These pieces were created by Ian, who is enrolled in my Photoshop 2 course here at Palm Beach State, Lake Worth. Each of these pieces is impeccable.
What makes them powerful is the use of scale to alter the way we view things. A shark fine becomes even scarier, and from a cave, a gigantic eyeball stares back at the viewer.
Well done, Ian, keep up the excellent work.
I usually post images of digital design, but today I had to share this mono-print created in my Digital Imagery for the Fine Artist class by Tammy U.
Tammy carved linocuts for her project (which were gorgeous), and she had a little scrap of linoleum left over. She inked that small 2 x 2-inch block and began hand printing onto a piece of tea-stained paper. The entire room began to chatter; they loved it, and so did I.
One of the things I love about teaching is seeing students discover new things and do them so well. Miss Tammy, I believe you have the makings of a very talented printmaker and abstract artist, as well. So good; keep up the excellent work.
Another week and another talented student shout out. This work was created by a spring graduate named Mike. When he started here at the college he had never used Photoshop. I would say he progressed nicely, wouldn’t you?It’s always funny when students apologize because they don’t know the software. My reply is generally “well isn’t that why you’re here”?
The images featured in this post were created in my Photoshop 1 and 2 courses. Above we have his art history project. Students have to be inspired by a famous artist/designer from a historical standpoint. A quote attributed to Picasso states “good artists copy, great artists steal” Don’t try to reinvent the wheel, start by looking at the work of artists you admire. What or who inspired them? Why did they make certain choices? What can you learn from those who came before you? And then sketch from each of those artists and begin mashing ideas together.
Perhaps you are inspired by a favorite book or author? Mike was inspired by H. P. Lovecraft for this next assignment. All of my students in all of my courses must keep a sketchbook. With each assignment they pitch their concept to me, as if I were a client. I am not into hand puppet shows while in the classroom; I do not want to see students gesturing “the text goes here and the picture goes there”.
I want to visuals, and so do your clients. They want to know that the money they are paying you was a wise investment. Sketchbooks easily demonstrate thought processes, time and considerations to those around you. Ideas coming to life is what I see represented in the drawings above. Below is the finished work.
The image below is Mike’s interpretation of a steam punk robot. He photo bashed the background, did some color matching to create turmoil and then he started to draw. It’s also worth mentioning that I also require my students to try and use our graphic tablets.
Have you ever seen a prison movie where the guard slides a food tray under the door? Day after day… sliding the tray. Well, that’s a pretty good visual for me sliding a tablet to a student who resists trying one. I stand there smiling, making direct eye contact and I hear a sigh, sometimes see a grimace… and one day they actually ask me for one. (Love when that happens)
Honestly, if you’ve tried using a graphic tablet and don’t like it, please, please for the love of God try it again. No lies, the first day it’s usually pretty awful. We’re so used to navigating a computer with a mouse that drawing with a pen on the computer feels weird. But once you get the hang of it watch out for great things to happen. Consider all of the years experience you have holding a pen or pencil. Sure the tablet has a different surface feel, it just takes getting used to. And to our students just a reminder all of our labs have graphic tablets, ask your professor to borrow one.
Below is his digital painting created in Photoshop 1. This was his very first digital painting. Nice progression.
Well done Mike. It’s no wonder why as soon as you graduated you were snapped up by a design firm. Congratulations!
This morning I would like to give a shout out to yet another talented design student here at Palm Beach State; say hello to Gustav. These pieces were created as self promotional work in my Design Fundamentals class. Gustav has only just started but I can already see a style emerging in his work. Can you?
Colorful celebrity Pop Posters. He is all about color. I can already see a strength with composition. Look at the balance in each piece. See how Gustav uses color and line to move your eye. These pieces are electric. Just the right balance of dynamic color and neutral.
I consider myself lucky having students like Gustav in my classroom. Your work inspires other students and you demonstrate how effortless good design can be. Well done!