Semerter 2

I have started to look into the unexpected topic of architecture. I'm not sure why i didn't expect to come across it in this course, but the extent in which it fills semester 2 had me a bit stumped. However, I then watched Philippe Starcks T.E.D. video and all became slightly more clear. It the way in which we think about creating things no matter how be or small that we are meant to be expanding. So i now see why it would be very beneficial to look at the working of an architect and how they they go through the thought process of integrating their building into society and the surrounding environment.

Philippe Starck thinks deep on design | Video on TED.com

Thom Mayne on architecture as connection | Video on TED.com

Finito...

For the scene image i wanted to create a sense of foreboding in one corner, showing the pursuing 'baddies' and hope in the other, representing safety. I did this through the simple use of light and dark.

Movement was also an important element in the scene as it is high paced with a lot of action. To try and convey this i created dust clouds by cloud rendering, adding noise, adding a movement blur, then adding a mask of more cloud layers and finally masking the area around the dust cloud. I created the sand in much the same way but without the motion blur.

I wanted the environment to add to the feeling of danger but not overbear the image. I created the cliff by rendering clouds of grey, adding noise, creating a channel that would act as a template for the cliff and finally rendered lighting.

For the white horse i wanted it to seem like it was almost heavenly or touched by the gods, because in the book its power and stamina seem unnatural. to show this i made the horse look more astral and didn't give it marks in the sand.

Im pleased with the final image considering the struggle iv had with Photoshop and will hopefully have the confidence with the software to do something that even more epic.

Final Push

Ive been working on my character and scene over the Christmas Holidays. they are finaly nearing completion.

I have been looking up tutorials online because im still struggling with getting to grips with Photoshop

I scanned in my sketch of my character and created the background out of shapes that I distorted. i then created a shape that mimicked the feeling of a pyramid or structure. This represents what the character fights for in the book.

I then created a new layer and filtered it with a cloud effect. Using the thing i had learned on creating a 'desert storm' http://www.newphotoguide.com/articles/188/2/Desert-Storm/Page2.html

I created a sand storm that surrounds the character, this represents the unstoppable forces he faces. the face that he isn't engulfed within the storm shows his prevalence over the forces and the blue sky coming through shows the hope that he promises his people...its all very cheesy really.

4 images

I have been working on my images and have nearly finished them. I have also been doing plenty of tutorials to improve my photoshop skills, or lack of.

For my first image i took inspiration from the photoshoped animals that i found on the internet.

I chose a headphone as my everyday object and was aiming to turn it into something you wouldn't want to put in your ear. So with the image i decided to make it look as it it was a bug under a microscope on a sort of organic or skin like surface. This was my first image i edited and i started using the tools i was slightly familiar with to crate a bug like effect.

The clone tool came in handy because i wanted to suggest legs and a more bug like form to the headphone.

Then by using different layers for each element i set about finding filters or effects that would give a buggy or microscopic feel to the image. I know that not the most original way to create digital art but i thought the concept was good enough for a more simple effects...and it was my first image.

For this image i took inspiration from one of the tutorials on portal and applied it to a photo of a traffic light in Dundee. I wanted to create a look at what the traffic light experiences, only distance and movement, everything else is stationary. I applied other effects to try and convey depth and stale movement of the cars that passed during the day. I like the colours in this image and the contrast with the light background to the dark figure of the traffic light.

The next image was the most freestyle one i have done, I call it a trilby Flower. I wanted it to look like it had come alive and off of the page, making it the focal point when compared to the duller background. putting it in a garden situation would of been too over powering with all the detail of the trilby flower.

For my final image i took this very boring lamp and changed its perspective so that its head was a mountain range its neck was a road leading to a beach and its base curled up into a lake. I then mirrored the head of the lamp to create the other half of the mountain range. I think this is my riskiest of images as it has been edited the most, but a lamp form is still viable. It is one of my favorite images because of the transformation to something epic and would never guess it was a lamp. I tend to favor digital art with a certain reality to it which i feel gives it more depth and interest.

I say, is that an essay your writting?

The joys of the courses mega essay! Saying that, 2000 words... it could be worse! I have been researching and formulating a master plan for the last week or 2, slowly increasing the time i spend with the beast as I become more familiar with it. I find that with my dyslexia, i require a lot of planning to enable me to just sit and write. So the more detailed my plan the easier the task becomes. I would rather wait till i have basically written out the essay in note form, even though it may seem long winded in other peoples view.

I plan to finish more of my 2D images 2 day, i have finally gotten round to taking the picture of the traffic light on the way to uni...saying that it was raining, and i felt silly standing there in the middle of the pavement getting soaked...im not even sure if its any good yet.

Im trying to get as much as i can done for the 11th. even though this is only the deadline for the essay...i would very much like to enjoy Christmas and would like to spend it with my family, friends, dogs...not with flash. However, i don't want to rush/ become social recluse, but i am finding that the fact im working for increased number of hours everyday of the week rewarding. In the sense that i have more drive and clarity of what i have to do. I have been waiting for my workaholic side (as seen in A higher graph comm) to kick in, its the pressure that does it. And there's no stopping me after that!

Productive Crit

Showed Inga my sketch books on Friday, i was aware of my differing drawing techniques but she just highlighted this even more. Its clear that I have two different styles, one form being taught art and just to draw exactly what i see and be very literal, the other is more expressive and has more of an energy to it. I know i have to hone the latter and let go of my old drawing style that is considered more of a demon. So much for Mrs flints advice in higher art!

I have finally got Photoshop and have cracked on with my 2d images. I have completed my first on and have gotten another on the way. The first is a picture of a trilby, I then made I look like an individual flower and duplicated it round a central point.

The second is a Head phone bug, im still working on this one but i'm getting there.

Ready set go!

Okay here goes, I have finally go the images off of my pen drive and basically have my sketches of my character and scene sorted. I'm either going to pose my friends in for the scene or just edit my pictures in photoshop.

For my book i chose Wilbur Smith's 'Warlock' its an amazing book set in ancient Egypt. The chapter i pick is really intense and keeps on on the edge of your seat sort of thing. To sum up the chapter, the main character must do a trial called the 'Red Road' where he must - with the aid of a companion- survive a series of trials on a chariot making their way towards the city, and the finishing line. If that wasn't enough they are being perused by

pride thirsty, war hardened solders. For my Image I tried to encompass the thrill of the chase and the life or death factor. However I also wanted to have the goal of the city and the hope it lends to the pace of the chapter.

I came up with these two ideas that i am going to play

around with. They both have the same sort of layout, however the first image is more compact because of the gate being closer.

I was trying to achieve a contrast between the light and dark. This gives a negative feel to the 'baddies' and positive one for the gate. I also made the image quite streaky to

convey the movement and speed.

For the character development i researched Egyptian clothing and, buff bodies etc. Along with the time period i also had to include his nature and appearance. In the Book he is portrayed as layed back, strong, athletic, friendly, noble, charismatic and a skilled warrior.