Poem Visualization

In creating the visualization for this poem I decided to take a different approach than what I had originally intended with the gecko-shaped children's book. I felt that my final resulting structure and format better reflected the deeper meaning of the poem, and it was just easier to read than the other format would have been. The only thing I would change is that I would have printed the book on a thicker, more textured paper to go along with the feel of the poem. The font I used for the text was Present which was activated from the Extensis Suitcase.

Self-Visualization: Final Product

This is the final result for my self-visualization project. This is the first time I have ever really tried to do something different, and really step outside of my comfort zone by making the project a little more three-dimensional and almost interactive. I chose to have the text on the back of the photographs, and reflected in the mirrors in order to have an explanation for what the objects mean. Basically, it serves as a deeper reflection of myself because it goes beyond the material objects and represents something deeper about my interests and my character. Overall, I am very pleased with the outcome, and it's a project that I'm really proud of.

Word Visualization Exercise

The font I used for this exercise was the Hobo Std Medium. I used this mainly because the type had the right curves in the lettering that would allow me to manipulate the word "apple" into the proper apple shape that I was going for.

Poem, Poet & Concept for Handmade Book

GECKO

Blessed be the morning
of childhood when
I found myself
sister to the gecko
acrobat.
On the wall of the room
utterly at ease
just like me
tumbler
on the edge of the planet

ASTRID CABRAL

I found this poem to evoke a feeling of nostalgia, and almost a longing for the innocence that childhood provides an individual. I also feel that the poem attempts to illustrate a child's imagination, and how a person's youth is free of worry and any major responsibility. As for the actual book, I have a few ideas in mind. I thought that I would some how construct the body of a gecko, and have the body wrap around the book. Another idea I had in mind was to construct the room that is somewhat described in the poem, and to place the book inside of the room to make it part of the scene. My other concept for the book included making the body of the gecko act as a spine for the book, and that my book would also take on the look of a childrens' book to coordinate with my interpretation of the poem. However, after some more consideration, I felt that by making the entire book and its pages into the shape of a gecko would probably fit more with the children's book theme. I am also deciding on whether or not I will have the book spiral bound or if I should have it fold in an accordian style.

Reaction to Dia:Beacon

Visiting Dia:Beacon was actually a really great experience. I had never really been to that kind of museum before, and I loved how relaxing the atmosphere was. I especially loved how most of the space was constructed to allow natural light to come in and light up all of the pieces. One of my favorite exhibits included that of Robert Smithson. His piece titled Map of Broken Glass (Atlantis) was one that I found to be the most interesting because of the unique shape and arrangement of the glass. The light blue tint to the glass was also an interesting aspect of the piece because it made the glass almost resemble seaglass washed up on the shore; the natural light seemed to enhance this aspect as well. Overall, I found the trip to be an interesting experience.

Robert Smithson's Map of Broken Glass (Atlantis), 1969.

Illustrator Assignment

This is the final result for my illustrator project. I really just wanted to simplify the image, and I had to make the trees their own layers in order to work with them how I wanted to. Basically, I just really wanted to make the trees pop because I felt that they were not really a central focus in the other two images, and I thought I was successful in achieving that.

Ideas for Self-Visualization

For our next project, I had a lot of ideas running through my head of what I thought I should do. At first I thought of doing a composition of six to nine photographs of different parts of my face to focus on what I think are my positive attributes. Another concept I came up with was to do three large photographs; each photograph would represent something important to me in my life. A third idea I thought of included photographing my eyes from different perspectives and angles. With this I felt I could show the different ways I see things or see myself at times, and emphasize the feature that I like most about myself. However, the concept that I finally decided on was to photograph four items or accessories that I use everyday, and that all have some kind of sentimental value for me. Coincidentally, all of the accessories that I plan to use for the composition are red, and red is actually one of my favorite colors. Given that, I took all of the photographs in color, and with Photoshop I would make them all black and white, but leave the accessories their red color in order to highlight them and make them the center focus of the photographs. I was also hoping to add some subtle effects using Photoshop or Illustrator, but overall keep them simple. We'll see what happens...

Artist Comparison (Khalo, Sherman, & Xiuwen)

In observing and studying the works of Frida Khalo, it becomes quite obvious that the many aspects of her life have influenced the way she went about creating her artwork. Especially in her self-portraits, she seemed to depict herself as somewhat of a divided person given her tough relationship with her husband Diego, and given the many physical sufferings she had experienced throughout her life, such as contracting polio, and injuring her spine in a bus accident. However, as divided as she was, I believe that Frida's work reflects a desire for independence, and the need to portray women as independent beings. Moreover, I feel that she achieved that through using herself as the main subject of many of her portraits, and also through distinctive elements such as her very dark, defined eyebrows. Most of all, I feel that she wanted to convey a message of internal conflict and struggle that many women face throughout their lives.

As for Cindy Sherman, I seemed to find a little bit of a deeper message within her works, even though we have already had an opportunity to look at, and study some of her works. It seems to me that while Sherman is the main subject within almost all of her photographs, she is trying to explain how women can be viewed in different ways with the many different,yet stereotypical, roles they can take on in life. However, Sherman's works are also a bit darker in certain respects, not only with her lighting, but also in some of the scenes that she is depicting. They give off an eerie feel, and in some ways can be viewed as a woman's personal struggle to overcome the stereotypes, and break the mold that society has set up for them.

Finally, when looking at the works of Cui Xiuwen, specifically her "Angel" series, the images almost seem surreal. At the same time, Xiuwen is using a model to portray the experiences and struggles of young women in Chinese society, specifically teenage pregnancy. She places the model in different poses, sometimes almost awkward and strange poses, in order to depict the different stages and discomforts of pregnancy such as morning sickness, bloating, extreme fatigue, exhaustion, and shifts in hormones. Another element that I noticed within the series is the expression on the model's face, and how at times her expression is that of lonliness, helplessness, or confusion; these are emotions that any young woman in that situation would feel. Again, there is that element of personal struggle that seems to be present within each of the artists' works.


Overall, after looking at the works of Khalo, Sherman, and Xiuwen, I have noticed a common theme of portraying an internal hardship that sometimes occurs within oneself. I also noticed how each of their bodies of work seem to represent the expected roles of women in society in one way or another, and the struggles that they are faced with in everyday life. Small elements of their work such as the use of themselves, or in Xiuwen's case a model, as the main subject of their works is another similarity among them, working to convey the ultimate message of a woman's search for independence.

Illustrator Exercise

Photoshop 1st Project: Final Image

This is the final result for my Photoshop Film Still Illustration. To change the statement from the original photograph, I figured I would add a subtle element of movement as well as lighten up the mood. In the original, the scene was considerably darker, and there was a definite element of stillness and tranquility within the scene. However, after making the alterations in Photoshop I feel that the scene within the photograph takes on a much lighter mood. Throughout the process, I decided I would extend the snow to cover the entire ground, and I also made the decision to brighten up the image using the hue and saturation tool, as well as the artistic effects to apply some angled strokes to the image to add an element of movement. Finally, I added a layer of snowflakes, and used the smudge tool to make it seem as if the snow were falling somewhat quickly.

Class Exercise

This is the final product for the class exercise. Since I'm new to photoshop, I figured I would just play around with layering, creating new layers, and just altering the hue, saturation, brightness, and opacity of the image.

First Project Original Photo

This is the original photo I will be using for the first project: the film still illustration.

Commentary on the works of Crewsdons, Hocks, Wall, and Sherman

GREGORY CREWSDON

Looking at the works of Crewsdon, there seems to be a recurring theme of isolated characters or characters isolated within their own thoughts or problems. This especially seems to be evident with Crewsdon's interesting use of light to draw attention to the focal point of his photographs. I also observed somewhat of an eerie atmosphere among all of his works, and it seems he intended to create an air of mystery around all of them. When I look at the photo below, for example, I feel a sense of sadness and distance among the characters, and that there is some form of darkness lurking in the shadows of their daily lives.

TEUN HOCKS

I found that with Hocks' works that they appeared to take on charactersitics of a more surreal atmosphere, and placing himself as the recurring subject within his photographs. It seems that he intended to create scenes of wonder and for the viewer to question what is taking place. His work, to me, seems to resemble that of Salvador Dali, reinforcing the notion that his works seem to transcend reality. Hocks' use of warm colors also give his work more of a lighthearted feel, and less melancholy in comparison to the works of Crewsdon.

JEFF WALL

Wall's pictures seem to depict ordinary people in their everyday lives, or modern life. Wall himself has even stated that his works of modern life represent "an attitude of looking, relecting, and making." I also noticed that most of his photographs consist of a lot of earth tones and neutral colors, depicting many outdoor scenes and using natural forms and elements such as wind or trees or natural sunlight. I feel that his images are also very unified, and that they convey overall very simple ideas. In comparison to Hocks or Crewsdon, however, the viewer can gain more sense of the movement that is present among Wall's photographs. Overall, Wall's photographs seem to take on and portray more of a realistic feel.

CINDY SHERMAN

Sherman's work take on a very classic feel with her series of black-and-white photographs titled "The Film Stills," where Sherman herself is the main subject, just as Hocks in his photographs. I really enjoyed her unique approach, and I found it quite interesting that she wanted to create something that people could relate to. I also noticed how all of her photographs are much more posed than the works of Crewsdon, Hocks, or Wall, especially given how the characters she portrays seem to be aware of the fact that they are being photographed. Even more so, her desire to deviate herself and her work from the contemporary artists of the 1980's truly solidifies her independence as a woman, which is another trait that I truly came to admire.

Loving photography as I do, I find inspiration in the simplest things, and I particularly enjoy taking photographs of subjects within nature and also of various landscapes. I also like to experiment with taking photographs from unusual angles, such as the photo with the white oars. I find that sea, beach, and sunset scenes are another great source of inspiration with their wide range of bold colors. Most of all, I truly feel that my photographs provide basis and substance for other artwork that I look to create.