Digital Media: Propaganda Proposal

October 27, 2015October 27, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

For this week’s assignment we are creating a propaganda poster using Adobe Illustrator. We are allowed to create this using whatever imagery (within reason) to convey whatever meaning we want. The poster must include text that can easily convey the message we are trying to get across to the viewer.

For my propaganda poster I want to use the musical “Wicked” (which is a back story to the Wizard of Oz) as a basis for my idea and link it with the American government. In “Wicked” the Wizard of Oz is known as an all-powerful being. Because he is in Oz, the “Ozians” believe that nothing bad could ever happen there. But through a series of unfortunate events the main character, Elphaba (the wicked witch) learns that there are actually some really terrible things happening in Oz, and that the Wizard is actually behind them.

I thought it would be interesting to make the United States Capital look like the Wizard’s palace in the Emerald City. This symbolizes the fact that our government is “an all-powerful being”, and because of this we sometimes believe that nothing truly bad could happen to us. We think that the terrible things that happen in other parts of the world could never reach us, but they can.

I want the poster to be as if Elphaba is the spokesperson for Oz, and she is telling them that nothing bad could happen in Oz. The text I want to use will say “It couldn’t happen here in Oz”.

Digital Media: Identity

October 22, 2015October 23, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

For this assignment we had to create a quadriptych with the theme of “identity” using Adobe Illustrator. Each of the four images had to include hand drawn elements. They also needed to be related to one another in some way. All of the images used for this project were required to be vector based as well.

For my quadriptych I wanted to reference my obsession with Disney. I specifically wanted to focus on four of my favorite Disney princesses: Cinderella, Belle, Ariel and Elsa. I also relate to some of the characteristics and personalities of each of these princesses (which is probably why I like them so much). So I decided to make myself into a Disney character put into the roles of these princesses.

To create my images I started with a hand drawn image of a “Disneyfied” me and then scanned that image onto the computer. Then I created shoulders and a chest in Photoshop. Then I colored the image using Photoshop as well. After that I placed the image into Illustrator and drew the four princesses’ dresses/seashells onto the “Disneyfied” me. Then I took background images from each princess movie and created new vector images for the backgrounds for each princess.

Digital Media: Postcard Assignment

October 8, 2015October 14, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

For this assignment we have to create a postcard using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. For the front image on the postcard we are required to incorporate a vector based image (created in Illustrator) and a pixel based image. Our assignment is to create an interactive postcard that will be sent to someone for them to alter and return to us. We are required to attach a list of instructions on the back of the postcard explaining what we want the receiver to do with it. We will be printing two copies of the postcard. One to be mailed and the other one will be given to a student in another Digital Media class. When the altered postcard is returned to us we are to document the changes and post a final blog with the end results.

For my postcard I used two images from my self-portrait assignment. I chose to use the portrait of myself and the background that I used in that project. The expression on my face and the angle of my head made me look like I was pondering something. So, for my assignment I want the recipient to draw what they think I am thinking about. I created a thought bubble on the front of the postcard for the recipient to carry out this task. I also don’t want to limit them to only that space and instructed them to draw whatever else they want on the rest of the card.

Digital Media: Self-Portrait Assignment

September 30, 2015October 1, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

For this assignment we had to create a self-portrait using collaged images we took ourselves and/or images that were sourced from the internet. We were required to have a recognizable image of ourselves included in this assignment. The other images were supposed to tell a story or represent ourselves in some way.

For my self-portrait I wanted to incorporate my love for cartoons using images of some of my favorite cartoon characters. I have always been a big fan of Disney and Hayao Miyazaki films and I wanted to use characters from some of their works. In my self-portrait you can see images of Elsa, Ariel, Belle, Mufasa and Jack Skellington (Disney), and Totoro (Miyazaki). I also incorporated my love for Asian culture by using images of origami cranes. You can also see an image of a pile of playing cards that represents my love for card games. If you look closely you can also see pins on my shirt that have pictures of my nieces and nephew.

Digital Media: Self-Portrait Proposal

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

For this assignment we have to create a collaged self-portrait image that represents who we are as a person using Photoshop techniques learned in Digital Media. I chose the images above as a source of inspiration for my own self-portrait assignment. I like how the artists combined realistic imagery with “cartooned” imagery. I would like to have those same effects in my self-portrait.

I have always been obsessed with cartoons; mainly Disney and anime. I am often referred to as “a little kid” because of this obsession. For my self-portrait piece I would like to use an image of myself that I will add filters too to make it look “cartoony”. I want to Photoshop cartoon and hand drawn elements of my favorite things onto the image background. I would also like to incorporate images of my favorite cartoon characters onto the clothing I would be wearing in the photograph.

Digital Media: Folded Book Project

September 24, 2015September 25, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

For this project we had to create 16 pages using a combination of images that were sourced from the internet, our own image (a photograph we took ourselves) and a scanned element. Out of these images we had to create a folded book by placing each completed image into a template.

For my folded book I chose the theme “Nightmares”. I have always had creepy nightmares; some have been extremely bizarre and/or disturbing. I chose to use some of these nightmares as inspiration for my folded book images.

All of my pages were created with 2-3 images layered on top of each other. I decided that I wanted them all to have an illustrative quality to them, so I also added a filter that would give this effect on each image.

Digital Media: Surreal Landscape

September 15, 2015September 16, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

For this assignment we were asked to collage our own images to create a surreal landscape. In this image I used photos of zoo animals, my bathroom door, my nephew and two of my own paintings. The background image I chose is of a hill on the Kent campus.

To create this collage, I placed the edited photos onto the background image. Once I had the images where I wanted them I created a shadow underneath with the “burn tool” to “ground” them to the background image. I then added a shadow layer to each individual image to give them depth and further enhance the sense of “belonging”.

I really enjoyed this assignment. I feel that I was able to show the techniques I learned in class. I definitely think there is room for improvement; and I hope that I will be able to push myself further with the next assignment.

Digital Media: Digital Artist (Assignment #1)

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 | Rebekah McIntosh

Isaac Julien is a video installation artist whose works primarily focus on historical events, culture and the media. One of his installations, Ten Thousand Waves (2010), tells a story about Chinese culture. Julien uses modern and traditional Chinese values and superstitions to link the ancient past to the present. Among other stories, the film retells a Chinese fable about the goddess Mazu, who leads a group of lost fishermen back to safety. In this nine-screen architectural installation Julien depicts the movement of people across countries and continents and focuses on unfinished journeys.

For this installation the combination of audio and video enhances the viewers experience of Julien’s unique style of storytelling.