“How can I use unconventional forms to express myself?”
During my time in the conceptual unit, I’ve learned various tools that support my growing mindset with becoming an artist, such as using technology like the Tascam Audio Recorders used in my Art Reflection video when talking about my connections to an artwork. But that’s only one of them, I’ve learned tips and trick through adobe premiere pro, DSLR cameras, and wordpress itself to better educate myself so I can create even more beautiful and meaningful artworks to me.
My time at Freestyle Academy within this first quarter has been quite impactful in my life. This place has provided me with more creative opportunities I wouldn’t have received in any of my other high-school classes. English has helped me try to challenge myself when diving into the deeper meaning behind things, and gives me more creative variety suited for me. Digital Media has provided me with such tools and helpful information that I not only can use in class, but outside in the world too.
Art Reflection
The Art Reflection Video was our first given project of the year within English and Digital Media. In the assignment, we were given the task to explore the SF Museum of Modern Arts (SFMOMA) and find a piece that catches our eye, ‘speaks to us.’ I ended up finding a specific and quite extravagant artwork. In English, our teacher had us use that photo we took at the museum and write about it based on our notes we had previously taken. After a few edits, we took that short writing and went to Digital Media, recording it and using Adobe tools, putting it all together in one video.
Parody Introduction
During the parody project, it was a really rough process at first. I didn’t have any ideas at the beginning until I reached out to one of my friends in the other classes, thankfully she and I managed to team up and work together. Eventually we came up with something between two people during a break-in, the owner, and the robber. Lyric making was challenging, having to make it fit, and recording at different times since we weren’t in the same classes.
In this parody, my friend Jaidyn and I, created it based on somebody breaking into “her” house using “Baby Hotline” by Jack Stauber. We produced a duet between us and I acted like an intruder and Jaidyn was the person getting their house broken into. It’s important to understand that I didn’t choose how the song is going to play out. Me and Jaidyn just agreed on what we were going on doing. One big thing I would change about the song would be making it a lot louder on my part. Next time I’d definitely try to change the volume my voice is at for the song, as the difference between my partner and I is very noticeable. I learned that making a song is pretty hard. This parody is a reflection of my creativity with writing song lyrics and using my voice to sing a song. Taking the time to fit changed lyrics in an already created song was more difficult than I expected, so it really makes you realize how much work others do to make their own parodies. Technically, it was both interesting yet a struggle to use as there were so many different editing buttons and systems to use during the parody. One I’ve learned to use is definitely the razor tool to cut off unwanted pieces of the vocals or songs in order to fit it together properly. Along with the fades between different uses of audios. Fading was something I learned was really important through recordings so that everything comes in and out smoothly, and not straight away where it doesn’t fit.
Parody Lyrics
Richardson’s household! You’re inside my home? Heart flat-line I’m feeling dead right now! What am I cooking? My fist to your face if I hear your boots in my living room Don’t come any closer!
I contend that your front door was wide open, I insist that I’m not here, and my heart’s hoping Wishing that my boots won’t creak, and i hate on going Someday I will go back inside and see her, okay!
[Break]
(Hotline) Caught up and gotta fold (-old, huh?) (Hotline) My sign is time to go (oh oh oh) (Hotline) Caught up and gotta fold (-o-o-old) (Hotline) (No, uh, I’ll try again though) – Theft Hotline I need some help out here! No help on Then what’s the point of this!? Eating lunch now and smelled the robber Oh when I get my hands on them I can’t hold back now, I gotta keep myself safe, safe! I swear that I had left my door closed and now it’s open
I insist that someone is in my home And I hate thinking Wishing that the cameras I set up worked And I hate checking Someday I’ll catch that thief in cuffs and press charges, okay
(I’ve got you now!) (Now, oh) (I’ve got you now!) (Now, oh) (Hotline) Strung up and on my floor! (Hotline) My smile is getting wide! (Hotline) Hands up and sent away! (Hotline)
Trapped, I’ve been sneaking with stealth and I’m realizing now it’s a terrible wealth I feel trapped, I’ve been sneaking with stealth And I’m realizing now it’s a terrible wealth I feel trapped, Ive been sneaking with stealth And I’m realizing now it’s a terrible wealth I feel trapped, I’ve been sneaking with stealth And I’m realizing now it’s a terrible wealth I feel trapped
What a shame What a shame What a shame
Animation
As an animation student at Freestyle, I’ve learned the history of how it was made, and how it’s evolved over the years. At the beginning of the year, we learned the basic motions of animation, also known as the 12 principals. I enjoy the class as I really get to experience what many other animators have to work with in their daily lives. And knowing that creating animations aren’t easy, I value the work put into it, to make it into something other people will eventually be able to see and appreciate.
As our first assignment in the class, we had to make an animation strip with 12 frames. We’d use two strips, one as a sketch to mark our progress, having to switch between both, with one as the final product with color added. Once finished, we’d put it in a Praxinoscope, which would spin in a circular motion, showing the animated strip.
Along with our Praxinoscope project, we had to create another paper animation, a Zoetrope. This time it would use about 16 frames, the shape of the object being a circle. Unlike the praxinoscope, the zoetrope would be mixed together, filling most of the blank space and having open and obvious shapes so when it spins, you’d be able to see what’s moving.
Flipbooks
In this animation, it follows an Axolotl walking around until it gets swept by the waves and into the ocean.
Stop Motions
We had to make two different stop motion animations, a paper cutout and an object animation. Each individual piece is moved one by one slowly, capturing each frame using a DSLR camera along with an application Dragonframe. Using the onion-skin technique, we were able to match up the past movements with the next to keep it smooth.
I decided to make a stop motion about Kirby flying on his star in the sky.I used a simple monster high lego character and a dog figure for my object stop motion animation. Having to move and capture every frame of the characters.
