Week Ten

Assignment: We had to color our comic strip using only 2 colors. All slides and pictures needed to be done. We also had another critique.

Craft: Using photoshop I changed the background layer into Layer 0 and created at least one other layer to color the photo.

Composition: I got some good tips during my critique. I plan on adding one more slide with my dog. I want the dog to dispose of the image of the president.

Concept: Really the same as last week. To color the photos I chose red and yellow. The red because it symbolizes death and being a story about an assassin I figured it would be appropriate. I used yellow because it was the original color of the envelope and the yellow on the red really "popped" nicely.

Week 9

Assignment: We had to print out our pictures and then we got into groups to discuss and critique them. We also went to the taste of SXU to ask people there to critique our stories. We had to get four people to read them and comment. That was fun time, wish they would have had more food.
Craft- We were in groups of two or three and we went through and critiqued the stories. I wrote comments on each picture.
Concept- The concept I'm working with is about an assassin getting his next assignment.
Composition-I got some really great feedback. Everyone understood mine. I was told to eliminate two pictures and replace them with a picture that would convey a better message. During the taste of SXU when I asked people to read it they had reacted to the last slide saying, "No Way!" and "Wow".

I'll tease the picture of the title shot.

Lipstick and Dynamite (Speical Edition)

Lipstick and Dynamite is a documentary about Women's wrestling in the 50's and 60's. Directed by Ruth Leitman. Featuring such female wrestlers as the Great Mae Young and the Fabulous .

Each female wrestler told their story and surprisingly many were very similar. I believe the film accomplished everything it was suppose to do. It showed what life was like for women wrestler of that era, some of the individual stories were success stories and others not so much. It also briefly showed how women's wrestling is now and compared to those days it's totally different. Women were not treated equally back then and these women wrestler were tough (they were bad asses)! These women are the reason why women's wrestling is still around. The documentary was entertaining throughout and I really enjoyed it.

Week 8

Assignment: From the stories we wrote about someone traveling, someone waiting and a package we need to to create a type of comic strip, using nine to twelve photos or drawings.

Craft- Well the options are to take photos or to create drawing of the story. I took a some pictures to create my just because I couldn't draw with great detail. We need to tell are story using nine to twelve panels.

Composition- Some photos I took are ready others need some photoshop magic.

Concept- Last week's blog contains the story which is the concept. Now it is just a matter of getting the photos to tell the story.

Week Se7en

The new assignment:

Just before the doors close on the 4:00 bus, a stubby man wearing a navy blue suit leaps on, out of breath. He takes a seat, four rows from the back. With one hand clutching his brown leather briefcase, he wipes his perspiring forehead with the other. It isn’t a particularly warm day for November in Dallas, but he sweats with anxiety knowing he’s on a tight schedule. Everything must be timed perfectly. At 4:21, he gets off at the 63^rd Street stop. He steps off, pauses a moment to pull a manila envelope from his briefcase, his hands shaking. He walks over to the mailbox outside an Italian Restaurant and opens the hatch, as if to drop the mailbox inside, but instead he looks both ways and places it underneath. He stands up sharply. With a short sigh of relief, he fixes his suit jacket and walks away without looking back.

                  Around the corner a man takes one last drag of his cigarette. He walks casually over to the mailbox. He leans over and pulls the envelope from underneath it. He secures it under his left arm and walks three blocks to his apartment off Elm Street. When he gets up the stairs and opens the door, he drops the envelope on his kitchen table, atop a short pile of bills. He pulls the chain to illuminate the single light bulb hanging just above his head. The light catches a small collection of firearms hanging on the wall just past the kitchen. He sits down and carefully opens the envelope to reveal his next assignment: The President

Concept:

The person waiting is the smoking man

The person traveling is the stubby man

The package is the envelope

200 Lincolns

Assignment: Go to the Chicago Art Department to view the 200 Lincolns gallery and get extra credit.

I drove up there with my girl friend to check it out. It was really nice. After seeing all the Lincolns from our class, I was very impressed with most of the others. There were many in which the concepts were Crystal clear. One piece in particular that stood out to me was the one with Lincoln on the cross as Jesus and to his right was Blagojevich. I couldn't make out who was on the left of him but artistically this piece was really well done. If there was one that I didn't care I'd have to say it was this piece where Lincoln was part of a swimsuit calender with shirtless guys. I just felt there were too many images and too much going on. I just didn't really get it. There were so many that were very cool. Here are some pictures of me at the gallery.

week six

Assignment: first draft of our second mash-up
Craft: Continuing with the use of Photoshop. Professor Peck showed us the magic wand feature. I also used the quickmask technique which is very similar.
Composition: For the first draft I just used two of the photos I took. I really liked each photo individually. As far as what the combination said as a concept wasn't clear.
Concept: The concept I had in mind to begin with was "stealing music" or that downloading music is still stealing music. I didn't really know what exactly to do with it so I figured something with music would be the next best thing. Professor Peck gave me some ideas that I'm going to use. I think it's going to turn out great. Wait for a picture and update.