Wizards Alternate Logo and maybe more (not finished yet)

[eliasrappaport]

The day has finally come. I downloaded the free trial of Illustrator!! So far, this is all I've made, but I hope to do more.

Sadly, I am VERY nooby at this as I've never designed a logo on a computer before. The biggest problem I've run into is coloring. I can't figure out how to merge lines together to make a shape that I can fill in with color. If someone could help with that I'd be very grateful. Also if someone could direct to a website that has team's fonts/wordmarks to C&P into the design, that'd be great as well. Edit: Also the part under the Monument is not erasing properly. I was hoping to just cut it like in photoshop or to isolate it and erase it without interfering the ball. Any help with that is great too. Thanks.

Anyways, to the concept itself. It's a Wizards alt logo that could serve as a halfcourt logo or just on hats or whatever. Before anyone says I stole the monument and congress building idea from a previous poster (I forget who), I only saw that after drawing the design about 3 months ago on paper, so I in no means meant to copy or steal his work. It pretty much a basketball with the Washington Monument and Congress Building and some inspiration from the US Seal (I'll post a picture next to my logo). All C&C is appreciated. Thanks!

http://s1102.photobucket.com/user/eliasrapp98/media/ScreenShot2013-08-07at93528PM_zps1803eea6.png.html (first attempt)

http://s1102.photobucket.com/user/eliasrapp98/media/ScreenShot2013-08-08at32807PM_zpsa956978b.png.html (added some color)

http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/IMAGES/US-GreatSeal-Obverse600px.jpg (US Seal: Using a link so people aren't confused with my photobucket pics not being uploaded here as well.

Thanks!

[DS729]

I don't know, the DC teams have really gone away from the capitol look in the last few years (speciically the caps and wizards) and instead have gone with nationall colors

[eliasrappaport]

Did it just so I could experiment with colors. It was the only shape that I could make from actual shapes and not hand-drawn lines, so I wanted to try it out.

[eliasrappaport]

Any other opinions or tips with illustrator?

[Windell918]

Concept: As said, DC teams are moving from patriotic themes but this one isn't bad. Love that you spelled out the DC part. The Wash. mon. really unbalances the design.(there's nothing on the right side.)

Execution: For a first timer its good. there are tools I don't know how to use still because there are ALOT. Your doing the right thing tho by trying things out. Play around with your pen as much as you can and really figure out the curves. once you get that your pathfinder and alignment panels are great things to figure out. and USE THIS INTERNET there are a plethora of tutorials and videos out there. Keep it up!