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Good Fortune Studios

Beauty. Attention. Creation.

A Layered Approach

June 5, 2011 by Rayna Diane Hennen

An often overlook element of the work-flow process is layers. All the Adobe products use layers. They are great – you can have a layer for every little line in your project if you want. It’s actually a great thing for editing a file later. So when aren’t they beneficial? When you haven’t named a single one of them and someone else has to use your file to edit a project. Note: the next person could be you in six months. Will you remember what Layer 135 is?

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Parachutes and Javascript

January 11, 2011 by Rayna Diane Hennen

I don’t have to work for the #1 ad agency in the world (some would ask well, why not?) but I have read some job descriptions that, while I could do it, it didn’t inspire me. That or the company left something to be desired. Did I apply? Yes, to a couple of them but since there are only so many jobs available on any given day and after I have taken care of any freelance work, there is inevitably down time. So, as my grandfather used to say, might as well do something even if it’s wrong. Meaning, doing something is better than nothing because it gets the ball rolling.

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My Own Worst Design Enemy

August 12, 2010 by Rayna Diane Hennen

A Corner of My Future Site I am currently in the process of redesigning my own website, which showcases a portfolio of my web design work along with my photography. It is long overdue and certainly could benefit from more copy and a more coherent design and flow. Looking at the site from a potential client or employer’s perspective one would wonder who this designer is. What does this designer

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Oh so Manly

June 7, 2010 by Rayna Diane Hennen

I’ve always been attracted to packaging. I don’t work in the package design industry – I don’t think I have the brain particles necessary for 3D design.  I didn’t take to 3D software very well, unfortunately. It would have been great to get into video game design, which is actually a good segue way into my topic as the video game market appears to be predominantly male. Lately in the

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New flickr Photos

May 2, 2010 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Friday in DUMBO Brooklyn was beautiful. I took full advantage and went out at lunch time with my camera.

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Say Something!

December 12, 2009 by Rayna Diane Hennen

These aren’t mind-blowing revelations by any means but I think they’re important. The in-house design department I work in suffered for a long time because we didn’t speak up. We also compromise a lot since there are more than 3 people involved in any given project, which can be frustrating but if you really believe that what you’re thinking should be done will benefit the project, say it.

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An Evening with James Victore

May 31, 2009 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Refreshingly candid, and if I may add, prone to swearing which I love, James Victore discussed his career and what he does to stay on top of his creativity. From Picture Wars with his son, Coffee Notes with his wife and continuously learning and forcing himself outside of his boundaries, his creativity is always being exercised. His biggest hurdle is himself; “[he is] the weakest link”.  He has a book

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New Frontiers of Graphic Design

April 1, 2009 by Rayna Diane Hennen

A Panel hosted by mediabistro and moderated by Stephanie Murg, co-editor of UnBeige View Photo Slideshow (i’m in the last photo, on the left with Katie Coates) One of the great questions that came out of the audience at the end of this panel was the question, if you could teach kids anything what would it be? Doug Jaeger, founder of thehappycorp global, said he would focus on teaching being

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Hello Lovely Creative Human!

Newsletters are sent out around once a month and could include recent blog posts, photos listed for sale and other musings about art, books, photography, nature and life.

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goodfortunestudios

Experiments in creativity and cringe. Join me!

I have pulled off the side of the road to grab a c I have pulled off the side of the road to grab a close up of a flower but every now and again, I'll get a scenic shot that steals my heart, too. 

The Sentinels.

#winterphotography
#snowypines
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes - including you. - Anee Lamott

Softness in Winter

#snowypine #winterphotography
Instagram post 18146261077459334 Instagram post 18146261077459334
Happiness hides in life’s small details. If you’re Happiness hides in life’s small details. If you’re not looking, it becomes invisible. - Joyce Brothers

#snowymoss
#snowymossontrees
#winterphotography
Continuing with the Bluebeard collage. After doing Continuing with the Bluebeard collage. After doing this I changed the blade on the xacto – the edges of the chair had white rough edges.

Bluebeard is originally a French folktale though many countries have a version. In the spirit of IMDB unhelpful, one-line descriptions of movies: A man with a deadly secret, intent on luring a young woman to be his new bride. 😄 🤷

A little more specific: The tale is about a wealthy man in the habit of murdering his wives and the attempts of the present one to avoid the fate of the previous wives. 🫣

This will be for the first spread, the ‘romance’ – truly, it’s not romantic, he’s trying to sway one of the sisters into, what will be a not so sweet marriage.

There will be 5 spreads total: the romance, finding the little door, the bloody key, the brothers to the rescue, and (kind of a gruesome end) the vulture.
We're getting closer to spring, which will be love We're getting closer to spring, which will be lovely but I do love winter. All seasons have beauty if you take the time to look (and dress warmly!) so I'll share some of my favorites while getting ready for spring 😊 

This is in my own front yard and I liked it immediately but liked it even more when I got it up on the big computer screen and could see the sun reflected in that little water drop! This one is available as a print.

#berriesinwinter 
#winterphotography 
#waterdropsphotography
Working on getting back to a rhythm of some kind a Working on getting back to a rhythm of some kind after unexpected time away. Looking at my last post, it was in October, which is kinda what I thought. From that point in October to the end of the year was a blur of physical pain that went on for weeks, then recovery, then a holiday, then an illness, then family and travel and another holiday and more travel and, well, I think I finally came up for air phew!! LOL

I have written or painted every day this week. After searching for a project, I think I'll go back to this project,  which I've been stuck on for a while. It will be based on the fairy tale Bluebeard.

Anyway, this project wasn't living up to what was in my head and I was making it too literal. I was sitting there bitching to myself and then I to me self, self:  you know you *could* just paint over what you've done and start over. 😄 Nothing gets by me, man!

I hope the health issues will stay at bay for a while because it really is true if you haven't got your health, what have you got and I much prefer not having pain and making things! You do have to give yourself grace sometimes and let some things go if you want to heal. 🤷‍

What have you been up to?

#embracethecringe #creativityandcringe
I was digging around in my closet for something an I was digging around in my closet for something and came across an older sketchbook, which of course derailed the search because I HAD to flip through it 😊

My Mom had this box for a long time, just sitting in a cabinet. It was just plain wood, the lid wasn't attached but it did come with the hinges. One summer I stole it, painted it and surprised her for Christmas. 

On slides 2 & 3 you can see the first sketches I made for the box. And slides 5 & 6 show where the next round of sketches ended up. Completely different direction as it turns out! Went for the Arts & Craft period style she loves.
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