New Logo and Business Cards

So, I made a complete 180 from my previous designs for my new logo and chose to try out a different business card layout. I am very happy with the results. The flower for the logo was from an ink painting that I did. I completely drew and designed the font for letters of the HJC and found a great free font online to coordinate for the rest of my name. Now I have a hole suite of marketing products and had some hallmark stamps made finally. I am quite excited with my new branding!

Branding - Final Steps of Logo Design

This is where I am in the design process. Down to 3 image options and many font options. I took the advice of a friend and looked up some free font websites to find fonts similar to the ones I drew from graphic design books. I found a few options that may help, but I am still considering some of the ones I developed on my own. It was also advised that I take a break from the process at this point to absorb my choices in order to make some more decisions with a clearer mind later. And since, two friends recommended this, I suppose I had better listen.

Branding Logo Image - Final 4

This was my process for choosing the Final 4.
I began with 8 that I liked the best so far.

I chose to place the circle around each of the images to help me decide which ones would look best if they had a border. And, minified them to see which would translate better on a smaller scale for a charm or stamp.

These are the 4 that I felt were strong enough to consider in the final round of decision making.

I think I am leaning towards C & D. I will likely take the two I choose at this point, edit them, and try them with some of the fonts I have developed. I would appreciate some more opinions on these images.

Branding - Logo Sketches - First Round Picks

After my first round of eliminations, these are the options I have left to choose from. Next I will narrow my options by choosing one from each of the first two sets to compare to the other individual ones shown below. Once I have it down to 5 choices I will then make changes and edit each image to more accurately depict how it may be in the final outcome, so that I can make the best decision for myself.

Branding - Logo Preliminary Sketches part 2, Cont.

I definitely am leaning towards some of these. Getting closer to a decision, feels good.

Branding - Logo Preliminary Sketches part 2

I learned from this exercise that while some of my logo preliminary sketches may not be suitable for my finished logo design, they do make some pretty patterns that might work for some of my art work or jewelry. Especially enameled wall pieces.

Branding - Logo Image Preliminary Sketches

In this step, I used tracing paper to trace sections of the images from my inspiration photo's. I chose areas that interested me the most. From here, I will choose the sketches that I find most pleasing and what I think could best translate into a logo image. I will then try variations on the sketches by cropping, copying, flipping, and enlarging. I may possibly create tessellations or maybe leave it in it's original state.
I have labeled with letters the images that I feel could use more logo exploration.

























I think I am leaning towards A, B, G, H, I or K? I most like A, B, G, and I at this point just how they are, but I have not made any decisions yet and B sort of looks like Broccoli.
Hmm?

Branding - Logo Inspirations

Pretty Weed - Holly Carter

In order to create a logo image, my design background taught me to first find inspiration. I searched my own photos as well as photos on the web for the subjects that I believe inspire my work. Of course, I am enthralled with all things nature, mother nature is a wondrous beauty!
The intrinsic artistry, as well as the life and death of nature, it's ins and outs. I have an appreciation for patterns in nature, especially radial patterns that emanate from the center of an interesting life giving stamen or pod. The structure of it's life, it's bones and skeletal systems.

Image from supermachine.wordpress.com

An affinity for bones does not have to be morbid or sad, it can be an admiration for what evolution deemed right to fit the creatures of world with, to sustain their place on the earth. There is elegance in the structure that sustains life, the architecture of every bone, joint, and connection, the engineering that allows us all to grow and move.

Snake vertebrae, for instance, has amazing movement and I find exquisiteness in the repetition in pattern and the flawless gradation of each segment. There is much stigma in the lore of snakes, although in many cultures it has been of a positive nature, many people still may be put off by my appreciation for their bones. Wikipedia states "Historically, serpents and snakes represent fertility or a creative life force. As snakes shed their skin through sloughing, they are symbols of rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing."
But, I am not captivated with the symbology as much as the pure natural elements of a simple creature that once sustained it's life.

Link to Original Image

Like the snake, the turtle or tortoise have cultural symbolism throughout the world. Squidoo says "The Turtle is an ancient symbol that represents creation, endurance, strength, stability, longevity, fertility, and innocence. The Turtle also provides protection, good fortune, and brings happiness and good omens."
More over, they are amazing beings. Tortoises and turtles inhabit the soil and the sea, they are unique and similar, they carry their own homes and structures on their backs. Each shell itself has remarkable patterning that can be shed and re-grown. I was once enthralled with the skeleton of a giant sea turtle, what an awe inspiring animal it must have been, and it inspired the design for a table I am currently working on.

As of late I have been obsessed with the Agave, the 'Century Plant'. They have a splendid array of  arms, that after 10 to 30 years bloom with a tall tuft of flowering pods filled with seeds. When the flowers die away, the pods fall off, and many tiny babies grown in their place. The baby agave's then fall from the mother plant in hopes if taking root, and the mother dies away.
How eloquent a death is that!
To live a long full life to bloom, give birth, sustain new life, and simply pass away. With death comes new life.

Some websites I found with great photo's for reference: http://micheleroohani.com/blog/2008/07/28/a-desert-garden-in-full-bloom/, and http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-agave-flower-image10646425.
The following are some of the photo's I used for inspiration and links to websites I found them on, if not my original photograph.

Image and other inspiration from farmhousefilms.net 'The Boneman'

Link to Original Image in Flickr

Image from newworldencyclopedia.org

Link to Original Image on Flickr

Wikipedia Galapagos Turtle

Agave - Holly Carter

Holly Carter

Agave- Holly Carter

Cast Agave Bud - Holly Carter

Cast Agave & Pomegranate Buds - Holly Carter

Amaryllis Pod - Holly Carter