New Member, New art, looking for feedback...

[Whytseyed]

I'm a new member here, just found the site, and thought I would postsome of my stuff and try to get some feedback on what you guys think, I see a lot of great designs on this site.
This is stuff that I did for a band that I was in, and now am making all the designs and t-shirts for the band is called Dryvel, they're a punk/rock band...

http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/weblayout.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/engine.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/glass3.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/penandquill.jpg

[Whytseyed]

This is just some personal stuff I did, trying to go for a more street art vibe...
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/heart.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/tvkills.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/small/skull.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/small/wtf.jpg

[Whytseyed]

I also do a lot of comic book style hand drawn art, which I then usually color using photoshop, most of it can be seen at http://whytseyed.deviantart.com (http://whytseyed.deviantart.com/) but heres one or two...
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/joybuzz.jpg
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/villains.jpg

Then some random stuff...

this is a band name that I really liked and just came up with a layout idea for a website entrance...
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/thiscity.jpg
This is just a photograph I took and added the border, I also like photography, but don't have too much online..
http://www.msu.edu/user/w/h/whitesi9/public/polaroid.jpg


I don't do this as a career but I would like to do it on the side of my actual career, so I would appreciate any feedback I can get, thanks a lot.

[tZ]

I really like the characters with the street art vibe.

The first piece in the second post is interesting also.

I'm not really digging anything in the first post.

The website layout is techically inproficent and dated.

The poster doesn't really have a valid hierachy and or communication. I do like the illustration of the motor though. If that was a vector it would be interesting to revolve an idea around the motor itself and make it the focal point of the piece by by making it gigantic to show some concept that deals with and relates to the band to sell them. Right now its just "art" rather then effective design- what a poster should be. Since, posters inform and you need to think about imediacy- posters are all impact and immedicacy of that impact.

The bUllet is your name poster is better. However, still tere exist no idea or if is an idea then it is not properly communciated in a visually form. In addition, the typography is bad. You have a heirarchy conflict with the type at the top and the largest face near the bottom. Since, the eye generally looks to that upper part first but, the type below is the dominent due to size it creates some tension and conflict.

I like the typface for the band name but, I think everything below would benefit it was in something contrasting. Such as a sans-serif face or maybe a transitional, modern or slab serif.

The last thing on the girst post I don't know what to say about that. I have no idea what it says or means. I think there may be an idea behind it but, am not sure. I mean i can read the never cool enough part but, don't see how the imagery relates/reinforces that communication most likly cause I ghave no idea what that black blobish type thing is meant to be.

The villian thing is interesting but, it doesn't really look like a villian but, a good guy. Maybe instead og villian do something about a "good guy". Just making the eys white isn't enough to convey that of a villian. Look at some examples and you should see what i mean. If those eyes weren't white and he wasn't forning he would be converyed as a "good guy".

Which is all fine and dandy buit, in graphic design the goal is reconize the subtleties that make these things appar like something to the audience- such in your case- a villian. What type of attributes do most villians share/have in common? First, you need to reconie those before you can move on and create your own. This way you asure that your audience reads it as a villian ratrher then anything else and that goes the same for any visual communication.

There isn't much to say about the website entry thing. I like the line work but, layout wise ity needs help. Also, it needs to be designed to work in correspondance with the web. Again, there isn't really a communciation here either.

The photograph is interesting. That border makes me want to puke but, looking at without the border(in my mind) its alright. I like the contrast created between the sky and ground.

All and all I would say your most sucessfull pieces(s) are the characters. They are different and unique yet aesthetically interesting to hold my interest. Also, the poster below them are quite interesting also, but I can barly see it.

What you need to work on is your communication. If your going to be graphic design then you need to leanr to communciate. It's as simple as that. You images need to say something that further reinforces and sells what they represent through an idea. otherwise, your just making subjective art.

not bad though

good luck

[Whytseyed]

Thanks for the input, this is what I need to hear, the blob thing on the dryvel "never cool enough" picture is a quill and ink, and I know it's hard to see, but it's an old image we used. As for the Villains picture, it was a piece done for a comic book entitled Villains, but the character isn't a villain, he's a guy who is getting trained by a villain on how to use super powers to be a hero, so it's kinda confusing if you haven't read the comic.
As for the street art style images, they're one of my favorite things to do, they're just a lot of fun to come up with and make.
Like I said this isn't my career, but art in general is a passion, I try to do graphic design, but more often i do comic book style images, which is what the pink image is, it can be seen full size at whytseyed.deviantart.com so thanks for the comments, I really appreciate you taking the time to look.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

I love your street art thingys. Reminds me of MTV!

Good work.

You have a strong "artistic eye".

[Whytseyed]

Thanks a lot, but I don't know whether or not I like my stuff reminding you of MTV... hmmm

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Well, they are different in terms of the content and context, even in that they are static, and thos eon MTV are animated.