Job of a Graphic Designer

Graphic design is an artistic way to represent communication visually. This is done by creating and combining symbols, images, and words. Graphic design uses those tools to convey a message and/or idea creatively. The process and products which the designer uses generates what is on their mind, and what they believe others are thinking.

Graphic design are seen everywhere. You may see them in magazines, web pages, even on cereal boxes. The designer uses shapes and colors to unify the final product. Composition is a graphic designer’s best friend. It brings together all the materials and elements.

A graphic designer’s job is more complex then what I stated above but that is the main idea of it.

Vector Art: Joey Funk of Optic Blast Studios
www.joeyfunk.com
www.opticblog.blogspot.com

KNOWLEDGE: Real Hip Hop

Hip hop is not just a genre of music; it is a lifestyle. Hip hop is the coming together of different people from around the world, in other words, the unity of people.

The media and society has depicted the hip hop culture as being negative. For example, in music videos they show the rappers with all this money, cars, and women around them. But this is NOT Real Hip Hop!

Brief History:
The hip hop culture is a movement which started mostly by African and Latin Americans in the Bronx, New York in the 1970s. Hip hop has four major elements which are MCing (rapping), DJing, graffiti writing (graffing), and bboying (break dancing). Also, there are other elements such as beat boxing, fashion, and slang.

Hip hop was based around DJ’s and MC’s which created a rhythmic beat and style of singing. Then, the original style of dancing and dressing soon followed. Graffiti writing comes into hip hop as a form of visual art. Also, beat boxing is a unique vocal technique which mimics the DJ’s beats. Over the years there have been a few tune ups to each element.

Hip hop has a mixture of genres which can be a way of understanding it such as funk, disco, soul, samba, scat singing, performance poetry, and blues.

Watch the video below and it will give you some insight on hip hop…

Art & Life

Life is so unexpected! We have no idea what is going to happen but all we know is that life is beautiful and we should enjoy it to the fullest!

This brings me to my next point…

Art is beautiful. Art is what you make it. There is so much art in the world that we have not even started to experience or realize. Art is expressed in the way we talk, move, eat, drink; it is seen in everything we do in our everyday life. Art is expressed in our movement, speech, and clothing. It is, also, expressed in our neighbors’ gardens, in the wind, even in the cars we drive.

The art of life is the overall experience. It can include good or bad experiences, but it is our life.

In conclusion, art and life go hand in hand.

LIFE IS LIKE ART, YOU MAKE IT AS YOU WANT IT!

All the art of living, lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.

-Herny Ellis

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

-William James

Passion & Goal

The Latin Influence on Music in Miami

Miami is known as a melting pot. It has many types of cultural backgrounds but the Latin influence is a lot stronger then the others. Out of all the forms of art Latin’s influence music the most in Miami. Latin music has a wide variety of genres. There is no one style of music for the Latin culture. Each country has their unique sound or slight variation.

Like stated in my previous blog, Cubans are known for Son, Dominicans for Bachata, Puerto Ricans for Reggaeton, and Columbians for Vallenato. Each of those countries does have many more music genres but those are the most popular. Latin music may include Samba, Cumbia, Merengue, and Spanish Rock.

Miami’s diversity in cultures leads to beauty and variety. It allows us to embrace our individual identity. The music is beautiful, and it allows us to show our acceptance towards different cultures.

Art in Culture

Culture can mean many different things; it can be someone's upbringing, religious faith, art forms, and/or community's traditions. Culture gives people a sense of belonging. For most individuals, to be a part of something is very important.

In this case, culture influences the different types of art forms that we engage in. As for me growing up in Miami, I am greatly influenced by the Hispanic culture; the food I eat, music I listen to, as well as, the way I dress.

The most influential forms of art, in my opinion, have to be music and dancing. Each culture has their own genres of music and way of dancing. Like for Cubans, their most popular genre of music is Son and form of dancing is Salsa. Dominicans are known for Bachata, Puerto Ricans for Reggaeton, and Columbians for Vallenato. Music and dancing allows each individual to bring their culture no matter where they live or where they are at.

Culture also has a major roll in fashion. The way we dress allows us to show our background to others. For example, in India the women wear saris which the material is in vibrant colors and in Japan the traditional clothing are kimonos.

In Miami we have many different cultures so it is easy for us to be a part of something and have a sense of belonging.

Dancing Expresses...

Dance

Dance is a passion,
There's millions of dance moves,
Just like fashion,
You must know some,
Like the worm,
Or the twist,
But be careful don't break your wrist,
You can dance in heels,
Or tennis shoes,
Dance to the blues,
Or country rock,
Dance down the block,
Even around town,
Dance to whatever sound you hear,
Dance in a gown,
Or a t-shirt,
Dance with a group of four,
Never ignore the dancing rhythm,
Or you'll regret that forever,
Dance whenever you please,
When your hugging a tree,
Or running from bees,
Dance is an art,
Dance with your heart,
If your smart,
Don't give up dancing,
So don't drift from your dancing skill,
It's a great gift.

-Mariah Clary

What is Visual Art?

Many people have no idea what the term “Visual Art” means. The visual arts are forms of art that focus on the creation of pieces which can be seen visually. It includes graphic design, photography, painting, drawing, and filmmaking.

It is impossible to describe the whole field of visual arts. The history of visual arts is probably as old as civilization itself, starting from cave paintings such as religious representations, portraits, and landscapes. The movement of art is very fast. Just in the 20th century we can see over thirty different art movements. Some of the movements are impressionism, expressionism, futurism, surrealism, pop art, and minimalism.

What unites all of the visual art movements and styles are that the artists are constantly changing what already exists. They are always making changes to make sure that art stays exciting and alive. Artists are always inventing; they continue to introduce new ways of expressing emotions and conveying messages.

An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world.
-George Santayana

Art is never stagnant – it is as much of a living entity as are all the other human endeavors.
-Anonymous

Vector Art: Joey Funk of Optic Blast Studios

www.joeyfunk.com

www.opticblog.blogspot.com

Photographer:American Photo

Model:Christina Aguilera

Is Fashion A Form of Art?

This is a very controversial subject. Many people believe that fashion is art for the designer because it is what he/she created. At the same time, it is not a form of art if a person other than the designer wears the creation because the wearer did not create the design.

I believe fashion is an art form because both the designer and the wearer are creating a vision or concept. The designer creates what he/she fore sees an individual wearing or what he/she would like to wear. As for the wearer, fashion expresses their mood and/or lifestyle.

Either way fashion is a form of art through the concepts and techniques the designer uses to create the "fashion", as well as the process the wearer goes through to put their outfit together.

The Influence of Music

Since the beginning of time music has influenced our society in a great way. In my opinion, it is the most impactful tool in our lives through enhancing our brain power as well as allowing us to express ourselves. Music has even influenced some of our great leaders. It helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. When he would get stuck writing he would stop and play his violin and the words would go straight to him. Also, Albert Einstein, which is known to be the smartest man ever lived, says that the reason he is smart was because of music.

Every culture in the world has music. It influences emotional, spiritual, and physical elements of our universe. It seems to me that music is the basis of all our actions. Music can be good or bad, but you have to decide!

For example, the hip hop culture has influenced many today. Many may think hip hop is bad but those are the people that do not understand “real hip hop”. Hip hop was founded in the streets of New York as a way of expression. The people in New York would get together and have underground gatherings called “block parties”. They would dance, MC, and just plain out have a great time without stirring up trouble.

The hip hop culture expresses themselves through dance (like bboying), DJing, MCing (form of poetry), fashion, and graffiti (as an art form). It is meant to spread knowledge, peace, unity, and love. Does this look like something that is negative? I believe this is a great way to allow us to express ourselves and stay out of trouble.

Why I Decided To Start Blogging About the Arts?

I am a student at Saint Thomas University and in my "Online Media and Blog" class I have to create a blog talking about something I am passionate about. I decided to do my blog on the arts like fashion, music, dancing, and visual art because I believe that these four categories have saved my life in one way or another. If they have helped me through my hardest times maybe they can help others as well. The arts allow you to express your inner most feelings and desires that can not be expressed in any other way.

Since I was a little girl I have had a passion for color, texture, movement, and sound. Hearing music and watching my mother dancing as a little girl open my love for sound and movement. Every move and beat represents a different emotion and feeling. Sitting in my room for hours drawing out designs of clothing for my Barbie’s was when I started my passion for fashion. Drawing was not only expressing my adoration for fashion but also the feeling that the vibrant colors I would use would enhance my feelings towards visual art. Combining all the elements, I would put on fashion shows with my Barbie’s and it allowed me to take my mind off of everything I was going through in my life.

Have you ever heard a song from so long ago,
with so many memories tied to it that it made you cry?
And didn't you wish you can go back in time
to when everything was simple and carefree?
Those are the songs that are the soundtracks of our lives...
The ones that bring back our past
best friends, 1st loves, broken hearts, and memories
Good and Bad!
-Anonymous


Isn't life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?
–Andy Warhol


Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.
Fashion is in the sky,
in the street,
fashion has to do with ideas,
the way we live,
what is happening.
-Coco Chanel