Animas High School : 20091 HWY 160 : Durango CO : 81301 : # 970-247-2474
Photoshop Tutorials
- I selected the iris with the pen tool and altered the hue.
Teacher Creature Project
In this project, I used the pen tool to copy key elements from all of the pictures I took from the internet.
I also changed the hue of the final product to make it appear as though the explosions were changing the lighting of the scenery.
I also changed the hue of the final product to make it appear as though the explosions were changing the lighting of the scenery.
Self Portrait : Break Away
Artist Statement/Project Reflection:
In this project, I made five drafts, the final three of which were done in pen. For the first, I used my reflection as a model, and a pencil so it was easier to correct my mistakes. In the second draft, I made a successful attempt to flip the image and add more detail, such as a design on the T-shirt, and handcuffs with a broken chain. In the third, I used the light from a window to trace over it with pen and changed it so that the words, “Break Away” were on the shirt instead. I didn’t like the design or text on the shirt but I felt that it needed something to occupy the space, maybe including a bit more symbolism. In my last bit of time, I decided on adding a severed noose, dangling from my neck to further emphasize the metaphor of overcoming my hardships and breaking free from the aspects of my life restraining me from from accomplishing my goals.
I enjoyed this project because art, graphic art especially, is one of my biggest passions. I would’ve liked to have been able to make another draft because there were a few things I didn’t get the chance to fix, like the facial details including the eyes, eyebrows, and nose; but I did not have enough time. I think this project needed a bit more preparation because we were expected to be at least one quarter finished when I was still brainstorming. You shouldn’t have to rush art, which I did.
I enjoyed this project because art, graphic art especially, is one of my biggest passions. I would’ve liked to have been able to make another draft because there were a few things I didn’t get the chance to fix, like the facial details including the eyes, eyebrows, and nose; but I did not have enough time. I think this project needed a bit more preparation because we were expected to be at least one quarter finished when I was still brainstorming. You shouldn’t have to rush art, which I did.
Power of the Pen Live Trace Drawings
Project Description
This project was mainly focused on us developing our drawing skills and learning how to use the “Live/Image Trace” tool in Adobe Illustrator. Most of us were instructed to draw something from the prehistoric time period to fit the theme of the Art History Project, but since this was right after the shootings of the cartoonists in France, some us, me included, chose to depict our feelings on that subject and potentially post it on some form of social media to show our support. To start this project, I drew a pen and a skull side by side, but later changed it so that the pen was making contact with the skull as though it was drawing it. I then made it look more liquidy with droplets of ink splattering away from the skull. I intended to make a final draft in pen so it would be darker and actually look like ink, but I ran out of time and scanned it onto a computer. Unfortunately, because it was still in pencil, it looks very light and faint. I live traced it in illustrator hoping it would fix this but it only changed the way the more visible parts looked. I would much rather have simply drawn it out in several different styles, but this was the first step in learning to use Adobe Illustrator. In the future, I’d like to take the time to make a graphic novel and this could help fix my unintended stylistic errors, even though it almost feels like cheating. I’m not likely to use this program in my everyday artwork but it could be fun, interesting, and will likely have it’s place at some point.
Political Cartoon Project -
Visual Response to the Documentary: "Blackfish"
Dying Whale
Project Reflection
For this project, I was instructed to create a political cartoon representing my interpretations and the messages I received from watching the documentary Blackfish. Overall, the film evidently explains the severe level of corruption and cruelty towards orca whales from the SeaWorld amusement park. My political cartoon is not centered around a single aspect of this cruelty, but a more broadened and metaphorical outlook upon the entire ordeal. The employees of SeaWorld, whether knowingly or otherwise, are lying about the wellbeing of the animals that they have in captivity, ultimately for the capitalistic sake of money. This has escalated to the point of violent attacks on the trainers that the orcas were practically raised by. My political cartoon is the image of a partially submerged orca whale with the part underwater being made to look very skeletal and dead, while the part above water, the part the SeaWorld audience would see, looks to be in almost perfect health, aside from the tears welling up under its eyes. The message I attempted to convey with this piece is that although most do not see through corporate, capital deceit, that these creatures are not enclosed, but imprisoned, and that the term “Killer Whale” is a more fitting description of humans.
Information can be shared artistically by creating something that carries a clear, figurative or literal message or point that is sometimes familiar or recognizable to the viewer. An effective way to imprint this message is by leaving space for the viewer think and try to answer a question that has developed in their head, in other words, leaving the piece open for interpretation. Creating art and viewing art are two very different things, but both are required for a piece of art to have reason. The creation is about making and sending the message, while viewing is about receiving said message, and interpreting it in your own way. A piece of artwork has a substantially different meaning to everyone.
Information can be shared artistically by creating something that carries a clear, figurative or literal message or point that is sometimes familiar or recognizable to the viewer. An effective way to imprint this message is by leaving space for the viewer think and try to answer a question that has developed in their head, in other words, leaving the piece open for interpretation. Creating art and viewing art are two very different things, but both are required for a piece of art to have reason. The creation is about making and sending the message, while viewing is about receiving said message, and interpreting it in your own way. A piece of artwork has a substantially different meaning to everyone.
Video Poject - Best Worst Thing Music Video
Project Description
In the video project, we were instructed to create a video that included certain elements of film from lighting techniques, to spatial composition and camera angle. We were given the option to work in groups or, as I chose, alone. I did not really know what I wanted to do up until around the last week of the project, which was the reason behind the poor quality. I considered working with a few other groups but when it was all beginning to wrap up, I wrote a song and threw together the video for it at the last moment. I definitely learned a vital lesson about time management the hard way. One thing that was very helpful before this project was the stop motion mini project before we began. Although I didn’t use stop motion in my video, it was helpful to practice using the computer software to edit my work.
In the video project, we were instructed to create a video that included certain elements of film from lighting techniques, to spatial composition and camera angle. We were given the option to work in groups or, as I chose, alone. I did not really know what I wanted to do up until around the last week of the project, which was the reason behind the poor quality. I considered working with a few other groups but when it was all beginning to wrap up, I wrote a song and threw together the video for it at the last moment. I definitely learned a vital lesson about time management the hard way. One thing that was very helpful before this project was the stop motion mini project before we began. Although I didn’t use stop motion in my video, it was helpful to practice using the computer software to edit my work.
Project questions:
- How is art used in everyday life?
- How and why is art used as a vehicle for communication?
- How does Material Culture influence artistic decisions?
- What problem-solving skills are employed in making works of art?
- Why do Artists Produce Preliminary Plans? (sketches, brainstorms, storyboards, etc?)