Pop Art Celebrity Portraits

Today we are starting a new unit on Pop Art. You will create two projects (one painting and one set of Photoshop prints) featuring a celebrity of your choice.

Today’s essential question: What celebrity will you use for your portrait project? Why?

Project requirements:

• one black and white high contrast portrait with 4-6 shades
  
• a set of four coordinating Photoshop portraits of that celebrity featuring a range of different color schemes
  
• an 11×14 monochromatic acrylic portrait painting of that celebrity using 4-6 shades
  
• a 4-6 shade value scale (using the same paint colors you mixed for your monochromatic painting)

How to Create your cropped, monochromatic high-contrast celebrity portrait

1. Download your celebrity image
   1. Go to images.google.com and search for an image of your celebrity that is larger than 4MP
   2. Click on the image of your choice until you can view it full size. Then right click -> save image as and REMEMBER WHERE YOU SAVED THE IMAGE
2. Open your celebrity photo in Photoshop
   1. Open Photoshop (Click on the Windows icon at the bottom of the screen -> All Programs -> Adobe Master Collection CS5 -> Adobe Photoshop)
3. File -> Open (Select the image you downloaded. You will need to remember where you saved it!)
   
4. Turn the image black & white. (Image -> Mode -> Grayscale).
5. Crop your image.
   1. Select the crop tool. Set the crop tool to 5.5×7 inches. Click and drag the crop tool until the area you want to crop is selected.
   2. Hit enter to crop your image.
      
6. Intensify your shadows & highlights.
   1. Image -> Adjustments -> Levels
      
7. Simplify your image to 4-6 shades.
   1. Layer -> Duplicate Layer
   2. Filter -> Artistic -> Cutout
      
8. Touch up your image so it looks smooth and has a solid color background.
   1. Layer -> Duplicate Layer.
   2. Use the eyedropper tool to select a color, then use the brush tool (with hardness set to 100%) to color over the image and smooth out any awkward spot. The { key will make your brush smaller, and the } key will make your brush larger. You can use the magnifying glass to zoom in on the image.
      
9. Save your file as both a Photoshop (.psd) and a jpg (.jpg).
10. Upload your original image and your cutout image to your blog.
11. Upload your Photoshop (.psd) file to your Google Drive

Today we will:

• Download a high-res celebrity image to work with
• Crop the image so it is 5.5×7 inches
• Alter the image so it is a black and white image with 4-6 shades
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • The original celebrity image
  • Your cropped, monochromatic high-contrast celebrity portrait
  • A paragraph describing why you picked the celebrity, and which colors you plan to you for each part of the project.

Reference Photos & Concept Sketches

Today we will post potential reference photos to our blogs, and then work on our concept sketches for our project.

Here are some examples of bad animal reference photos:

Drawings or paintings

Why they are bad: 1) You should never copy someone else’s artwork 2) Drawing from a drawing or painting becomes like playing a game of telephone. No one draws or paints perfectly, so the image you are working from is already slightly distorted. These imperfections will become even more apparent in your artwork.

Awkwardly cropped images

Why they are bad: You should be able to see the entire animal’s body. If part of the body is missing from the photo, how will you know what it looks like when you draw it in your artwork?

Images taken from an awkward or boring point of view

Why they are bad: These images do not show movement, and will make your design feel boring, or they have been taken from an awkward angle, and it will be hard to tell what your animal is. No one wants to make their animal look like a shapeless blob, but it is hard not to when you start with one of these reference photos:

Good reference photos

Here are some examples of great reference photos. They show the entire animal from a recognizable point of view, and they already contain movement:

Sumatran Orangutan Pongo abelii 1.5 year old baby dangling from tree branch North Sumatra, Indonesia *Critically Endangered *Digitally removed branch in background

 

Concept Sketch

After you have posted your favorite reference photos to your blog and printed them, create a concept sketch on the “Rule of Thirds” paper. This will help make sure you use the rule of thirds to establish a clear focal point. You should sketch your planned animal, background, and border designs. Here is an example of what I am looking for:

Today we will:

• Search for reference photos, post our favorite reference photos to our blogs, and print them
• Create a concept sketch, using the rule of thirds to establish a clear focal point

 

Beyond the Border Project Intro

Today we will start a new project. In this project, we will continue to develop our drawing skills, introduce pen and ink techniques, and introduce colored pencil technique. Here are some examples of finished projects created by previous 9th grade students:

 

Image Credit: Narionna

Image Credit: Lily

Image Credit: Jeff

Image Credit: Caeline

Image Credit: Brianna

Image Credit: Angel

 

Objective: Create a 2D mixed media art piece with colored pencil and black ink pen. The main subject matter (animal or insect of your choice) should extend past the inner rectangle, branching into  the border around it.
The main subject should remain in color, but everything else turns black & white outside the main rectangle.

Project requirements:

• Design fills a 12×16 piece of paper
• Main subject is an animal or insect. Mythical creatures (ie. dragon, phoenix, sphinx, griffin, unicorn) are also acceptable.
• Design contains an inner rectangle. The main subject should “go beyond the border” by extending outside this inner rectangle on at least 3 sides.
• Realistic Coloring:
  • anything within the rectangle will be colored with colored pencil and show realistic shading and texture
  • anything outside the rectangle will be shaded with black ink pen and show realistic shading and texture
  • the main subject (animal or insect) will be colored with colored pencil entirely (regardless of whether it is inside or outside the border) and show realistic shading and texture
• Design shows an understanding of contrast, movement, and emphasis

You must complete the following sketchbook assignments in order to receive your final project paper:

1. See the Shapes. This teaches us how to draw complex animals by first breaking them down into simple shapes.
   
2. Ink Shading Techniques. This teaches us how to create value with black ink pen.
   
3. Colored Pencil Shading Practice. This teaches us how to create realistic value by blending multiple colored pencils.
   
4. Beyond the Border Practice Sketch. This ensures that your project has an interesting, balanced composition that follows the rule of thirds.
   
5. Upload any reference photos to your blog.

 

Student Teacher Introduction: Mr. McIntyre

As today is my first day as a Student Teacher, it is appropriate that I introduce myself and that you reciprocate and introduce yourself to me afterwards. As I consider myself an “Old Fart”, I’ll try to give you my story in a nutshell.

• I was born Gerard Thomas McHugh, Jr, on 23 Oct 1956 in Auburn, NY
• My father was a NY State Trooper that was killed in the line of duty before I was ever born. As such, I have a lot of respect for police officers and I appreciate if any negative comments you have about police officers are kept respectful
• You may call me either Mr McIntyre of Mr Mac. Which ever you are most comfortable remembering
• Mom remarried a Rocket Scientist and Richard adopted my eldest sister and myself then proceeded to have seven more children.
• I am the eldest male of a family of nine. I have one older sister, four younger brothers and three younger sisters.
• I jokingly refer to myself as the dummy of the family because all of my brothers and sisters are very well educated. I have two sisters that are nurses, one brother that is aNuclear Engineer and works for the Secret Service as a 1 Star General equivalent, one brother that is a biomedical engineer, another brother that is a National Hero and was awarded the highest American Medal for helping 87 people out of the Pentagon on 9/11/2001 while it was burning after the airliner crashed into it. He is now down to a quarter of one lung.

• My father took me into his darkroom when I was in fourth grade and I have been interested in photography ever since. I have carried more than one camera for the last forty years
• My family has a strong history of service to country. All five boys and one sister served in one branch of service or the other. We have served in Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and I currently have a niece in the Coast Guard. My daughter, Jenniffer, that was made in Japan, is currently a General Officer’s Aide at the Pentagon and was recently promoted to Master Sergeant.
• I joined the Air Force in Jan 1975 and I retired in Aug of 1999. I have no idea where all the time went so quickly. I was a triathlete and love to swim, bike and run. My bad back has slowed me down but not stopped me. I have lived in Asia, (Japan, Korea, and the Philippines) the Middle East, and all over the United States. My last assignment was in Alaska. It is the most beautiful place I have ever lived in my life.
• I met my wife, Maria, in Altus Oklahoma, in May of 1975, and we were married in May of 1976. We were together 21 years and we have four children and fourteen grandchildren. Maria passed away while we were stationed in Minot , North Dakota in June of 1996. I still love and miss her very much.
• I have been very active in the communities I have lived in and I am a Past President of the Eagle River Elks and the Eagle River Lions Clubs in Eagle River Alaska.
• I installed high end security systems for banks and credit unions all over Alaska. There are only seven roads in Alaska and I have more miles in the air than I can even begin to recount.
• I have been an Alaskan Mountain Man and lived on the side of Bear Mountain in Chugiak, Alaska. I lived next to the Chugach Rain Forest which is the second largest rain forest in the continental United States. The largest is Tongas National Rain Forest in Southwest Alaska.
• My second marriage didn’t work out so, I came back to New York and got two degrees from Buffalo State College. A BFA with a major of Photography and a BA with a major of Art. I am a Jack of All Trades but Master of None. Both were with Cum Laude Honors. I am currently attending RIT to get a Masters of Science for Teachers with a major in Visual Arts. I currently have a 3.78 GPA.
• Now, I will now show you my photography and share a few more stories of some of my travels. Please feel free to raise your hand if you have any questions.
• After I do my slideshow, I would like each of you stand up and to tell me a little bit about yourselves. Then, please fill out and post the personal questionnaire on the blog.
• Thank you for being polite while I am telling you about the “Travels of Mr. McIntyre.”
• Some of my photos are available here

Today we will:

• Learn about Mr. McIntyre, both as an artist and an individual
• Introduce ourselves to Mr. McIntyre by creating a new blog post with the answers to the following questions:
  • Name:
  • Size and Position in family:
  • Favorite sports you participate in:
  • Paste a copy of your favorite art piece here and explain what you like about it:
  • Favorite image (copy and paste here) from Mr. McIntyre’s portfolio and why you like it:
  • Current plans after high school:

Project Requirements: Color Wheel Mandalas

Today’s essential question: How can I create a mandala that balances positive and negative space?

This project will familiarize us with color mixing. For this project, you may choose create your own mandala or work with ONE partner. You may also create your own mandala, but share the paint you have mixed with the other students at your table. This will save both time and paint.

Sample Color Wheel Mandalas:

 

Mandalas: Cultural Significance

A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in the Indian religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. Every mandala contains a center point surrounded by a circle, and a symmetrical design with deep, symbolic meaning. Incorporating various religious symbols and deities, these unique creations represent the universe and are said to heal both the environment and the individuals within it. Read more about the creation of Tibetan sand mandalas.

Project Requirements:

• Color Wheel contains 6 different “pie slices” – one for each of the following colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet
• The “pie slices” should be arranged in rainbow order. For example, the green pie slice should be between the yellow and blue pie slices.
• Each “pie slice” should be divided into 4 sections. These sections will gradually get lighter or darker as you mix tints and shades of the selected color.
• One section of each “pie slice” should contain the original color. If it is very transparent, you can remedy this by mixing in a tiny bit of white (but not enough to make a true tint).
• Mandala shows good craftsmanship – paint is even and smooth. Points will be deducted both for transparent areas and for paint that has been painted on too thick.

Project Steps

1. Design your pie slice. It should be divided into 4 sections. These sections will gradually get lighter or darker as you mix tints and shades of the selected color.
   Then color in the negative space (the space that will remain black on the color wheel) with a black Sharpie.
   Your design will repeat itself 6 times around the circle.
   Here is what my pie slice looked like:
   
2. Trace the circle template on a piece of black poster board.
3. Color the back of the pie slice with chalk, and use the trace and transfer method to transfer the first section of the pie slice onto your circle template.
4. Continue tracing and transferring until the entire circle is filled in with designs.
5. Pick your first color. Mix 2 tints and one shade, and paint the mandala. (Except yellow – it is so light that you will mix one tint and 2 shades.)
6. Repeat step 5 for the remaining colors. Here is what my finished mandala looks like:
   

We will have 6 classes to work on this project. Use your time wisely – by the end of today’s class, you should have designed your pie slice and colored in the negative space with a black Sharpie. Depending on how quickly you work, you may start transferring your design onto the poster board, but if you do not, you should be ready to do so at the start of tomorrow’s class.

New Project: 2 Point Perspective City

For our next project, we will draw a city with pencil in two-point perspective.

Here are some examples created by past 9th grade students:

Image Credit: Lily

Image Credit: Kiera

Image Credit: Francheska

Image Credit: Darla

Image Credit: Brianna

Project Requirements:

• Minimum 6 buildings (at least one of these buildings must be in the background)
• Volume and light established with pencil shading
• Drawing shows an understanding of the following concepts:
  • vanishing point
  • horizon line
  • perspective
  • scale
  • texture
• Each building must have at least 3 types of details. Examples include:
  • windows
  • doors
  • balconies
  • interesting roof line
  • signage
  • brick/wood/stone siding
• Spaces between buildings must be well thought out and include details. Examples include:
  • crumbled brick texture on alleyway
  • cracks in the sidewalk
  • painted street lines
  • grates in the street

You will be graded on the following:

• 1 Point Perspective Packet (10 pts)
• 2 Point Perspective Sketchbook Assignment (10 pts)
• Final 2 Point Perspective Drawing (1o0 pts)

Catch Up Day

 Today we will finish any outstanding assignments. Show Ms. Lawson each time you complete an assignment, then cross your name off the list on the chalkboard for that assignment.

#1 Priority – Photoshop Silhouette

Everyone should upload their FINISHED PSD and PNG files to their Google Drive and share them with Ms. Lawson.

The following people still need to finish their designs:

• Dynasti
• Danny
• Eysha
• Karen
• Jaden
• Carleton
• Keyerra
• Tyrelle
• Sylena
• John

#2 Priority – Self Portrait Drawing

• Dynasti
• Avery
• Kyneisha
• Jamila
• Jaden
• Keyerra
• Tyrelle
• Kevion
• John

#3 Priority – Kitten Photoshop Mini Lesson

Post a PNG of your completed file to your blog in order to receive credit.

• Jamila
• Karen
• Carleton
• Keyerra
• Tyrelle
• Kevion
• John

#4 Priority – Veggie Photoshop Mini Lesson

Post a PNG of your completed file to your blog in order to receive credit.

• Dynasti
• Eysha
• Nea
• Jamila
• Carleton
• Keyerra
• Tyrelle
• Kevion
• John

The following people are all caught up and should begin brainstorming ideas for their 2 point perspective city. You may also ask them for help:

• Omarion
• CJ
• Logan
• Eh Tha
• Hsa Doe

Here is a preview of our next project:

Image Credit: Lily

Image Credit: Kiera

Image Credit: Francheska

Image Credit: Darla

Image Credit: Brianna

 

Using a mask to fill in our background with an image

Today’s essential question: How can I create contrast between the inside of my silhouette and my background?

Today we will use the mask tool to fill in our background with an image.

Next class, we will critique our near-finished projects with a partner, and then spend the rest of the class period finishing our projects and making the changes suggested by the peer critique.

How to Use the Mask Tool

1. Open your project Photoshop file (the one that ends with .psd, NOT .png).
2. Open whatever image you would like to fill the negative space portion of your project.
3. Drag whatever image you would like to fill the negative space portion of your project into the project Photoshop file.
   
4. If it is the wrong orientation (such as my example where it is landscape instead of portrait), rotate the image.
   Edit -> Transform -> Rotate 90 CW (or CCW – your choice)
   
5. Scale it so it fills the screen (Edit -> Free Transform). Remember to hold down the shift key and scale from the corner so you do not distort the proportions of the image. Also, do not make an image much larger – it will pixelate and look blurry when printed.
   
6. In the layers palette on the bottom right side of the screen, click on the eye next to this layer to make it temporarily invisible.
   
7. Click on the layer titled “negative space.” It should turn blue to show it has been selected.
   
8. Your project should now look like this (you may have images inside your silhouette):
   
9. Select the magic wand tool form the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
10. Click on any part of the negative space layer that has been painted. It should now be outlined with dotted lines.
    
11. In the layers palette on the bottom right side of the screen, click on the eye next to this layer to make it invisible.
    Your project should now look like this:
    
12. Now click on the eye space next to the layer that contains the image you want to fill in your background. This will make the layer visible.
    
13. Click on the layer itself to select it. It should turn blue.
    
14. Click on the mask tool at the bottom of the layers palette.
15. This should hide everything but the background area:
    

Today we will:

• Learn how to use the mask tool to fill in our background with an image
• Continue working on our projects
• Save our projects as both as (Photoshop) .psd and .png, upload our Photoshop (.psd) file to our school Google Drives, and create a new blog post with the PNG of our progress

Combining Multiple Images into One Photoshop File

Today’s essential question: How can I create unity throughout my project?

Today we will add the images we have downloaded to the inside of our Photoshop silhouettes. We will need to remove the background from each image.

We will learn how to add images to the background next class. Do not worry about that today.

Make sure your save your project as both a Photoshop (.PSD) file (which you will upload to your Google Drive) and a PNG file (which you will post to your blog). You blog will not let you upload a Photoshop file, and you will not be able to further edit a PNG file, which is why you need to save both versions. No one will finish their project today, but you must post your progress in order to receive participation points. No blog post = 0 participation for the day.

Downloading LARGE Images to Use in Your Project

• Use the steps in this handout to download:
  • 15-20 images (that are larger than 4MP) you can use for the silhouette portion of our project
  • another 3-5 images (that are larger than 4MP) you might use for the background
• Place these images in their own folder in your 890 number
• Upload the folder to your Google Drive

Adding Images into your Silhouette

1. Open your silhouette PHOTOSHOP file (the one that ends in .psd). Your layers palette should look like this:
   
   (If you only have one layer named background, you have mistakenly opened the PNG file. If that is the case, close  that file and open the .psd file.)
2. Now open the first image you would like to drag into your silhouette in Photoshop.
   (File -> Open -> locate where you saved your image and select it)
   Go to the toolbar on the left side of the screen and select the move tool.
3. Now click on the image and “throw” it into your silhouette Photoshop file. Your layers palette should now look like this:
   
4. The image you just dragged should be below the negative space layer and on top of your silhouette layer. Eventually, it will look like the silhouette is filled with a collage of images:
   
5. Scale or rotate the image by going to the top of the screen and selecting “Edit -> free transform. Do not make the image larger, or it will pixelate like the example below:
   
6. Repeat steps until you have placed all your desired images into the silhouette photoshop file.
7. Select the eraser tool and erase the background from each image.  Make sure you are on the correct layer!
8. Save your photoshop file occasionally while you are working on it so you do not lose your work (File -> save)

Saving your file & Posting to your blog

1. Save your Photoshop File (File -> save)
2. Save a version as a PNG (File -> save as -> Select “PNG” as “file type”).
3. Upload the Photoshop file to your Google Drive
4. Create a new blog post with the following:
   1. a png image of your progress. (You will not finish your project today, so I am looking for progress rather than perfection).
   2. a few sentences describing what was easy and what was difficult

Today we will:

• Download 15-20 LARGE images we may want to use in our silhouettes
• Begin dragging the images we downloaded that represent us into our silhouette file
• Remove the background from each image using the eraser or magic wand
• Save our file as both a Photoshop and PNG
• Upload the Photoshop file to our Google Drive
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • PNG of our silhouette progress (no one will finish today)
  • a few sentences describing what was easy and what was difficult

Save

Save

New Project: Symbolic Self-Portrait

Today’s essential question: What are some images that might represent your interests or personality?

Here are some sample projects created by past 9th grade students:

Image Credit: Razia

Image Credit: Natalya

Image Credit: Bayleigh

Image Credit: Lily

Image Credit: Ler Tha

Image Credit: La’ja

Image Credit: Francheska

Image Credit: Darla

Image Credit: Gabe

Project Requirements:

• collage created in Photoshop from at least 10 different images (the more, the better)
• contrast between silhouette & background
• unity throughout the piece
• mastery of layers, paintbrush, and eraser tool in Photoshop demonstrated through high quality craftsmanship

Today we will:

• Trace over the photos we took last class to create silhouettes of ourselves. You can access this photo through your school Google Drive.
• Save our file as both a Photoshop (.psd) and .png.
• Download LARGE images to be used in our project.
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • the png of our silhouette
  • any LARGE images you may use in your project (download at least 20)

Follow these steps to create your silhouette:

Part 1: Saving and Opening the File in Photoshop

1. Log into your school Gmail account. (Username: student # @rcsd121.org; Password: same password you use to log into the school computers.)
2. Click on the squares in the top right corner of the screen and select Drive
   
3. Right click your profile photo and select “Download”
4. Open Photoshop.
5. Open your photo on Photoshop. (File -> Open).

Part 2: Painting your silhouette

1. Create a new layer by clicking on the new layer button at the bottom of the layers palette.
   It is located on the bottom right side on the screen.
   Name this layer “silhouette.” Make sure the silhouette layer is selected. You can tell it is selected if it is blue. Make sure you do this step, or you will paint over your face and forever alter your source photo!
   Your layers palette should now look like this:
   
2. Select the brush tool from the toolbar on the left of the screen. Go to the top of the screen.
   Change the hardness to 100% by dragging the slider all the way to the right.
   
3. Select a color to paint with by double-clicking on the color box on the bottom left side of the screen.
4. Select the magnifying glass from the tool bar and click on your image until you have zoomed in enough to be able to trace over your silhouette.
   If you accidentally zoom in too far, you can zoom back out by going to the menu at the top of the screen, and selecting (View -> Fit on screen).
5. Select the brush tool again. Begin tracing over your silhouette.
   Adjust the brush size as needed:
   Press the right bracket } key to make the brush larger
   Press the left bracket { key to make the brush smaller.
   Once your trace over your entire silhouette, your image should look like this:
   
6. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and press File -> Save to save your progress (or press control + S).

Part 3: Painting your background

1. When you are finished, click on the Background layer in your layer palette, then press the new layer button to create a new layer. Name this layer “negative space.” Make sure the “negative space” layer is selected. You can tell it is selected if it is blue. Make sure you do this step, or you will forever alter your source photo! Your layers palette should now look like this:
   
2. Select a color to paint with by double-clicking on the color box on the bottom left side of the screen. You should pick one that contrasts with your silhouette color.
3. Select the paint bucket tool from the  toolbar on the left side of the screen.
   Click anywhere on your image to paint the background.
   Your image should now look like this:
   
4. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and press File -> Save to save your progress (or press control + S).

Part 4: Cutting the silhouette out of the background

1. Click on the silhouette layer. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and select Layer -> Duplicate layer. Name this layer “silhouette copy.”
2. Click on the original silhouette layer in the layers palette so it turns blue.
   The layers palette should now look like this:
   
3. Go to the menu at the top of the screen and select Layer -> Merge down. This will merge one of the silhouette layers with your negative space layer. Click on this merged layer to select it. It should be blue.
   The layers palette should now look like this:
   
4. Click on the magic wand tool.
   It may be hidden under the quick selection tool. If that is the case, click and hold this quick selection tool until the magic wand tool appears, then select the magic wand tool.
   At the top of the screen, change the tolerance to 10.
   
5. Click the silhouette to select it. Then press control + x to remove the silhouette.
   It will not look like anything has happened. To test whether you have actually deleted the silhouette from the inside of the merged layer, go to the layers palette and click on the eye next to the silhouette layer. This will make the silhouette layer invisible, and you will be able to see what remains on the merged “negative space” layer:
   
   Your silhouette should be cut out of the background like this:
   
6. Go to the layers palette. Drag the “negative space layer” to the top of the screen, and click the eyeball next to the “silhouette copy” layer to make it visible again.
   Your layers palette should now look like this:
   

Part 5: Saving your file

1. Go to the menu at the top of the screen.
2. Select File -> Save to save your final Photoshop file (or press control + S).
3. Then select File -> Save as -> and save your file as a PNG.

Part 6: Downloading LARGE Images to Use in Your Project

• Use the steps in this handout to download:
  • 15-20 images (that are larger than 4MP) you can use for the silhouette portion of our project
  • another 3-5 images (that are larger than 4MP) you might use for the background
• Place these images in their own folder in your 890 number
• Upload the folder to your Google Drive

Today we will:

• Trace over the photos we took last class to create silhouettes of ourselves. You can access this photo through your school Google Drive.
• Save our file as both a Photoshop (.psd) and .png.
• Download LARGE images to be used in our project.
• Create a new blog post with the following:
  • the png of our silhouette
  • any LARGE images you may use in your project (download at least 20)

Save