Data Visualization/Mapping Project Final Results

I am pleased with how my project came out to be. It took quite some time to get the balance that I wanted with this piece but it was worth it in the end. I here present a self-portrait of myself divided into how often I use art supplies.

Difficulties with Illustrator

I started working on  my project and it's been really difficult to work with Illustrator partly because I'm not too experienced with it. I feel like a lot of the actions I'd like to do require Photoshop or I just have to google where those action items are. I want to break down a portrait of myself and have different sections be filled with different art mediums. I can do this by layering and using the art effects that Illustrator has. I am hoping to get used to Illustrator since the project is due Thursday and I have to make sure everything turns out the way I want it to.

Second Project Thoughts - Mapping/Data Visual Representation

I was having trouble coming up with ideas simply because I didn't want my map to look anything of anyone elses! I want it to be super creative and fun and pretty.... We're supposed to know what we're going to do our projects on by tomorrow. I am thinking of doing a data visualization on the art supplies that I use because I have so many of them and they all are very important to me. It would be a great way to express my usage of these items of how often I use them, which ones are in good shape/worn out, which ones I continually buy, which ones have more value, which supplies are large, which supplies are small, which supplies are easier to use for me, how long I've had them for etc.... So I feel like I could do a lot with that. But if I come across a better idea....we'll see!

Shanken (54-96)

So far I'm enjoying this picture book. There are various forms of art in this book and to be aware that all of this does indeed exist is pretty cool. I liked looking at Vladimir Bonacic's "G.F.E" on page 67. It is a computer  controlled light and sound installation that is 178 by 178 by 20 cm large. It has a lot of dimensions to it and the colors are really cool to look at.

Facebook future: Dislike button

So I recently read an article that stated Facebook would be coming out with a dislike button. This would drastically change how we interact with people on social media. I found the idea to be kinda crazy because it would definitely create a negative atmosphere on Facebook intentionally and unintentionally. Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, mentioned that it would "let users express other emotions besides the inferred positivity of the Like button" and that "there are times when you may want the simplicity of a one-click response but a "like doesn't feel appropriate". I think that it would be  negative because it might cause users to be insecure of what they post, it could hurt or upset feelings, causing self consciousness and unhealthy behavior that could potentially result in bad actions. Though it would add more of a realistic idea that posts aren't always going to be positive and it's a truth that some might not want to see but it exists.

Net Art

Though this is the beginning of my second year in the DTC program, I am currently taking DTC 101 as it was not offered last spring semester which is when I began the program. In class we are going over HTML which I have already learned during a couple of the classes I took spring semester (I can't remember what classes they were exactly..) Sena directed me to learn more about net art and combine that into my basic HTML code. I checked out a website called rhimzone.org and some of the net art they had was pretty cool. It is very different than websites we see today and the sole purpose, in my opinion of net art is to observe and use the site as interactive art. I don't know what I will create yet but I know it will be fun!

Completion of Project 1

Overall I am very pleased with the final product of my first project in the class.I was successfully able to add everything that I wanted to and give my piece the intended look. I added gauges, a beanie, glasses, and sweater. I also changed the saturation on the background. It was a little challenging to keep Gogh's impressionist technique throughout the whole piece but I am pleased with the results.

Shanken (30-54)

I enjoyed reading about how we can tie electronics with art and making a piece interactive. An example of this is shown on page 39 called Senster by Edward Ihnatowicz. This piece is an interactive sculpture. This sculpture was a lobster-claw that was fairly large. When there was a presence or movement nearby made by a human, the claw will make sounds and move. Here is a link to a video I found of the actual Senster piece:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jDt5unArNk#t=83

Progress - First Project

So far I am enjoying the results of my Van Gogh re-creation. I have added on several different clothing items and accessories and tried to mimick Gogh's painting technique. It is time consuming and a bit tedious here and there but I am getting it done and the experience is quite fun. I have yet to figure out what background to give but I will think of something soon.

Shanken (1-30)

Starting from page 11 I noticed that this book had a lot of color and style to it, unlike most books I've seen. Especially on page 13 the text is very large and the quote itself is like the opening subtitle of Survey. What I thought was interesting was on page 17 about the Caravaggio painting, The Conversion of St. Paul on the Way to Damascus (1601). I have heard about the technique known as tenebroso which is the use of high contrast and I like to look at works that include just that. The light effects the important parts of the painting such as the mens faces and parts of the horse.

First Project Thoughts - Digital Recreation Montage

Our first project is to re-create a well known piece of art using Photoshop that is conceptual. I love using Photoshop so I was already quite excited. The piece that I chose to use is Van Gogh's self portrait done in 1889. This piece includes Gogh's beard which caught my attention. I decided to make my recreation surrounded by modern fashion styles of today and essentially turn Gogh into "hipster" Gogh! I also decided that I would like to keep the artists technique of painting the same so I will try to use similar brush strokes and pressure through Photoshop tools.