do it in a hurry. Putting thoughts to paper, there is a special feeling knowing that it will be read by whomever it is intended. I also decide on how the letter is folded into the envelop, imagining how the recipient would open it. Finally, when I choose a stamp, not only for face value, but also the print it has.

I do realize letters are meant to be a form of communication but there is more than just a physical object. The gratification is when I receive a reply, which usually does not appear until the following month or sometimes more, first reading and then I begin to pen another letter. I have appreciation for letter-writing not for its technicalities but because I perceive it as if giving away apart of me to someone and vice versa.