Art Ed 252: Blog Assignment #5

1. What is the most significant accomplishment in looking at your Midterm or Final?

My midterm diptych was a big step in my growth as an artist using Photoshop as well as one of my best displays of making meaning within art, and I'm very proud of it, but my proudest achievement is my final project. Maybe I'm biased because I just finished it but I am truly proud of what I've accomplished. It was a huge undertaking and to be honest, early on in the drawing phase I wasn't sure I could accomplish even half of what I wanted. I know Aaron often tells us to let the work take us where it wants to go and not get too set on how to make your image look, but I was set on making the best self portrait Avatar poster I could and didn't want to settle for anything less than my vision. This was largely a technical exploration for me, I can throw around some big idea thoughts but really this was just my attempt at making the coolest looking pictures I could. I think I've achieved my goal, I love the way they turned out and I've exceeded my own expectations. I mastered some previously tough techniques for me such as gradient masks, the burn and dodge tools, and the liquify tool.

2. Choose a project in the class and discuss your most challenging learning experience in Photoshop.

With my background in Fireworks I already knew how to use most tools in Photoshop without too much trouble, but one tool that gave me difficulties was the gradient tool. Fireworks deals with gradients in a completely different way. My progression in mastering the tool isn't as noticeable in my work because I found ways around it but by the final I had become much more comfortable is using gradients.

3. Compare two projects from the quarter to compare and contrast how you achieved making meaning in the work.

My progression from the Brainstorming and Modulating Meaning projects to the Midterm Diptych show my improved capacity in achieving my meaning I was trying to accomplish. The first two are very general and don't display much more than on a superficial level, whereas my diptych shows a deep personal understanding of my big idea: identity.

Art Ed 252: Final Project

I have expanded upon Quiz #3: Retouching, for my final project. I had hoped to do more for the quiz but ran out of time and decided to be conservative in my retouching. For this project I completely altered photos of myself and my girlfriend, changing us into the Na'vi aliens from James Cameron's Avatar (trailer). My big idea for this project is Sci-fi and fantasy, something that interests and inspires me. I used two promotional posters to influence my work (link, link). I have altered the images of our faces into something completely different from what we look like, but subtle features identifying us remain. This strategy communicates the theme of the film: human and alien relationships. Several of the characters in the movie are "avatars," alien-human hybrid clone hosts controlled by humans on the hostile alien homeworld. One of these avatars becomes very involved with the Na'vi culture and even falls in love with a Na'vi woman. I will attempt to display this duality of cultures with my project.

Art Ed 252: Blog Assignment #4

Artist Statement for Final

I plan to expand upon Quiz #3: Retouching, for my final project. I had hoped to do more for the quiz but just ran out of time and decided to be conservative in my retouching.  For this project I will completely alter a photo of myself and my girlfriend. Changing us into the Na'vi aliens from James Cameron's Avatar (trailer).  My big idea for this project is Sci-fi and fantasy, something that interests and inspires me. I will use two promotional posters to influence my work (link, link). The meaning of this work may be difficult to discover, but I plan to alter the images of our faces into something completely different from what we look like now, but subtle features identifying us will remain.  This strategy communicates the theme of the film: human and alien relationships. Several of the characters in the movie are "avatars," alien-human hybrid clones controlled by humans on the hostile alien homeworld.  One of these avatars becomes very involved with the Na'vi culture and even falls in love with a Na'vi woman.  I will attempt to display this duality of cultures with my project.

I hope to use vectors and groups in my creations.

My big idea is sci-fi and fantasy and my influences the above links as well as the 15 minute Avatar preview I saw in IMAX 3D on August 21st.

Art Ed 252: Midterm Diptych

I’ve chosen to explore the concept of identity for my big idea. Identity is important to me because I believe it’s something that no one can escape.  Who we are is something we constantly deal with even if it’s not consciously.  I often think about who I am as a person and how others perceive me.

For my midterm diptych I plan to apply the theme of good versus evil within the self.  An episode titled “The Enemy Within” from Star Trek The Original Series has inspired me. In the episode Kirk is split into two copies when the transporter malfunctions.  One Kirk is very aggressive and overly uncivilized; he’s overly violent, sexually forceful and obsessed with obtaining control of the ship.  The other copy is very polite and friendly, but he also has no drive and is ultimately weak. At the conclusion it is discovered that neither half of Kirk can operate without the other, each piece works in accordance to strengthen his character.  Without the seemingly evil side Kirk would have no aggressive drive and amount to nothing, and without his good side his evil side would overwhelm him and make him a madman. 

I have used two images of my face.  The left side is an image of me grimacing with a black eye, and dark face.  I’ve used dark colors and hostile images to create a feeling of evil.  On the left I used an image of me smiling.  I have natural images surrounding my face with bright colors to create a feeling of calm.  On both images I have a DNA strand coming from my eye and splitting towards each other.  I have titled the image on the left “The Enemy” and the image on the right “Within.”  Together they form “The Enemy Within.”

            

Art Ed 252: Artist Statement

I’ve chosen to explore the concept of identity for my big idea. Identity is important to me because I think it’s something that no one can escape.  Who we are is something we constantly deal with even if it’s not consciously.  I often think about who I am as a person and how others perceive me.

For my midterm diptych I plan to apply the theme of good versus evil within the self.  An episode titled “The Enemy Within” from Star Trek The Original Series has inspired me. In the episode Kirk is split into two copies when the transporter malfunctions.  One Kirk is very aggressive and overly uncivilized; he’s overly violent, sexually forceful and obsessed with obtaining control of the ship.  The other copy is very polite and friendly, but he also has no drive and is ultimately weak. At the conclusion it is discovered that neither half of Kirk can operate without the other, each piece works in accordance to strengthen his character.  Without the seemingly evil side Kirk would have no aggressive drive and amount to nothing, and without his good side his evil side would overwhelm him and make him a madman. 

For my diptych I plan to have one side be good and the other evil. Both will display images of my face, but each will be quite different.  I will use hot and cold color schemes and images of disaster and tranquility to evoke my message.

A trailer for "The Enemy Within"

Full episode of "The Enemy Within"

            

Art Ed 252: Blog Assignment 3

One artist that has been really inspiring me for the past few months is Neill Blomkamp (IMDb, Wikipedia). Blomkamp is a 29 year old South African who has just made his first feature length film: District 9 (trailer 1, trailer 2). He started in the business at a very early age working in visual effects. He did visual effects for small animation studios (working on such titles as , Stargate SG-1, Dark Angel, and Smallville), and made his own short films on the side. One short film; "Alive in Joburg" gained him fame. He eventually started directing commercials for large companies and music videos (a round up of some of his work - a few have been removed). In 2005 he was offered the director's chair for the Peter Jackson produced Halo live action movie. Blomkamp created a very popular short film titled "Halo: Landfall," showcasing what he could do with the film. Despite having huge fan support the movie fell apart due to alleged funding issues (no one wanted to fund a $125 mil + videogame adaptation) and possible problems with the script. Knowing what a talent Jackson had under his wing he offered to produce another movie conceived and directed by Blompkamp. Jackson's wife Fran Walsh suggested Blomkamp adapt his popular short "Alive in Jo'burg" into a feature length film. District 9 was born.

Blomkamp has actually been inspiring me since 2006 when my brother showed me one of his shorts; Tetra Vaal, a very impressive CGI robot cop in a third world country. Blomkamp appeals to me because he is such a great artist achieving things most of us can only dream of at such a young age. He has a vision unlike any director before him. His big ideas involve technology and sci-fi, culture, and human identity. District 9 isn't the first time he's worked with ideas of what it means to be human, if all humans have the same rights, and whether only humans have rights. He has a great video called Tempbot that deals with a robot temp agent working a desk job at a company. The robot deals with human interaction and is in many ways treated as a human. I find his work inspiring because it deals with tough issues like these. Many questions arise, such as; what does it mean to be human? can robots be treated as people? do robots have the same rights as humans? how about aliens, do they have rights and human qualities? Many of these questions come up in District 9 but it is up for the viewer to decide. I've seen the movie twice now and I think I liked it even more the second time.

*Spoilers*

I'm considering using these themes in my final project. One idea I have is to make my face half human, and half alien like the lead in District 9 near the end.

*End Spoilers*

A digital artist that has recently gotten me excited about art is Daniel Kvasznicza (deviantART, IMDb, Professional Site). Kvasznicza shows what a true professional in the digital arts can achieve. He's worked on several films (e.g. 300 and Beverly Hills Chihuahua) and videogames (e.g. Fallout 3 and Assassin's Creed 2) as a matte painter. His work appeals to me on many levels. He's has an immense amount of talent and can create art that looks and feels lifelike. He works with big ideas that I really enjoy, such as sci-fi, fantasy, and cityscapes (maybe a theme). Everytime I view his work I'm inspired to think big and aim for something spectacular.

Links to some of my favorite of his artwork:
AION Asmodia
Fallout 3 - DC
Speedpaint: Green hills
ORBIT

Art Ed 252: Brainstorming & Modulated Meaning