BlueArtistry

Flame

by P

eter

M. P

ekal

ski

DAVID LACHAPELLE

Most recognized for his surreal style, the expressionist genius David LaChapelle

incorporates satirical humor, sex, meaning, and stunning visual elements in each of his projects.

LaChapelle makes it clear just how non-existant the line that divides the taboo from the artistic

really is. Having exploded onto the design scene in the 90’s, hundreds of projects later LaChapelle a

director/photographer of sorts has retained a reputation as one of the most innovative and

provocative designers of the digital age.

With the desire to create, David LaChapelle began his studies at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Afterwards LaChapelle continued on to New York City where the young designer not only studied at S.V.A. (the School

of Visual Arts) but also worked in the infamous Studio 54.

Through a chance encounter, LaChapelle landed his �rst job after meeting the iconic Andy Warhol. The up and coming

artist of the 80’s was highered as a photographer for some of the most recognizable magazines, gaining momentum with

time. LaChapelle’s vibrant use of saturated colors and mis’en scene make his compositions aesthetically paralyzing.

With the desire to create, David LaChapelle began his studies at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Afterwards LaChapelle continued on to New York City where the young designer not only studied at S.V.A. (the School

of Visual Arts) but also worked in the infamous Studio 54.

Through a chance encounter, LaChapelle landed his �rst job after meeting the iconic Andy Warhol. The up and coming

artist of the 80’s was highered as a photographer for some of the most recognizable magazines, gaining momentum with

time. LaChapelle’s vibrant use of saturated colors and mis’en scene make his compositions aesthetically paralyzing.

Inspiration can come from any and everything. Religion, activism, morality, bondage,

pop-art, and even watermelon have inspired the creative �ow of David LaChapelle. His unique style and obsession

to play with the boundaries of art makes his expertise desired by celebrities and media outlets alike.

(for more information on David LaChapelle visit www.lachapellestudio.com & www.davidlachapelle.com)

Inspiration can come from any and everything. Religion, activism, morality, bondage,

pop-art, and even watermelon have inspired the creative �ow of David LaChapelle. His unique style and obsession

to play with the boundaries of art makes his expertise desired by celebrities and media outlets alike.

(for more information on David LaChapelle visit www.lachapellestudio.com & www.davidlachapelle.com)

Motion Graphics have become an integral part of our viewing experience. Though most times it

goes without recognition, MotionGraphics such as title sequences, intro’s, commercials, and everything between, give us

information no matter how trivial it maybe. These kinetic designs not only provide a pracitcal use, but are also intended for

an aesthetic purpose.

In much of the movies of the past 30 years, Visual E�ects and Motion Graphics have increasingly played more of an important

role. As seen below, Stranger Than Fiction impliments the kinetic technique of Motion Graphics as a way to emphasize key

features crucial to the story. The protagonist of the �lm is obsessive compulsive and through the use of dynamic Motion

Graphics, the auience can share the overwhelming sensation of counting and observing.

Imaginary Forces is a Visual E�ects, Motion Graphic, and Design Production Company

that has been part of some of the most innovative and recognizable Motion Graphic peaces. Showtime’s new series,

Nurse Jackie is one of the most recent designs projects from Imaginary Forces. The black comedy about a veteran

nurse with an addiction to pain medication looked to Imaginary Forces for an intro to the show. From the stills below

you gather the most detailed information about Edie Falcos character.

Imaginary Forces was also responsible for a rather impressive Combic Book themed Target comerical starring

Christina Aguilera. The Target logo’s littered the background replicating the halftones of the classic comics.

The overall �uid movement, and kinetic Type was brilliantly choreographed.

The desaturation contrasting the continuous vivacious Target red gave just a moment of relaxation, only to

then bring back the vibrant saturations.

(To view this video click here, or visit Imaginary Forces base site www.imaginaryforces.com)

Communication is one

of the key elements of design. Typography, which

includes fonts, their colors, and typefaces is one of

the least acknowledged, yet most signi�cant aspects

of Graphic Design.

Most people take the design process for granted, but

as any designer can tell you, hours or days can be spent

experimenting with a composition’s placement or colors,

tweaking it in the hopes of perfection.

Type is far from excluded from the design process. It may

appear unnoticed, but like colortheory, the basics are

present in everyone’s subconcious.

Advertisments, Newspapers, Motiongraphics, Product

Branding and packaging, even signs for public transport

are all the result of a designers eperimentation.

If you take the time to consider the products you pre�er,

or even the food or beverages you consume, how does

the logo or Type appeal to you?

Even if you do not prefer fast food, McDonalds

packaging wrapers make it easy to examine Typography.

The food targeted toward adults have a font similar to

cursive writing, the food targeted toward teenagers are

written in a more urban or grunge font, and even the

food targeted toward children exempli�es this. Writen

with rounded bubble letters, in a variety of colors, the

Type is clearly meant to catch the eye of a child.

The world of Typography is a vast one, and like Alice, it

is incredibly easy to �nd yourself lost down the rabit

hole.

TYPOGRAPHY

The many attributes a single typface can have are astounding

to new designers. As illustrated to the right, the basic branches

in Typography are Serif and Sans-Serif.

Typefaces like Times New Roman are considered Serif, whereas

those more like Arial are considered Sans-Serif. The Serif refers

to the “hook” or “point” extruding from the characters. Like-wise

Sans-Serif means “lacking serif”, refering to the smooth rounded

look of the characters.

Though each Typeface illicits it’s own texture, the two

classi�cations do so in a general sense. Similar to the status

one assumes by using a mac being that of artsitic and creative,

Sans-Serif Type is often meant for a relaxed, welcoming feeling.

Serif Type however, like the PC, is meant for business. Serif fonts

originated for titles and urgencies, and is often used as so.

The individual characters have segmented anatomy’s of their

own. The Stem of the L, the Cap Height of the B, the Stroke

of the N, and even the Counter of the e are each identi�ers of

Typeface and font. There are countless moments in my life in

which I try to match up Typefaces, and more times than not

just when you think you got it, the counter of the lowercase e

messes you up.

Typography has become a growing trend in Graphic Design.

Branching out from Typography Pop-art, Kinetic Type has

become huge. As the cousin of Graphic Design, Motion

Graphics has become the new “stomping ground” for Type.

A simple youtube search for Kinetic Typography, will no

doubt result in plethora of results. One of the results will

be a Kinetic Type peice in which a series of dialogue from

PulpFiction is the focus. As the audio plays the sounds of

the cult classic, Type is used in conjunction with placement,

color, size, Typeface, and font illustrating the material at hand.

(For more information on Typography and Kinetic Type,

review the Turoials and Resources section of this issue.)

LUKE CHUEHGraphic Designer

Known for his “morbidly cute” designs, LUKE CHUEH of Los Angeles, merges creativity

with activism to form his unique yet recognizable concepts. Having worked as an illustrative designer for

guitar manufacturer Ernie Ball, Chueh has since designed album art for Fall Out Boy’s Folie à Deux.

Above is Chueh’s cover art for

Fall Out Boy’s Folie à Deux.

Chueh’s repetative use of theillustrated bear juxtaposed

with rich colorful backgrounds, helps the iconic symbol capture the viewer’s eye. This technique

is employed in each of Luke Chueh’s works. Asconveyed in the above peice, Chueh often hasdepictions of simplistic

yet odd characters interacting with each other, or by themselvesin self-harming or dangerous ways.The reoccurring theme hints at Chueh’sstruggle with identity, expressed Graphically.

Growing up in Phillidelphia as a Chinese-American,

Chueh was the victim of racial prejudices. Because of this,

problems and emotions Chueh dealt with in the past, are

brought to light in what can only be described as his

“bitter sweet” illustrations.

Political as well as social statements shroud each of

Chueh’s peaces. Exempli�ed by his works “Disintegration”,

“Screwed”, “BUBBLE TROUBLE - HOIST BY MY OWN PETARD",

and ”Oil” (top left to bottom right), Luke Chueh refuses to censor

the grotesque, macabre, and at times political stance he

conceives. Many feel that by it’s very de�nition, art is not to

be censored... clearly Chueh embodies this.

Despair is merely one theme in this artist’s acrylic based

work. As depicted in the above work deemed “White Wash”,

(top left) Chueh addresses the overwhelmingly dominant

“white” presentation of the media.

Though his concepts are disturbing, they are often merely

exagerated literal interpretations of the subject at hand. As

seen in “Appetite for Destruction”, “Hope Extinguished”, and

“ Inspiration” (left to right) the conveyance of self-struggle or

inner turmoil are contemporary and relevant to all. In a

similar fashion “Honey Comber”, “Impailed”,

“15 Minutes of Shame”, and “My Monkey” (bottom right,

counter-clockwise) each deal with addiction.

Caution by example appears to be the single strand running through Chueh’s collection. With the exception of his stylistic interpretations of characters such as Frank of Donnie Darko (to the left), the pain and strife his charactersendure are not in vain. Each peace is a cautionary tale.

Whether it be addiction to fame or drugs, issues with �nding your identity by shedding layers, or merely beingobsessively driven by emotion, Chueh’s characters urgea silent warning.

Just as fairy tales, folk lore, nursery rhymes, and proverbscarry life lessons, Chueh’s “morbidly cute” characters remainfrozen in dismay, living in terror in the hopes that you won’t have to.

(For more on Luke Chueh and his work, visit http://www.lukechueh.com )

Tutorials and Resources

Computer Graphics

Motion Graphics

As a young designer, the internet has proven to be a wealth of knowledge most abuse.

Below are a couple of Artist’s and Web sites I have found that have proven useful. Whether

for inspiration, tutorials, or even stock, the internet is truly a one stop shop for design.

Related to PSD tuts+, cg.tutsplus.com has tutorials and other resources relevant toCG 3d modeling.

Deviantart.com is the “myspace” of the design world. Regardless of your experienceafter creating a pro�le, you can post anything including video, for the interactivecommunity to see.

Created by Visual E�ects artist Andrew Kramer, VideoCopilot.net not only has a compilation of Kramer’s tutorials, as well as basics, but also a bit of stock.

Motionographer.com is a blog format site updated daily with the latest news,and links to creative and interesting work in the �eld of design.

XPLST.tv is a portfolio site in which artists from across the web post reels, music videos, comercials, and even shorts.

As discussed in this issue, Imaginary Forces is an innovative Visual E�ects company. There base site, imaginaryforces.com not only has information on their latest work, but also archives clips of what they have already accomplished.

psd.tutsplus.com has pleanty of tutorials, interviews, and other resources any Graphic Designer would he interested in.

Typography

Stock ImagesSxc.hu is a multi-purpose site which, after becoming a free member, makes readily available a myriad of downloadable high quality stock,tutorials and forums.

Typeinspire.com compiles inspirational Type based Graphic Designs.

A 20 minute lesson in Typography courtesy of PSDtuts+(http://psd.tutsplus.com/articles/techniques/a-20-minute-intro-to-typography-basics)