Final Project

I definitely wanted to do some kind of flip book before the project. At first I wanted to base my narrative about a fish. I wanted it to be completely dark. I tried drawing on photoshop and on paper, but I simply can't draw. So I had to come up with something else. My cat was the inspiration for this project as well as the song "Party Rock" by LMFAO. He always tries to interrupt what I'm doing and asks for attention.  He always steps all over my computer and sits on the keyboard. That is when the idea came to my head. If my cat is not stepping all over me, he would be sleeping. He always seems so bored and tired. He sleeps ALOT. So I came up with the idea of him partying every time I leave my apartment. 


I wanted this project to be simple and straight forward. I found the website www.toondoo.com because I wasn't having any luck with photoshop. The website is very user friendly, and really helped me show the ideas in my head. (I wish I can draw) I was a little hesitant at first if I should do this because it's really ridiculous, but I'm glad I did. I created a comic at first, but the boxes were too small. I then created a book (another option from the website) and it's actually pretty cool because you can flip the pages like a normal book. I really liked that effect. I also like how the boxes are bigger and you can see better. I only created four different but similar images. I wanted it to be short and straightforward. The only thing I'm not happy about, is that I was limited to the images I can use. 


Overall, I like how my project turned out. I think it's funny and creative. Maybe kinda childish, but for some reason that's what I think of what comics should be. It definitely portrayed my narrative very well.  I always wonder what my cat is up to when I'm not home. 

Final Project: Brainstorm

I've been really wanting to do a flip book since project 4. I want this final project to have some kind of humor. I want it to be simple. At first I wanted to base my final project about the poor fish that my boyfriend flushed the toilet because it had an infection, but I failed miserably trying to draw on photoshop and on paper. It kinda sucked not being able to draw what I'm imagining. I'm thinking of making either a flip book or a comic for my narrative. I decided to change things up and make my narrative about my cat. I haven't been able to give him much attention lately since I have to move during finals week. I feel really bad about it. I think I'm going to create a narrative about what my cat (Buddy) does when I'm not home. I got my inspiration from the song "Party Rock" by LMFAO. My cat is always sleeping. He is always bored. So I'm thinking of maybe making a set of images where he invites his friends right when I leave. They party hard. And just like every time I get home he will be asleep.  But the humor comes from me not knowing that he is actually exhausted from partying. 

I then found several website where one can create flip books and comics. I've tried several ones, and fortunately I had really good luck with "www.toondoo.com." I don't have much knowledge with photoshop and this website is really user friendly. I really enjoyed making my project. I even played Party Rock while making it. 

Carver Cathedral

I really enjoyed reading this short story. It was very interesting and amusing. I liked how the narrator, even though he wasn't blind, seemed to be the one who was "blind" as he didn't know what to expect about Robert. He was very judgmental in the beginning and jealous of his wife's relationship with Robert. He seemed lost and disconnected with reality. The narrator pitted Robert because he wasn't able to see his wife's face before she died; however, in reality even though the narrator could see wife's face doesn't mean he really "knows" her. Another really interesting part of the story was when the narrator tries to describe what a cathedral is to Robert. He couldn't properly describe it even though he was able to see it on TV. Only after he starts drawing a cathedral with his eyes closed, he was able to understand and truly see for the very first time.  I liked the ending as well because it kinda leaves you guessing.

Project 5

Project 4

Jumper

I chose to be a jumper. If you haven't seen the movie "Jumper," it's sort of like teleportation only a lot faster. I really want to travel the world; sometimes I just want to get away. It would be so liberating and so exciting if I could jump from one place to another! At first, I thought I wanted to be able to control time, but being a jumper is way cooler. "Why settle in one place when you can have the whole world?" I thought of this idea because I am currently commuting to school. I thought that I could be doing something more productive with the time I spend sitting on the bus. I wouldn't need a car, pay for gas or car insurance; I can even sleep in two extra hours every morning! I don't have much photoshop skill so I used the selection brush tool to isolate myself from the first picture, I then pasted multiple pictures of me to another picture (building). I made it look like I'm doing a flip jump by changing the opacity, and I'm quite happy with the outcome. I wanted a nice simple background that's why I chose the second image, but I wish I had other animation skills because I originally had the idea of doing a flip book where you can see the transition.

Project 3

Jellyfish Sky Lantern

I chose jellyfish sky lanterns for my sculpture because I thought it would be the perfect object/s to represent myself to campus. Jellyfish reminds me of how I tend to just go with the flow in life. A jellyfish maybe transparent, but it is very unique and deadly. They glow in the dark and this reminds me of how I manage to find the light even in the depths of darkness or tough times. I chose the Thompson Library because it is where I spend most of my time when I'm on campus. I placed them right in the middle section of the building so that everybody can see it and hopefully remind students that they have an enormous power to do anything they want in life. I specifically chose sky lanterns because it showcases my experimental side; when the lantern is lit, hot air fills up inside and this enables it to rise up, similar to a hot air balloon. I think anybody who sees these lantern will be amazed! I wanted my sculpture to be seen as a "good distraction". Sky lanterns are used in Asian culture specifically during festivals or other special occasions and it brings out warm feelings. I also used jellyfish because I love animals and I have always been fascinated by these creatures. 

Project 2

CAN YOU FIGURE THIS OUT?

The final image is a game. I leave the the audience with clues (words) to figure out how these images describe me. At first, I tried doing a montage, but that did not work too well because it looked way too cluttered and confusing. In the end, I came up with the most visually appealing way to describe my identity. I made each images somewhat the same proportion to each other. I also used both quick selection tool and brush tool to isolate each object from the main picture. I used Text to incorporate words that describes each images. 

The overall image makes me feel somewhat materialistic. My mother gave me hand me downs from my brothers when I was younger, so I think that is why I spoil myself with these things once I was able to afford them. It is so difficult to juggle both full time work and school; therefore, most of the items I captured are things that make my life less stressful like the ipod, tart warmer, and the xbox. I know from experience what it's like to be homeless and freeze in the cold so the feral shelter puts my mind at ease. Life in America is different. Time seems to go by much faster. People are always working and doing something. Majority of the items describe my past and how I see myself in the future. I will always strive for the best in my life. I wish that I had more of sentimental items like pictures or family momentos, but we lost them when a big storm hit our house in the Philippines. If I were to describe the final image in two words I would say it's about cleanliness and relaxation. 

ANSWER:

1.    Xbox: I love owning people on Call of Duty. Not only you can play with other gamers across the world, it’s fun and it relieves stress; i also use it to watch Netflix. My gamer tag is (BluePanda)

2.    Carmex: I’ve tried almost every single type and brand of lip balm. From Burt’s Bee’s, Blistex, ChapStick to Coconut oil and Vaseline you name it. Carmex is the only one that works. (Experimental)

3.    Wristlet: My wristlet carries most my essential items like keys, driver’s license, credit cards, phone. It doesn't restrict my movement. I gave up on purses because they are too bulky and annoying. (Minimalist)

4.    Vacuum: I have pets and need to vacuum my floors everyday. I can’t stand walking on dirty floors. Cleaning helps me relieve stress. (Obsessive Compulsive)

5.    IPod: Music is my best friend. I find it interesting how music can instantly change my mood. My IPod helps me get in the zone. (Pumped up)

6.    Laptop: I love my Mac and will never go back to using windows. It’s durable, portable, and stylish; I even use it more than my phone. What more can I say? (Geek)

7.    Uggs: These are my favorite shoes. I wear them almost everyday in the winter because I will probably never get used to the cold weather. (Cozy)

8.    Baby wipes: Wipes are a necessity. I carry them everywhere I go, and specifically use them when I go to the bathroom. I can’t live without it. (Clean Freak)

9.     Tart warmer: I love my crock-pot. I use it every time I can to make my apartment smell good. I pop different scents depending on my mood and voila! I instantly feel relaxed. (Addicted)

10.  Feral Shelter: I made this insulated feral shelter for a small family of cats (3) that I'm taking care of. My local shelter won't take them and I could not stand watching them freeze outside in the snow. Even though this won't change the world at least to those cats the world has changed. (Animal lover)

Scavenger Hunt

 Asymmetrical Image

Symmetrical Image

Radial Image      

                                                           Person and their surrounding

Person up close

An image from the point of view of an ant

An image from the point of view of a bird

Stable Image

                                                         Unstable image

                                                                      My name on campus

                                                                   

Project 1

What makes my journey to class unique is this detour sign that I pass everyday on my way to school. I see this sign when I go to school everyday and it is what gives me motivation. It reminds me of why I’m going to school. I incorporated pictures of my pets. On the upper left hand corner is a picture of Buddy yawning which sums up what I feel every morning. In the middle is a feral cat that is always happy to see me. There is also a picture of what my first classroom looks like. On the lower right hand is a picture of my stop. There is also a picture of bus #18, and the route I take to the stadium. There is a total of 9 layers where I added a vector mask and used the gradient tool (black/white & foreground to background) to fade each picture into each other. I also used a soft brush tool on the edges of the pictures. 

Week 3

The Accidental Masterpiece 
Michael Kimmelman 
 
The article starts off with Steven Metcalf the author of Slate, critiquing The Accidental Masterpiece by Michael Kimmelman. He's grateful that Kimmelman has made his job easier by writing a "terrific book" as this makes his usual suck-up intro less awkward. I like how Metcalf includes the book's introduction because this gives the reader adequate background about the book. In addition, I enjoyed the series of questions throughout his critique; he properly lays out the book's themes and style.

Week 2

Big Ideas and Art making
Walker

  

I enjoyed reading this article. It is very informative because it starts of as how big ideas relate to art making. Big ideas are basically anything that is broad. Walker states that personal interest plays an important role to an artist's choice of ideas. The article also differentiates between themes and big ideas, to subject matter and big idea. Furthermore, the article mentions an artist named Jennifer Barlett; it talks about how she was able to produce a series of paintings that are both planned and unplanned, with no obvious order or rationality to the style or media yet it depicts the same logic.
 
It is difficult to differentiate the difference between big ideas and themes. I'm not sure if I like systems and rules such as "not be repetitious" (Walker 6).  I feel that this would only constrict the artist from creating a good piece of art. This part is confusing for me because Barlett produced over 200 drawings of the same big idea, In the Garden, which is repetitive?


Interpreting Visual Culture
Terry Barett
  
This article talks about how artists uses connotations and denotations as methods to interpret artwork. Connotation is the positive or negative feeling that is associated with the subject while denotation is "what you literally see" (Barett 11). The article talks about the use of images for advertisement (teddy bears on cereals- kids). After reading the article, I learned that ones interpretation of connotations is affected by his/her own cultural background.
 
The article made me think about how our society makes it difficult to make our own decisions. People succumb to anything that society tells them to; thus, people lose their individuality. Like how sex is used to advertise everything these days. It's like the new "universal language". 

Week 1

The Cheese Monkeys
Chip Kidd
  
Kidd implies, "Everything in between is what should concern you." This is what I like the most about the excerpt. The author uses a unique way of narration. He does a wonderful job entertaining the reader by using words such as, "Host and Virus", "Left to Right", "Big and Small". This enables the audience to relate to the text in a graphical manner. Furthermore, the excerpt contains italicized quotes rather than using quotation marks. This suggest importance and expresses a characters thoughts.
  
Overall, I found the excerpt to be very confusing. I cannot fully understand what the author (Teacher?) was trying to say even with the mental pictures. The text is very unorganized as the author jumps from one theme to another.


The Heresy of Zone Defense
Dave Hickey
  
What I like about the article is how the author passionately talks about basketball. I also like how he explains the relationship between basketball and fine art- how both can be enjoyed even though they are completely different. He explains how basketball is restricted and art is not. Even though basketball is restricted with rules, the players are still able to use their creativity; thus, making the game really enjoyable.
 
It was difficult for me to relate to the excerpt since I have very little knowledge about basketball. I also did not like how Hickey talked about how basketball is better than religion. I am not a religious person myself; however, the way he patronizes basketball is counter productive.

Introduction

"Hello Clarisse." That is the phrase that almost everybody says when they first meet me. I got my name from my mother's favorite thriller movie, The Silence of the Lambs. I'm from the Philippines, and I came to America when I was fourteen. Some of my memorable culture shocks include: large portions of food, fahrenheit, coin values, spoons/forks, biscuits/cookies, football, and Mexican jokes.
   
My hobbies include video games (specifically WOW and COD), fish-keeping, collecting candles, photography, astrology, and baking. I'm majoring in Biology and I plan to attend Vet School. I listen to almost anything except country music. Some of my favorite artists include Gorillaz, Jem, The Beatles, Eminem, Tool, and Portishead. My favorite TV show is The Office; I also like Family Guy and Prison Break. I love rice! My favorite place to eat is at my mom's house. One thing I like about Ohio is the changing seasons. One thing that I absolutely hate is the smell of red bull. My cat's name is buddy and he is my soulmate.