Final design

Never Tear Us Apart, 2013

It is human nature to connect and create bonds. That's part of the reason why social networking is so popular; it allows us to create bonds with others.

The puzzle pieces represent people; we create bonds with like-minded people (the way certain puzzle pieces only fit with each other). However, this very aspect of human nature, the need to connect, has led to an overuse of social media. We are tethered to our social networks, obsessively refreshing facebook feeds while ignoring people around us. While social networks started out as a way to bring people together, overuse has torn us apart.

Ironically, our pursuit of connectivity has left us disconnected. 

Final project: design process

This is the design process, documented with the use of print screen (screenshot in Mac OS).

Step 1: Background.

I used paintbucket (Gradient > Paintbucket) to paint the canvas ("BackGround") a light violet colour.

Step 2: Select puzzle pieces.

I opened my puzzle sketch in a separate photoshop window. Using the Magic Wand tool, I selected one of the puzzle pieces, then used Ctrl + C to copy the selected area.

Step 3: Adding the puzzle pieces.

I used Ctrl + V to paste the puzzle piece on a layer on top of the violet background. I named it "puzzle A."

Step 4: Completing the pattern and resizing.

I repeated steps 2 and 3 to complete the pattern. Each puzzle piece is pasted on a new layer. Next, I used the transform menu option (Edit > Transform > Scale) to resize the puzzle pieces.

Step 5: Colour!

I used paintbucket to colour each puzzle piece (located on separate layers so there is no bleedthrough).

Step 6: Background layer

I changed the background layer colour to a muted pale yellow.

Step 7: Layer effects.

I used Filter > Render > Clouds to add some texture to the yellow background.

Step 8: Layer Effects.

On top of the cloud effect, I used the burn tool to darken areas of the background.

Final Project: Research and sketches

The topic for our final artwork is "Social Media Issues." As social media (including social networking websites and blogs) has become an indispensable part of modern life, various negative issues have come to be associated with it.

When brainstorming, i came up with these concepts.

Timesuck

According to urbandictionary.com, timesuck refers to an activity that is enjoyable but makes you neglect other, more important, things. Social networking websites like Facebook, tumblr, twitter and YouTube perfectly encapsulate the definition of timesuck.

Identity

Some people confuse their personal identity with their online persona. They are overly dependent on their social media accounts, sometimes to the extent where their online persona resonates more than their actual identity. 

Connection/Disconnection

People strive for connection- we want to feel that someone else out there understands what we're going through. However, sometimes in our pursuit of connection (via social media), we disconnect from the people around us.

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Ultimately, I decided to use the puzzle pieces.

Each puzzle piece represents a person. We are connected based on the simple fact that we are human. Social media is popular because it allows us to connect with other like-minded people. Social networks are infinitely useful; they allow for information exchange, provide a platform for people to learn about each other on a new level, and improve connectivity. We can now chat in real time with friends who live thousands of kilometres away, and talk to friends who share a mutual love for Marmite or obscure 19th century authors. 

However, there is always a flip side; some of us find social media so engrossing, we are addicted. We obsessively check facebook and twitter feeds, update instagram with our latest food photos and 'refresh' celebrity gossip websites. This can affect our relationships with people. How many times have you walked past a table of friends where everyone is so engrossed in their mobile device they haven't said a word to each other?

The basis of this concept is the fact that puzzle pieces, like people, fit together. Unless they are torn apart. In this case, it is the overuse of social media that has driven a wedge between the people (represented by the puzzle pieces). They have drifted apart, and each is isolated. Our pursuit of connectivity has torn us apart in pursuit of an alternate reality (our online life). 

This is a problem present in all our lives, to varying extents. Restaurants have rules regarding cellphone use at tables, couples fight over one member's need to photograph, tweet and geo-tag every time they're on a date. Worse still, some couple sit at opposite ends of the table, totally engrossed in their phones; their partner hardly registers. These puzzle pieces used to be connected, but they've drifted apart.

Colour research

Colors can be classified as primary, secondary or complementary. Primary colors cannot be produced by mixing one or more colors. They are Red, Blue and Yellow. Secondary and complementary colors are created by mixing primary colors in various proportions.

My favorite color is PURPLE. On the color wheel, Purple, a secondary color, lies between the primary colors Blue and Red. Various shades of purple are achieved by varying the amounts of blue and red in the combination.

History

Purple dye was produced in the Mediterranean from the shells of the murex, a small mollusk (Kurlansky, 2002, p. 75).

Tyrian purple is believed to have been produced for trade as early as 1500  B.C. (Kurlansky, 2002, p. 76). As the process of creating the dye was laborious and time-consuming, the color purple came to be associated with wealth and prestige; ancient Romans such as Julius Caesar and Cleopatra were associated with the color. Cleopatra’s warship sailed with dyed purple sails (Kurlansky, 2002, p. 76)

Shades of purple

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Purple ombre cake

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Lilacs

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Lisanthus

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An aubergine, or eggplant

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Pantone 2685 C

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Cadbury owns the exclusive rights to this shade of purple.

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Pantone 525C

I like the color because it is the perfect blend of the cool tones of primary blue and the warm tones of primary red. Purple can be used to represent good or bad, and is a rich, vibrant color. The various shades (ranging from lilac to dark aubergine) can be used to depict various moods and feelings. I prefer red-dominant purples, like the pouch above.

Abstract art

An abstract piece featuring a cool color gradient. The different colors were blended to give a marbleized effect using the smudge tool.

Class exercise: Shading and Smudge tool

We used the Elliptical Marquee Tool to create a sphere, the coloured it in. I overlaid a darker shade of grey along the outer edge of the sphere, then used the smudge tool to blend the colours together, which resulted in this marbleized effect. 

Then, I added a shadow using the Mixer brush tool in 106px and 54% hardness.

Tutorial 2: Coloring and Painting

For this tutorial, we had to use Photoshop tools to color in a pencil drawing of a horse.
I outlined the drawing following the pencil lines, then coloured in the horse using 'Paintbrush oval 45 Pixels' from the Brush tool options. I used shades of grey at various opacities to add colour and dimension.

Vintage pop art

The tutorial exercise this week was to create a vintage pop-art piece.

Printscreen was used to document every major step of the design process.

Step 1

The first step was to choose the background of the artpiece. I saved a picture of tea-stained paper and opened it as Layer 1 in Adobe Photoshop CS6. I named the layer 'Tea-stained paper.'

Step 2

The next step was to add texture to the background. I created a new layer named 'Clouds' and added a cloud distortion effect by clicking on Filter> Render> Clouds.
Then I selected the eraser tool set at a large size and erased areas of the clouds to blend with the tea-stained paper underneath, resulting in this background layer.

Step 3

Then, I added a picture of a zebra. Using the magnetic lasso tool, I cut out the zebra from the picture, and pasted (Ctrl+V) it on the bottom right-hand corner of a new layer, named 'zebra'.

Step 4

The next step was to add an elemnt of quirk to the artwork. I decided to replace the zebra's head with a globe. I opened a new file (File > New), and opened a picture of an astronaut with a globe head. Using the magnetic lasso tool again, I cut out the globe. I copied (Ctrl+C) then pasted the globe in the main file, on a new layer.

Step 5

Once I was happy with the placement of the globe, I used a filter to achieve a dusty, vintage feel. I selected Color Burn under the Blending mode. This is the resultant effect at 25% opacity. 

I also combined the 'zebra' and 'globe' layers into a smart object, so I could move them as a whole unit.

Step 6

Next, I opened a starburst image file in a new layer...

Step 7

... and adjusted the Layer Blending Mode to Overlay and adjusted the opacity to 38%

Step 8

Next, I wanted to create further depth and dimension. 

I opened an image of starts in the night sky and used the magnetic lasso tool to cut out an organic shape. I pasted this in the main file, and adjusted the layers so that the stars would appear underneath the zebra. I used Color Burn to turn the stars layer a burnt toffee color (it was originally black).

Step 9

As a final step, I added a text box and typed the words "Head In the Clouds" in Italicized 72 point Lucida Calligraphy font.

Step 10

As a final step, I moved the text to the top of the canvas, and moved the zebra to the bottom, resulting in the final product.

Image sources:

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/201/1/7/Tea_stained_Paper_4_by_MapleRose_stock.jpg

http://media.salon.com/2012/11/shutterstock_66542878.jpg

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/astronaut-earth-marilynn-flynn.jpg

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/012/cache/stars_1230_600x450.jpg

Tutorial 1: Fruit Fiesta!

Fruit Fiesta is a photo montage of tropical fruits. I used the Lasso tool in Adobe Photoshop to cut out pictures of fruit, then arranged them on a blank canvas. I duplicated the pineapple layer to create a border at the top and bottom of the canvas. I placed the papaya in the center to anchor the print, then lined up the oranges above and below it. The pineapple layer was duplicated again and moved with the selection tool to fill in the spaces between the oranges and papaya.

Fruit Fiesta!

Visit to Central Market and the Annexe Gallery

On March 22^nd, 2013, our class visited Central Market and the Annexe Gallery, located in Kuala Lumpur. We split up into small groups to explore the building, which has been renovated and upgraded in the past few years. The improvements include central air conditioning and more food outlets, including a food court and chain stores such as Subway, Secret Recipe and Old Town White Coffee.

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The Central Market entrance

There are various stores and stalls selling handicrafts such as Batik, carpets and rugs, jade and other precious stones and Buddha statues.

We visited the Pheng Art Gallery, located in the Annexe gallery. This gallery had hundreds of mounted painting for sale. These two, in particular, caught my eye.

Multicolored swirls

Yellow flowers

This bronze Buddha an metal elephant were at the entryway of a store called Art Land,which is located at the entrance of the Annexe Gallery. The store sold all manner of figurines made of metal and precious stone.

Bronze Buddha and elephant

There were also stores selling leather bracelets, stone jewelry, T-Shirts, bags, shoes and other accessories. Some stores also offered custom printing on T-Shirts and Varsity jackets.

"I ♥ KL" T-shirts

Shops selling Batik and other clothing are located on the second floor of Central Market. The food court is also on the second floor.

We concluded our field trip around 12 noon, after taking a tour of the top floors of Central Market.

Central Market is easily reached by taking the Kelana Jaya LRT to the Pasar Seni station. The station is an elevated platform located above the Klang River. Colourful graffiti decorates the walls along the banks of the river.

Field Trip to the National Art Gallery

Our class visited the National Visual Arts Gallery in Kuala Lumpur on February 26th, 2013. The National Visual Arts Gallery is located in Kuala Lumpur, and features the artwork of local artists. We saw the retrospective collection of acclaimed artist Latiff Mohidin, which was launched on February 22nd this year.

Artist Latiff Mohidin with one of his paintings.

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Promoting the arts to youths.

Art education is an important aspect of providing youths with a well-rounded formal education. Art education involves exposing children to artwork, and providing them with an outlet to express themselves in a creative manner. This can include art classes in primary school, where children are exposed to drawing, the color wheel and collage works, field trips to art galleries and exhibitions, as well as exposure to mediums such as photography, screenwriting and woodcarving.

Youth Art Month is an arts program that runs annually in March with the purpose of promoting the arts to young people. The program runs activities such as a school flag competition, where students across the country are encouraged to design a flag that features a key element of their state's history (source).

National museums can organize school field trips for primary and secondary school students. They can also curate themed collections (for example, a collection for an annual holiday or anniversary, such as the end of World War II or a National Day celebration).

Governments can also provide funding for school programs that promote the arts, and create scholarships for arts programs.

Our class at the National Visual Arts Gallery

Art Movements

This week in class, we learned about art movements. There have been various art movements through time. Art movements influence and are influenced by society and culture. Two art movements that I like are Art Deco and Gothic Art.

Art Deco is a movement that originated in France in the 1920’s. It is marked by strong, clean lines, graphical motifs and symmetry. Clean lines and simple, bold colours are a trademark of this movement. I love the clean lines and neat structure of the art deco style; the style is sharp and clean, which is well suited to buildings and structures, as well as graphical paintings and drawings. Art Deco is influenced by futuristic art movements and others that feature clean lines and shapes, including cubism.

Art Deco has heavily influenced architecture. The spire of the Chrysler Building in New York City features elements of Art Deco. The building was completed on October 16, 1929. The 185-foot spire, with its reflective plates and symmetrical lines, elevated the building, achieving a total height of 1048 feet.During the day, the plates gleam in the sunlight. At night, lights from surrounding buildings illuminate the building, and it is an irreplaceable feature of the New York City skyline.                                                                 Source    

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The Chrysler Building, New York City.

Art Deco paintings often include elements such as the chevron, bold colours as well as clean lines. Zigzags and lightning bolts are also common features in art-deco inspired artworks.

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The musician by Tamara de Lempicka

The Christ the Redeemer statue is the largest Art Deco statue in the world. It is located in Brazil and is 99 feet tall. 

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Christ the Redeemer Statue, Brazil.

Gothic Art originated during the Middle ages in Europe. The term was first used during the Renaissance, and was considered a modern style of art. The word Gothic is derived from the Goths, an East Germanic tribe that participated in the fall of the Roman Empire, and the beginnings of Medieval Europe. Gothic architecture is most present in churches and Cathedrals.

Orvieto Cathedral in Orvieto, Umbria, is a classic example of Gothic Architecture. It features pointed arches, a rose (circular) window and mosaics on the facade.

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Orvieto Cathedral, Umbria, Central Italy.

Gargoyles are stone figures that are often seen on the roofs of buildings. They are often built in the form of animals or imps, and may be humorous or frightening. These gargoyles used to be decorative water

spouts; the water from rain gutters would flow out from the mouth of the structure, which is the origin of the name; gargouille means throat in French.

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A Gargoyle.

Gothic art is also found in the form of frescoes, stained glass paintings and panel paintings. Many of these paintings were created to decorate churches, and feature religious symbolism, including scenes from the Bible. Later Gothic paintings featured still life and real life events, including nature, people and plants.

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The stained-glass rose window of the Chartes Cathedral.