Here are a collection of the lab tutorials we have conducted in class since the beginning of term. The LasVegas postcard assignment was the first. It was a great introduction to a lot of the tools one tends to use a lot in Photoshop. I learned all about layers, colour hues and using the guideline was a simple but really effective tool. We learned that the format you save in is very important. Next, we looked at using the magnetic lasso, text, and polygonal lasso
tool. I chose a picture from Buenos Aires, that had a lot of sunshine in
order to match with the sunlight streaming on the face of this
photograph. I used a picture taken from a day trip in Ontario with a
friend last summer. I used the lettering to cover up the rough edges of
the superimposed subject against the back ground. It was sneaky...but
once I am better with the tools I will feather out the edges more and
probably remove the person from the original background more
efficiently. In the following lab we compared the visual quality of gif. files and JPEG. We used different formats and resolutions to experiment with the end result of this Dhalia. Here it is as a gif. file in the lowest quality. We then used the layering technique to isolate a layer of a full colour image.We picked a point of interest in a stock photograph. In this case, the blue helmet (using the polygon lasso tool followed by selecting, and modifying), we used it as highlight of colour in the second duplicate, layer of the image which was transformed to a faded greyscale photo using desaturate.
Postcard Lab: RTA/BDC192 Week 2
Here are some extras I worked on for Tuesday Nights at The Silver Dollar.
I found this clip and it made my week!
This video is a fantastic recreation of some rather ancient hardware at work. The Antikythera Mechanism is a series of gears working together to create one of the first analog, computers in history. It served as an astronomical calculator tracking astrological movements. Given the fact that this device existed several years B.C., it kind of makes you wonder where would have we gone technologically speaking. You know...if it hadn't been for the massive delay experienced by the dark ages. It's sad to realize that we basically went from designing a basic computer around 150 BC to charging brilliant philosophers, writers, artists, and inventors, in the name of religion, by the time we reached 1600's. Anyone who challenged the religious dogma of the time, was effectively erased. Thus, snuffing out the previous academic and technological advancements hinted at by previous civilizations.
Bummer...
This week in Digital Media we looked at motion graphics. We focused on the art of movie credits and introductions to movies. Saul Bass was a significant example presented in class. I started to think through some of the movie intros I watched growing up that had an impact.
The music and animated intro. in this film was the coolest thing ever when I was a kid. The Pink Panther
When I moved to Canada, I discovered TVO network. The introduced me to some dynamite programming(Today's Special, Sesame Street, Polka Dot Door etc.). Among this list was the excellent stop motion classic: PINGU
When I grew up, my love of cartoons and ahem...graphic novels never faded.
COWBOY BEBOP has the perfect matching of music and animation. I loved this series as well TRIGUN here are both opening credits.
However none of these trailers match the place in my heart reserved for Tank Girl. Awesome comic translated into wicked movie itnro followed by great live action film :)
ENJOY :)
As Promised here are some sample of last weeks Poster or C.D. Cover project:
I chose to create a c.d. cover for an
upcoming EP. The disc will feature acoustic Jazz, Funk, Soul, and RnB
music from New Orleans. The songs are recorded during live sessions,
from the Silver Dollar Room. The instrumentation is acoustic and
presents guitar, bass, trumpet, percussion and vocals. The venue
itself, is considered a musical and historical landmark. It was home
to many outstanding performances by various Blues and Rock
performers, such as The Rolling Stones, Oscar Peterson, and Dan
Akroyd.
I wanted the title
of the disc to convey this classic timelessness that still had a bit
of edge.
I used 'Downcome' font in the main title because the stamp
like effect gave it a home-made texture. The colour of the fonts,
serve to highlight certain hues that are naturally occurring in the
photograph. I chose the purple 'Selfish' font to resonate with the
purple hues of the jacket and to suggest the colour at the centre of
the magnolia blossom. The red in the title, 'Magnolia Sessions,'
brings out the red hues in the subject's lips. Prior to using colour
burn and a variety of other effects, the face on the cover appeared
to pale and washed out. I love the photo, it was taken by one of my
favourite photographers Andrija
Dimitrijevic. We shot the photographs in my
basement apartment after creating a makeshift set, using bed sheets
as backdrop. I couldn't reach Andrija in time for the project
deadline, so I had to resort to using the stamp tool and clone out
the watermark. That was the trickiest piece for me. I do, of course,
have permission to use this image.
I was going to use
photoshop to superimpose an image in the background, but decided
against it. The photograph has some really nice negative space
naturally occurring so it was easier to work with it, than not. In
the future I think would like to learn how to effect the shadows on
the model's face and skin texture.
The end result of this project had absolutely nothing to do with my initial concept. I had envisioned very simple, mural art design based poster. The focus of the poster was going to be the silhouette of a female, holding a trumpet in the air under the banner of Fat Tuesday. I had chosen 'Jf Ringmaster' font example. However, the font wasn't loading properly onto my computer. So, I drew...and re-drew the letters individually, with the intention of scanning them myself. I couldn't find an image a female silhouette I liked, and could use freely. So, I drew that too. At the end of the week, I had several pieces of a poster...But I couldn't make the pieces fit together in a cohesive fashion.I had even taken hours to draw what I thought was a completely accurate depiction of a trumpet. Guitar player, Josh, was quick to inform me that my trumpet looked like it had a lasers coming out of it.
Here are some versions of the CD Cover Assignment that didn't make the cut.
Just finished week 4 of Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson ^_^
We get to write about anything this blog, so I have picked out a bunch of my favorite music videos that incorporate creative design techniques to share with you.
This is my ALL TIME FAVOURITE VIDEO OF ALL TIME:
'Corre Lola Corre' by Ojos de Brujo. I binge listen this track about once every 3 months...it's that good in my opinion. The music video uses a multitude of neat design tools I do not yet understand.
I simply adore the story in this following music video. This songs totally taps into the adopted Canadian in me...which is odd because 'Langhorne Slim' is from Pennsylvania...
I have been listening to Erykah Badu for years. Her last album was a prime example of the fusion of different elements and genres that come together to produce the perfect badu experience.
Her videos always have a lot of interesting aspects happening design wise, but I chose this one because I can't get over the album cover tributes in the video.
Frida Kahlo has been one of my greatest influences. I grew up surrounded by images of her work and her paintings became a permanent fixture in my mental backdrop. The following is a trailer for the 2002 movie that was based on her life. I love how they integrated the images of her paintings along with the cine scape of the trailer.
That brings us to a close in this weeks show and tell.
In other news, I am absolutely going insane with my poster assignment. I use to think that being a perfectionist was a win win. One would expect that most efforts executed by a perfectionist, would result in well thought out, efficiently planned projects. I envision post it notes, highliters and a trajectory chart to achieve ideal results. However, it would seem I have seriously misled myself...Since I now sit with four different beginnings to four completely different posters.
Tune in next week to see which one makes the cut!
Music is where I am most at home. If you have been visiting my postings with my music in mind, keep coming back because October is shaping up to be quite an eventful month!
'The Sugar Devils' and I, are going strong and steady with our weekly residency at The Silver Dollar Room. In fact, a 'little bird' in the club told me, that there has been expressed interest filming a documentary on our adventures in music and life.
It sounds like it could be a lot of fun, and the best part is that I get to take YOU, with US!!
Strap on your running shoes- because you and I, will be running from classes on campus, to auditions, to rehearsals, to performances, recording sessions and back!
I will keep you posted with details as they develop :)
Last week, we discussed the internet persona and how much should be shared.
It was ironic because just that weekend, my co-worker and I had been discussing the importance of privacy within a very public field. We had joked that my new mantra should be: "I am a PRIVATE person."
People that work with artistic mediums, create personal and seemingly private works and then share it with the world. This is often a delicate balance. Especially, when what can make the body of work so significant can sometimes be that example of the artist/idea/emotion revealed through that work.
There are some very good arguments in praise of being transparent as an artist.
Knowing that the song 'Tears in Heaven' is written about a very painful and personal event in Eric Clapton's life, doesn't necessarily make the song 'better,' but it does create a glimpse to the real person behind the music.
Understanding that there was real romantic loss and betrayal experienced by Mexican singer, 'Paquita la Del Barrio,' allows an audience member to hear the real story behind lyrics.
The songstress was betrayed and robbed by two great loves of her life. Both of whom worked as her manager for a time, made a fortune off her talent and then left her. Does her love torn history make her songs better? If you don't like Mexican music, then probably not.But it's a damn good story. Hearing that story encouraged me to look up her music in the first place.
Keeping the artist separate from their work is a fine line to walk. Roland Barthes discusses the failure of focusing too much on the artist behind the work. He presented the danger of focusing too much on the artist behind the work. To him, it was the danger of fixating on Baudelair's romantic mishaps versus his work, Van Goh's madness or Rodin's womanizing, all leading the observer away from the intended focus-THE ART.
Now a days things haven't much changed, music lovers must weigh the importance of child abuse allegations against their favorite pop star, or a National iconic folk singer getting busted with cocaine just after releasing a children's album, VS. good music and great art. Is bad publicity enough to turn our cd players off, or rip the art off our walls? Generally, I think you will find the answer to be no.
The discussion in class touched on just how efficiently one's digital foot print is stored online;We focused on some the traces we leave behind. This instantly brings to mind the possibility of childhood photographs that can make their way online as family members getting savvier with their scanners. The feeling of embarrassment would likely stem from the fear of being seen as less than our 'best.'
Irene Torres at 7, was missing some teeth and thought turtlenecks were cool because they made her feel like she was on Star Trek (TNG). Much in the same way that Irene Torres at year three of singing in public, is not the same as year seven. As much as I think it might please me to see only the finest Glamour portraits to grace my family albums, and only the best performances to be uploaded with my name attahced, I can't really worry about that. I can make sure I post ONLY what I am most proud of, and material related to my adventures in music and art. As opposed to my adventures in busking, dating, or last weekend's house party.
That being said, I love, absolutely love, when I find videos of people I respect and admire being completely unpolished and gritty. Recently I saw this video of Robi Draco Rosa performing with Antonion Carmona at an after party in Spain. Being that they are creative geniuses and professionals, there was nothing delivered without finesse. You can see the improvisation and on the spot creativity, on camera. This same artist posted a sound check from a concert last year, called 'Obra De Arte.' Check out the Soundcheck. There is something so completely artistically honest and beautiful about that.
Check out the after party video:
Here is an example of Fiona Apple breaking every performers rule by messing up a song on stage, apologizing and trying it all over again:
You can hear the audience laugh with her and encourage her on. One could argue that having this video up on youtube, while an example of a technically less than perfect performance, has in no way been detrimental to Ms Fiona Apple's reputation as a vocalist and performer.In fact my friend, a music teacher, showed this very video to a vocal student who was down on herself for making a mistake on stage.
So what is an overshare , what is too unpolished, what should be kept out of sight?
I don't really have a straight answer to that.
I do know that watching one of my favorite singers making a mistake on stage and picking herself back up is kind of inspiring.
But watching a leaked video of one of my favorite singers peeing on a sixteen year old girl, is not.
When I choose to spend fifteen minutes watching and re-watching the double rainbow guy on youtube, then I must simply also accept that I am encouraging that mode of expression by reloading my browser window.
I have voted with my viewership that this video is worth sharing, that it is a valid form of expression and entertainment, and that goes for every single trashy show I watch on television and pop song that I listen to. And you!
This week we discussed the importance of Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity (CRAP)
There are certain album covers, posters, book covers that evoke a certain memory or experience.
I was so pleased when 'vintage' 1920's-40's cool came back in spades. When I was a kid, I remember my father's library containing Raymond Chandler novels. The design on the cover gave me the impression of being cheap, cheesy and classic all at once. The books themselves were old and had that fantastic, musty, old book smell that e-books will never replace.
Here are some of the images from 'The Big Sleep' book cover and movie poster.
Both images really play up the font and it's placing. In the movie poster, the slanted title gives the poster sly tone. The proximity of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, suggests a playful tension between the two.
The font in this particular penguin classic novel, is typical retro, mystery novel, cool. The gun promises action, and most likely damsels and gangsters- classic Chandler style.
I love most thing art deco inspired. Really elaborate designs, with lots of swirls and movement, is something I tend to be drawn to. Alfonse Mucha is a great example of this, and his art was often used in many advertisements. His fonts were often relaxed, but very pretty. The font theme was often repeated through out his different advertisements. As seen this 1897 lithograph Nestle's food for infants advertisement, and then again in the French perfume promotional poster.
Ten years ago, Turkish rapper named Evren, released an album that is still on my mp3 player to this day. The album 'Conflict of Interest' featured a high contrast cover with a dark silhouette of the city of Istanbul.I loved the simplicity of the design. It's all about the contrast of the lettering against the urban outline. The color relationship of black and red is very dramatic. The grey logo gives your eye somewhere to focus on right away.
I remember when I people first started having home computers. Everything was so new and you had to practically know how to run code, in order to do much of anything fun online. Now we have awesome apps being released on the daily, and endless tutorial videos and forums. Last week, I watched a 'how-to' video on how to do vintage hair styling and remove medical stitches from home.Scanned some original artwork and played around in photoshop before e-mailing the image to six of my friends. I also discovered a new singer named Asa that I really dig and that all her tunes are available for my listening pleasure online. check her out here: Asa
I have gone from a brand spankin new ICQ user in 1993 to building my own website on my beautiful amazing macbook (named CH1C484D455 'CHICABADASS') in 2011. Now if only someone would make a decent app to connect my twitter, hi5, facebook, myspace, linkd, and google profile...
