introduction
The Conceptual Unit began with the Question “How can I use unconventional forms to express myself?”
This unit pushed us out of our boundaries by exploring and expressing our ideas through video making, experimental photography, song making, and web production. Our teachers guided every step of the way, by teaching us how to use advanced equipment such as using Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition, Adobe Photoshop, audio recorders, and the DSLR Cameras. With these tools and our creativity with us, we were ready to express ourselves in abstract ways.
art reflection
When we landed in Freestyle Academy, we were greeted by a warming gift: A field trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts. This field trip gave us the opportunity to thoughtfully observe many forms of art, such as sculptures, paintings, and music made by diverse artists. When we found a particular artwork that was appealing, we recorded down our initial thoughts that came to mind, regardless of what the artist’s actual intentions are. Then in English Class, we wrote a short 60 word reflection of our favorite artwork of how it inspired the feeling of awe, in other words, how it affected or changed your perspective of the world. Then, in Digital media, Mr. Florendo taught us the basics of using Adobe Premiere Pro to create our Art Reflection Video based on the reflection we wrote in English class. Through Premiere Pro, we were taught how to use features such as transitions, text effects, zooming effects, voiceovers, key framing, and other adjustments. All together, this project allowed us to express our thoughts of a certain artwork through a narrated video.
Reflection: I valued the technical and electronic skills we learned from this project, as well as the observational skills. By learning how to put this video together, my abilility to use adobe software strenthened as well as my ability to form strong insight from something small. I’ll now be able to carry out this process any time for my entire future artistic career.
music production
parody song introduction
This is the introduction to the Parody Song Project: For this project, we were assigned to create a lighthearted and funny parody either individually or with a partner. I chose to work with one of my good friends, and make a “Sophia the First” intro song parody, and made it about Freestyle.
This was my process of making my Parody Song: First, we brainstormed and drafted lyrics as well as downloaded the instrumental track for the song, to upload to adobe audition. Then, we recorded our final takes in the soundproof recording studios, and pieced everything together once finished.
This is my Artist Statement: Our inspiration for this project was to represent the vast spectrum of opportunities at Freestyle Academy, as well as the emotions and connections formed during our first month there, using the introduction song of Sofia the First. Artistically and technically, we grew by reflecting deeply on our academic experiences and learning Adobe Audition techniques and editing skills. We discovered that we are extremely hopeful about continuing our time at Freestyle Academy and confirmed that we have more technical ability than we initially expected. We struggled with making all the tracks sound smooth and balancing volume levels, but we overcame these challenges with help from classmates and through trial and error. If I could change something about the parody, I would extend the length of the song and add more lyrics by doubling the instrumental intro track. I am most proud of the lyrics in this project because they clearly and nicely fit our inspiration and message. This project taught me to persevere through technological difficulties and stay hopeful and positive about school. It also changed the way I view others, as it made me look deeper into the creative process and appreciate all the work that goes into editing using Adobe Audition.
my parody lyrics
I was a student at Freestyle Academy,
Then I came in touch with Ms. P!
Now I gotta figure out how to use Adobe Light,
So much is going for me!
Up in the campus with my new classmates,
In a school that’s just for creativity
A whole EVO server waiting for me,
I’m so excited to see (the academy)
I’m finding out, what being yelled at’s all about (the academy)
From day to day, I have to lock my phone away (the academy)
It’s gonna start at 9, so get up in line!
Freestyle’s for me!
my parody
behind the scenes
Takeaways: This project taught me how to perservere through technical difficulties, as well as helped me sharpen my editing skills and general adobe knowledge. I’ll be able to take this assignment and use it as an example for how to strive for success when creating future projects.
design
design introduction
In our Design class, we focus primarily on many forms of visually appealing art, through Photography, Illustrations, and much more. To make this happen, we learn the bread and butter of design, which includes but not limited to learning the Color Theory, the Rule of Thirds, the Element of Art and Design. In addition to that, we use professional tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Camera Raw. With these tools and basics on our hands, we are striving towards making effective designs in Freestyle Academy and potentially in the real world.
For the Conceptual Unit in this class, we learned and exercised our ability to apply color theory, photo compositions, and our creativity through experimental and abstract photography. We did this through two main projects: Our Black and White Name Photo, and our Conceptual Self-Portrait. These projects taught me how to visually communicate with the audience in a metaphorical way.
I enjoy being a design student because I get to learn all the strategies that companies and organizations use in the real world to attract a large group of people, such as logos, advertisements, and products. What is fascinating is that design applies to pretty much anything man-made, and that taking Design class in Freestyle will teach me how to accomplish all of what human has designed, but better.
alphabet name photography
For the Black and White Name Photography project, our teacher challenged us to find objects in our surroundings that looked like the letter of our name, without us artificially arranging anything by ourself. This pushed me out of my creative zone, as I had to go on walks to find objects that look like the letters of my name, such as rooftops or unique tree shapes. After taking enough photos, we put them into a contact sheet, chose the best photos, and arranged them in Adobe Photoshop. The final result was my beautiful name photo that you can see below.
conceptual photo
For the Conceptual Project, we were given a challenging task to take an abstract photo based on a statement given by our teacher. The statement was about you, the subject, who is experiencing a particular feeling while completing an action. After we were given this statement, we had to find a couple objects that somewhat represented our given statement, but was not too obvious. This project involved taking hundreds of photos because we had to experiment with different angles, lighting, composition, and arrangements. In the following week after we took our photos, we narrowed down our list of photos until we picked our top best photo to edit and finalize.
artist statement – “I am Exploring the Feeling of Jealousy Through Standing Up for a Friend.”
In my Conceptual Self-Portrait, I chose two objects: a bike to represent jealousy and a leather couch to symbolize standing up for a friend. The bike, positioned in the center of the frame with its top wheel resting on the leather couch cushion, evokes a sense of longing and frustration because it reflects my childhood experience of wanting to ride by feeling incapable, as the bike is not on the ground and ready to ride; its black color stands out against the brighter backdrop, representing the envy I felt as a child when I struggled to ride while others effortlessly cruised by, and its darkness representing the heavy emotions that often accompany jealousy. The brown leather couch, situated in the center, conveys a sense of warmth and support, contrasting the coldness of jealousy, as standing up for a friend is positive. This placement creates a visual connection between the two feelings, suggesting that jealousy can rest on the foundation of friendship. The photograph was shot from a low angle, symbolizing how these emotions feel larger than life at the moment, amplifying their impact. The naturally lit, yet dim room adds an air of self-contemplation, while the bright yellow light streaming through the doorway symbolizes hope and intervention. The angle of the shot, slightly tiled, creates a sense of tension, embodying the emotional turmoil of grappling with jealousy while trying to be there for a friend. This composition illustrates the concept statement by visually narrating the struggle between envy and loyalty, showcasing how these emotions coexist within me.
In the Photoshop process, I learned several key editing techniques that significantly enhanced my final composition. I began by making sure the photo focused on the objects, eliminating distractions and ensuring the viewer’s attention was directed to the bike and couch. Adjusting the hue and saturation of the yellow light helped me deepen the emotional significance of the bike’s color, making the jealousy more implied. Additionally, I tried to reduce noise and grain as much as possible to create a cleaner image, which allowed the details of the leather couch to shine through, symbolizing clarity amidst confusion. I also brightened the overall photograph to ensure the light from the doorway appeared rather inviting than harsh, enhancing the theme of standing up for a friend. By turning the photo into a both large file and a thumbnail, I ensured it was available for different presentation formats. Each of these adjustments contributed to a more powerful visual narrative, reinforcing the complex connection between jealousy and friendship.
