Blog Entry 6 – Project 1: Critique Image

Artists Statement

For my inner-self portrait, I chose to represent myself, or my soul, with the silhouette of a figure of a figure hanging from a tree.  She is reaching out, as if to grab some of the melting moonlight in the distance.  This represents how I sometimes want to grab at success or happiness, but often feel like it’s too far away.  The tree branch she is hanging from is also rather thin, and weak.  It looks as if it might drop the hanging figure into the black waters bellow, which symbolize, fear, doubt, and hopelessness.  The letters visible, but not legible as words in the background also show how the figure is trying to ‘read’ her future, but can’t because the words are unclear.  During the process of making this piece, I experimented a lot with different photoshop tools, including layers, selections, digital painting, adjustments and photo filters.  It was often challenging to use tools I was not previously familiar with.  Although I really enjoyed learning and playing with digital painting and using different brush tools.  Even though this technique was used in only a small section of my portrait, I still found it extremely useful in helping me achieve the desired effect. 

-Hannah Barber

Blog Entry 5 – Project 1: Research

The first contemporary artist I chose is Miss Aniela, who is a fine-art and commercial photographer, as well as a published author, based in the UK. Aniela works a lot with surreal fashion, which is roughly defined as a combination of fashion with surreal style art. Elements, from different time periods are often used or referenced in Aniela's images, especially in fashion styles or background locations of the models portrayed in many of the photographs. This creates an interesting contrast when placed next to something with a more modern and chic feel. Subtle oddities like animals, birds, and whimsical photo editing also add to the overall surreal effect of pieces.

My second artist is Maggie Taylor. She is a contemporary artist who works primarily with digital images. She creates her works by scanning images and other objects to use in her pieces. Creating a montage with computer editing. Many, though not all, of Taylor's pieces feature women, creating a possible self portrait effect along with her surreal content. Many of Taylor's pieces also seem to have a focus on the 'heads' or faces subjects portrayed in her artwork, putting an extra emphasis on the brain as well as human emotion. 

Blog Entry 4: Out of Bounds Composite Demo

Blog Entry 3: Basic Compositing Demo (Meerkats)

Blog Entry 2: Bird/Orange Composite