[ Final Arts ]

http://rae-lux.blogspot.com/2011/11/final-presentation.html

 

The above link is the total output of my final presentation.

I just got news few days ago that Mr.Deepak is planning to choose Photo print with texture over canvas print.
Why the sudden change of mind I wonder ?

Personally I'd still prefer canvas print, but since majority think its overpriced, I guess I will have to follow suit.
I just hope I dont have to go to a photoshop to search for a good print-er.
Canvas would make my life so much easier. All at one shot, just pay.

It will also look nicer too. I guess I cant hang my canvas picture in my living room anymore :(

[ Nearly Got It Wrong ]

Mr Deepak informed students that the resolution of the pic is 300, and 16" by 20" .

If not for my friends who reminded me, I wouldve passed up the wrong file and the print out would look horrible.

Downloaded a few brushes from Deviantart, these brushes are Eyelash brush, paper effect brush and watercolor brush. Spent the whole night working on touchups.

[ A week before final presentation ]

Final presentation schedule will be decided by Mr.Deepak himself and we dont get to choose slots.

Arts are photoshopped and edited daily because I dont want last minute work.

So far so good.

First Geisha pic is almost complete, the mask still needs some work done.
Mask needs to change from horizontal to vertical, some background art and some touch up on the mask itself by using brush tool.

The 3rd picture, so far cant think of anything .

[ Wednesday Canvas Meetup ]

Wednesday.

After class, rushed over to mainblock with my friends because we had to meet up with the canvas print guy.
Not much people showed up. But at least there are some. 

There was a man and a lady, and they used alot of time to explain about the colors, the textures, the price and the size. It was actually interesting !

Our lecturer picked a size, quoted us a price.

I didnt care, I just wanted to keep the canvas at the end of the day !

So I assumed that, we were going to do canvas 100%.

Since the print people are already here.

[ To Canvas Or To NOT Canvas ? ]

Our final presentation is getting nearer and nearer each day.

Mr.Deepak has been talking about printing since mid semester.

Photo with texture ,or canvas print ?

We got to know that canvas print doesnt come cheap, the pricing is around rm 90.
Many students claim that its expensive and theyve got no extra cash.

Our lecturer straightforwardly said

" Art is for the rich, if no money best not get into design."

Okay, this MIGHT sound a tad harsh and realistic to some people, BUT I MUST SAY...

ITS TRUE.

Some harsh things are true. And if its true, I accept.

For prints, we need $$$.
For paints, we need $$$.
Brushes, pencils, pens, colorpencils,programs, etc etc, its all money.

If no money, not even a single cent, how are you going to make it possible?
Right ?

I was quite skeptical about the canvas print at first because I thought it wasnt necessary.
But I changed my mind the moment Mr.Deepak said we get to keep our own canvas prints.
In fact, I got quite excited !

I was already planning where to hang my piece of " art " ( ahem ).
I decided to hang it at some area near the door and my living room.

However most people are still not open to the canvas idea.
Mr. Deepak made an appointment with the Canvas guy, and we were told to attend the canvas brief on Wednesday.

[ The Computer Lab ]

Sometimes I ponder and wonder why is our computer lab so old compared to other colleges and universities.

Our fees are definitely not the cheapest, but our labs are definitely the oldest.

My sister studies in government college and their labs are state of the art labs.
Glass panels all over, bright, big ... flatscreens...

My other friends study in one of the famous unis in Msia and the computers in their labs are of Macs. Apple products. Glass panels... comfortable...

Ours is just plain old, dark, and everytime Im in lab, I worry.

WHY?

Because if I happen to double park, I wont know if the person is leaving or not because our lab is underground, therefore I cant receive signal. This is not good.

I dont mean to criticize, but its true. Sometimes I envy other students who have the opportunity to fully utilize uni or college facilities. Our photoshop programs are also old. Not CS.

[ Blessing in Disguise ]

Ive finally completed the needed report and it consists of 7 pages.

I added my artist's painting of his wife in a kimono, as its one of my reference artists and coincidentally my design consists of a lady in kimono. Interesting.

Attached the 3 paintings into the report.

Realized the next morning that I forgot to print the cover page for the report!

I panicked, as it was 8am and no bookstore is open.
Then I remembered 2 days before, I went to WN to print a cover page for Media Writing.

I only wanted 1 colored cover page.
The man in WN book shop, printed an extra cover by accident ( I did not ask for non color cover ) and he charged me for it. I got abit angry but I was too lazy to fight with him and argue over a few cents. He is known to be fierce anyway.

So I just grabbed the paper and chucked it into my bag.

I dont know if its faith, but that means that I actually have extra cover for the Visual Design Treatment as the unwanted extra cover is still in my bag !
I was so relieved and happy at the same time.

The WN uncle saved me by accident. And a few extra cents.

[ What Report ? ]

I never knew there was a report until Mr.Deepak said we need to do a report for our 3 final designs.

That was when I remember that I havent updated my latest 3 chosen designs.

Few days before deadline, stayed up all night till 4am, sketching and painting in the living room.
Modified my 2 pieces, because I cannot bear art that isnt 100%

The above two were latest editions of my modified art, from the previous selections.

Like what Mr.Deepak suggested, I changed the puzzle of racial features to Cultural masks.
Used watercolor,color pencil and marker pens to color it up.

For the geisha, I added more details to the kimono as its important to show that its Japanese culture.
I repositioned the statue of Liberty, added an American flag, made the burger look more delicious, drew a better bridge, added a BigYellowTaxi and sketched a prettier Geisha .

I placed alot of effort in the Geisha picture because I know that this is the one that I want in print.

I decided to do the report the next day because when I was done, it was already 5am.

[ Now I Understand Why ]

Sometimes, I sigh and ask myself why did I take up Graphics Design in the first place.

Im going to be really honest, graphicdesign course is the busiest, most hands on course Ive ever taken so far, if not this semester.

I never was familiar with Mr.Deepak's teaching style as its my first time taking Graphics.

Everyday in class, he will talk about Elements of design, principles of design, and we have to blog about it, present about it and do reports about it.

I found it unnecessary and annoying at first ( the elements, not the lecturer ).
Whats with having to repeat the same thing again and again until I can memorize what the elements and principles are ?
Whats the point ?

After few weeks, I FINALLY, deep down in my heart, understood why its useful.
Now whenever I see a picture, or an image or a view
My head will automatically apply the elements and the principles of design, and in my mind, I will realize whether or not the art or picture is a good art or not.

Suddenly I understood why the elements and principles were important.
And everything I see through my both eyes, is different compared to before knowing what design is all about. Its a whole different view and aspect now.

Everything now has an angle, whether or not theres repetition, whether or not theres emphasis...
It all makes sense now.

I will have to thank my lecturer for making me learn.
Reminds me of primary school again, we hate doing homework and writing words again and again, but it only makes us better in time, and we will understand as we grow older.

[ No More McDs For Breakfast ]

On the first few weeks of graphics design class, I was told that class starts at8.30am because Mr.Deepak cant make it for 8am, its very very very jam at his area.

Which is good, so I dont have to rush.

The only stress with morning classes would be the carpark.

One day I went early to class, around 8am ( I thought class starts at 8.30 ), so me and my friend went to McDonalds in PusatBandarDamansara for breakfast. We were enjoying and taking our sweet time...

Then when we went to class at 8.30am, Mr.Deepak was teaching a class full of students !
We had to take the first row, and Mr.Deepak told us class starts at 8.15 am from then onwards.

So sad.
No more McDonalds breakfast ! :p

[ After 2nd presentation ]

After 2nd presentation, its time to choose the final 3 designs.

I'm glad during my presentation, I did not receive harsh comments from Mr.Deepak.
Mr. Deepak also picked out 3 pictures which he thought were the best amongst the other designs I did.

For the first picture he chose, at first he didnt know what it was.

He asked why were there matching lines all over.
After I explained this picture was inspired by a children's workbook, he thought it was a good idea and remembered seeing his niece or nephew do book activities like these before.

Basically his niece or nephew saved me !
HAHA. Kidding.

He asked me to work on this piece, so I took note of that.

The next piece, was a geisha having a burger in Newyork.
When I first started out on this piece, its one of those " Oh my God I have to faster finish up 18 sketches, anything will do to fill the gap ! " pieces. But I did realize it had some potential in it.

To my surprise, Mr.Deepak liked it and claimed its one of my strongest works.
A friend of mine also said its not bad so in my heart, I know this piece is the one I want to print out.

The third picture, Mr.Deepak also said its something different and asked me to explain about it.

However, the explanation I came up with, it wasnt good enough.
I used physical qualities of humans from different races, and Mr.Deepak doesnt want that.

He said culture shouldnt be associated with physical qualities of any race.
Asked me to work on it. But he likes the concept.

He suggested I turn this puzzle piece, into different masks instead of faces.

Overall, Im pleased with my presentation because Mr.Deepak did not yell at me or something like that. I spent quite alot of time on these sketches, if that happened to me I'd be devastated.

[ Final Presentation ]

Artwork # 1

Name of art : Puzzled about Culture ?

Lecturer Remarks : Do not use physical qualities to define culture

              Use masks instead of human faces

Modified painting after accepting lecturer's comments

4 types of masks combined into one face

Opera mask, Chinese Opera mask, Tibetan mask, African mask

Final Product after Photoshop and editing

 Techniques

1. Used curves, dodge tool and adjusted lighting
2. Brush tool to repaint the whole mask for more vibrant color
3. Applied " Accented Edges " as effect for darker lines 
4. Downloaded watercolor brush online ( Deviantart.com) for background 
5. Font used " Goudy Stout "

Artwork #2

Name of Art : Cultural Mix & Match

Lecturer Remarks: Interesting idea

      " Have seen my niece/nephew do one of these before "

Downloaded paper effect brush tool online

Inspired by children activity books, so can't be too neat

Final outcome after editing :

 Technique

1. Used photo filter warmify to provide a retro look 
2. Brush tool to repaint and recolor 
3. For Xmas gift used "Ink Outlines" and " Cutout" effect, Xmas tree used " Palette Knife" 
4. Angpau used special effect brush " butterfly"
5. Fonts : Comic Sans 
6. PaperEffect brush used last, with opacity 24 and flow 26% 

Artwork # 3 

Name of Art : When In New York

Lecturer's Remarks : One of my strongest works

                                   Consider picking this for print

Decided to do better, re-draw and re-designed a new piece of work.

In modified version, added a YellowCab, American flag

Repositioned the bridge and Statue of Liberty

Decided to print this out of the 3 arts.

Final artwork after Photoshop :

Technique

1. Contrast and curves adjusted
2. Brush tool played a big part in this picture, everything is recoloured
3. For Kimono , used SpecialEffects brush tool for Butterfly and Circle prints 
4. Used liquify tool to edit the face shape of Geisha. Also edited the shape of stars on flag
5. Downloaded brush online , called "Eyelashes brush ", for Geisha eyes
6. Backgroud is colored by SpecialEffects brush tool
7. Used smudge tool on Taxi, McDonalds signboard, Statue of Liberty and Kimono
8. Font : Blackadder ITC

[ Intercultural Sketches ]

East Meets West

Dialogues

Cultural Mix & Match

When in New York

Claude Monet's Art by coincidence

Cultural Darkness

You Are What You Eat

Puzzled About Culture ?

Connecting

Widening Horizons

Cheers to Different Cultures

Experiencing Culture

[ Saving Myself ]

Today in class, presentations were all done ( last batch )

Somehow I couldnt log into the lab's computer and this is a lesson that I should bring my own laptop during graphic design class. Laptops are really heavy tho. I wonder if Photoshop can be used on tablets ?

After that, Mr.Deepak/Menon started giving us instructions on our project.

There goes.
18 sketches. And each sketch requires a tagline.

At first I wanted to do No Phone Zone campaign, but come to think of it, I can't really dig out too much ideas revolving a phone. 18 sketches .

So I decided that I'd do the intercultural thing.
Its also not too easy, but at least easier than the NoPhoneZone .

The one thing I like that the lecturer said was

" Don't try to save the world, just get the job done."

That made so much sense.
Saving the world is hard. I shall save myself first !

Claude Monet

Claude Monet  Founder of French impressionist painting

Most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting.

 Impressionism is derived from the title of his painting  Impression, Sunrise 

• He would instead go and sit by a window and paint what he saw instead of copying from old masters

• He found new approaches to art, painting the effects of light en plein air  with broken color and rapid brushstrokes, in what later came to be known as Impressionism

 ELEMENTS 

• COLOR    
• VALUE
• TEXTURE 

PRINCIPLES 

• MOVEMENT 
• EMPHASIS

by creating a welter of techniques and forms, Impressionism became a precursor of various styles of painting, including Neo-Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism and Cubism.   

[ Introduction ]

My name, is Rachel.

Aspirations and dreams were what I once had, but right now I don't think too much and I'm just living each day as it passes.Enjoyably, of course.

Graphic design to me when I was young, was something interesting and fun, a way to express myself.
I was proven wrong when I struggled with illustrator during introduction to design.

I'm a very impulsive person at times. Unpredictable is a better word to describe me.
I get impulsive when I go shopping or decide what I want to do ( such as business degree in the first place ).

I however, can be really careful and sensible when it comes to other things.
It depends as everything's got two sides to it.

Graphic design was once my dream.
Not until I realized its a complicating field to be in. People struggle to get jobs ( as I heard ), brainstorming gets stressful, sketches are done in piles and the tools are expensive.

Behind every dream there's reality.
And reality now is that, I've enrolled myself into graphics.

I can't believe it.