DIGITAL ART II
Digital Art II
Digital Art II students continue to work in the Adobe software suite learning advanced techniques to communicate artistic ideas in their artwork. Exposure to working artists and development of visual language is fostered through presentation, critique and feedback. Students will advance their familiarity with Photoshop through watching demonstrations, and completing structured exercises as well as open-ended projects.
Overview
Advanced Adobe Software Skills: Building on the knowledge gained in Digital Art I, students will continue to expand their proficiency with the Adobe software suite.
Exposure to Working Artists: Exploring the work and practices of established artists in the digital art field. This exposure helps students develop their visual language and provides inspiration for their own creations.
Presentation, Critique, and Feedback: Students will engage in a dynamic process of presenting their work, participating in critiques, and receiving constructive feedback. This fosters growth and refinement in their artistic practice.
Structured Exercises and Open-Ended Projects: The class curriculum incorporates a balance of structured exercises and choice based projects. Structured exercises provide focused skill-building opportunities, while student choice guides projects, encouraging students to explore their own artistic voice and vision.
Demonstrations: Students will benefit from watching demonstrations that showcase specific techniques and processes. This hands-on learning approach helps solidify their understanding of the software and its capabilities.
Student work
Project 1
Students are tasked with creating a surreal habitat using Adobe Photoshop. The project encourages the use of surrealism techniques to push the boundaries of reality.
Students have a range of options for their creations, including:
Combining an inanimate object and a living object.
Merging two or more living objects.
Blending a landscape with a living object.
Integrating a landscape with a technology or mechanical element.
Fusing something living with technology or mechanics.
Experimenting with scale to manipulate the size of objects beyond what's realistic.
Implementing the removal of a key item from its expected context, which can result in a strikingly surreal effect. For instance, removing a feature from a human face.
Additionally, students are prompted to consider the practicalities of their surreal habitat. They are encouraged to think about how a person living in such a space would sustain themselves, adding an extra layer of depth and realism to their imaginative creations.
Project 2
Students will harness the power of Adobe Photoshop to embark on a creative mission: preparing animals for battle to defend the planet from terrestrial threats. They'll face two intriguing prompts:
Unite with the Animal World: The world is under siege, and students must join forces with the animal kingdom to safeguard the planet. They'll imagine how animals would adapt to protect themselves in this dire scenario.
Augmenting Animal Defenses: With predators, hunters, and human activity posing unprecedented challenges, students are tasked with enhancing an animal's natural defenses by equipping it with specially designed, form-fitting metallic armor. The armor can be strategically placed to cover vulnerable areas or provide comprehensive protection.
Students consider traditional armor such as; helmets, weapons, vests, chainmail, and plate armor. Students are encouraged to blend both modern and antique armory elements to create a unique, visually compelling design for their armored animal. They'll consider the anatomy of their chosen animal, the practicalities of armor design, and the integration of metallic elements in a way that enhances both form and function.
Project 3
The polygon project that will challenge their artistic abilities and technical skills.
Students begin by honing their skills in the low poly technique, applying it to create a detailed and captivating rendition of a gemstone. Students then create low poly art by examining and analyzing slides showcasing successful geometric compositions.
Students will learn to record a Photoshop action to streamline their workflow, making the creation process more efficient and allowing for greater creativity.
Throughout this project, students will not only develop their technical skills in Adobe Photoshop but also refine their artistic sensibilities. They will learn to create intricate, visually appealing polygon artwork, and gain a deeper understanding of composition, lighting, and value. This project provides students with an opportunity to showcase their creativity and mastery of digital art techniques.
Project 4
For their final project students create a scene or character from a video game they've envisioned incorporating all the skills and knowledge they've acquired throughout the course.
This project brings to life a unique video game concept, designed entirely by the student. Students considering aspects such as target audience, age rating, game objective, and character details. They'll also consider set design, indoor/outdoor settings, mechanical/organic elements, and more.
Character Design:
Students will focus on character development, emphasizing admirable characteristics and potential flaws, exaggerations, appearance, skills, and even the time era or historical context of their character.
World Building:
This phase involves creating the setting and environment for the game. Students will think about architectural elements, cultural influences, inhabitants, and the overall color theme that supports the game's mood.
Execution in Photoshop:
Armed with their comprehensive brainstorming and design plans, students will apply their knowledge of Photoshop to create their chosen scene or character. This will involve a combination of painting techniques and photo texturing.
