I've been In St Petersburg, Russia since June 30th.
While this trip did not always go according to our initial plans, I've definitely had my share of pleasant surprises. Russian life (in a large city at least) is certainly becoming more westernized, customer-oriented, and generally...nice.
the heart of it all is still very "Russian"...I can't really define it beyond that, so I would like to learn how.
Checking out souvenir stalls, and even on storefronts, clothes and cars, there's a revival of folk art. Maybe studying it and it's influences will help figure out what makes us tick. As a result, i'm hauling home a bunch of paint, blank matryoshka dolls, and a guidebook to techniques of Russian folk art.
Let's see how long i stick with it.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Getting 2010 Underway
It's been a while since I've updated, or really done much artwork. In recent months I've been inspired/encouraged to start working on some projects that will need a lot of time as well as a lot of flexing of my art muscles.
In the meantime, here's some ink artwork.
In the meantime, here's some ink artwork.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Masks and Mishaps
Over the past few days I made some clay masks for a customer. They were drying ever so peacefully on the back deck yesterday afternoon that I decided to leave them out there this morning and thus keep them from stinking up the apartment. Then I left to run errands...and on the way home it started pouring.
Lesson of the day:
clay masks + pouring rain = sad pandas
The masks are clay and most of them are flat and simply decorative, so you can put them up on your wall or somesuch. Managed to rescue them as well as I could, so here they are:
Mask 1 - Day of the Dead half-mask
Mask 2 - Ashanti Ghost, based on this one.
due to its size I had to put it on cardboard backing...which didn't like the rain either
Mask 3 - Day of the Dead - full face. Resting on a full face mask mold to help keep the shape.
Mask 4 - inspired by this.
Mask 5 - first to be made.
However - marvels of nature include the sky, light, and everything turning very saturated shades of green during a thunderstorm. I still find that incredibly cool (there was the one time everything turned sepia...but that was mostly due to smog, which made it inherently less cool).
Lesson of the day:
clay masks + pouring rain = sad pandas
The masks are clay and most of them are flat and simply decorative, so you can put them up on your wall or somesuch. Managed to rescue them as well as I could, so here they are:
Mask 1 - Day of the Dead half-mask
Mask 2 - Ashanti Ghost, based on this one.due to its size I had to put it on cardboard backing...which didn't like the rain either
Mask 3 - Day of the Dead - full face. Resting on a full face mask mold to help keep the shape.
Mask 4 - inspired by this.
Mask 5 - first to be made.
However - marvels of nature include the sky, light, and everything turning very saturated shades of green during a thunderstorm. I still find that incredibly cool (there was the one time everything turned sepia...but that was mostly due to smog, which made it inherently less cool).
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
CaribFest calendar artwork I
First set of photos of artwork going into the CaribFest Kingston 2009 Special Edition program. Each is an image for the calendar inside.
So far all are water-soluble oils on canvas board
October - Silhouette
September - Green Dress
July - Limbo Dancers
Still finishing up/taking pictures of the rest of the months.
So far all are water-soluble oils on canvas board
October - Silhouette
September - Green Dress
July - Limbo Dancers
Still finishing up/taking pictures of the rest of the months.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Writing Sample
This brief was published in the Spring'09 issue of the Queen's Alumni Review. It appeared in the Alumni Notes section as a spotlight on the marketing initiative that the ThankQ Graduating Class Gift Commitee organized in November of '08 as a means to kick off fundraising events for the Winter term.
The tags, which were only on display for 24 hours – long enough to remind students of the extent of the tradition of giving at Queen’s – also promoted the class of 2009 website. For information on the year’s class gifts and each faculty’s progress, go to www.classof2009.ca."
"Students prepare to give back
On November 24, every building on campus was plastered with paper tags identifying all the items inside that had been purchased with the assistance of alumni gifts. From chairs to blackboards to computers, more than 2,000 items were tagged, drawing the philanthropic message to the attention of students. If the tri-colour letter-size tags were not visible enough, three massive “tag” banners were put up on Grant Hall, Stauffer Library, and the fence of the Queen’s Centre construction site.
Tag Day was organized by the student-run ThankQ committee, to recognize student and alumni contributions to Queen’s and to help students think about their class gift campaigns in winter term. November 24 represents the day in the academic year in which students’ tuition stops covering the real expenses of their education: alternate sources, including donations from alumni and students, cover the shortfall for the rest of the year. The ThankQ committee helps graduating students in each faculty raise funds toward their class gift to the University. The 2008 graduating class raised $23,000 for Queen’s.
On November 24, every building on campus was plastered with paper tags identifying all the items inside that had been purchased with the assistance of alumni gifts. From chairs to blackboards to computers, more than 2,000 items were tagged, drawing the philanthropic message to the attention of students. If the tri-colour letter-size tags were not visible enough, three massive “tag” banners were put up on Grant Hall, Stauffer Library, and the fence of the Queen’s Centre construction site.
Tag Day was organized by the student-run ThankQ committee, to recognize student and alumni contributions to Queen’s and to help students think about their class gift campaigns in winter term. November 24 represents the day in the academic year in which students’ tuition stops covering the real expenses of their education: alternate sources, including donations from alumni and students, cover the shortfall for the rest of the year. The ThankQ committee helps graduating students in each faculty raise funds toward their class gift to the University. The 2008 graduating class raised $23,000 for Queen’s.
The tags, which were only on display for 24 hours – long enough to remind students of the extent of the tradition of giving at Queen’s – also promoted the class of 2009 website. For information on the year’s class gifts and each faculty’s progress, go to www.classof2009.ca."
Friday, May 1, 2009
Digital Media Portfolio, updated
A sampling of most recent digital work.
THANKQ GRADUATING CLASS GIFT PROGRAM
As part of my volunteering with this group, I was requested to create a logo and advertising material to promote a university-wide fundraising event.
The event: a Nintendo Rockband tournament where student-created "bands" face one another while playing the game to raise funds for the Graduating Class Gift.
The challenge: make the brand unique, while echoing the Nintendo Rockband video game style.
The logo:
The posters:
The Blog
For event details and registration info, Rock the Gift has it's own Blogger page, with a custom-designed header.
QUEEN'S STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
As the VP of Marketing and Communications, I was requested to make some promotional material for a weekend Career Conference on campus. The visual identity of the QSAA brand had to be maintained throughout: using specific "Queen's" colours, fonts, and logos.
The colour image was 1/2 of page 2 in the Queen's Journal
The grayscale image was 1/2 of 5 in Golden Words, the humorous Engineering newspaper
LOGO WORK
Civil Alert
A little while ago I posted a work-in-progress that had since undergone more changes to become the logo of Sabir Bey's Civil Alert World.
When I had received the order, the request was to make a purple metallic phoenix with a gold glow to it. Looking at it now, I may make some changes to it in the near future.
WinterTrekking.com
The Winter Trekkers and Campers Online Community requested a logo showcasing some of the equipment that is featured on their website.
The logo appearing in the top left corner of the page was originally drawn by hand from a photo reference, then scanned and turned into vector art.
This was a collaborative work with ArtTina.
Sk8kicks.com
Sk8kicks.com requested a logo and a banner for their website. The shoe logo was heavily edited from a stock photo, as was the graffiti background. All images are credited to the Stock Exchange.
GOLF101: Queen's Toronto Alumni Golf Tournament
Queen's Toronto Alumni The Queen’s Alumni Branch of Toronto required a logo that was both reminiscent of Queen’s University branding, and was youthful and sporty.
The title suggests a class code that would be appreciated by recent graduates and the overall look is academic in its simplicity but still conveys the necessary message. The “Q” is a vector similar to that used by Queen’s University on its academic materials.
WEBSITE SUPPORT
Over the past four years, I have been the webmaster for Shaping in Canada, Inc., our family-owned fitness studio in Toronto, Ontario.
In addition to ensuring timely news updates of classes and promotions, I have been requested to photograph the studio and keep an up-to-date gallery. Currently, I am working on re-designing the site layout for a third time to make it more user-friendly and enticing.
TRADITIONAL ART
For a gallery of my works in ink, colour, and sketches, please visit my DeviantArt page.
If you like my work and would like to contact me for commissions, please e-mail me at alissa.sokolski@gmail.com.
THANKQ GRADUATING CLASS GIFT PROGRAM
As part of my volunteering with this group, I was requested to create a logo and advertising material to promote a university-wide fundraising event.
The event: a Nintendo Rockband tournament where student-created "bands" face one another while playing the game to raise funds for the Graduating Class Gift.
The challenge: make the brand unique, while echoing the Nintendo Rockband video game style.
The logo:
The posters:
The BlogFor event details and registration info, Rock the Gift has it's own Blogger page, with a custom-designed header.
QUEEN'S STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
As the VP of Marketing and Communications, I was requested to make some promotional material for a weekend Career Conference on campus. The visual identity of the QSAA brand had to be maintained throughout: using specific "Queen's" colours, fonts, and logos.
The colour image was 1/2 of page 2 in the Queen's Journal
The grayscale image was 1/2 of 5 in Golden Words, the humorous Engineering newspaper
LOGO WORK
Civil Alert
A little while ago I posted a work-in-progress that had since undergone more changes to become the logo of Sabir Bey's Civil Alert World.
When I had received the order, the request was to make a purple metallic phoenix with a gold glow to it. Looking at it now, I may make some changes to it in the near future.
WinterTrekking.com
The Winter Trekkers and Campers Online Community requested a logo showcasing some of the equipment that is featured on their website.
The logo appearing in the top left corner of the page was originally drawn by hand from a photo reference, then scanned and turned into vector art.
This was a collaborative work with ArtTina.
Sk8kicks.com
Sk8kicks.com requested a logo and a banner for their website. The shoe logo was heavily edited from a stock photo, as was the graffiti background. All images are credited to the Stock Exchange.
GOLF101: Queen's Toronto Alumni Golf Tournament
Queen's Toronto Alumni The Queen’s Alumni Branch of Toronto required a logo that was both reminiscent of Queen’s University branding, and was youthful and sporty.
The title suggests a class code that would be appreciated by recent graduates and the overall look is academic in its simplicity but still conveys the necessary message. The “Q” is a vector similar to that used by Queen’s University on its academic materials.
WEBSITE SUPPORT
Over the past four years, I have been the webmaster for Shaping in Canada, Inc., our family-owned fitness studio in Toronto, Ontario.
In addition to ensuring timely news updates of classes and promotions, I have been requested to photograph the studio and keep an up-to-date gallery. Currently, I am working on re-designing the site layout for a third time to make it more user-friendly and enticing.
TRADITIONAL ART
For a gallery of my works in ink, colour, and sketches, please visit my DeviantArt page.
If you like my work and would like to contact me for commissions, please e-mail me at alissa.sokolski@gmail.com.
Friday, January 2, 2009
2009, bring it on!
With a look back at 2008, the next step is to plan for the year ahead (because every self-respecting blogger has their list of resolutions)
...and in no particular order, here they come!
GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY
Ok, I lied, this is a first and foremost thing...and with enough kicking and stubborn pouting I hope to enter the "real world" confused, broke, and loving it in April '09.
GET A "LIFE"
Meaning finding employment of some sort/meaning which would sustain me and my burning desire to get my own apartment/home/box by May '09.
GET PHYSICALLY HEALTHY
From shedding "exam" pounds, to eating better, to returning to belly dance class for the hell of it, I really need to get into a nice, healthy routine.
SOLIDIFY RELATIONSHIPS
People, who I love dearly, watch out! I'm not going away anytime soon :)
GEEKIFY!
Really put an effort into learning about subjects that are hella boring in school, but define and embellish our existence.
MORE ART
With some big projects already on the go, this year I will really make a dent in improving my style and skill and make something notable of this hobby.
...and in no particular order, here they come!
GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY
Ok, I lied, this is a first and foremost thing...and with enough kicking and stubborn pouting I hope to enter the "real world" confused, broke, and loving it in April '09.
GET A "LIFE"
Meaning finding employment of some sort/meaning which would sustain me and my burning desire to get my own apartment/home/box by May '09.
GET PHYSICALLY HEALTHY
From shedding "exam" pounds, to eating better, to returning to belly dance class for the hell of it, I really need to get into a nice, healthy routine.
SOLIDIFY RELATIONSHIPS
People, who I love dearly, watch out! I'm not going away anytime soon :)
GEEKIFY!
Really put an effort into learning about subjects that are hella boring in school, but define and embellish our existence.
MORE ART
With some big projects already on the go, this year I will really make a dent in improving my style and skill and make something notable of this hobby.
this is totally doable
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