Shattered Veil

Shattered Veil
Originally uploaded by isral duke

This photo taken July 04, 2006, in downtown Baton Rouge, LA

Climbing Out

Climbing Out
Originally uploaded by isral duke

This photo was taken July 04, 2006, in downtown, Baton Rouge, LA.

i have plans

i have plans
Originally uploaded by isral duke

i have plans to give you a future filled with hope. this is another paraphrase of Jeremiah 29:11. i have a penchant for monochromatic works right now.

I know plans...

I know plans...
Originally uploaded by isral duke

Paraphrase, I know plans to give you a future filled with hope. This is a paraphrase of Jeremiah 29:11.



Two fonts used here: Petrol, by T26 foundry, and CA Zaracusa, by Cape Arcona Type Foundry. Each of these fonts has been purchased.

T26 Foundry: Petrol:
www.t26.com/search?q=petrol

Cape Arcona Type Foundry: CA Zaracusa
www.cape-arcona.com/start.php?link=zaracusa&typo=2

All astronomical photos taken from NASA.gov

love:selfcontrol:peace:power (version 3)

love:selfcontrol:peace:power (version 3)
Originally uploaded by isral duke

The full version of 2 Timothy 1:7 reads “For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (NET Bible) Paul was trying to remind Timothy that God would never impose crippling fear upon him, that he was to go about his life in confidence.

love:selfcontrol:peace:power (version 1)

love:selfcontrol:peace:power (version 1)
Originally uploaded by isral duke

right now my favourite palette is black, white, red and blue and the iterations of violet between red and blue. obviously i am including the tones and tints of each red and blue.

evolution to new humanity

evolution to new humanity
Originally uploaded by isral duke

The first tripart arc descends to touch down upon the point which is the origin for the text. Then, the shadow line recedes from that point into the back of the picture plane to a black, barely visible, semicircle. This semicircle is the point from which the second tripart arc originates as it moves along its ascent.

No Lindow Man

Sadly, “Lindow Man” was temporarily removed for preserve work from the British Museum. Peat bodies are prevalent in this climate so hope to see one someday. Here’s the book on “Lindow Man” that i read.

saw assyrian relief wall carvings. the assyrians were harsh in battle. more impressive in person than history classes

saw the parthenon sculptures. impressive. took lots of pics as the british museum, oldest museum in world, allows photography

saw the rosetta stone yesterday... wow

Kandinky’s “Lake Starnberg” at Tate Modern, London

i saw two Wassily Kandinsky paintings here at Tate Modern! The one i remember is “Lake Starnberg.” i also saw a couple of Moholy-Nagy and Miro works!

Big Ben & The Houses of Parliament

Amazed by the Parliamentary Houses and Big Ben. i’ll have to agree with one of my Art History professors, “No one did gothic revival as well as the British.”

eye, ears, & imaginations

1 corinthians 1:2:9
Originally uploaded by isral duke

The font is “Petrol,” made by the foundry T26.com. How do you not show “show?” How do you not show “heard?” Ah, those were hard.

“Mind has not imagined, ear has not heard, eye has not see, the things that God has made for those who love Him,” 1 Corinthians 2:9. This is one of my favorite quotes from the New Testament. It says much of the unseen colors, the unheard of music. CS Lewis once wrote that we shouldn’t be surprised if nothing here can satisfy us, because we’ve been made for another world.

it’s hard to show something that hasn’t been seen. Yet, i have to attempt to visually ender what i think the concept of this verse. it’s a kind of enlightenment to come, an elucidation that hasn’t yet occured. Or, it’s equaly valid to think it something just plain new.

A List Apart Survey

i took the survey. So should you.

Gay People are Treated Unfairly

i have to post this because i think gay people are not being treated with the care that we should respectfully not remove from them.

We hear that being gay, as a genetic trait is not “chosen,” meaning that such a person is one who is not inclined to contribute their genetic material to the human collective survival: survival of the fittest, passing on successful traits to offspring. Thus, it’s as if nature is reducing the human population on the planet by forcing some people into not “engaging in productive avenues” with their urges. Now, please understand, gay people are to be pitied, welcomed with open arms, not hated, yet they must ask themselves, “Who is the culprit? Nature’s assignment of arbitrary traits, essentially making them painfully bear the idea that they, as human rights possessors, don’t have the right to offspring? Or is it a complacent society which has chosen not to warn them of the injustice inflicted upon them?”

if a gay person ever has children, before or after discovering or deciding to be gay, then they would have already violated their own “nature.” i’d wager that ecological evidence shows that violating nature is harmful to all of us. but then, if the goal is not violating nature, then gays shouldn’t have children! (This has an unintended consequence: the rest of us can live on what’s left of our natural resources, or at least face less competition for natural resources — a selfish aim at gays’ expense.) The idea of human beings not being allowed to choose their own life paths makes people unhappy in some situations. Yet we choose that very idea here: Obey, don’t think, don’t fight, give up choice for peace.

Heroic gays are those who take the choice themselves rather than allow themselves to be “forced” into a lifestyle by nature. We speak, rightly so, of human rights, against child labor, sweatshop labor, yet we condemn certain members of humanity to a life of no choice? A woman’s rights of choice, voting, equal pay should be respected. But why are we tricking other humans into a blind obeisance of inhumane nature?

Where then should we stand?

There is no such thing as fate. There is only willful action. Gay people are human, in the divine image; thus they can choose to be fully human or else nature’s disposable subjects. Viva la choice!

think whatever

think whatever
Originally uploaded by isral duke

a paraphrase of Philippians 4:8, which reads, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." (New English Translation)

wistful metal man

wistful metal man
Originally uploaded by isral duke

i think of myself as an awkward android, my own allegory for being made in the image of my creator, yet, many shades of imperfection lower. here, i dealt with rejection.

perpendicular

perpendicular
Originally uploaded by isral duke

we’ve decided at my tiny church in baton rouge, louisiana that we’re going to feature art on the walls made from bible verses. i don’t like having to use clichéd images (crosses, roses, fish, cute puppies, white volvos, etc)(well, i don’t and they’ve agreed to humour me) but this verse demands the cross. (i am earnestly searching for a symbol of the resurrection, an image i feel is more relevant to the christian faith while the cross is relevant to the idea of the old covenant being fulfilled). we want them to feel safe to ask hard questions and even disagree as we love discussion. you can see some of the other works here, but we're still working on this project.

Sharepoint Themes and Master Pages

Excuse me creating the following imaginary and temporary jargonyms.

In the context of the “look and feel” of a Sharepoint Site (SPS), there’s Master Pages (and two types of MPs), Content Pages, and Themes that control the appearances and layouts. Master Pages control the layout (the placements of stuff) of the SPS. The Content Pages (CP) control the actual data ⁄ content, etc., that is inserted onto the published pages. Themes control the colors, fonts, images, etc., the appearance of the content (unless that content is a field control).

MPs come in two varieties: System Master Pages (SyMP) and Site Master Pages (SiMP). SyMPs control the behaviours associated with views, webparts, forms, etc. Branding tasks, etc., probably shouldn’t need to modify or make new SyMPs. SiMPs are the MP type that controls look and feel of published pages and subsites within SPSs. SiMPs are inherited across all levels of a SPS unless a subsite is associated with a different SiMP or even a different CSS file. Thus, branding tasks, etc., would then edit or create a new SiMP(s) for something like the Citizens SPSs.

CPs are the part of the SPS hierarchy within which the actual content is presented, be it from a database, or what have you. The positionings of all the stuff on a CP is controlled by the SiMP with which that CP is associated.

Now, the appearance of all that stuff that is inserted onto the CP is controlled by a Theme. Themes dictate the colors, fonts, etc., of all the stuff that the MP lays out on the CP. Themes must be programmatically applied to all levels in a SPS even though MPs (SyMP or SiMP) are automatically inherited across all levels by default.

Droid ← Calibri ← Gill Sans

Hm, in a table-turning manner, it seems Google has copied MS.

Droid Sans, one of Google’s fonts for the upcoming Android platform (i have to admit i am a sucker for androids since the days of ‘Otherworld’ and of course, Data from Star Trek TNG ) is actually a nearly 100% rip of MS’s Calibri / Segoe.

Calibri / Segoe was influenced by Gill Sans, yes, but influence is an honor; sure, imitation is flattery.

Yet, one thing pains me… Droid has proper crossbars on the uppercase “i” while Calibri doesn’t have them.

Links:

Droid

Calibri

Gill Sans

Lust

Lust
Originally uploaded by isral duke

temptation is not the appearance of an opportunity to do wrong; temptation is going along with the desire to do the wrong thing within the appearance of that wrongful opportunity.

blameless

blameless
Originally uploaded by isral duke

the good qualities of a leader must significantly outweigh the bad, as paul tells titus, whom he leaves to “set unfinished business in order” at a new church in crete.

Raymond Douillet-Chevoleau Opening at Angela King Gallery, New Orleans, LA, USA

The Angela King Gallery, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, opened an exhibit for French painter Raymond Douillet-Chevoleau on 2 November 2007, Friday. Mr. Douillet-Chevoleau was in attendance for the exhibit. The gallery obviously wanted his second time to exhibit in New Orleans in seven years to be something special. He was to exhibit his second showing in 2005 instead but Katrina cancelled those plans. There was little room even to stand, less for those who had multiple glasses of the wine offerings.

On to the art.

Douillet-Chevoleau’s paintings are executed perfectly. His works make you think of Dali for the slope towards surrealism, Hieronymous Bosch for the allegorial hints, and even Raphael’s School of Athens in his “L’Heures qui passe.” He references other artists too, though usually in an editorial fashion: his mockery of Mondrian is magnifique and he rants about Rothko’s rhetoric.

At the gallery’s links, you can see the images which were on display. while small web sizes won’t do the details and precision any justice, it shouldn’t be less stated that Douillet-Chevoleau’s technique is on par with the classical masters. Peruse the gallery and you’ll find that his pencil work, yes, there were pencil works too, is perfect. The lines on the paper are sharp (i guess he continually sharpened his pencils while working) and even the colors applied on a couple of those pencil works are ink sharp.

Freud held that sublimation, the substitute for unrequited sexual desires, is why artists make art, writers write, and musicians play. Hm, looking through Douillet-Chevoleau’s work you’d think he made art to cope with a controlling female who used sex to control him. In all but a few works the sexual innuendos were prevalent; you’d not need any kind of imagination to force the interpretation either. While Douillet-Chevoleau’s wife was also present at the show, i couldn’t help but stare at her wondering if she was the giant woman who held the tree in her hands and whether her artist husband was getting back at her for an affair or two.

All that being said, Douillet-Chevoleau’s work is destined for a museum, for the Louvre next century, and the loo for people shy of any hints of sexuality within art.

George Lucy Quote

“These painters are great men, and must be flattered; for ‘tis the custom here, not to think themselves obliged to you for employing them, but they oblige you by being employed.” — George Lucy, 1758 (as read in Houston Museum of Fine Art, October 2007).

i certainly hope George Lucy was being sarcastic when he penned that statement — if so, then the Houston Museum of Fine Art has misread his intent. i think one of the problems preventing society from fully appreciating art is the artist. Their smug aires of superiority, condescending attitudes towards those who don’t get their ‘work,’ and the fact that so many artists fabricate items which aren’t ever given a spirit of usefulness.

Art work should record & communicate while ‘expressing.’ i am certain there are those who will say that these are the ideals of a designer, but these are the ideals of an artist who is employed in usefulness to society. Smug off.

Andy Warhol is not an Artist

Artists create images, forms, objects, to give meaning, to enrich. Artists do not steal from meaning to kill it. Any Warhol is like a thief who comes to steal, takes an elderly couple's cane, and uses it to rob them. Andy Warhol is the counterfeit who pretends to show us irony, but really twists the essence of a thing until we do not recognize it, until the point that we don't know anything anymore.

Any Warhol is not an artist. Andy Warhol is a thief.

Artists give life, they don't rob life.

Honorable Mention

i have recently been awarded Honorable Mention in an international poster design competition. The contest, sponsored by DAAD, the group who handles the university exchanges between the United States, Germany, and Canada, was open to university students. i received an informal email telling me that i had placed, but i have now received the official results. i am really excited to have placed in this competiton. it was a great experience working with a wonderful organization.

Honorable Mention in International Design Competition

I submitted an entry to an international poster design competition hosted by the DAAD, the group which handles American and Canadian exchanges to Germany. I received an email from them yesterday informing me thus:


“Dear Isral,

I am pleased to inform you that out of a highly robust number of design submissions, the poster committee has selected your design for Honorable Mention in the DAAD Poster Competition.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your distinction and to thank you for your fine work.”


Well, I won't be going to Germany (gosh golly darnit blast shucks), but at least it's valuable resumé and portfolio information. I can now say: "I am an almost international jet-setting designer."

Caesar & Scarlet

i drew this for my friend Caesar and his girlfriend Scarlet. They live in Tucson, AZ and i recently visited them. On the night i met Scarlet for the first time, they officially became an "item."

Aperture

I realized something in the darkroom. The beauty, the maturity of a photograph in the developing process depends on light at each step.

The camera must have the optimal aperture setting much like our minds. The shutter speed is how quickly we react to the light: quickly in bright circumstances in obedience, or slowly in th elow light of anger and/or malice towards us. The film setting, the film speed, is how sensitive our hearts are to the light that comes in.

Then, even after the exposure, the negative must be exposed to more light to make a positive image. First, a full open aperture on the enlarger to get the focus right, making the details come through sharply, then a dimmer setting to allow the print to bask in a continual, but not overbearing light stream, which matures the precious silver. Dip the paper, our hearts, into the developer, which is the discipleship of an older believer or spiritual mentor, bringing the exposed surface to fullness. The fixer, the chemical which solidifies the print is the Holy Spirit, preventing the image from darkening once it's been removed from the developer.

Now it's ready to be hung on the gallery of a wedding feast. A portrait of the future.

Phenomes & Phonemes

Language and genetics are similar. They each instruct processes and signal the indentity of the entity using them. Phenomes are the genetically-encoded characteristics of how an organism will look, behave, etc. Phonemes are the individual units of spoken languages and these are the characteristic building blocks of how a language will sound, behave, etc. Communication in each these systems is inherently the same, with contextual differences. Such correspondence across parallel neighbors speaks of a Design, and thus a Designer. Maybe it's Deisign. -isral

2004 Lecture Series, LSU, School of Art

Every year the LSU School of Art presents a lecture series with distinguised speakers in the fields of study enclosed within the College of Art + Design. This two-sided poster was my design for the 2004 Lecture Series.

Der Andere or The Other

Der Andere is a theatrical production from Amsterdam in the 1920's. I redesigned the poster using only black and white and typographical elements.

Habitat for Humanity Brochure

This thirty-six inch brochure was designed by me while I worked for the Graphic Design Student Office at LSU. The client was the LSU School of Art, The LSU School of Architecture, Habitat for Humanity, The Vinyl Institute, and the professor in charge of the project, David Baird. Talk about designing for a committee! I was awarded a Silver Addy Award in the 2006 Advertising Federation award ceremony.

Baton Rouge Earth Day Poster 2006

Giant Bear Venue Poster

Giant Bear is a Tennessee-based band coming to play in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 14, 2006. The venue is a local bar named Red Star. Giant Bear come through once already and played. I saw their first show and it was good. Looking to get into concert posters, I offered them help should they ever come through again. Well, they emailed me and they're coming through again.

Even to Resist

CS Lewis writes, in Letters to Malcolm, of humans and the lower lifeforms, that humans have been given the freedom "... to will his will ('and wield their little tridents'): the lower one simply execute it automatically (74-75)." The freedom to choose includes the freedom even to resist.

Egg: Counted

i was sitting in Highland Coffees wondering what to draw when a friend entered and sat at the table next to me. He told me of his application to be a summer programmer at Google (by the way, he prefers Macs). But then he said, "Well, now that i told you, isral, it won't happen."



i told him that i understood the sentiment. Only the things to which i look forward are those things which do not occur. We agreed that our earnest outlooks often jinx our futures.



So, after the image came to mind's eye and i began drawing he informed me that today, 05-21-2006, was his 21st birthday. So i dedicated the image inspired by our little talk as his birthday present.

android fallacy

The Android's Fallacy: the Heart Pretending to be a Brain. No, it wasn't thinking, it was emotion running amok.

Dei imago Logo

I have finally finished and perfected a logo for my budding freelance gigs. At the help and guidance of my professor Pat Vining I have applied a visual system I constructed from my theological mentor Tom Haralson. Look at the logo below and click it to see a larger version.



Dei imago is Latin for God's image. I am created in the image of God, along with every other human. I am a little creator. The imago is lowercased becaused I, God's creation, am the smaller. The lowercase i at the end of Dei and at the beginning of imago reach towards each other, a visual nod to Michaelangelo's Creation of Adam. Notice too how the i's are the same size, for the self-emptying of Christ to be incarnated as a human, His creation. Also, the i's are reaching out to each other to symbolize my belief in Christ and Christ's effort to redeem me. I have also attempted to honor Swiss typography, elegant and formal in its simplicity. The colors, red, black, and white, are classical colors for early texts, because these colors have equal contrast to each other. Oh, yeah, and also, in a theological visual pun, notice how my logo is the text!

Veritas

I'm really looking forward to the Veritas series of lectures being given at LSU this weekend and next week. Caesar and I both are going and can't wait for these things!

They started in 1992 at Harvard by thee Harvard Chaplain, Peter Kreeft. Apparently this guy's mentor was CS Lewis' confessor! Woo hoo! Lewis' influence lives on in Christian Academians and they're coming to LSU!

Eager. Eager. Eager.

My Surprise

Imagine my surprise when I almost won the critique contest this morning in the hippie teacher's class. I've never won his prize! Ah!

Last night my printer was freaking out and not talking to my laptop, our of the blue! It was fine a week ago! Kinko's was out of cyan toner (cyan is one of the component colors of printing so the colors would've looked eight different kinds of wrong!), the color printer at school was missing some kind of fuser cartridge. This morning I had to sonic boom over to Paw Prints, the LSU copy shop (which, if I had to guess which was worse between them and Kinko's I'd actually be at a loss). By the time I actually made it to class I wasn't able to mount my works.

No big loss, mine would've won. :P

Hippie teacher said, "Isral, you're making green the new spiritual color."

I hate printing. Why can't everything be electronic only?!