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.