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Final Project | Show Me What You Know

Title: Cardi B Collage

Medium: 14 sec, Sound, Video Art, Collage

Themes: Fan Art | Music Artist | Hip Hop | Fun 

I would like to start off by saying: I LOVE Cardi B. Since, I have been a fan of hers for quite a while, she was an instant inspiration for my piece. I love her personality, and how she shows herself as a person. Therefore, I made this collage to represent her personality, and how she is very vivid and outgoing. I chose a skyline of Las Vegas, because of their bright colorful lights. These lights are so beautiful and bright, that I felt like it would encourage the photo of her to pop out more. Not to mention, the city itself is very extravagant. With their abundance of shows, attractions, and casinos, I felt like it all related to her personality. I added money, because that is something she obviously loves. Even before her music career skyrocketed, she always worked for the money. Money was especially important to her because she wanted to help support her family, and get herself a pair of Louboutins. Overall, she is just a very fun person, so I tied all these elements together to form a very fun collage. From the flashing bubble letters, the glowy outline of her, and the part of the song, it all contributes to having a fun piece.

Elements of art and principles of design that I have incorporated in my piece are: variety, unity, emphasis, line, color, and movement. Variety in displayed in my piece, as I have added multiple photos to create the overall piece, and support what is being emphasized. Unity is displayed in my piece, as it all combines together to establish her fun personality. Emphasis is displayed in my piece, as I focused on what makes up of her personality. I used the lights of Las Vegas to emphasize bright and beauty, bubbly letters to emphasize playfulness, money to emphasize what she likes, and the city itself to emphasize her extravagance. Line is displayed in my piece, as I outlined her body and created the bubble letters of her name. Color is displayed in my piece, as I made sure to incorporate bright colors and neons to make it pop. Finally, movement is displayed in my piece, as I made the the letters create a flashing affect.

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Project #4: Video = A Time-Based Media Remix

Title: Save Our World

Medium: 2:14 min, HD Video, Sound, Video Art, Collage

Themes: Environment | Pollution | Global Issues | Endangered Species

In my video, “Save Our World”, I am advocating change to help our environment. Throughout the video, I displayed deforestation, smog, pollution, cars that run on fossil fuels, endangered species, and so much more to convey the issues we are facing. I also added the song, “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong to portray how people contradict the destruction that is happening to our planet. This is an issue because if we do not act now, our Earth will be diminish. There will be no trees of green, red roses, blue skies, or clouds of white. It will become an inhabitable world. Therefore, it is really up to us. Save Our World.

Techniques I have used to achieve this goal, were getting up close and personal. I used footage that really showed these issues, and brought the audience in. For an example, towards the end of the video, the monkey looks directly at the camera. This action broke the fourth wall, and brought the audience directly in this scene. Therefore, the audience could then feel guilt, or sadness towards the issues displayed in my video.

Elements of art and principles of design that I have incorporated in my video are: variety, unity, emphasis, and composition. Variety is displayed in my video, as I used many different video clips from many various parts of the world to support my message. Unity is displayed in my video, as I collaged these video clips into create my voice, and my one message of global issues. Emphasis is displayed in my video, as I emphasized global issues through the many video clips. Finally, composition is displayed in my video, as I created this work of art to advocate change as a whole. 

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Digital Exercise #6: Watch & Complete Adobe Premiere Tutorials

Title: Hoverboarding

Medium: 1:15 min, HD video, Sound

Themes: Adobe Premier Tutorial Replica

Title: A Day at the Fair

Medium: 1:35 min, HD video, Sound, Collage 

Themes: Fun | Personality | Life | Youth | Beauty

I have learned so much from this tutorial! It was so much fun being able to create and explore the different effects possible in Premier. Not to mention, I am actually thankful for this tutorial, because now I can edit my own personal videos. I finally have a program where I can freely edit, add music to videos, and apply various effects. In my own creation, “A Day at the Fair”, I added a song to play through the clips, I collaged them together, and added a few effects. Overall, Adobe Premier Pro is a program to edit and polish videos. It provides various effects such as, “Dip to Black”, “Cross Dissolve”, and so much more. As mentioned before, it was so fun to use and I am excited to see what else I can do!

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Assignment #6: Individual Research on Video Art & Artists

Artist: Carrie Mae Weems

Title: People of a Darker Hue

Year: 2017 

Medium: 14:15 min, HD video, Sound, Color

Themes: Politics | Identity | Racial Justice

Artist: Carrie Mae Weems 

Title: A Woman in Winter

Year: 2008

Medium: 1.35 min, HD video, Sound

Themes: Identity | Power | Independence | Change

Artist: Andrew Thomas Huang 

Title: Interstice

Year: 2016

Medium: 10:02 min, HD video, Sound, Color

Themes: Identity | Illusion | Space | Culture

Artist: Andrew Thomas Huang

Title: Projections

Year: 2007

Medium: 1.11 min, Sculpture/Video Projection Installation

Themes: Illusion | Technology | Space

The role of video art today, is very undefined. For example, both of these artists created very different videos. Some meanings were made very clear, while others not so much. Video art is a constant play of emotions, rather than it being so concrete. Its purpose is unknown because their meanings can vary and most of time it is about their viewers own interpretation. After viewing many mixed media artwork, many made me feel uneasy and disturbed. However, this may not be the case for everyone. Video art also goes beyond what we think is ‘normal’ and distorts it in every way. It is like we are inside the mind of the artist, and we get to have a taste in their world. I still declare that its role is undefined, because in every video there is a mystery. They contain things that not all of us may be familiar with or recognize. Although, I do recognize a bit of manipulation in these videos, because of how they can create multiple reactions. As mentioned before, I felt uneasy and disturbed because of these videos. It tampered with my emotions, and much so my facial expressions. Overall, I could endlessly talk about how I feel about video art, but it is like an endless pit. Nothing can define its role. 

Personal connections I can make with these videos are with their poetic nature. After watching them, I felt moved and I could understand there can be multiple feelings throughout all of them. One that I really admired most was, “A Woman in Winter” because it conveys how I feel with a few of my personal struggles. Sometimes I feel a loss of hope, and that I cannot get where I want to be. Therefore, we must look back into memory and see what we missed. It is how we obtain clarity and the power to take that step foreword. Overall, the meaning is just very poetic and it reminds me of my love for poetry. How I would constantly write and spill my personal moments of struggle.

The major subjects, issues, and themes that are important to each of these artists are their idea of change and transformation. There are also many transitions that take place that contributes to this form of change/transformation. In Carrie Mae Weems’s videos, there are various moments of body movement and direct communication that depict change. In “People of a Darker Hue”, there are speeches of segregation, and herself speaking about those who have passed away due to police brutality. There is also a transition from walking to running. This could covey that they cannot escape the violence, since he is on a treadmill. It is possible that it is showing there is no moving forward or change. In “A Woman in Winter”, she turns around, indicating movement, and a change in time. She turns around to reflect on her past, which acts as a transition to her next move. In Andrew Thomas Huang’s videos, there are multiple scenes of body movement, language, and indirect communication of change. In “Interstice”, it begins with a masked man with a red sheet covering his face. However, his body movement with twisting his arms, positioning his legs, and wrapping himself with the sheet all contribute as his transition to change. As the video continues, he proceeds with this ritual and a hanging lamp appears every now and then. The purpose of the lamp is to mark time, and maybe tell how much time is left. Throughout the video, clones of himself are added to support the idea that a change is about to occur. Finally, he enters the tent and this ritual or change is complete. In “Projections”, there is a piece of either a sculpture or driftwood. The object is not significant itself, but the projections that occur onto it is what define its change. The are branches added creating sort of a web-like structure. This change can be depict connections since the added branches continue and create smaller ones. Overall, their works involve multiple moments of change that make their videos a lot more dramatic. It enhances the feeling to reveal its final transformation.

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Project #3 | Digital Painting & Gif Art = Color, Paint, Mood & the Abstract

In my abstract piece I used various pastel colors. These baby blues, lavenders, and mint greens were used to create a mellow feeling. I want the viewers to feel relaxed behind the chaotic lines that are present on the surface. These lines indicate free of direction, and breaking out of a path. The first set of light purple lines create a maze like sequence. It is introducing its path. The second set of dark purple lines reveal the attempt of following this path, but as shown these steps become disoriented. Finally, the various steaks of white lines express the disconnect to the path. I want these lines to tell the viewer that we do not need to take on specific path, or follow the “right way”. I want the viewers to obtain a sense of freedom and that it is okay to step out of line. Prominent elements of art and principles of design that are shown in this piece are various use of line, there is a sense of movement, unity, and rhythm. The movement is portrayed through the lines on my piece and how I placed them as well. The unity is found through its story, line work, and the layering of the pastel colors I used to create its background to complete this piece. Finally, its rhythm is found through how I placed these strokes onto my piece, as it follows a sequence of variety. 

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Digital Exercise #5 | Altering & Abstracting an Image

I wanted to create a piece that illustrated self thoughts and expression. I used these various colors and interactive lines to convince ourselves that we have freedom in our thoughts. It is also about having exposure to world, where we should not have to hide how we feel or think. It is all about being who you want to be, and just letting it all out. In this piece, I decided to put very bold and bright colors. I did this because I wanted to expose how bright a person’s personality can be. I want my viewers to be awakened and to feel excited as they continue to view my piece. In other words, I want them to have fun while viewing this piece. All the freeform shapes and forms that I have placed in my piece are all meant to be very fun and random. I did these to have my viewers explore imagination and feel free to add more to this piece with their imagination. Overall, this is a piece to feel free, fun, and expressive.

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Assignment #5: Individual Research on Abstract Art  & Artists

Artist: Christopher Wool 

Title: Untitled

Year: 1987

Medium: Marker on paper

Themes: Postmodern Visual Art | Contemporary Art | Abstract Art

Artist: Christopher Wool

Title: a.k.a

Year: 2016

Medium: Lithograph

Themes: Postmodern Visual Art | Contemporary Art | Abstract Art

Artist: Roy Lichtenstein

Title: Brushstrokes

Year: 1967

Medium: Color screen print on white wove paper

Themes: Abstract Expressionism | Pop Art

Artist: Roy Lichtenstein

Title: Girl with Tear I

Year: 1977

Medium: Oil and Magna on canvas 

Themes: Abstract Expressionism | Pop Art

I selected these artists because I admire their styles and differences in expression through their abstract pieces. Personal connections I can make between these two artists and their works are their depictions of emotion and expression. Each piece conveys an emotion that I may feel at various times. The first two pieces by Christopher Wool express a distressed state of mind. Revealing one’s vulnerability and weakness. I do not consider myself as a weak person, but I do get stressed sometimes. Therefore, looking at his pieces sort of act as a reflection of my own feelings. Even though the second two piece by Roy Lichtenstein express similar feelings, “Brushstrokes” gives me a sense of freedom. This would describe my free spirited personality. The subjects, issues, and themes that are important to these artists are their styles and expressionism. These abstract styles both allow these artists to be more free in their work. This also creates their intimate relationships with their pieces. Overall, the formal and conceptual elements that are also evident in these artists’ works are its composition, emphasis, movement, unity, and line. In Christopher Wool’s works there is emphasis towards his composition. There are also elements of movement in his lines in “a.k.a”. Then in Roy Lichtenstein’s works, these elements are similar. However, his use of shape and color are what make him different. He mainly uses primary colors, while also creating a contrast with black and white. The shapes are very freeform, while his line work helps him achieve his ‘pop art’ style in both “Brushstrokes” and “Girl with Tear I”.

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Kiana Mora Portrait GIF

Lake Landscape GIF

Sunflower Indispensable GIF

Digital Exercise #4: Portrait, Landscape, & Indispensable GIF

For my first GIF, I have decided to re-create my avatar. My avatar represents the character in me and that is what I really wanted to express in this GIF. I define my personality as fun, playful, and animated. Therefore, I chose to further complete this piece to show that. The wink and and the shiny grin reveal a taste of who I am. It defines my niceness, my silliness, and of course my slyness. Not to mention, I wanted to portray imagination. This fictional representation of myself highlights as to how I would picture people or the world. 

My second GIF demonstrates a peaceful day at a lake. The swimming ducks and calm waters reveal the day’s tranquility. The setting sunlight in the background then captures the end of beautiful day. 

Finally, my last GIF is a growing sunflower. I chose to draw a sunflower, because it is currently representing my growth. As a current university student, I have began to learn that if we want to succeed in life, we must let ourselves grow. In other words, we must let ourselves be who we want to be. I have started in the ground, and for the past year I have struggled to sprout. It felt like each patch of soil that I chose to be in was not right. Therefore, I never gave myself that chance to grow, and I had let my thoughts get the best of me. However, I finally decided to stop, and allowed nature to take its course. Although It has been tough for me, I am now seeing growth. I am finally allowing myself to be who I want to be, and I am happy about it. In the end, I know I will finally bloom, and I will be my sun, or my light that will shine on my path of success. As a result, my growth is what is indispensable to me.

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Assignment #4: Individual Research on A Brief History of Animated GIF Art

Artist: Slim Jim Studios (James Curran)

Title: Lucozade

Year: 2018

Medium: GIF

Themes: Animation Loop | Design

Artist: Slim Jim Studios (James Curran)

Title: AXE Peace

Year: 2018

Medium: GIF

Themes: Animation Loop | Design

Artist: Kevin Burg & Jamie Beck

Title: Client: Chanel

Year: N/A

Medium: GIF

Themes: Cinemagraph | Fashion Photography

Artist: Kevin Burg & Jamie Beck

Title: Untitled

Year: N/A

Medium: GIF

Themes: Cinemagraph | Photography

What I love about these GIFs is that they both develop anticipation. In other words, they make their viewers want to think about what will happen next. Not to mention, these GIFs bring life to these images. In the first two GIFs by James Curran, there is a play of vibrant colors and animation. They’re very fun and child-like. There is consistent movement, various uses of freeform, and geometric shapes. In the second two GIFs by Kevin Burg & Jamie Beck, there is a different approach. Their focus is photography or cinemagraphs. These photos display realism, and subtle movement. Although these movements are not as consistent as Curran’s pieces, they still capture a dramatic effect. As James Curran, it is still playful, as it encourages life in their photos. The purpose of GIF art is to make an image alive and to develop anticipation. These artists’ want their audience to be engaged and understand the feeling of these GIFs. Whether it can be playful, child-like, or dramatic. Personal connections I can make about my selected artists are their styles. Both of their styles are almost equivalent as to how I would describe myself or my personality. I can be very fun and playful, as well as, dramatic and capturing. What is important about their GIFs is that they want to capture life, and be playful with it. However, Burg and Beck’s concentration is to establish a moment. They want to do more than just capture it, but enhance it to create a deeper emotion. They want to make their audience feel they are part of the moment, or to learn more about the moment/subject of their GIFs.

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Project #2: Digital Collage - Adventures in Surrealism

I created this piece to make connections within the environment, the world around us, and what we actually look like. Although some of us may not think so, I wanted to show that we are nothing powerful. We do not contain forbidden knowledge, or any godly power. We are just human. We are small tiny humans, as shown with the person sinking above. With this, I wanted to prove that we try to sink into space, but we get redirected to Earth. The other collaged images, such as the sea life were added to my narrative environment to emphasize the ocean. I wanted to express various uses of scale, and the combination of the two separate places into one. I also tried to emphasize balance and space between the two.   

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Artist: Adobe

Title: Norway

Year: N/A

Medium: Photography

Artist: Kiana Mora

Title: Subaru BRZ 2014

Year: 2019

Medium: Photography

Artist: Adobe

Title: The Great American West

Year: N/A

Medium: Photography | Digital Art

Artist: Kiana Mora

Title: Prom

Year: 2019

Medium: Photography | Digital Art

Digital Exercise #3: Watch & Complete Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

Adobe Photoshop, really opened my eyes for me. It made me realize there is so much more I can do, rather than using Illustrator. I can now edit photos better, and create logos/advertisements using photos. So far, my experience with Photoshop has been really fun, and I am excited to learn more! 

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Assignment #3: Individual Research on Collage Art & Artists

Artist: Shusaku Takaoka

Title: N/A

Year: N/A

Medium: Digital Illustration

Theme: Surrealism | Contemporary

Artist: Shusaku Takaoka

Title: Girl with a Pearl Nose Ring

Year: N/A

Medium: Digital Illustration

Theme: Surrealism | Contemporary 

Artist: Matthieu Bourel

Title: Yul

Year: 2013

Medium: Handmade collage

Theme: Surrealism | Contemporary

Artist: Matthieu Bourel

Title: Third Eye / Outrage

Year: 2013

Medium: Handmade collage

Theme: Surrealism | Contemporary

I chose these artists because their pieces are intriguing, but fun. There are so imaginative, and I feel like that is how I am as an artist. Everything I create is some crazy idea that comes to my head, and I feel like they did the same. However, these pieces are very expressive, and I love that. They might just look like random collages, but there are so many interpretations we can make about these pieces. Matthieu Bourel wants us to convey feelings. How do we feel about each piece, and what type of emotion is each piece portraying? Shusaku Takaoka wants us to wonder why he chose to collage these pieces. Did he do it for fun, or is he trying to create a message? Overall, these surreal pieces are just so unique and should be admired by all.  

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Project #1: Create your own Logo/Avatar & Header (to design & personalize your ONLINE PORTFOLIO) = The Art of Visual Identity

The main elements of art and principals of design that are seen in my pieces are balance, unity, and shape. First, balance because of their similar uses of shapes within them. Then, unity because of their similarities in color, especially for my header piece. Finally, shape because of the various types of geometric shapes I used in these pieces.

This new customized portfolio expresses the start of my journey. It also expresses my individuality because this is how I am starting to create and see things. It shows that I am learning, and that my style can only get better from here on forward. However, I do not believe this will be my permanent style because I have so much more to learn. Therefore, I am beyond excited to see what my future may hold. 

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Digital Exercise #2: Watch & Complete Adobe Illustrator Tutorials

This was such a fun experience for me, I really got to learn a lot about the program. I got to play around with so many different shapes and tools such as the curvature tool, the pen tool, the line segment tool, and more. These tutorials really encouraged me to play with this program, and so, I did :). 

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Digital Studies

Visual Interpretations of Poetry Inspired by David Hockney’s iPad Paintings

1. “My love is like a melody” A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns, 2/4/19

2. “A Door just opened on a street” #953 by Emily Dickinson, 2/5/19

3. “I have a rendezvous with Death” I Have a Rendezvous with Death, 1917 war poem by Alan Seeger, 2/6/19

4. “O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being” Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1820), 2/7/19

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Assignment #1: “Color is EVERYTHING!”

Landscape

Generated Color Pallet

Complementary

Triad

Monochromatic

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Digital Exercise #1: My Principals of Design

Contrast

Emphasis

Movement

Rhythm

Proportion

Balance

Unity

Variety