FIRST QUARTER CONTINUES... Abstract Art & Collages

By now you have already learned a lot about the image-editing application, Adobe Photoshop CC. Congratulations! You have done a great job! You have learned the importance of working with layers in Photoshop. With Photoshop you can create original digital artwork, or edit existing images, adding filters, changing colors, adding images or shapes, retouching and enhancing photographs, etc. You can create interesting compositions that can be used in Graphic Design and Web Design. You started to learn how to use "Blending Options" by going to the "Layer Style" window, double-clicking the right side of your layers. You will practice the "Blending Options" more this month, how to use the Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Bevel/Emboss, Gradient Overlay, Pattern Overlay, Stroke, etc. PRACTICE THIS OVER AND OVER!

A reminder: What is Photoshop? It is and extremely powerful application (with a wealth of tools and commands) used to enhance and manipulate photos and create original digital art work. It is also used to touch-up photos and create high quality graphics. You can use it for almost any kind of image editing. Many professional photographers and designers use Photoshop. 

ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LAYERS AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE SELECTING THE RIGHT ONE! Remember that you can change the order of layers, name them and put them in folders. Your Layers' Panel should look organized. This month I will pay more attention to how you are organizing your layers and saving your work in your folders.

You will learn the following vocabulary: Photoshop, Layers, Filters, Copyrights (Ethics & Integrity), Pixels, Megapixel, Miutimegapixels, Resolution, Bitmaps, Interpolation, Pixelated, Picture File, Picture/File Formats (JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF), Compression (and review of terms and Commands learned in September). Abstract Art, Alexander Calder, Juan Gris, Wassily Kandinsky, and Piet Mondrian.

You will also learn: How to use the Magnetic Lasso Tool, the Type Tool (to enter text) and the Custom Shape Tool. How to convert images to Black and White. You will also learn how to create your own patterns to add them to shapes,  backgrounds, and other (images, custom shapes, etc.).  You will practice creating straight lines to imitate Calder's work. 

Layers:

Layers in Photoshop are like individual sheets of clear plastic that are in a stack. When you select a layer in the Layers Palette (or Panel), that layer is "active." Only one layer can be active at a time. The name of the active layer appears in the title bar of the image window. Changes affect only the "active layer" even though you view the whole image in the image window. You may find it useful to hide layers while working in Photoshop. All you have to do is click on the "Visibility Icon" or eye on the left side of the layer. You can also rearrange your layers and change their names. You can also create folders to add groups of layers and organize the Layers Panel better, even add color (to the layers and/or the folders). I want you to start organizing your layers well, so that it becomes easier to find the images and layer contents better. 

Filters (on the Menu Bar):

Filters provide a quick and easy way to change the overall appearance of your image. They are different visual effects that you can apply to your images/photos.

Homework due Monday, October 15: What is Abstract Art? (I need two to three well-written double-spaced paragraphs in Google Docs that you will Share with me about the definition of Abstract Art in YOUR OWN WORDS!). Also: Name at least six abstract artists and their contributions to the Abstract Art Movement (their beliefs, their work, the importance of color, etc.).  Add at least two pieces of their artwork for every artist.

Test: Wednesday, November 7, 2018. This test will include the vocabulary mentioned above, including what are Copyrights and why are they important? Also the homework on Abstract Art - What is Abstract Art? (be able to name at least three abstract artists and mention some of their contributions). Please review the commands too - all of them (by the end of the month you should know all of them). Check Google Classroom for the two PDF's to review for this Test. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Examples of Abstract Art:

 Calder:

 Mondrian:

 My versions:

You will create your own Abstract Art and you will also try to imitate the work of Alexander Calder, Juan Gris, Piet Mondrian, and Wassily Kandinsky. Go to Google Images and check their work for ideas.

You will also create collages, to practice adding different images in a Photoshop Canvas. Please type or write notes to remember important techniques you have already learned and others you will learn in class.