Illustrator Image for Project 1

This is my final illustrator image. Working with illustrator was difficult for me because I do not have much experience with the program, but I think I was successful. I changed the mood of the photograph with green water and added a peacock for contrast.

Photoshop for Project 1

This is my final photoshop image. I am really happy with the outcome because it is similar to how I had imagined it. I liked the photo to begin with, so I did not want to change the beauty of it. The colors became more dull when I posted it on the web, so in print the image seems brighter.

Cui Xiuwen, CIndy Sherman, and Frida Kahlo

The art of Cui Xiuwen was very inspiring to me because she focused on the female body and women’s issues. When looking through her works, I was impressed with the variety that still produced something that appeared to be a series. All of her photographs told different stories and brought up different issues, but some uniting force like a white dress or the color red tied them all together. The simple choice of colors adds to the meaning of the photographs; black, white, red, and blue help portray the scene of abuse and later, lonesomeness. Digital Art is a difficult medium because sometimes a photo looks either too real or too reconstructed. I think Cui Xiuwen creates a perfect balance in her photos because they are done skillfully and transition well from digital art to reality. 

When viewing the photographs of Cindy Sherman, there is a wide range of reactions I get from different collections. Some bring nostalgia, others a sense of glamour, and a number of the photos arise a feeling of fear and disgust. I can definitely see the importance of these gruesome photos because they raise emotion and bring your attention to issues, but I particularly enjoy the Untitled Film Still series. Black and white high contrast film photography has been so mass-produced lately, it seems as though anyone with a digital camera and a computer can do it. Sherman’s works appear to be beautiful and seem to resemble a model photo shoot, but her facial expressions tell a different story. The way she looks at the camera reveals something different; in all of these shots, the main figure seems to be hiding something from the camera lens. You can see it in her eyes that there is something else going on in the scene and this is what makes the photograph interesting. 

Frida Kahlo’s self portraits focus on point of view. She painted herself the way she envisioned, unlike the idealized self-portraits that are so common in our culture. When viewing her artwork, it reminds me of the magical realism present in the novel “Like Water for Chocolate,” because it has a strong presence of Mexican and Native American cultures. The bright colors and almost magical scenes create something beyond reality that is still comprehendible. Kahlo uses these elements to reveal a masculine image of herself that she feels is stronger than the feminine. I enjoy the works of Frida Kahlo because she breaks the boundary of perfection and femininity present in culture. 

Illustrator Excercise 1

This is the Illustrator icon GIF drawing.

Exercise

Original Pictures

These are the original photos i chose to work with. I thought they would make a more interesting image when pasted together.

Gregory Crewdson, Teun Hocks, Jeff Wall, and Cindy Sherman

The works of Gregory Crewdson were unlike any photographs I had ever seen before. He managed to create an erie feeling while using color photos and lonesome figures. I enjoyed his artwork because it was anything but boring; I consider any work that evokes emotion art, so Gregory Crewdson's photos are definitely pieces of art. 

Teun Hocks is one of the many artists I was so glad to be introduced to. His art is humorous, but original. Sometimes I begin to think that art is repetitive, but Teun Hocks definitely brought something completely new to the table. The way he paints on canvas and inserts his figure into various settings is funny, but is also successful in making a statement. 

I did not enjoy the artwork of Jeff Wall as much as the other artists. There was something about the meticulous set up of the scenes that made them seem almost unreal. I think there is something special about photos taken of a scene that the artist just came across and experienced. Everything in our modern day life is pre planned enough, and I just don't see the need to set up a scene when there is so much set up by nature and mankind by accident just waiting to be discovered.

I loved the works of Cindy Sherman mostly because I love looking at portraits. It is one thing I kind of wish I had the courage to do. She never fails to capture the feeling of the subject (usually herself) in the appropriate setting. Her photos don't seem as planned out as Jeff Wall's and the everyday feeling is something that adds to the photos. It is the figures that take the stage, not the background.