New Project: Proportion Distortion

Today’s essential question: How can I use scale to make a person look larger or smaller than life using Pixlr?

Scale relates to the size of an object when compared with the size of the space in which it is located.

Featured Artist: Slinkachu

Slinkachu is a London-based artist who creates small-scale Street Art installations and photographs them. He places miniature figurines around London, photographs them, and then leaves them on the street.

Here are some examples of his work:

Proportion Distortion Assignment

Over the next two classes, we will use the Pixlr app to create TWO artworks using the SAME person. One artwork will depict the person as larger than life. The other artwork will depict the person as smaller than life. Here is an example of what I’m looking for. Notice how I used the same picture of JuiceWrld for both collages, but used drastically different scales in each collage:

Today we will:

• Use the Pixlr app to create TWO artworks using the SAME person
  • one artwork will depict the person as larger than life
  • the other artwork will depict the person as smaller than life
  • each artwork should be created from a minimum of 3 different images (person, background, and bonus image)
• Submit a Doc to Google Classroom with today’s progress. Include:
  • the original images you started with
  • the final collages OR a screen shot or your progress
  • a few sentences describing what was easy and what was difficult.

Pixlr Steps: Dress Up Animal Digital Collage

Today’s essential question: How can I use the Pixlr app to create a digital collage?

Today we will dress up an animal using the free app Pixlr. We will combine a MINIMUM of 3 images – an animal of your choice and at least 2 accessories. If you are a fast worker, try to add more!

How to create a digital collage in Pixlr

1. Go to Pixlr.com and select Pixlr E. Click “Create New”
   
2. Create a new file. Select Instagram 1080 x 1080 px.
   
3. Name your file
   
4. Import the first image you would like to use in your collage by pressing the “+” button on the right side of the screen near the layers palette. Then select “Image” as the type of layer you’d like to add:
   
5. Transform the size of your object or rotate it. Edit -> Free Transform
   DO NOT MAKE IMAGES LARGER! This will make them blurry and pixelated!
   
6. Use the move tool to drag objects around the canvas
7. Use the eraser tool to erase the background around an image. Or if you have a solid colored background that contrasts with your subject, you can try using the magic wand to remove the background (click with the magic wand on the part of the background you want to remove, then go to the top of the screen and click Edit -> Cut).
8. If you want to create multiples of the same object, duplicate your layer as many times as you need to. Pixlr will place the duplicated layer directly on top of the original layer, so you will need to move the duplicated layer to see it:
   
9. If you want to, Pixlr makes it easy to flip images horizontally or vertically:
   
   (Edit -> Transform -> Flip Horizontal OR Flip Vertical)
   
10. Save your image as a PNG and post your progress to your blog.

Today we will:

• Create a digital collage of a dressed up animal using the free app Pixlr. The collage should include the following items:
  • an animal of your choice
  • at least two accessories
  • realistic scale (animal and accessories are appropriately proportioned)
  • good craftsmanship (backgrounds have been neatly removed, no pixelation)
• Turn our collage in via Google Classroom, along with a few sentences describing what was easy or difficult about the process

New Project: 2020 Time Capsule Flat Lay Photo

Today’s essential question: How can I use negative space and alignment/proximity to create an attractive flay lay photo of a 2020 time capsule?

Part 1: Create a Flat Lay Photo of a 2020 Time Capsule

• Collect AT LEAST 5 items that you feel represent your experience right now.
• Arrange them in a visually pleasing way on top of a non-distracting background. Pay attention to the negative space between the objects, and the alignment/proximity of the objects (how are the objects lined up or grouped?) Stand directly over the arrangement and photograph it shooting straight down. You may need to try photographing your arrangement in a few different locations to get ideal lighting and background. Some simple backgrounds that could work well include a driveway or sidewalk, grass, or a solid color sheet or blanket.

Bad Example (What NOT to Do):

Problems with this image:

• Awkward angle (not taken from directly over the objects pointing straight down)
• Object layout looks thrown together and sloppy
• Too much negative space around the objects 
• Not enough objects to tell a meaningful story
• Distracting background
• Poor lighting

Good Example

Analysis of Why this Image Looks Good

• Good angle (taken from directly over the objects pointing straight down)
• Objects are carefully arranged in a visually pleasing way
• Has enough objects to tell a meaningful story
• Plain background adds to the image instead of distracting the viewer
• Good lighting

More Examples of Great 2020 Time Capsules

 

Part 2: Write an Artist Statement

Submit an artist statement of at least 150 words to go along with your time capsule. It should be written in paragraph form and answer the following questions:

• What objects have you selected for your time capsule?
• Why did you pick these objects?
• On what date will the time capsule be opened? 
• What is special about this date? 
• What do think Rochester will be like then? 
• How do you think the people of the future will react to the items in the time capsule?

Today we will:

• Use negative space and alignment/proximity to create an attractive flay lay photo of a 2020 time capsule
• Write an artist statement of at least 150 words to go along with your time capsule. It should be written in paragraph form and answer the questions in this blog post
• Submit BOTH the photograph and the artist statement in Google Classroom