APRIL 15, 2024

MAKING TIME TO DRAW

Since I was a kid, i’ve always loved to draw. I never considered myself to be a particularly gifted illustrator, but while I was attending University at Central Saint Martins, a professor said something revolutionary: “There is no such thing as ‘bad’ drawing.” Those words set me free.

During periods where I don’t express myself through drawing, carving or other various personal projects, this inescapable urge to MAKE accumulates. My go-to move is grabbing my sketchbook and doodling the dogs. I’ve been trying to capture Saba for quite some time, which is difficult to do with a wiggly dog.

I finally had the opportunity to draw her properly over the weekend. I usually use a monoline pen and dot work to create dimension, but it was fun to experiment with a 6B pencil and line work.

JANUARY 8, 2024

PATTERN MAKING

This year, I also want to refresh my knowledge of the tools in Illustrator. There are some great new ones that speed up the making process and I’m excited to integrate them into my design practice.

Today I explored the Repeat Grid tool. I love patterns and found a couple of flower shapes I drew at some point, which were perfect for the vintage floral vibe I was going for.

JANUARY 7, 2024

MORE ANIMATION

Now that i’ve started in After Effects, I keep getting ideas for what I want to learn next. I’d like to add some of my own illustrations into the mix soon, once I have a bit of time to dedicate to a more in-depth project.

JANUARY 5, 2024

BRUSHING UP ON AFTER EFFECTS

It’s been a minute since I used After Effects. In 2021, I taught myself how to use it when a client asked for motion in their social ads. What I learned at the time was super basic.

Motion wasn’t really a thing back when I was in design school, so most of my professional work has been static.

I love learning new software and teaching myself new skills, so I’ve delved into After Effects tutorials (mostly on gradients!).

I set two goals for myself:

  1. LEARN HOW TO MANIPULATE SHAPES IN MOTION

  2. LEARN HOW TO ANIMATE THE POINTS OF A GRADIENT

I didn’t realize you could make a repeater in AE, so I have experimented with that as well.

Say hello via instagram

@jordford booked us as the 1st guests to this future campsite, tucked inside 320 acres of old farm lands. This off grid camping experience exceeded my expectations, and the dogs had a blast too (with the exception of Fran’s dramatic rescue from
We are in Reno mode over here, so I’m spending lots of time with our house on the brain. It’s one of the oldest homes in Bracebridge (circa 1880s). I’m fascinated by its history and felt inspired to draw it. . Architecture used to