For my Editorial (magazine design) class, I’m working on a magazine I named “Covet”. Covet is about obsessions and addictions in a variety of flavors. Articles will range from The Severed Head as a Fetish Object (below), to OCD and hoarding and world domination and consumerism and gambling and drug addictions and and and and…

I was originally going to do a horse magazine, because I thought I had paid my dues with other topics and it was finally time to do a pony project. My very first creative exploits consisted of drawings horses–all told I think I probably made 1000s of them–but at some point in highschool I was told to give the equines a rest, and I did. For a good…plenty of years. Horses would be a fun and easy magazine topic. I would be able to take my own photography and practice the photo retouching skills I’m learning in another class.

But alas, it was not to be. I was bored to tears almost instantly. The thing I forgot–or maybe just didn’t realize in my horse-crazed teenage years–is that magazine about horses are more than a little dry. Not to mention poorly written. When Nik (our department chair) sat down with me for lunch in the cafeteria last week and asked what I was working on this term, “Trot” was not sounding particularly promising, even to me. We tried (rather unsuccessfully) to figure out how to bring this rather unpromising magazine to life, but it turned out I was just beating a dead horse (ahem), as it were. You can lead a boring project to water, but you can’t beat it to death once you get there.

Starting over week 5 (more than 1/4 through the term) is always fun. My first attempt at the feature article about decapitation is below. Yummy. (Click to make them bigger, and please don’t talk about my widows–I haven’t worked on the type yet.)

For my cover I’m going to have a flap of paper covering the main image, to be lifted off for a reveal of the (very understated) masthead/logo. I’ve been playing with some fun imagery to hide, and I’m excited to mock it up.

This weekend I took a little field trip to the famed Rose Bowl Flea Market to get some props for my Editorial project. I’ve been hearing about this monthly event since I moved here, but never thought much of it or had the time. Turns out it’s GIGANTIC. I was on a deadline so I didn’t get to browse like I wanted to, but hopefully next time I’ll get a chance to do some serious treasure hunting.

The flea market is held in the parking lots surrounding the famous stadium. Cars and gates and police officers are everywhere. It’s $8 to get in, but a lot cheaper than a day at Disneyland.

I acquired two plastic steeds to photograph for class (post coming soon), and used the rest of my energy taking pictures of nick nacks.

The collections of weird things were astounding. Here you can see an assortment of scissors of various lengths. Some other highlights included a box of sheriff badges and a whole booth devoted to vintage Playboys.

I want–nay I NEED this gold chair. Doesn’t everyone?

Too bad my house is already decorated to the gills–some of these little chotchkies would fit right in.