Attempt at HDR Imaging! Sweet!

This is one of my first authentic attempts at HDR Imagaing. HDR is high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR).
I took this photo of a Backhoe in Kirkland Lake, Ontario with a Nikon D40 (which doesn't have auto exposure bracketing like most cameras these days).
I used a few pieces of software for the processing and touch-ups. Photoshop and Photomatix Pro for the most part.
I think it turned out pretty decent! Enjoy.

Portfolio Cover

This is the first draft of a physical Portfolio Cover that I plan on using to show my pieces. There isn't much else to say about the design other than I've stuck with the Architect's "Into the Imaginarium" concept, which is branding for my freelance design/art company. The only difference is the use of the "Mouse" figure instead of the "Alien" which is normally used as the image for the Imaginarium designs.
I'm hunting for a piece of that good cheese with this Portfolio!

A Modern Day Dorian Gray (a Self Portrait)

Influenced by Oscar Wilde's only published novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
The story of Dorian Gray seems to resonate more and more with society as time passes by. It intrigues me how the basis of this story written in the 1890 holds more true to today than any time before. Individuals have become overly concerned, even walking the fine line of obsession with aesthetics, and instant gratification.

This is my first attempt at a sort of hybrid art piece/self portrait. The original photograph was taken by the very talented and brilliant photographer (who also happens to be a pleasant and kind individual) Jesse Baumung. www.jessbaumung.com
It was done using several manipulations in Photoshop CS4, I then did something that I've never attempted before! I brought this image into Painter X and spent more time than I should've getting to know the program and experimenting.
It was my initial concept to end up with a self portrait emulating the type of painting that Basil Hallward would've created if I were to take the place of Dorian Gray himself.

Voilà! This is the result, it's not quite as "painterly" as I envisioned but I'm happy with it.

The Picture of Dorian Gray
a novel by Oscar Wilde

Dorian Gray, the young subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by Dorian's beauty and becomes infatuated with him, believing his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art.
A gracious and polite mannered young man soon becomes enthralled by a different view of the world soon after meeting the charming yet manipulative Lord Henry Wotton.
Espousing a new hedonism, Lord Henry suggests the only things worth pursuing in life are beauty and fulfillment of the senses. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, expressing his desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait Basil has painted would age rather than himself.
Dorian's wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging.

2010 - Here's to new beginnings!

It's early 2010, time to look at the world with fresh eyes. I've been taking some time off from most things creative due to some ruff times health wise. Crohns Disease isn't a friendly companion to live with. But I'm starting to reach "normality" as they say in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. And it feels good.
This is a piece I created to celebrate the early stages of what will eventually be my very own Freelance Design Company.
It's been a re-occurring theme in my mind, bouncing about, coming into focus and yearning to be set free; to be my own boss, my own rule maker, living, working, and realizing my own dream.
So here's to new beginnings!

Brand New Pre-Release Poster for Universal Music Canada

Something new for Brand New!
This is another Pre-Release Poster I designed for the new Brand New record titled "Daisy".
Again Universal Music Canada was looking for something simple and based around the album artwork, a straight forward poster telling the world when the new Brand New record is coming out for all to buy and fall in love with... obviously.

Brand New has been one of my favorite bands for years and an inspiration for the music I've written in the past with both Sofia, Sofia & Lexington. I'm sure Daisy will be another amongst the records in their discography that sets them apart from the pack.

A mix of Photoshop and Illustrator did the trick for this one.

A Fire Inside: AFI Pre-Release Poster for Universal Music Canada

A Fire Inside a.k.a. AFI
This is a Pre-Release Poster I designed for the new AFI record titled "Crash Love".
Universal Music Canada wanted something very simple and based around the album artwork, something that said straight forward "This is AFI, this is the new record Crash Love and it's coming out on this date!"

It was a simple piece of work but it was fun and for a cool band.
A mix of Photoshop and Illustrator did the trick for this one.

Come & Get em'! Dropcard Styles

These are a couple designs I did for Universal Music Canada. They are "Dropcards", which are produced as a tangible way to both advertise and deliver a code to people used to download.. in this case music!

These specific Dropcards are for a handful of UMC artist, and come in both English and French.

All designing was done in Illustator.