another

Here is another image that I am working on for this final set, I don't think it is finished yet but I do feel as though I am at a stopping point so I may begin the third and final image. To me this just needs more development in color and the middle just seems so flat compared to the outer edges. Sooooooo....okay, bye.

start of series 3

Here is the first image of the third series. This series is tying in more inspirations from other artists that I can apply to my thesis. The main direction that I am going is in cubism, though still making it my own by using the textural qualities and images that I use. So this one is finished, time to move on to the next one. Chow!

Revision

Here is series 2 revised. The images are getting ready to print, so now it is on to the next step...take more photos and do another series.

pantala naga pampa

Here is the second series that I am working on, the bottom 2 images were in the previous blog, but in even earlier stages. There has been progress among them, as well as the introduction to the third of the series. They all still need work, I have built up their textures, now it is time to take some of it away.

refreshing

I say refreshing because I learned how to use my camera finally. So now I have clear images to work with, no more blurry, pixelated looking images due to blurry, pixelated photos. The top one hasn't even really been started yet, I just wanted to show the clarity of the photos I am working with now, go ahead, breathe it in, what you ask....the awesomeness, not to be self indulgent, just the fact that the photos look decent.

floppity floppity

I feel as though the bottom image is dawning on completion, so I will go ahead and say "Last call for input." I may just see what I think of it in a week or so and determine whether or not I would like to revise it any more, but as for now, I think it may be done. The one on the top on the other hand is still in progress, but progressing well in my opinion. Still not totally satisfied but it is getting there, which means it is time to take some more photos and start a new one while I work on it in the background.

freaky styley

the bottom image is a compilation of a few photos, and I kinda like it at that point so i decided to throw it in the post. The image on the top is the later version of it, where I went through the process of addition and reduction. Needs to be refined and cleaned up quite a bit more so that will be in the mix of things to work on as i go.

steady as i go

so after some feedback on the previous blog I agreed that I should develop the version without the extra bricks, so I have done so. Still not finished most likely but I feel that it has progressed in the right direction. I've added a few more elements to it, and also reduced some of the bright splotchy sections to help calm it down a bit.

sunshine superman

here is a second image, well technically its a second and third but they are the same, just have some small differences. The one on the top includes a small brick overlay in it which could help it tie into the image in the previous post, but if it doesn't look as good then i can accept that so I included another version without the small bricks to figure out which could stand better on it's own. Most definitely not finished with this, seeing as how I am at an indecisive point with it, but just throwing it out there. But for now onward and upward.

new

Well, here is one thing that i have been working on so far. I went around the school to take some photos of different textures and patterns, after a few i went ahead and threw some of them together, messed around with them a lot, so far this is where I am at. I may just leave this one alone until i take some more photos then work back into it later. So in the meantime I will be starting up some others and just work on them all as i go.

more

here is reincarnation, and a haunting. In the meantime I am working more on the others, thank you for your input so far, it is a big help when i hit a spot and don't know what to do to improve it more. So it helps me to constantly work on each one, without hanging around one image for too long without any progress.

updates

i have updated the past images, based on the previous feedback. If there are still hints of improvement then I will do all that I can to apply those comments while i work on the last 2. I will post the other 2 as i go so in order to get as much feedback as possible in the time remaining.

o heck

here is a third image representing different views of death and what happens to us, such as the lake of fire, the place where naughty people skinny dip. This is a collaboration of images from around the yard, such as my chain link fence, shed, some chopped wood next to the shed, and a few others I'm sure. Just not sure about how I feel about finding hell in my back yard...maybe I'll search for heaven in the front.

the aftermath

so here are some images that I was working on, it started out as a side project for my own thoughts rather than working with existing thoughts that I don't feel a direct connection with, since they aren't mine, they are other philosophers. Well I've decided that I care more about my own thoughts and would like to keep it that way, even if they have been thought of before, I'm the one bringing them up to myself voluntarily, not forcing myself to interpret others. So these images are based on different views of the afterlife, not saying that I believe all of them, just that I am aware and think about them. I feel a much better connection with these, and also get more satisfaction out of them, disregarding what Mick Jagger says. Perhaps a new artist statement is in line...

here is another image, based on Locke's concept of an eye for an eye, the man with a fork is missing an eye, the man being held down is a collector, frankly i'm just hitting a constant wall, I don't see any change happening with what I'm doing, so I have been doing stuff on the side, and so far it is showing more development than this project. Posting of said images will occur in a matter of minutes.

time to move on

I have applied shadows and such to the image to help refine it a bit, I'm sure it still needs some work, especially the void on the right. No matter what though, I will be moving on to other images, the last thing I need is to sit on this one for another week and not worry about all the work I still have to do. So I am hoping to have the rest of the sketches for this series posted in my next blog post and just work on multiple ones at a time, I need something to help keep me going rather that taking time on just one.

here it is so far, I still want to apply shadows and give some more depth. I added the ants to the mound in the foreground, along with textures throughout the image to help balance the image and move the eye more smoothly. Still have some work to do with it but there is progress.

this is a sketch

okay, so here is the sketch that i am working on, based on the Marxist theory. I will also be setting a mood, which the first three images that I posted had lacked. I will be using the moods to represent my opinion on the views I show. There have been other versions of this but I did not like where they were going. I am also moving away from showing all the animals as just animals and putting them in a more human situation, at least some of the animals. I will also go ahead and apologize to Laura, just so you know I'm not trying to replicate your prints and am sorry if it seems that way, but this is the best way I can think to show these views. I plan on showing the ants in the foreground crawling over a mound of dead ants, I just have a small group in the sketch but I will add more as I work on it.

sorry for the wait

There was a power outage at my house and it wrecked our modem so I went without internet all week so I apologize for the gap between posts, I have been developing ideas on the views of Epictetus and Marx. Marx, the communist will be shown with the ants, representing society, marching along, giving the food they collect to the communist pig, representing the wealthy industry owners/government in a communist society. I am thinking about also approaching it in a political cartoon way. Epictetus was a slave Rome, around 100 A.D. who developed the concept of stoicism, where people accept the fact that they are not in control of anything and start to lack emotion, for example, if a loved one dies they would feel like it was out of their hands and would pretty much just shrug it off with no mourning. Or if they got punched in the face they would feel like they must have deserved it and could not have done anything to avoid it and would not retaliate. So this could relate the communist society where the people accept their situation and deal with it, no matter how bad their living gets. This idea is not completely resolved but it may be shown in with some ants dying while the rest go on with their business, not going over to mourn over the loss of fellow citizens in the society.

still waiting

As of now, I am still waiting to hear back about the last series that I showed on the blog in order to find out if I should do several small series, such as the last one, or possibly do one series with a collection of philosophical views and tie them all together.

Either way I have been reading up on the philosophers, right now I am looking at Epictetus, who believed in stoicism, and Marx, the creator of Marxism and supporter of communism. I feel comfortable with what I know about these two philosophers but I would like to hear some feedback to figure out how these are going to be presented before I go to far.

some ideas

here are some ideas that I have for this project. These is based off of the views of Locke and Rousseau, Locke's idea that man is better in society is shown in the one with the ants, where the ants represent a society, working together. Locke is shown above the colony, as the bird, which is the prophetic animal, also is a peregrine falcon, which is the messenger bird so I felt that was appropriate. The top image is of Rousseau's theory that man is better in his natural state, the boar, the warrior animal, is representing man in his natural state. The boar is shown fighting a snake, representing life and death. According to Rousseau, man in his natural state would only have one need, which is to survive. If the boar loses the fight, he would be unable to eat and would die, if he wins then he would live on for another day. Rousseau is also shown as a peregrine falcon. The middle image is of the two falcons fighting, representing their argument. This is along the lines of what I want to do, not sure if I want to stick with using animals, mainly wanted to see what everyone else thought of it before I go on with it. I also used a very heavily detailed line drawing for the image then colored it in on photoshop, so I also want to know what everyone thinks about that. If it goes over well then I plan on using the same technique with the rest of the images.

summer statement

My work involves the study of philosophers and their views. I will show their views using graphic symbolism and color psychology. The artwork will be arranged in a series of work, one that shows views of different philosophers, as if they were having an argument. I will be showing their views with the influence of my thoughts on them. Some images may be about how I disagree with the philosophers views; others may show my agreement with them. There will be one image of each philosophers view in order to introduce them, followed by an image that involves different aspects of each view, as if it were an argument. I will be researching philosophers based around the philosophy of human nature. This involves Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Kant, the Christian Thinkers, Epictetus, and Rousseau.

oh and I also made corrections to this one, based on the feedback I received. I applied the same texture to all the books so that they look more consistent. I also darkened the outer edges of the image so it doesn't stand out so much. So thank you for your input.

there we go, I think I am done with this one now, so it is time to print. This along with the rest of the images will be printed on canvas.

tshea

here is the start of tyler shea, I changed the color of his shirt to blue in order to show loyalty, calmness and confidence. I also applied some paint onto the skin, along with the black outlines which are consistent in the other images. Updates to come

finally

here is the image for mike, I will be printing on canvas, I haven't filled out the form though because I still feel like there is something missing, not sure what it is though. So I will hold off for just a touch longer and come back to it later and see if I have any ideas, in the mean time, I will be working on the image of Tyler Shea. I took the photos and have them on my computer so I will post updates.

mike

fine, well I finished the Mike P. Hank image but I can't post it, I have tried several times and with different sizes but it won't upload. You will all see it soon anyway. I finished the books, added texture to them, created more contrast between the foreground, middle ground, and background to help the depth issue. So progress has been made and I will post it as soon as I am allowed to.

Tyler Shea

I interviewed Tyler Shea, the third and final person for this semester, and here is how it went down. He said that he sees himself as someone who is pretty straight forward, as in he stays pretty consistent with everyone. He mentioned that he also feels that he is laid back and a little bit sly. He mentioned that he thinks others see him in the same way he sees himself, along with a good sense of humor. He said that other people's views of him doesn't affect him very much, which I agree with. At some point he wants live the American dream, just having a family and a satisfying job, something simple. He also wants to move back to Seattle, which is where he was born. He is very interested in sports and sports analysis, also feels that sports are therapeutic for him. He mentioned that there is a wrist band that he and his brother made that is very important to him, and reminds him of his brother.

So this is what I have to work with, I will be mainly working on this one on my computer so I will be sure to keep posting on updates since nobody will probably see it until finals.

Here is something I came across, it a series of mirrors that are set up to fallow movement of what is being shown in it. If somebody walks by then it will follow them so that they are constantly in the mirror. I think it is pretty cool. I like the idea of people participating in an interactive project without really knowing it, or trying to.




Royal Opera House: Audience. from rAndom International on Vimeo.






Royal Opera House London- Audience from rAndom International on Vimeo.

ok so I finally realized I was working woth cmyk and every time I went to post this my image would show up blue. Well the problem is solved so here is my version of Mike. Now to stick him in with the background....stay tuned.

the man himself prt 1

Here is a drawing of mike that I will be using in the project, he will be centered in the image and colored in of course. He will be wearing his infamous flannel jacket along with a priest's color and a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. These are the basic essentials of Mike's wardrobe so that is where I will start.

part 2

well, I'm working on the mike p. hanck project now so here a few compositional sketches that I have so far. He is a very organized person so i want to make sure that image is symmetrical. I plan on having architecture made out of books in the background and maybe going for a look that shows the content on a strip of film. I have some set ideas and now it is just a matter of putting those ideas into action.

Reverend Michael P. Hanck

As i mentioned before, I have another person in mind for my next project, Mike P. Hanck. Last time I brought him up I still had yet to interview him so that's what I did on Monday. Here is what Mike had to say.When I asked how he sees himself he said that he is set apart by choice in order to observe all of the things that are going on around him. He likes to put his life into his own hands as if life were like a script and he could could either just let the scene happen or do something to change it. I asked how he thinks others view him and he feels that others think he may be mean or crazed when they first meet him because they might think he is rude when he isn't trying to be. He feels that there are times when he tries to say something nice but it comes off sounding sarcastic to others. He feels he is just a bit misunderstood in conversation. I followed up with how those views make him feel and he said that he is disappointed when other people don't understand him. Then I asked what he wants to do with his life and he told me that he wants to see and create. He wants to be part of something and finds it interesting to see all of things that people can create. I asked him what he likes to do or what hobbies he has and he said that he likes to travel, read, smoke cigarettes, and write, mainly scripts.

So that was my interview with Mike and have started brain storming. I will post sketches once they are ready.

Ready to print

well i am pretty sure I have finished this image, I at least feel as though I have resolved issues that I previously had, also tightened up some parts to make them more complete. So the next step is to print, I will be printing onto canvas to stretch it then will keep updates on what I do to it from there.

midterm statement

This semester I am exploring the ways to show a relationship between people with one piece of art for each person I focus on. The idea is to show the first impression one would get from these people and after allowing time to examine the art piece the viewer gets to know more about the person the piece is about. This is intended to replicate the steps the viewer would take if they were actually meeting these people, starting with first impressions then leading to learning things about the person, which may give a completely different view of that person than the viewer originally thought. I will achieve this by asking each person a series of questions, such as, how do you think others see you? How do their views of you make you feel? How do you see yourself? What are you dreams, goals, and hobbies? I use the answers to all of these questions to set up an order of hierarchy, for instance, the way others view each person would be the first I want the viewer to see in order to get that first impression feel. The question about the way those views makes the people feel will help show the reaction you may get from these people when first meeting them. The way each person sees themselves would help show the way they are when others start to get to know them, others may see a different side of the person, while some may not have much of a difference. Finally the dreams, goals, and hobbies are something that one would find out about a person as their relationship progresses and they get to know that person and start to look forget about the first impression. I can show this order of hierarchy by arranging the composition in a way that the viewer sees what I want them to see in the order I want them to see them in. I can achieve this by the size, color, and placement of each object. The arrangements will help these images show what I want them to show successfully and allow the viewer to get the feeling I am trying to get across.

Ralph Steadman

Ralph Steadman is an artist who did a lot of work relating to Hunter S. Thompson. I looked him up because Mike is a big fan of Thompson and I was thinking that the artist who represents Thompson the most is Steadman so maybe I could tie in some of Steadman's style into my piece. Not quite sure yet but it's something I am thinking about doing.

Person number 2

I realized that I shouldn't have that much more to do with the Cody project so I started thinking of who to focus on next. The next person is a big fan of Hunter S. Thompson, wants to do mission trips around the world, and wants to explore different religions. He reads a lot, is very organized though you might not think that when you first meet him, his name is Michael P. Hanck. I have arranged to talk to Mike on Monday, March 2, to ask him the questions that I previously asked Cody. Once I get the response I will post and start brainstorming.

getting somewhere

I played around with the background and helped develop more depth, which is nice. I went back into the smile to make it more mask like but I think it still needs some help. I brought the film reels closer and pushed the face on the left back. I think this has helped but there is still more to be done, but I'm happy with the progress.

What now

After the critique I started thinking about what everyone was suggesting for my project. I do agree that there needs to be a bit more showing the nice things about Cody. I also would like to mess around with the flat background so I need to work on that. I did like that everyone was getting the feelings that I was hoping for, but my goal is for everyone to get that same feeling from the beginning and as they look at it more they see some things that aren't as startling, just as they would with the real person. So I just need to figure out how to show the good qualities and how to arrange it so the nice things are seen but seen last.

getting there

So here is where i am at, im stuck on whether or not to show the face on the left side. I would also like to work into the background a bit, maybe get some of those skin tones spread out around the image. I do like how he turned out though, I really feel that I'm getting what I was looking for with the way he is shown.

update

So here is my starting sketch for the pit-man. I have started developing it on photoshop and post an updated image. As of now this drawing includes the tattoo and watch that he requested, the watch does not have hands on it which helps express his view on time, which i mentioned in a previous blog. The tattoo is the Pisces sign, which he actually has, so i didn't throw it in for any specific meaning, though i will look into it and see if i can tie any relevance in with it. He also wanted his black rosary, so that's there. I have a stick looking object going from his hand to his mouth, that is meant to be a stick holding his smile, like a masquerade mask in a way, he's kind of a depressed person so I'm trying to hint that he is hiding behind the smile. So that's what I have and will keep you updated.

color psycholgy

I wanted to look around online for some references to color psychology to help me choose colors that can help get the feelings across of each person that i focus on. Sure i have some idea of what colors are necessary for certain moods but i just wanted to see if i could get more insight and possibly come up with good color combinations that all represent the same feeling, or can help each other intensify those feelings. So here is one list that i came across:

black

Black is the color of authority and power. It is popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. It is also stylish and timeless. Black also implies submission. Priests wear black to signify submission to God. Some fashion experts say a woman wearing black implies submission to men. Black outfits can also be overpowering, or make the wearer seem aloof or evil. Villains, such as Dracula, often wear black.

white

Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity. White reflects light and is considered a summer color. White is popular in decorating and in fashion because it is light, neutral, and goes with everything. However, white shows dirt and is therefore more difficult to keep clean than other colors. Doctors and nurses wear white to imply sterility.

red

The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love. Red clothing gets noticed and makes the wearer appear heavier. Since it is an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in negotiations or confrontations. Red cars are popular targets for thieves. In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Decorators say that red furniture should be perfect since it will attract attention.

The most romantic color, pink, is more tranquilizing. Sports teams sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams bright pink so their opponents will lose energy.

blue

The color of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. Blue can also be cold and depressing. Fashion consultants recommend wearing blue to job interviews because it symbolizes loyalty. People are more productive in blue rooms. Studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms.

green

Currently the most popular decorating color, green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing color. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients. Brides in the Middle Ages wore green to symbolize fertility. Dark green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth. However, seamstresses often refuse to use green thread on the eve of a fashion show for fear it will bring bad luck.

yellow

Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.

purple

The color of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial.

brown

Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men are more apt to say brown is one of their favorite colors.

The Pit man

The first person I wanted to question for this project was Cody Pittman. I asked him all of the questions that were in my previous blog. So question number 1, I asked him how he sees himself and he mentions that he feels he is shy, timid, quiet, and reserved. Then i asked him how he feels others see him, he said that he feels people are afraid of him, they don't make eye contact with him, he restated that he thinks people are afraid of him, in a psychological way though, not physically. I asked how these views from other people makes him feel and he mentioned that he feels empowered, and that he is in complete control. When i asked what he wanted to do with his life he responded that he wants to be isolated, and that he really wants to buy an island, Punta Piro, a small island. I asked what he likes to do and he said that he likes to manipulate time in the day, he likes to make his days long, sometimes goes without sleep or just very little. He mentioned that he likes to go till he runs out of energy, "energy should not be wasted, time is one of the biggest things on my mind, it's man made." He also likes to create and record music, along with traveling. Finally I asked if there was anything special he wanted in the project with him, he mentioned a watch that he wears that doesn't have any hands, a ring that he wears that says "true love waits," a black rosary he wears around his neck and his tattoo of a picies.

Q & A

Ok, so i was thinkin about some questions to ask the people i will be using for my project. I wanted questions that would help me show the real them while making them appear the way others see them. If for instance somebody sees the project of somebody they know well then they would under stand why the artwork is the way it is, and when those who just recognize the person in the piece would get the same feeling as if they were actually looking at them. So my questions are; How do you see yourself? How do you feel others see you? How do other peoples views on you make you feel? Where do you want your life to go? What are your hobbies, or things you like? Is there anything specific that you want to be in the piece with you? I feel that these questions will give enough to show both sides of the person, the one people see and the one people know.

Goin with the gut

Ok, well we just had our first crit and after watching everyone else take their turn i realized that the idea that i was going with wouldn't compare to the others. I needed an idea that i actually felt comfortable with, something that i am confident about. So at the last minute i went with my original idea, not the animation but an idea that i had before that. I decided to do my senior show idea now, hoping that it will lead me into something even better when my senior show actually comes around. This idea is like a character analysis of people to see if viewers that may know them personally would recognize them or understand the reasons for any distortion or added objects. This is to show the real them, people i have found to be interesting in one way or another, while others may not give them a chance or seem them as they really are. I plan on asking these people a series of questions, also making sure that they are ok with being the subject in the first place. The questions are not all thought of yet but it will be along the lines of how they see themselves and how they feel others see them. I have a few people in mind but know that i need more, which i will.

kangaroo beer...mmm hoppy

so i have an idea, its based around the hard truth, such as a sad clown, lonely working girl, so on. I still have to think of all of my subjects but thats the drift. I know that a sad clown isn't the most original and i know that i need to really make it my own and give a bit more to think about, like rather than just showing a sad clown maybe show things that can give the viewer a reason for his sadness. Maybe he is bothered by the fact that the only time people pay attention to him is when he makes a fool of himself, an entertainer who can only make people laugh if he gets hurt, kind of a Chris Farley story. I'm working on some drawings but still am not completely satisfied, its getting there.

back to the drawing board

ok so i realized that the idea that i originally had, the animation, is not what i want to do with my degree. It also would discombobulate the minds of the professors who won't have any clue what it has to do with my senior show, because it has nothing to do with my senior show plans. After talking to Jessie i realize that it is best to just lead into my senior show, which could help me in the long run by being able to experiment and find the best approach to accomplish my goal. So...it's time to think.

hello

Well this the first blog of the class so i guess i will start from the beginning, i had a few ideas bouncing around for this semester but was really unsure of what to go with. I spent a lot of time over break thinking of a project for my senior year, i feel that the project may be a bit much for one semester so i'm considering using this semester to take steps that will help me in the long run while doing enough to show for this semester. The idea id for an animation, which isn't my focus with computer art but is something i would like to do so i wan to be sure to get it out of the way before my final semester, since i have a separate concept for my senior show that this animation would not fit into.