During the day, it is fairly a barren street, with old buildings and lots, which is exactly what we were looking for. That day, we shot a series of unique textures, including bricks from the exterior walls, peeling/cracked paint, and interesting marks on the sidewalk.

This brings us to today, when I suddenly had an idea of my next project. All day, I have been mulling over several graphic design portfolios online, trying to get ideas for how I should arrange my gallery. After all this is the most important piece in a design website! I have been playing with jQuery plugins lately as well, specifically the image slider.

So…stay tuned, and I will have a brand new portfolio pushed live soon.

Below are my favorites of what I have previously taken. My next venture will be to photograph sports and action, still not sure yet what to do!

~ Kimberly O’Hanlon

Still Life

Mhelanie

Product Photography | Mortar & Pestle

Sure, I used some steel blues, silver, and black for my website, but what else can that do for me?  Take Target for example.  They not only have a big, bold target as a logo, their product’s packaging all relate to red!  The symbol of red is pretty intensive, telling visuals to stop and look.  Red also increases the beating of a heart, and can cause energy and courage.  Take that bright, red, juicy bleeding strawberry from Across the Universe – a symbol of love and hope.

Across the Universe (2007)

There is an article I came across online regarding business color branding, written by John Williams – Your Brand’s True Colors:

Blue: Cool blue is perceived as trustworthy, dependable, fiscally responsible and secure. Strongly associated with the sky and sea, blue is serene and universally well-liked. Blue is an especially popular color with financial institutions, as its message of stability inspires trust.

Red: Red activates your pituitary gland, increasing your heart rate and causing you to breathe more rapidly. This visceral response makes red aggressive, energetic, provocative and attention-grabbing. Count on red to evoke a passionate response, albeit not always a favorable one. For example, red can represent danger or indebtedness.

Green: In general, green connotes health, freshness and serenity. However, green’s meaning varies with its many shades. Deeper greens are associated with wealth or prestige, while light greens are calming.

Yellow: In every society, yellow is associated with the sun. Thus, it communicates optimism, positivism, light and warmth. Certain shades seem to motivate and stimulate creative thought and energy. The eye sees bright yellows before any other color, making them great for point-of-purchase displays.

Purple: Purple is a color favored by creative types. With its blend of passionate red and tranquil blue, it evokes mystery, sophistication, spirituality and royalty. Lavender evokes nostalgia and sentimentality.

Pink: Pink’s message varies by intensity. Hot pinks convey energy, youthfulness, fun and excitement and are recommended for less expensive or trendy products for women or girls. Dusty pinks appear sentimental. Lighter pinks are more romantic.

Orange: Cheerful orange evokes exuberance, fun and vitality. With the drama of red plus the cheer of yellow, orange is viewed as gregarious and often childlike. Research indicates its lighter shades appeal to an upscale market. Peach tones work well with health care, restaurants and beauty salons.

Brown: This earthy color conveys simplicity, durability and stability. It can also elicit a negative response from consumers who relate to it as dirty. Certain shades of brown, like terracotta, can convey an upscale look. From a functional perspective, brown tends to hide dirt, making it a logical choice for some trucking and industrial companies.

Black: Black is serious, bold, powerful and classic. It creates drama and connotes sophistication. Black works well for expensive products, but can also make a product look heavy.

White: White connotes simplicity, cleanliness and purity. The human eye views white as a brilliant color, so it immediately catches the eye in signage. White is often used with infant and health-related products.

All the colors above can be categorized into two basic categories: warm and cold. In general, warm colors, like red and yellow, send an outgoing, energetic message, while cool colors, like blue, are calmer and more reserved. However, brightening a cool color increases its vibrancy and reduces its reserve.

John Williams is president and founder of LogoYes.com, the world’s first and largest DIY logo website. In his 25 years in advertising, he has created brand standards for Fortune 100 companies like Mitsubishi and won numerous international awards for his design work.

My weekend was a wonderful adventure, compiled of a movie, a design project, hot air balloon viewings (glitter included), sushi eating, and contemporary furniture shopping.

Friday night I received an email with a design project to make a flier for iStomp on Poverty, hosted by Tomboi Entertainment in Baltimore, MD.  This was a fun, artistic project to do, getting me back to the basics of charcoal before the computer.  The program, beginning February 1st, is a weekly open mic for singers, rappers, and poets.  Donations and canned foods afterward would be distributed to various food banks in Maryland.

iStomp on Poverty Flier

*Food for Thought*

How to Have a Relaxing Tea Party for One
By Lisa Gregor

Botanicus - Green Tea Candle from Candle Delirium

Tea has many cleansing and healing properties, for both the body and the mind. Why not enjoy the benefits from this ancient drink by having a relaxing tea party for one. You’ll come away feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

TEAS. Steep tea in a small, decorative pot to desired strength. Try some of the following:

Darjeeling – floral taste, India.
Keemun – black tea with sweet taste, China.
Lapsang Souchong – large leafed tea with pinewood smoke.
Sencha – green tea, Japan.
Oolong – dark fruit and chocolate notes.

Tip: Don’t use boiling water for green tea. You want to extract the nectar, not cook the tea.

ATMOSPHERE. While tea is steeping, arrange cut flowers and play soothing music. Light a lavender scented candle. Open a window, if desired, to let in fresh air. Gather up fluffy pillows and your favorite blanket.

LOCATION. After you pour your tea, plunk down in a comfortable place near a window with a scenic view. Bathe in the natural light.

OBSERVATIONS. Pay attention to your surroundings. Take in sights, sounds, and smells around you. Notice the weather.

BLESSINGS. With each sip, give thanks for a different blessing in your life, such as family, friends, health, new job, etc.

RELAX. Inhale, exhale…close your eyes.

REFRESH. Enjoy another cup of tea and repeat steps. When you are finished, give thanks for the quiet time you created for yourself. As you clean up, notice how your tea cleansed both your body and soul.

My freelance company is called KOTO Graphics.  The KOTO stands for Kimberly Ohlig | Thomas O’Hanlon.  (Soon to be Kimberly O’Hanlon, as we are engaged to be married this May in Maui, Hawaii.  I started freelancing when I was 18, and have enjoyed designing for small companies ever since.  It is a pleasure for me to work with small business owners and learn all about their niches.

In this blog, I am going to briefly describe a few of my past projects.

My first ever project (and what got me the idea to start my own business, was for Nathan Machutta, founder of Firelight Industries.’

Firelight Industries Logo

Doing the project for him was interesting, it initially began as a website I struggled through while in my web design class in college, but I enjoyed seeing someone who took his passions of dance, fire, and performance and turned it into a successful business.

El Patron Georgetown (Real Tex-Mex Food!)

I recently revamped this website…I started doing this early in 2008 for the employers of a good friend of mine in Georgetown, TX.  Jesse and John Berenji are the owners of this restaurant.  Brothers, and immigrants to the US, they have a very successful story, of beginning from nearly nothing and building a business.  Read the article on the website if you get a chance.  They will be moving to a new location soon, so that was part of the reason for my redesign…to give their “face” a new, upgraded and clean look.