Saturday, August 23, 2014

Bad/Boring Graphics

Here, again in no particular order, are the graphics I don't like.

 This one makes me so mad. It's the variant cover for an issue of the Spiderwoman comic. The pose and the anatomy are pornographic and the proportions are impossible for an actual human. The problems of women in comics and in the geek community in general are way too numerous to go into here, but this is one of the more egregious examples. The line drawing on the right are a female artist's attempt to fix the anatomy and proportions, and show how far off the original is.

 This one is just boring. It doesn't grab the eye and the font is way too small to read without squinting. I love this musical and this poster does not make me want to buy a ticket.

To switch things up a little, instead of boring this is way too busy. There are too many different fonts, the colors are too dark, and I have no idea where to look.


Here is a bulletin board from my school. I like what they were trying to do, but no matter what they say, those symbols are used to replace curse words. My students walk past this on the way to the cafeteria and it makes them snicker every day.

This one is both boring and confusing. I think the green shape is a tooth, but then what is that dot above it supposed to be?

Good Graphics



So, here (in no particular order) are my good graphics.



 This one is cheating a little, since it is my tattoo. I pulled my elements from my life together into one image. The Celtic moon is reminder of my time in England and I love the shading and 3D effect the artist created. The plants are my love of nature and the cat is a reference to my work with ferals. It is also a specific memorial to my cat, Hershey, who passed away the week before I got the tattoo. I love the way the whole thing fits together.


 This is a sign from Coldstone Creamery. I like how the colors are so vivid and it looks like I could reach out and eat it. The text is a good size and the word choice is mouthwatering..... BRB. I made myself hungry and have to run out to Coldstone.

This is a sign in my classroom. The yellow and black border draws the eye and the red text reinforces the message. Unfortunately, it hasn't had a huge impact on the amount of late work, but I still like it.


 This is the cover of my school's literary magazine from last year. I love the colors and the way the light hits the puddle and the concrete, creating the reflection. The school mascot is a jaguar, which is the reason for the spelling of paws.


This is a bulletin board at my school. The picture doesn't really do it justice. Each letter is a flag, strung on a ribbon. The colors are eye catching and the textures invite you to touch. It's a great introduction for the new students, though the thought of the class of 2026 being in school makes me feel VERY old.


I would say that Disney is nostalgic for me, but  since I never really outgrew it it's hard to miss it. I was lucky enough to be a kid/teen during the era of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and seeing The Lion King in the theater is one of my fondest memories. The use of light in this image is beautiful and the hint of fairy dust above the castle invokes the magic that Disney is famous for.


 This is my favorite sign, which you can see along the interstate in Virginia. The first time I saw it, I laughed, but then I got paranoid and slowed down. It is so simple, but so effective.


 I know Lolcats are passe now, but I still find them funny. This one makes me laugh because I have been in that situation and know the bloody aftermath. I like the frantic motion implied by the shape of the cat and the text perfectly captions the panicked meows that I am sure the cat is screaming.


This is a gorgeous line drawing, and is on the short list for my next tattoo. It is so minimalist, but so alive. It conveys playfulness and movement while still letting your imagination to fill in the details.

This is one of the logos for the best TV show ever, Doctor Who. The initials D and W are angled to represent the TARDIS, which is the main character's space/timeship. The light is also a part of the ship and I love the halo it creates. This is so simplistic, but conveys everything viewers need to recognize it while it is intriguing enough to invite new viewers in.