First assignment

Assignment #1 Portrait Due On January 28th



This lesson is to create and then alter a photographically inspired painting. The reasoning for this is twofold. One, to see what level the student is in their understanding of the digital tools and to see where they are in their ability to create compelling images.

1. From a photo reference( provided) create a digital drawn portrait of the person in the photograph using your digital painting program. there are many chalk and pencil brushes to choose from and try to play around with the opacity as you draw to get transparent effects.
2. On a second layer paint over the sketch using broad strokes and color, try to reproduce the feel of the lighting over the forms of the portrait and create a sense of depth. Try to follow the value and color provided in the original image but bring your own sensibility to it.  ( try using different layer modes to see how the second layer will effect the lower layer.
3. On a third Layer, using reference where needed, alter the original photo to your liking. Tell a story with the image, add color, add design, try whatever you find interesting to say about the person pictured in the portrait.

You can use more layers to alter and adjust your image, but the three images should be different enough to see the difference

Specifications The final art should be 8 x 10 at 300 dpi. I want the three separate separate images as separate jpeg files. The giant tif or PSDs will crash the system. Make certain to save unflattened copies for your own use we will be referencing back to these files later.


A note on "realism:"


I used the term realistic last week and someone groaned. When I say realism, I do not mean photographic realism, but beleiveability. I want an image that has depth, value, tone, a sense of space and volume and form. One that attempts to create a sense of verisimilitude. So when I speak of realism, I do not want simple reproductions of a photograph, but something that feel real and alive.
 

Reference images to follow. If these images aren't of interest, try to find an image with a strong directional main light source and a secondary/reflective lightsource.