Sarah Richards's Blog: The Chocolate Moose, page 6

What is a concept?

A concept is defined as a general idea or notion.
I consider a concept to be a rough idea.
Something I usually conceive at 1 a.m. by scribbling out indecipherable notes to the light above the kitchen sink.
A sketch started on a coffee stained napkin or on the back of a receipt.

These posters are considered concepts, but they look far to refined to be a "concept".
They were considered to be the promotional posters for the London Olympics 2012.
  



The Official posters were done by a collection of British artists.

 

The individual approach to what the games meant to England seems to be expressed, but without the harmony of a single focus. If one style or approach had been decided on and then reworked, it would have been a more comprehensive look.

The focus of the posters would have been on the Olympic Games, not the artists.

While I love that they were done in a national spirit by using these artists, I don't feel these official posters were as refined as the concepts. Which brings me to question the very definition of a "concept" poster. 
Now, I know the London Olympics have come and gone, but I just stumbled upon these images.  

What do you think? 
What is the definition of a concept?

Concept

A concept is defined as a general idea or notion.
I consider a concept to be a rough idea.
Something I usually conceive at 1 a.m. by scribbling out indecipherable notes to the light above the kitchen sink.
A sketch started on a coffee stained napkin or on the back of a receipt.

These posters are considered concepts, but they look far to refined to be a "concept".
They were considered to be the promotional posters for the London Olympics 2012.
  



The Official posters were done by a collection of British artists.

 

The individual approach to what the games meant to England seems to be expressed, but without the harmony of a single focus. If one style or approach had been decided on and then reworked, it would have been a more comprehensive look.

The focus of the posters would have been on the Olympic Games, not the artists.

While I love that they were done in a national spirit by using these artists, I don't feel these official posters were as refined as the concepts. Which brings me to question the very definition of a "concept" poster. 
Now, I know the London Olympics have come and gone, but I just stumbled upon these images.  

What do you think? 
What is the definition of a concept?

Life is in the Details.

Life is in the details.
How many times have we all heard this?
Twice if you've only read it from me in this post, or countless times throughout your life.

The truth of this statement has made it almost a universally accepted fact.

Life without acknowledging the details through observation and documentation would be pointless.
What would me life as an artist, a writer and a designer be with out the details?
What would your life be without the details? 

Peoples emotions, reactions and expressions are unique to the individual, but collectively connected.

Joy couldn't exist without disappointments.
Extasy, pure bliss, wouldn't exist without pain.
To understand love is to understand heartache.

Sympathy is good, but empathy is better.
Past a person's exterior is where the details live and breathe.

As an Artist
When drawing, the first impression of visual dimensions needs to be captured. But unless the character, the personality of a landscape or person is observed and understood, it will remain a lifeless piece of art on a page or canvas. Put emotion in the face or the appearance of wind. One can't physically draw either element, but the effects should show. Like the tear on this face.
 
Why is the girl crying? What happened or what is happening?  Does one tear define crying or sadness?

Capturing interest through visual questions is the work of an artist, but the written explanation is for a writer.

As a Writer
When writing, look past the stereotypes.
Yes, they exist for a reason, because it is a true generalization.
People aren't stereotypes, so individuals are what the characters in your book should be.
The details which define a character or place should be believable even if it is a made up setting.
The only way an author can gain that knowledge is through observing life and writing from it. Recording it from your perspective; from your character's.  

For example: 
The sunset in the same canyon Autumn had tumbled down about six months ago was even more radiant than she remembered. It burned with a billion watts of light that had never been captured in her photographs.

I’m so glad I was able to avoid all those graduation parties. Being politely social was not in her capacity at the moment.

All she really felt like doing was clamming up. “I let my guard down in an attempt to make friends and look at what it got me.”

Swinging her feet over the ridge, Autumn pulled a folded picture out of her back pocket. This is silly. She thought as she stared at Craig’s face, but the untold desires of her heart couldn’t be ignored.

Maybe If I tell him my secret he’ll confide in me too. She closed her eyes and shook her head while placing his picture on the ground and securing it with a rock.

She wasn’t ready to deal with it―with Him. Telling Craig might gain his friendship and trust, but she feared she would lose her sanity in the process; that all the darkness that was dwelling inside of her would be overwhelming and make her forget who she was.

“No. I have to let this go.”

Walking away from the ridge, away from the photo of Craig, Autumn felt an empty space in her chest growing larger with every step she took. The wind blew her hair across her face and a pained smile was accompanied by a single tear on her check.

Final excerpt from Left on the Edge (copyright 2012 to Sarah Richards)

As a Designer
When designing, whether it is in fashion, interior or graphic, listening to the client is essential.
Not just to what they are saying with their mouth, but to what can't be articulated.
The details, spoken and unspoken, are where satisfaction or dissatisfaction from the job can found.

For example:
I have spent most of my professional career working as a wedding stationery designer. I had to listen to not only what a bride was saying, but interpret the unspoken meaning.

The invitation is a guests first real look into a wedding. The personality of the couple must be present in the wording and the style in order to remain in business.

The satisfaction of one client will ensure another one or more; while the dissatisfaction of one can mean the end of a company.

My life as an artist, writer and designer would have no meaning without details.
It is the details I observe, record and work from that give my work depth.
Through this can come meaning.
Not just for me; like a chameleon it can change to apply to anyone who looks at it, or reads it.

To achieve this, I am constantly looking and appreciating the details which define life.
The good, as well as the bad.
Not just in others, but in myself as well. 
This is how one can improve themselves and their craft.

Moose Guide

In Left on the Edge, Autumn learns how to make basic espresso based drinks from a guide Craig hands to her.

Now Craig is giving it to you!

The basic espresso based drinks explained are macchiatos, lattes, and cappucinos.

To make a mocha, you start with a latte then add chocolate to taste.

Make an espresso based cup of happiness, sit down and relax with a good book.

What better way is there to spend a day?

Feel free to print the guide and use it, but do not sell it for profit.

Check out woodmeretrilogy.blogspot.com for more updates.

Lunch with an Author!

What can be better than books? 

Books and coffee.

Books, coffee and pizza !


Come have lunch with me.

On Wednesday, 17 July 2013 at 1 pm, the Elk Grove Public Library has asked me to chat about my writing, illustrating and what motivated me to self-publish.

There will be a drawing for a giveaway of a paperback edition of Left on the Edge.

If you already have a copy of Left on the Edge, I will be willing to sign it if you want just bring it with you.

The Elk Grove Library has a copy of Left on the Edge in their catalog to be borrowed. (EGVPL Catalog)

So check it out and I hope to see you there!

Event Registration

Paperback Sold on Amazon!

The last post I made was to say Left on the Edge was released as a paperback.

 It was being sold only through Lulu.com (Paperback Link), but not any more!

Amazon is now selling the paperback edition!

Lulu.com is the only place where I can control a discount.
Right now the paperback is 15% off on Lulu, but full price on Amazon.

 

Paperback Release!

The feel of pages turning, flipping as I close my eyes and inhale the words on the passing pages gives a happiness unachievable through technology. I have a nook, but nothing compares to the real deal. For that reason, I made a hard cover edition, but it was a first edition.

 

Today a paperback edition of
Left on the Edge was released!



This edition has undergone a typographic face lift. A sample chapter from Take in the Woods as now been included at the end to give a taste of what is to come.



There is only one place to find a paperback, on lulu.com.

For a limited time it is 30 percent off! 

I have placed a button in the right column, or you can click here!

Book Preview!

What secret is Craig hiding?
Will Autumn finally confide her's?

Everyone has a Secret
in Left on the Edge, but
the Past becomes the Present
in Taken in the Woods.

Here is the first glimpse of the official cover and summary for the second book in the Woodmere Trilogy, Taken in the Woods.

Returning to Woodmere after Becca’s high school graduation in California, Autumn discovers restoring friendships is more difficult than making them. In the small Minnesota town, where knowing everything is everyone’s business, a surprisingly small amount of truth is actually known. When the past becomes the present, more than one life is in danger.

Will Autumn gain Craig and Kenzie’s trust in time, or will she be Taken in the Woods?

Taken in the Woods will be release as a paperback and an eBook in October 2013!

Starting Background.

Up until today I have been focusing on Autumn.
Now it is time to begin the background.

Like many growing up, I watched Disney movies. Robin Hood, 101 Dalmatians and Beauty & the Beast are still my favorites. What I remember the most though was watching the extras for Sleeping Beauty. The way the backgrounds were drawn, painted and filmed fascinated me.

I was thinking of this as I started the background for the cover of Taken in the Woods.



This sketch is the preliminarily drawing for the first stage of the background. (Emphasis on preliminarily!)

I envision a few layers of background. This layer will most likely be the foreground. (Still technically a part of the background.) Autumn will obviously be the primary focus, and then there will be the next stage as the actual background.

Sneak Peek at the Next Cover!

Today has been a great day!

James Blunt, Josh Groban and The Canadian Tenors are playing off my computer. A never empty coffee cup is sitting next to freshly sharpened pencils and a new eraser.

The cover for the second book of the Woodmere Trilogy has begun!

Go to http://woodmeretrilogy.blogspot.com to see the primarily sketches I am preforming for Taken in the Woods.

The progress of the cover production will be documented there. Be sure to check back for more sneak peeks!