Photoshop Project 1

This is my first Photoshop Project, and my second time using Photoshop. This time around, I was forced to use many of Photoshop's tools, and ultimately learned how to be more creative on the computer.

I took the three pictures without an idea of what to do with my project, except that I wanted to incorporate the Pixels on campus (they're not that bad, get over it). While working, I started thinking about the power of Art in an artist's life, and it gave me the idea of this sort of magical fountain hidden away in another universe. Something like that. Feel free to see it how you want. Anyway, I hope you like it! Because it took forever.

P.S. I don't know why this is all underlined, and I really wish it wasn't. If anyone knows how to make it stop, please let me know.

Photos for First Project

Analysis: Artists Analyses

While reading everyone's artist analyses, I found myself much more interested than I would have expected to be. Though, generally, the same concepts found their way into each critique, each of my classmates was able to give me a little more insight, and express ideas that I could not quite imagine on my own. Here are some of my favorite descriptions of each artist, as worded by my classmates:

Wall: "interesting lighting," "everyday life," "subtle," "philosophical," "lyrical"

Hocks - "interesting process," "whimsical," "interesting subject matter," "surreal," "off-beat," "curious," "dream-like"

Crewdson - "dark," "vacant," "dreary," "powerful," "deep tones," "unique," "cinematic," "painstakingly intricate," "mysterious," "haunting"

Sherman - "appealing," "vintage," "innocent yet devious," "eerie type of glamour," "classic," "feminine beauty"

Thank you, class, for your interesting analyses! I was pleasantly surprised.

Exercise 1

This is my first experience with Photoshop, and, admittedly, it was a little intimidating. But once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed using it. I wound up creating this piece of my sister and some lions. It is a composite of 5 pictures: one sassy picture of my sister, which I turned black and white, 3 different angry lions which I sized as I felt appropriate, and a safari scene in the background. I enjoy it very much, and I hope you enjoy it too.

Review: Inherited Traits Exhibit

The Inherited Traits exhibition was an appropriate combination of conceptual art and this year’s TCNJ theme - family. The show was a very tasteful way to open the new art building’s gallery.
While walking around before the presentation, I was very struck by one piece in particular. In the middle of the back wall, I saw a large, thin metal structure with what appeared to be a bowl with legs suspended from it. The complexity that the overall simplistic structure embodied was very beautiful on a visual level; it had a captivating presence. I was intrigued, but did not understand it. I later learned that this piece was Heidi Kumao’s Translator. Kumao explained in her presentation that Translator was a commentary on the impact that domestic disputes have on a young child - a girl, in this case. This girl is seen switching back and forth between parental figures, each’s words seeping into her bones. Kumao portrays a very raw picture of family in her art, without neglecting the piece’s aesthetic value. After learning the meaning behind Translator, I found a deeper appreciation for the piece. By far, this was my favorite piece in the exhibit.
Overall, it was a terrific show, and I was very glad to have been a part of the experience.

Analysis: Wall, Hocks, Crewdson, and Sherman

Jeff Wall: While the viewer is aware that the scenes created by Wall are staged, the figures in the scenes are strangely natural, as if not noticing that they are being photographed. Wall’s false realities are intriguing and beautifully portrayed. Each piece conveys a narrative.

Picture For Women, Jeff Wall

Teun Hocks: Hocks’ photos are set in a sort of dream world. Each figure is dropped into a fantasy, leaving the viewer to imagine what is happening, and what the outcome of the figure’s quandary will be. Hocks’ use of color and subject matter are entertaining and thought-provoking.

Man With Hats, Teun Hocks

Gregory Crewdson: Crewdson’s use of vivid colors, and overall precision make his photos look as if they are movie stills. It is clear that the artist had a vision and was very precise about placement of every aspect of the shot. As Hocks’, Crewdson's images have a fantastical quality, but in a darker sense.

Dream House, Gregory Crewdson

Cindy Sherman: Sherman uses black and white photography to portray beautiful, classical women in a quirky light. Each of her photos implies a certain, but vague narrative, inviting the viewer to guess what is really happening behind each pretty face.

Untitled Film Still #3, Cindy Sherman

Overview: At a first glance of each artist, I was sure that Cindy Sherman’s work would be my favorite because it is very much my style. However, while I do find her work beautiful, I am not sure that I can say I prefer one artist over another. Each photographer has incredible work, and in each one of their portfolios, I found several pieces which absolutely captivated me. I was pleasantly surprised by each portfolio, and I hope to see some of these collections in person some time in the near future.

Inspiration

Black and white photographs, such as this one of the Brasserie Lipp by Henri Cartier-Bresson (left), have always inspired me. I tend to use limited color in my drawings, so the level of expression achieved in the monochrome of a black and white photo is one I aspire to in my own art.

Another one of my long-time inspirations is Edgar Degas. Degas' mastery of the human (left) form has inspired me from a young age, and even is a reason that I am so

interested in art today.

About Me

I am a freshman at The College Of New Jersey, and am currently minoring in Fine Arts and majoring in French. Art is something I have been passionate about from a very early age, so I am very excited to be studying it in college and taking this course.