Portrait Photography - Year 3

Narrative Portraiture: Foundations of Portraiture by Chris Orwig




Also check out Jamel Shabazz (Street portrait photographer)

Action Photography for Capoeira: Year Two

CLICK HERE for the link to the Phlearn video on freezing motion in natural light.

Google Capoeira photos, vector art and videos to do some research before our photo shoot on Thursday.

Rhythm Post - year One Tech

Post your final steady and dynamic rhythm images here. Then complete the written requirements (on your handout) below each image. Be sure to label each of the images.
Remember to Export from Illustrator - choose .png as your file format. And click on USE ARTBOARD! Also, make sure your background is white. You can choose to keep the quality at 300 p.p.i. but it likely won't make a difference as most monitors have a maximum screen resolution of 72 p.p.i. Please finish your post by the end of the day!

You can finish this at home - please make sure the post is done before class on Tuesday.

Steady Rhythm Final (test)

Line in Design - Year One Tech

Lines are one of the most basic design elements used in art and design. They can be used to divide, to direct the eye, to create rhythm or to create forms. They can be implied and can also help form grids, one of the basic tools for layouts in graphic design.

FIRST, take about 20-30 minutes to read the following articles.

Here are 6 tips for designing with lines that will start you off.

Here is a post that goes into a little bit more detail about the use of line in design

Lines can also create mood and meaning. Here is a post that explains more about this in web design.


THEN, experiment with line by drawing 3 5x5" boxes in your sketchbook that convey 3 distinctly different emotions. Try to choose three different ones and challenge yourself!

Here are some ideas - anger, sadness, depression, boredom, joy, elation, fear, angst, anxiety, nervousness, enthusiasm, disappointment, happiness, loneliness, rage

You can fill the box any way you want, just use only line (pencil only) and express the emotion you chose. Please be prepared to hand in your sketchbook to Ms. Silverman on Tuesday. Make sure that you know what specific emotion you are trying to convey BEFORE you start sketching.

Kinetic Typography Submission and Artistic Reflection - Yr 2 Tech

Where and how to submit your final work:

Export final After Effects Project to a quicktime .mov file for your blog. 

Post on your blog with a brief written description AND drop the After Effects Project folder (include the exported .mov file and .aep file into the Drop Off folder marked Kinetic Typography

Reminder - you MUST drop off your entire folder to include ALL assets with your After Effects Project

Technical and Artistic Reflection (T&AR)

You will produce a piece of writing that will be one to two pages long. It must be in proper paragraph form and must address the following issues:

-        State the title of the work

-        List the medium (or media) and applications used.

-        Describe the content of the work.

-        What do you like about the final product? What would you change on reflection?

-        Describe your design choices. What did you do to make it look the way you did?

-        What technical or implementation challenges did you find most difficult?

-     Which technical or implementation solutions were most satisfying 

Please submit this on paper - printed and properly formatted!

After Effects tutorials - Year 2 Tech

After Effects Basics with Terry White



Start here and watch the 10 tips beginners want to know.
Take notes and open After Effects to DO as you WATCH!! Go at your own pace.

Syncing text to audio. VERY IMPORTANT 10 MINUTES OF YOUR LIFE!!!
Please watch this and then watch it again if need be! Remember the shortcuts, write them down and use them!



Also, there are many videos on After Effects on Video Copilot

Here's another video on Basic typography and motion graphics that may also be helpful.

Daily Create Blog Posts

Daily Create Blog Posts.                                

CyberARTS Year 3.

There are 20 options here for sound/image, still photography and video assignments. You must complete 10 of them in total.

You must complete one by the end of each week.

You must have at least two from each category. (sound/image, still photo, video) The rest is up to you.

1.   Take a close up photo of an object with unique texture or pattern; make us guess what it is.

2.   Make a photo of anger, or something that makes you angry.

3.   Make a photo that emphasizes one color much more than any others in the shot

4.   Record some outdoor sounds. Pair them with one, three or five still images.

5.   Fabric: we wear it, sleep on it, decorate with it. Make a photo of an interesting cloth design or texture.

6.   Take a creative photo without aiming in the viewfinder

7.   Take a photo that shows two contrasting things, e.g. light & darkness, life & death, cats & dogs etc.

8.   Power plugs are ubiquitous. Can you make a creative photo of such a common thing?

9.   Mix a sound from nature with a musical selection so both can be heard clearly.

10.                 Make a short audio of the sound of water pinging, flushing, splashing, roaring, tumbling...and add an image, or three or five.

11.                 Draw a flower with your eyes closed. Then turn it into a vector illustration.

12.                 Make a photo of an outdoor scene free of any human artifacts.

13.                 Take a picture of an object that is a metaphor for your learning style

14.                 Make a photograph of a plastic object that you’ve used today.

15.                 Make an extreme close up 30 second video of someone playing a musical instrument, using at least three different shots.

16.                 Record 30 seconds of ambient sound in your environment. Pair it with images that contrast the sound you've recorded.

17.                 Take a closer look at where you spend a lot of time. Photograph something there you never noticed before.

18.                 Take a picture of construction.

19.                 Make a 30 second video with sound of a typical street scene using wide, medium, close-up and extreme close-ups.

20.                 Find a grid pattern somewhere (brick sidewalk, ceiling tiles etc.). Make a photo of an interesting slice of it.

Submission requirements for Modern Art Style Self-Portrait - Year 2

Please submit your finished self-portrait in .psd format.
Minimum size 8x8" @ 300 p.p.i Max. size 8.5x11" @ 300 p.p.i
Press ready - ie. print quality.

Also, please post your finished portrait on your blog with a written statement about the following:

Which modern art style did you choose for your portrait and why? (identity/personality)
Explain how this style of art expresses your personality/identity and which elements of design you chose that helped express this style.

Requirements for Basquiat Inspired Digital Image - Year 3

Your document should be min. 8.5x11" and max. 13x19" @ 300 p.p.i to be printable on a 13x19 paper.

Your choice as to format and size (in other words, you can make it square, tall and thin, or otherwise...

Portrait Lighting - Year 2 Studio Photography for Self-portrait

Video on 5 classic lighting positions for portraits.

Note that in this video, butterfly lighting or paramount lighting is another term used for 'glamour' lighting.
Also split lighting is another term used for hatchet lighting.

Modern and Post Modern Art Styles - Year 2

Now that you have learned about some modern and post-modern art styles, create a poster that includes all 7 styles you have not yet researched PLUS 3-8 more for a total of 10-15.

Your poster must include a visual example of each of the 10-15 styles, a heading (label the style), plus 2 or 3 distinctive characteristics - in point form.

Keep in mind composition.
Your layout for an informative poster MUST be consistent. Use a grid. Keep your alignment consistent. Keep your fonts and font sizes consistent, while keeping in mind Visual Hierarchy. Headlines and important titles should be larger and more visible than information text (points about characteristics).

You should quickly be able to "read" this poster with four main points of information.
1. Heading for the poster (Modern and Post Modern Art Styles)
2. 10-15 visual examples of each style
3. Subheadings near the visual example (Think of proximity as a composition technique)
4. Points of written information near the visual example (proximity)

You will be evaluated on the following:

• Composition and use of space (Considering alignment, consistency, use of a grid)
• Readability (Quick "read" of visual and verbal information)
• Aesthetic beauty (Ability to create an informative poster that is visually dynamic and compelling)
• Appropriate message (correct and accurate information regarding art styles)
• Professionalism (completion on time, submitted correctly (format, file name, location), spelling/grammar)

Size: 11x17" @ 300 p.p.i.

Your choice of applications - Photshop, Illustrator or InDesign.

Due: Monday, March 2nd by the end of the day.
Submit: In the CyberARTS folder (original format + exported pdf) AND posted on your blog.
Submit as YourName_StylePoster.indd .ai or .psd AND pdf


The remaining 7 art styles are:
Abstract Expressionism
Color Field
Impressionism
De Stijl
Post Impressionism
Ashcan Art
Fauvism

The previous 10 are:
Pop Art
Dada
Art Nouveau
Cubism
Op Art
Earth Art
Art Deco
Photo Realism
Surrealism
Graffiti (as a modern art movement 1970s)

(RE)Learning Photoshop - YEAR 2

1. Selections and TEXT in Photoshop

To refresh your memory from the video and to have some fun, take the Rick Mercer Photo Challenge.

Click HERE to go to the website and download the full-size image for the current photo challenge and view past challenges as well.

Your task is to take Stephen Harper out of the current background (I'd suggest the quick selection tool) - and since you're practising, use the refine edge tool - and create a masterpiece.

You can then take it to the next level and actually submit it. There's an email address you can send it to.

Add some text to the image that uses some part of what you learned from the text portion of the video - tracking/kerning adjustments or type on a path etc.

Post your masterpiece on your blog for me and place the psd file titled
YOURNAME_MERCERCHALLENGE.psd into the YEAR 2 folder.

Please write about your procedure on your blog step by step. You can do this in numbered steps if you like.

Here's the PATH to where you drop off your PSD of the assignment.

1059 folder on Desktop - YEARBOOK - CYBERARTS - YEAR 2 - PHOTOSHOP - MERCER CHALLENGE ex. 1

Due: End of the period today (Wednesday) in folder and on your blog.
(*you can have until tomorrow's class to finish the written)

Bonus: Try this kerning game when you have some free time. See how well you do. If you'd like you can post the link and your results on your blog.  http://type.method.ac/

Year One Checklist and Written for T-shirt Design

Here's what you should have completed so far:
Everything here MUST be completed by Wednesday October 28, 2014 to be included in this report card!!

1. Typographic Identity - image and written on blog

2. Illustrator Logo - images (colour versions - indicating your 'best', black and white and grayscale) and written (see blog post for instructions on what to include in the written statement). + post original photograph as well.

3. Drop .ai files for Illustrator assignment into the CyberARTS year 1 folder found in the Yearbook folder in 1059. Make a folder with your name on it and place it into the Illustrator Logo folder.

4. Drop off T-shirt designs into CyberARTS year 1 folder in T-shirt Designs. Please use a pdf format as well as your original file format (.ai or .psd)

5. Post T-shirt designs on your blog and include the written statement (see below for instructions) AND the link for your pinterest board created for the research phase of this assignment.

6. Link your pinterest board to your blog in a blog list.


WRITTEN STATEMENT FOR T-SHIRT DESIGN

1. Discuss your creative process. How did you go from Step 1 - Understanding the goal to research and brainstorming to come up with your final idea? Discuss the steps involved.

2. Explain your technical process. What did you do to take your initial sketch to the final version you submitted. Discuss using correct terminology - include layers, scanning, tools used, programs used.

3. Elements and Principles of Design. Discuss your final choice for colour and why you feel that's the best choice. Any other elements/principles that seem relevant (shape, line, balance, emphasis etc.).

3. Your thoughts. Are you satisfied with your final result. Why/why not? Did you meet the initial objective? Why/why not? Discuss both form and function (visually pleasing design and sending the required message)

YEAR FOUR - VISUAL IDENTITY ASSIGNMENT

Your last year in CyberARTS is meant to prepare you for admissions to University/College programs or apprenticeships, internships or starting your own business if you're really bold and brave.

You need to begin thinking about your portfolio requirements and what you might need to add to your current work to 'beef' up your existing portfolio.

But FIRST, you will design a logo and visual identity system for yourself.

Create an identity for your 'company' - whether you want to sell your own artwork, or be a video game designer, you should have a logo, a business card and a graphic identity system that helps you visually define you setting you apart from others doing similar things.

• Read through this article on Branding, Identity and Logo Design 

In particular, take a look at the list of visual devices you can use to identify yourself.

Understand the difference between a brand, an identity and a logo and begin to think about how you will create the foundation of your brand.

Look at the first three links at the bottom of the page - all except the one on finding a logo designer. You'll be designing your own logo.

Submit an initial proposal by Monday November 3rd - on paper (to submit to Ms. Silverman) 

AND be prepared to discuss your ideas with the class.

Your classmates may be able to offer some feedback and great ideas.

Requirements:

A company name (could be your name - doesn't have to be fancy)

A logo (could be typographic, pictographic, abstract pictorial, or combined image/text)

A stationary system (letterhead, business card, envelope)

A flyer (to use as a template to announce upcoming shows or to send out/leave places to advertise your services)
An animated logo (make it move in Flash or After Effects - 10-15 seconds max)

At least two other types of visual (and/or audio/smell) devices (apparel, packaging, messaging, video etc.)

Final Deadline: Monday Dec. 1st

Keep in mind you are also working on your independent photography project coming soon is your Major Independent Project...

Start juggling!

Year One - LCI Technological Skills Challenge T-shirt Design

Objective: Design a t-shirt with an image that expresses the excitement and fun of the LCI Technological Skills Challenge that speaks to an audience of Grade 7 students. The image should communicate something about technology, Lakeshore C.I. and fun.


Deadlines:

Due Thursday Oct. 16th by the beginning of class - Your Pinterest Idea board (researching inspiring shirt designs and/or Technology/skills related materials)

Due Thursday Oct. 16th by the beginning of lunch - 15-20 thumbnail sketches (based on your research and inspiration and brainstorming process)
These should indicate layout of how the text will look and work with the image on the t-shirt.

Ms. Silverman will circle the designs that stand out as having the most potential.
You will each meet with Ms. Silverman briefly to narrow down your best 2-3 designs to begin to create a rough mock-up of your best design on the computer (or hand drawn if that is your preference)

Due Monday Oct. 20th by the end of class - A refined version of the t-shirt design. Complete with font choices and colour options.

Due Tuesday Oct. 21st - Finished design.

Note: It's very important that you check in frequently with Ms. Silverman and with each other to "test and analyze" your solutions in order to get the best possible outcome in an extremely tight time period!

PHOTO BASED ART - PHASE ONE (Year Four)

For your photo-based independent project, consider the following two artistic questions:

1. How can I express the theme Black and White + One through photo-based artwork?
2. How can I explore using the medium of photography in a way that stretches my current knowledge and understanding AND suits my interpretation of the theme?

In class we began to brainstorm and deconstruct the meanings of Black, White and + One. Use this as a starting point and continue exploring until you find a way to express this theme that feels right to you.

Design Process - 
Step One: Understand the objective!

Step Two: Research 

• Continue to explore the theme and also to explore possibilities. 
• Search for contemporary photography and photo-based art or photo-based digital art. You can choose motion or audio-visual work, a documentary series, portraits etc.
• Research the technique you are interested in exploring further.

Step Three: Brainstorm

Sketch, jot down notes etc.

Step Four: Test and Analyze

Try out your photo technique and see if/how it works. Then try your idea out and see if it needs any tweaking or adjustments.

Due: Friday October 10, 2014
Please show me your initial research in your sketchbook AND post a minimum of two paragraphs in a blog post as an initial proposal for your project. Each paragraph should address each of the two artistic questions.

Rating your photos - Using Adobe Bridge -YEAR ONE

Using Adobe Bridge CS6 - tips and tricks:

How to rate your images and move them to a specified "Best of" folder

1. For best operating speed - drag your image folder to your desktop and open up bridge. Find your images on the desktop folder you created. In the end you can create your best of folder in your home drive, or on your desktop. For working digital files, using the desktop in the CyberARTS lab will always give you faster processing times.

2. Rate your photos using a star rating system that works for you. I tend to rate only the ones I want to select. 3 stars = pretty decent but might need some tweaking during the editing process, 4 stars = really really good, focus is bang on, exposure is great, composition is great, 5 stars = award winning.
You can find a system that makes sense to you.

3. Filter your chosen selections so that you have only the ones you've narrowed down in your window. You may need to go through them again to narrow them down further if you have too many.

4. Select All - through edit - select all, or use the keyboard shortcut (Apple/Command 'A').

5. If you haven't done so already, create a best of folder ie. "Best_Garden1_Name" and put it in a location that makes sense to you - probably in your home drive and/or also on your desktop (you can always copy it to the desktop later)

6. With your best images selected in Bridge go to FILE - Move To - Choose Folder and find the best folder you just made. Click Open and the images will move to that folder.

7. Congratulations, you've just done your first edit!

HTML Basics - Year Four

In the 1059 folder on your desktop, go to the PickUp folder.
Find Ms. Silverman - CyberARTS - Year Four. Open up the html WITH Dreamweaver.

That will give you the code and you can replace the image (YOUR IMAGE), with your animated gif file.

You will save your finished coded file as index.html as well.

Year One Tracing Assignment

Objective:

You have been asked to choose an object or animal that you think represents you and use that as something to trace in order to learn the pen tool in Illustrator and also create a personal logo.

You will need to think about what qualities the object/animal possesses that you relate to, or that expresses something about you. I will ask you to explain this in your written artist statement when you submit your final work.

Procedure:

1. Select an object/animal that represents you in some way AND that will work well as a graphic pictorial representation. (Think distinctive shape and considerable pattern, lines or shapes within the outline of the object/animal) You MUST choose a photograph to trace and not a graphic.

2. Trace your photograph. Remember to label ALL layers and to put the photo on layer 1 and lock the layer.

3. Once you've traced all the portions of your image, you can begin tweaking the outlines using the white arrow to move any nodes or reposition curves. You can use the Convert anchor point tool to change corner points to curves and vice versa and you can add or subtract anchor points as well. Use the black arrow to move the whole shape without moving individual points.

4. Begin filling in different areas to create 3 versions: 1 - Black and white only 1- Grayscale 1 - Full colour

5. Experiment with how it looks to create the maximum contrast, emphasizing the important areas. Check the links below to understand some of the important aspects of logo design.

6. Colour page - using your base outline - copy and paste your graphic 8-10 times on one artboard in Illustrator. You can then work to create variations on your colour scheme. Think about some of the associations we make with certain colours and try to match the colours you choose to your personality and also to the object/animal you chose.

7. Finishing touches. You might choose to put the graphic image of your logo inside another shape to help contain or emphasize it. You could also have a partial shape, or have the logo overlapping a shape. See below on the colour emotion guide for some ideas about that.

Click here to read more about colour in design. Or check out this handy dandy poster.

7. Bonus - Add typography. If you have time, you can add text to your logo the might include your name, or your name as a graphic designer (ie. Silverman Designs) You can save one final colour version with type for bonus marks.

Submission requirements:

1. Print your final full colour logo with either your black and white OR grayscale (whichever one your prefer)

2. SAVE your logo in your logo folder. First create a folder called AI (or Illustrator files) and also a folder called PNG (for PNG files) labelling each one accordingly (BWlogo_lastnameFirstInitial.ai, Grayscalelogo_LastnameFirstInitial.ai, Finalcolourlogo_Lastname_Firstinitial.ai, Colourversions_LastnameFirstinitial) You will also need to create a web version (png for your blog because you can not put a vector file directly onto the web. From Illustrator choose Export from the File drop down menu. Choose png and save all three versions as pngs.

3. Post your FINAL 3 version (BW, grayscale, final colour) as well as your full page of colour variations on your blog in a blog post titled Illustrator tracing assignment - Logo. Also please post the original photograph that you used to create your logo.

4. Written Statement. You must include a written statement that follows the format below:

    WRITTEN STATEMENT: WHAT TO WRITE

1. Where did you begin? 
Start by explaining your choice of images and how and why the object/animal you chose connects to you in some way.

2. Elements and Principles. 
Now discuss your choices of shape, colour, line quality, direction (thick, thin, gritty, smooth, diagonal, horizontal, curvy etc.), texture and space. Also discuss your choice of typography if you added any. What do those letterforms (the way the letters look) say? Are they edgy, artsy, confident, corporate? Be as descriptive and specific as possible. State the shapes used. State the colours used, the name of the font, the description of the lines. And then, explain the meanings behind all of these design choices. (ie. I chose a circular shape because it represents the sun, the moon and all of eternity (or whatever it represents to you). I chose to place the pictorial image so that it overlapped the circle to represent the idea of leaping forward etc.) Also discuss principles of design such as emphasis, rhythm, contrast and unity.

3. Get technical.
Discuss your technical process. What did you learn and how did you use Illustrator? What tools, use of layers, any effects etc. Please be specific in correctly naming the tools you used and their functions.

4. Your thoughts and opinion.
Are you happy with the logo and how it turned out? Would you do anything differently if you had more time? What did you learn about designing a logo? Now that you know more about Illustrator, what do you want to do next? What do you want to learn more about?

Resources

Here are a few more interesting  sites to check out on logo design.

http://www.demilked.com/logo-history-future/

http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/50-kick-ass-logos-for-inspiration/

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/72-creative-and-smart-typographic-logo-inspiration/

Types of logos
http://www.logodesignsource.com/types.html

http://www.nodinx.com/5-basic-types-of-logos/

On making logos - tips

http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/web-design/logos/

Adobe TV tutorials

http://tv.adobe.com/show/visual-design-cs6/

Living Movie Stills - Year Four!!!

In your handout, I suggested that you check out IWDRM for inspiration.

You can also go to Tech Noir for more inspiration of great living movie stills.

Also known as Cinemagraphs

This seems to be a pretty good blog as well and it might help you create your cinemagraph.

Here's another How-to blog about making cinemagraphs.

Please google this. If you look up "creating cinemagraphs in Photoshop" you should find tons of links.