SURREALISM
Surrealism is a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature, which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind. Works of surrealism visually feature the element of surprise and unexpected juxtaposition; however, surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical ideas and the real functioning of thought.
Surrealism, the Amazing Art of Dreams
History of Surrealism
With Photoshop you can create any surreal image, please explore the art of
Uli Staiger
Ben Goossens
Erik Johansson
Maggie Taylor
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Using two or more images, create a masterpiece where a main object is very out of scale (either very big, or very small). But remember, it is not just an unusual scale juxtaposition, you have to express some idea with your work, conscious or unconscious (that you are rather feel, than explain logically).
1. Make the pencil sketches with your 3 different ideas (we will analyze them and then choose one to work further)
2. Create the final project of your art piece using all your Photoshop skills and knowledge of the techniques and tricks to make it perfect and on professional level.
You will use all Photoshop tools that you know (and do not know, but have to learn)
Important: make sure that an image doesn’t look as cut with scissors from another picture; it should be positioned organically into the surrounding background. Make sure that the light sores are from one side, also work on realistic shadows. Use light and value to create subtleties, applying Chiaroscuro and Sfumato (down the page).
Note: For this project you can use the photos/images of your choice. Look for high resolution photos under FREE IMAGES on your RESOURCES page or just google them.
Students examples:
Squirrel
Little Man
Bird
Moon Man
CHIAROSCURO and SFUMATO
To implement an object into the setting realistically and organically (so nobody would see that the object was cut in Photoshop "with scissors") , you have to know and apply such techniques as Chiaroscuro and Sfumato:
Chiaroscuro
An element in art, chiaroscuro (Italian for light/dark) is defined as a bold contrast between light and dark. A certain amount of chiaroscuro is the effect of light modeling in painting, where three-dimensional volume is suggested by highlights and shadow,
The technique requires a skilled knowledge of the perspective, the physical effects of light on surfaces, the shadows. Chiaroscuro defines objects without a contouring line, but only by the contrast between the colors of the object and of the background.
One of the best examples of a chiaroscuro painting is the Virgin of the Rocks http://uploads2.wikiart.org/images/leonardo-da-vinci/the-virgin-of-the-rocks.jpg
This site will help you to understand better what chiaroscuro is: http://webexhibits.org/colorart/vinci.html
Sfumato
Sfumato is a term used by Leonardo da Vinci - a painting technique which refers to the blending of colors or tones, so subtly that there is no perceptible transition. Sfumato is applied to create perceptions of depth, volume and form.
In Italian Sfumato means "blended" with connotations of "smoky" and is derived from the Italian word fumo meaning 'smoke'. Leonardo described Sfumato as 'without lines or borders, in the manner of smoke or beyond the focus plane.
One of the best examples of a Sfumato painting is the Mona Lisa
Another one is Raphael, La Donna Velata. You will not find any sharp line there, only subtle transition of an object to a background