Inventory of Stock Content for FREE!

A time saver for anyone that needs images quickly is to have a good stock library to fall back on. Maybe this means just using an image as a placeholder or parts of the image at least you have a bit to work from. You can spend hours/days/weeks finding the perfect image for a client but what if they don't like it and you spent so much time finding that one image and less time DESIGNING. Of course you want to have the perfect image but sometimes you need to get the design going to get the full look and feel.

Here are some tips at getting a FREE stock library:

• Every week istockphoto.com has free images/video/audio/illustrations to download

• Stock Xchange  is amazing and has a very LARGE LIBRARY 

• The Library of Congress is an amazing resource for multiple image downloads www.loc.gov

• Nasa

• Free vector illustrations at Vecteezy

Geometric Past, Present or Future?

I've fallen in love with Geometric patterns. I can stop myself from sketching them and the fashion I drool over. I'm not sure if this was a fast trend the sparked my interest in Spring that's stuck too long or if this geometric pattern thing is here to stay.  Regardless I love it! I recently went the the Museum of Modern Art in Chicago and saw the amazing Alexander Calder exhibit and was inspired to make more sketches. I'm currently making them into screen prints.

Argyle Flower

How fun it is to make pattern swatches and brushes! I've been experimenting in argyle for a project and making pattern brushes and swatches is really fun. This was an accidental flower from a circle. I applied an argyle brush to a standard empty circle shape. Voila! Argyle Flower!

Would be a great wrapping paper pattern. Please email me at:
lindsaykrobertson(at)gmail(dot)com if you would like this argyle flower to make your own pattern.

LOOSE BUT RIGID

Who said you couldn't have loose and rigid at the same time?

Marketing Me!

A media kit idea that sprang into my mind while riding the train home from work. I feel like art and design is encompassing my entire life and I love it. I just can't get enough of creating and designing. I come home from work and I find myself wanting to create even more, ideas keep flowing. I feel I've found a groove and don't want to leave!

What a Week...

This week as really tried my patience, in which I have huge amounts of. Its been a week of defining moments in my short career. I've decided to make a five year list of goals to pursue in my career as a Graphic Designer. I feel I have a more clear understanding of what I want to do and paths I want to take in design. This all comes from a very complicated work environment. Even though this week sucked I still feel grateful for the experience because now I have a direction and goals to achieve.

Just as the week is wrapping up I came across this T-shirt on the Design is Mine blog. Love it! Buy this T and many more hipster items at The Giant Peach.

Gemini Studio

A great local artist find this week! Gemini Studio's Stephen Fowler. His use of typography juxtaposed with collage is beautiful. A great example of a self starting Graphic Designer with a successful launch of artwork. He has an excellent etsy store in which you can purchase all his artwork at a very reasonably price.

"Gemini Studio Art is a new collection of my work that I began to create in January of 2008. Experimenting with my original designs inspired by poster-style artwork created in a vintage textural style, I have created a growing number of pieces ranging from Chicago themes, Cats & Dogs, Typography, and Food & Drink."

Illustration Wendnesday

I absolutely love this artist and all his illustrations.
http://www.neitherfishnorfowl.com/

Evolving in a Graphic World

The journey that I have traveled to find my passion for design has taken many turns. I’m currently a Graphic Designer working at my first entry level position after finishing college in March 2008. I’m a Midwestern farm girl that now lives in downtown Chicago. A short but interesting path to the arts has created a lasting love of design. This blog has been created to communicate my journey through the incredible world of design.