ArtGuero's Sketchbook

…for even your most extreme design needs May29th

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Having run out of my original printing of business cards, I needed to order more. Being at a bit of a transitional period right now, it was also the opportune moment for a re-design. This time around I took a note from David Airey’s book and left space (significantly less than him mind you) for some note card functionality. I was intrigued when I read his post. I am constantly jotting down recommendations and things to check out for people - I might as well take that opportunity to give them my card!

I also took advantage of the print service Airey mentioned: MOO. Upon investigation, I found they offer a service to print a variety images on the back of your cards (up to 50) in even amounts. While they market this as a way to carry a portfolio in your pocket, I see that functionality as more for photographers, not designers. It did however allow me to experiment with my card. I uploaded two designs, one with a classic logo on gradient background clean design, and one slightly… zany add for myself. Now I will have both a fun and serious card to distribute depending on who I’m talking to, and I ordered a small printing in case they don’t go over as well as planned.

ArtGuero David Airey Eric Falquero Graphic Design business card MOO Printfinity

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Old Hat May27th (3 notes)

One of the first non-class projects I ever did, back in 2008. Completed this to nail an internship with the Student Environmental Action Coalition. I thought I was so awesome making shadows out repeated of words back then :P …

Re-posting now so I can link to the graphic in my entry for Iconify.it’s “First and Favorites Logo Showcase”. It’s just for fun, but if you’re a designer you should enter - Only one week left to go!

ArtGuero Eric Falquero Graphic Design SEAC Recycle

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Museum Technician Business Card May7th (1 note)

This project was more challenging than a standard business card for me because when you think about it, it’s an inversion of the standard business card model.

Most business cards feature a business and an individual associated with that business. Since the business is established, the individual’s qualifications are assumed by the client. There are many people today however, needing business cards for their general profession rather than their particular employment. In this case the employer is the target ‘client’ of the business card, and the card must advertise the individual’s qualifications.

In the end an all-text layout with added color for interest and organization was the best solution.

ArtGuero Graphic Design Eric Falquero Business Card Kelsey Horne Museum Technician

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Homemade Pizza on the Cheap May3rd

As you may or may not know at this point, I work at Trader Joe’s. And a few days ago, already on the lookout for healthier things to cook around the apartment, I rung up one too many customers buying our pizza dough - I had to ask if it was hard to make your own pizza.

I learn just as much from TJ customers as I do from my more savvy co-workers and company samplings. Most of them actually match up to our employee literature as “intelligent, adventurous, label-readers”… Most.

They assured me that I was up to the challenge, but just to make sure I put enough flour down when shaping the dough/crust.

We usually order pepperoni and banana peppers toppings, so that night I bought:
1. 1 bag of whole wheat dough (made a pizza large enough to feed 2 people) for $1
2. 1 large container of pepperoni slices for $2
3. 1 bag of mozzarella cheese for $2
4. and 1 container of sweet peppers for $3 (customer fun fact: red peppers are high in vitamin C)
5. we already had 1 container of sauce, but that would normally be about $3 (I used and will continue to use a “traditional sweet basil” pasta sauce we had, rather than ordinary tomato/pizza sauce, which added a lot of flavor)
6. I also later bought 1 small bottle of olive oil for $2
7. And I used some of my Webber grill mates Garlic & Herb, probably $2
So that brings the total to $15, equivalent to the $14.99 it would be at Dominos before taxes, delivery fee, and tip. Plus, with the exception of the dough all of that is enough to make one or more other pizzas. And you can add another bag o’ dough (Bringing the total to $16)

I didn’t document the process with pictures or anything like that (though I might play around with the idea of a stop motion animation of it next time around), but I did find several very helpful resources while researching to make sure I got it right the first time:
1. Annie’s Eats (http://bit.ly/h5cGCU): Here is where I got the tip to brush olive oil on the outside part of the crust before baking. I sprinkled the grill mates garlic/herb mixture into some olive oil before applying. I found a pizza stone set like she suggests for $30 on Amazon if this becomes a habit: http://amzn.to/flBNvL
2. ‘Blogger Mom’ (http://bit.ly/2YzNDZ) also posted an interesting list of easy alternate uses for pizza dough that I want to experiment with.
3. And lastly Expert Village has a series of videos posted on YouTube documenting the whole process http://bit.ly/goVhSS
The long and short of it is that once you’re comfortable with what you are doing, it takes 40-50 minutes to make a much cheaper pizza that will blow anything you could order-in out of the water:
1. Take your dough out of the fridge and let it sit (in the package) at room temperature for 30 minutes. This lets the glutens settle, and it will be very resistant to stretching/shaping and spring back into place quickly if it has not set long enough
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. (Between the dough packaging instructions and the internet I’ve seen from 425 to 500 listed, 450 works perfectly)
3. During the latter half of the time the dough must sit, you can go ahead and chop up any toppings that need it, clean the surface you will be working on, and liberally spread some flour onto it so the dough will not stick to it.
4. Stretch your dough into a circle. I prefer to pinch up the outside edges to make a fuller outer crust, but you can leave the whole slab of dough level also. If you stretch too far and tear wholes, simply fold the tear into a thicker area of dough and reduce the size you have tried to achieve.
5. Spread your sauce on (leaving the outer crust area sauce-free), sprinkle shredded cheese, place your toppings, and sprinkle a little more cheese.
6. Spread or drizzle (depending on the utensils available) olive oil over the outer crust if desired.
7. Place the completed pizza on your cooking surface (pizza pan, cookie sheet, pizza peel, etc) and place in oven
8. Bake for 10-25 minutes and enjoy!
This one I can definitely chock up to experience. Delicious delicious experience :)

EDIT: This was originally written when I first intended to start posting her about a month ago. I have since made many of these successfully including one utilizing artichoke antipasto in place of marinara and cheese to make something similar to a while pizza + artichokes - highly recommend it. Cheers!

ArtGuero Cheap Healthy-er? How-to Make-Your-Own-Pizza Cooking

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Brewseum Logo May3rd

Logo for a hypothetical museum (The Brewseum) about brewing processes for beer as well as some general bottling services - located in a historic brewery in Harper’s Ferry, WV.

Digital sketchbook post #1… I’ve been meaning to start posting works in progress and current projects here for about a month now, but keep putting things off with many excuses: ‘not till my portfolio/website is completely updated’, ‘not till i finish this job’, etc, etc. But after reading an interview with a designer I admire who organizes a recurring art event, teaches design, and runs a webcomic - his chosen last word of advice was to just get started with what you are wanting to work on and not slow your self down by wanting everything to be perfect from the start. So here goes… :)

ArtGuero Brewseum Eric Falquero Logo Graphic Design

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