West Point Revisited

About 6 weeks ago I started taking an online class through San Diego Continuing Education. We work at our own pace at home and on Monday and Wednesday night from 7-8 pm we come together through a special computer program and get to see each other's work in regards to that week's assignment. There are about 25 of us in the class.

This week assignment was to pretend that we get a call, "Can you design a graphic Book, CD or Video cover for us?" and you respond, "Yes, when do you need it?" " Well, we needed it last week but we had to fire the designer. Due to the tragic circumstances our Publication date has been moved up. Do you think you could bring in some thumbnails tomorrow around 10:00am?"

We can choose to design the graphics for a book cover, a CD/DVD Case or Video Box. (Choose one). That's hard enough, but, Jane, the online Hands-On-Print teacher did not give us the choice to pick our titles. Each of the 25 students had different titles to work with and decide how to interpret those words visually. My title with no explanation was "GRAND AND VIVID DAYS." Now what exactly is that conjuring up in my little brain?

The first night after the assignment, one student had already completed his task. It was very cleaver and looked great. His title was Leap and Pause. He used a beautiful photo of a very green lily pond with lily pads that were in bloom. Then he found a big old green frog and planted him artistically in the foreground on a big lily pad. He used a font he found called simply "frog font" for the title. It really looked great and so creative.

Back Cover - spine - Front Cover

Here is what I came up with after much deliberation and thought. First I went to the dictionary and looked up the words "grand" and "vivid". Grand: most important, admirable. Vivid: striking mental images; clearly perceived by the mind as a recollection.

I immediately thought of my son's experience and graduation from West Point. Erik was there from 1994 to 1998. He was on the football team that went to the Independence Bowl in 1996. His wife to be, Shannon also graduated from West Point the same year and was Captain of her Softball Team. They both went on to be Captains and Army pilots. Erik flying the Apache Attack helicopter and Shannon flying the Army Blackhawk helicopter.

I have already made 4 complete scrapbooks covering those years. But, I have videos that need to be compiled into one DVD. Hence this is the front and back cover of a DVD case for just that DVD.

Sidenote: They both served 7 years and then resigned their commision. They are currently living in Oceanside and work in San Diego. Neither of them fly for a living.