Conceptual

Introduction

Through the conceptual unit, I got the chance to explore my creativity and use it to blend poetry, music, and design together in various projects. I developed my understanding of technical tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition, and a DSLR camera, and I employed them in my projects.

As a Freestyle student, I get to learn many new skills and mediums for digital art. This is especially true for Digital Media where I learned about photo editing, photography, and making music. In English, I was allowed the chance to choose the topics and themes I wanted to write about. I strongly value the freedom that Freestyle gives me to be as creative as I want to be in my projects and assignments.

Haiku

In the Haiku Project, I wrote an original haiku based on this prompt: “I am exploring the feeling of resignation through transcendence.”

As snow melts away,

she bathes Eearth in a memoir.

She guides us beyond.

I then came up with a metaphor that represented my haiku, a white rose in full bloom juxtaposed with a wilted rose, and captured it through photography. I also recorded myself reciting the haiku using a Tascam recorder.

Premiere Pro interface with keyframe and layer panels visible. Preview screen depicts the beginning of the Haiku video and reads "Fleeting Youth; By Dhrithi Vishwa; 9/4/2023" — Premiere Pro interface

To wrap up the project, I used Premiere Pro to create a short video that combined the written haiku, photo, and recording together. I enjoyed picking music to fit the theme of my haiku and utilizing keyframes to make the video interesting. You can watch my haiku video above.

What I enjoyed most about the Haiku Project was the introduction I was given to skills from various subject areas. I learned how to write a haiku, use a Tascam recorder, and use Premiere Pro. I am sure these skills will prove to be useful in the future.

Essay: Why Art?

In the “Why Art?” essay, I had to answer the prompt “Why does art matter?”. To formulate my opinion, I began by developing my understanding of the meaning of art. While visiting the MOMA in San Francisco, I took note of which pieces moved me and why they did so. I learned that my interpretation of a piece and the artist’s artistic choices both come together to give meaning to an artwork. I then read and analyzed articles by theoretical physicist Brian Greene, Columbian artist Doris Salcedo, and art curator and professor Gavin Grindon. Each of the articles touched on the importance of art in a manner that stands relevant to the abilities, backgrounds, and experiences of the authors. After looking at different perspectives on why art matters, I decided to write about the relevance of art in politics and corporations and how it impacts our society.

You can listen to the audio version of my “Why Art?” essay below:

What I liked the most about the “Why Art?” essay was the freedom I was given. I got to research a topic that I am interested in and learn about an artist who shares a perspective on art with me. At the same time, I learned how to analyze artistic choices and their implications. I don’t think I would’ve had the opportunity to write about this specific topic in any other English class, so I am grateful that I got to write about it at Freestyle. I believe this project has helped me grow as a digital artist because I now have a deeper understanding of the meaning of art and the impacts it has on society, and I keep these impacts in mind as I work on my art projects.

Photoshop Blend Modes

In Digital Media, I learned how to utilize blend modes in Photoshop to adjust the brightness and contrast in images. I gained an in-depth understanding of how various blend modes function and the different ways to use them. The blend modes I learned about are Screen, Multiply, and Overlay. I particularly enjoyed learning how to use the “levels” adjustment to blend images to create cool patterns and textures. I can see myself using these Photoshop skills to edit photos I take with my camera and also some of my graphic design projects.

LEFT: Photo of a sole tree in the middle of a valley. The ground is black and rough. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: A brightened version of the photo on the left. Text reads: 60% Screen adjustment to adjust the brightness of the original image.

LEFT: Photo of a dirt path in between various trees and plants. The path is a very dark brown and the plants are green. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: A brightened version of the photo on the left. Text reads: “I added 55% screen blend mode to brighten the image and make details more visible.”

TOP: Photo of a dark, rough ground with small plants and shrubs growing from it. There is a forest in the background. Text reads: “Original.” BOTTOM: A darkened version of the photo on the left. Text reads: “Multiply 80% to make the image less washed out.”

LEFT: Photo of a bouquet of white flowers wrapped in brown paper. There are more bouquets in the background made up of pink flowers. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: A darkened version of the photo on the left. Text reads: “67% multiply to make the flowers clearer and make them stand out more.”

LEFT: Photo of a bouquet of orange, yellow, and white flowers on a wooden table. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: An enhanced version of the photo on the left with adjusted brightness and contrast in specific areas. Text reads: “I used overlay brush strokes to brighten the flowers and darken the wood.”

LEFT: Photo of a white plate with a blue rim containing cherry tomatoes with pesto, mozzarella cheese, and some greens. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: An enhanced version of the photo on the left with adjusted brightness and contrast in specific areas. Text reads: “I added 40% overlay blend mode and used black and white brush strokes to make the food pop out.”

LEFT: Photo of a white building, captured at night time. In front of the building are two small Christmas trees and the building’s front has Christmas lights. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: An edited version of the photo on the left with a pattern on it. Text reads: “I used overlay and a levels adjustment to add a cool nature overlay.”

LEFT: Photo of a giant crown hanging from something in the air at night. The crown is lit up with lights of gold, white, and lilac. In the background is a building with yellow, rectangular windows. MIDDLE: A photo of a window display of small purses and shoes colored silver and pink. The display is holiday-themed with large red bows. An edited version of the photo on the left combined with the photo in the middle. Text reads: “I used overlay blend mode and a levels adjustment layer to make it look like the window display is being projected onto the building.”

LEFT: Photo of a large Tiffany & Co. building, captured at night time. On the front of the building is a giant multi-colored wreath with a Tiffany & Co. sign in the center of it. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: An edited version of the photo on the left. Text reads: “I used 50% multiply blend mode and used black brush strokes to darken the image and highlight the sign and decor on the building.”

LEFT: Photo of a large building, captured at night time. On the front of the building is a large white sign that reads “BABYLON” in black text. Text reads: “Original.” RIGHT: An edited version of the photo on the left. Text reads: “I added 80% screen blend mode to brighten the image.”

Design

In Design, I learned about the Elements of Art and Principles of Design:

Elements of Art

Line, Shape, Color, Form, Texture, Value, Space

Principles of Design

Pattern, Contrast, Emphasis, Balance, Scale, Harmony, Movement, Unity, Variety

I learned to incorporate these elements and principles in multiple Design projects. I also gained experience in using a DSLR camera to take visually artistic photos and learned to use Photoshop to enhance them. Gaining these technical skills has allowed me to spread my wings as a designer and I have been able to use them in many of my projects, both in and out of Freestyle.

Name Photography

In the Name Photography project, I used a DSLR camera to photograph seemingly mundane things outside that resembled letters of my name. This project required me to look at the world through the eyes of an artist to identify things that may look like letters if they were just flipped or rotated 90 degrees. I also edited these photos in Photoshop while keeping value in mind to give my photos just the right amount of contrast.

My name “Dhrithi” in black and white photographs

Pictured above is the Photoshop interface for the letter ‘r.’ Under the “Properties” tab are channels for various colors. To adjust the B&W values of the photo, I had to change the channels. In this specific photo, I found that changing yellows worked best for brightening the white, reds for the gray, and blues for darkening the black. To apply these adjustments to the photograph, I put them on an Adjustment Layer which you can see under the “Layers” tab titled “Black & White 1.”

Conceptual Photo

In the Conceptual Photo project, I used a DSLR camera to create a conceptual art piece through photography. Conceptual art is defined as art wherein “the idea or concept presented by the artist is considered more important than its appearance or execution” (Oxford Languages). For this project, my conceptual art piece had to exemplify the prompt I was given in the Haiku Project: “I am exploring the feeling of resignation through transcendence.”

Photoshop interface for “Puppet and Candle”

Pictured above is the Photoshop interface for my conceptual art piece, “Puppet and “Candle.” Under the “Layers” tab, you can see four different layers above the photo. These are adjustment layers that I used to enhance my photo to my liking. I used the “Exposure” adjustment to expose my image (adjusting light distribution). I used “Curves” to adjust brightness and contrast in relation to color. I also used “Brightness and Contrast” to adjust the brightness and contrast on a more specific level. Finally, I used a photo filter to add orange warmth to my photo.

Through these projects, I grew as a designer, began to think like an artist, and learned technical skills that I will continue to use in future projects. As a Design student, I strongly value the new skills I am constantly being taught. Be it theory or software, I am always learning something new in Design that makes me a better digital artist.