Surreal Practice Tutorials

In the desert tutorial, we had to use different techniques such as using layer masks and creating a layer specifically for a drop shadow in order to use it as a shadow for the lamp post. We also created a gradient on the ground so that it would look more saturated. Then we added two images to the sky to make it look a bit more out of the ordinary Both of the tutorials will help me in my surreal project because it will allow me to create the dreamy and surreal effects that I will need to achieve for my surreal project. They also helped me get used to using the layer masks, which is something that i don't usually use, which are very helpful.

Art Show: Personal Quilt

The personal quilt was an assignment influenced by an artist by the name of Faith Ringgold who, through art, told stories about life. That was the objective of this project. Using Photoshop, I have created past, inside, outside, and future squares, that when put together make up a visual representation of my life. I tried to be as honest as I could with representing myself through the quilt squares. In all of the quilts I incorporated different symbols that I find dear to me; some symbols are obvious, such as trees, whereas others are less conspicuous, such as the rain. Because I am a very reserved person, the hardest thing for me is allowing people to see some of the things that really make up who I am. However, I think that that’s part of the overall experience. I thought of this project as more as a reflection of who I was, who I am now and who I want to be.

Graduation Program

After looking at the other students' graduation covers, I think that what makes my design strong is the unification of the lettering and the background of the cover. Although I think it adds something to the cover, I should not have added borders.
Graphic design is definitely harder than it seems to be at face value. Because I stick to things that I'm comfortable with and things that I like, it was hard to break away completely from it and try to make something that someone else would like. When that happens, it's hard to create work of art. That, however, is one of the main points of graphic design. It is to create something for someone else so they can use it. The affect graphic design has on society is monumental. It affects everything from advertisements, logos, and may even stretch as far as commercials.

Student Handbook

I think I had a good concept with the background design, and the idea of the torn paper laying on top of it. However, I do not feel like the two ideas balance out; it feels like they do not fit. I don't feel like I'm very good with graphic design. Thus, I felt like I struggled the most that my "client" would like. I believe that I did a lot better on my Graduation cover, maybe because I related to it more than I could to the Student Handbook covers.