Introduction

This unit was all about reflecting upon and learning new things about yourself. We dived into digital drawing with photoshop art, as well as creating mandalas, and even delving into the professional world of design. I learned about my ability to embrace creativity and patience throughout my work. I am really proud of what I have accomplished throughout the unit, and can’t wait to show you as well!

Mandala

We started out this unit by creating our own hand-drawn mandalas. We used the pen tool as well as different reflection tools to create this artwork.

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My mandala reveal video.

Here is a picture of the final product laser engraved on wood.

If we were to do this assignment again, I would change my colored mandala. I would incorporate fewer colors, but maybe more shades instead. I might also try to make a colored version of my original laser mandala.

With this project, I valued being able to use my Illustrator skills to create some beautiful artwork. I valued learning to be patient with the project since I struggled with what exactly to draw at the beginning of the project. I also valued being able to really delve into the mandala-making experience. It was very peaceful, and let me have fun “getaway” from my other homework assignments.

I learned that I am not afraid to embrace my identity through my artwork. I also learned that I am able to stay patient and stay very detailed in my work in order to achieve the greatest success. In the end, my mandala was very intricately detailed, and I’m proud of the work I have accomplished.

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A comparison of my black and white and my colored mandalas.

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Photoshop Art

These projects all included painting in Photoshop and using different pastel/watercolor brushes.

I really enjoyed this photoshop pastel painting assignment in Digital Media. I was super excited to start working on this because I already enjoy painting, and this made it more interesting since it was done digitally. I enjoyed being able to take my artistic skills and then into a digital art form. When I first started my project, I realized that my picture was incredibly detailed and it would take a long time to finish every small detail. In the end, I was really happy with my work, and I valued being able to keep patient with the artwork because, in the end, it proved to be worth the hard work. I learned that I am persistent, especially in my artistic skills, because I could have given up and started an easier picture to paint, but I stayed with it. I would love to do this project again, as I really enjoyed this experience.

I really enjoyed bringing watercolor to the digital world in this project. I got to explore new brushes and ways to use them differently. One thing I noticed was that details were harder to draw with watercolor brushes since everything overlapped and became darker with more layers. I decided to do more of an abstract art piece than a super detailed one for this exact reason. Overall, I liked watercolor painting more because the effect it gave off was so much cooler, and there are a lot more things you can do with watercolor, for example- layering and the use of colors.

Within the narrative unit, my stories represent different memories in my life. For example, my first photo is a picture I took when going to the beach on a Friday night with my friends. The second one is from my Europe trip in freshman year. And the last one was a really nice flower I saw on a walk around my neighborhood that I decided to take a picture of.

I really enjoyed using filters to create a watercolor effect in Photoshop. It’s a super-easy way to make photography look exactly like an art piece without any drawing talents necessary. Even if still a photo, it adds beauty and artistic interest to the photos.

I can use the techniques I’ve learned in future physical and digital artwork. These things include using different textures, as well as clipping masks, and rendering different filter galleries.

Production Class (Design)

These were the projects we then completed in our design class.

For this art project, we were required to imitate art styles used by the aboriginal Australians. This type of art is based largely on symbols. I chose to use the symbols of people sitting, as well as the air/smoke. The people sitting represent the value of family, which is something that I value most in my life, and this is why I placed it right at the top of the deer’s head. The air/smoke symbol represents my air sign of Gemini. I used the deer to represent Gemini’s spirit animal, fun and intelligent creatures. My art piece is also symmetrical, representing the twin aspect of Geminis. Geminis are represented by the Great Twins, regarded as minor gods, named “The One who has arisen from the Underworld,” and “The Mighty King.”

I began this piece by creating a color scheme on Adobe Color, including reds, oranges, browns, and blues. Nature tones like browns and oranges were commonly used in aboriginal artwork. Next, I drew the outline of the deer, which I knew I was going to put right in the center. Next, I drew dots around the deer to create detail and interest. I then created a new layer to put the people sitting symbol, with dots inside. I then drew dotted outlines of the hands, with a design in the middle. I created a sort of vortex around the hands, and lines connecting them to the deer in the middle. I decided to create a “bridge” between the hands and the deer and drew dots in the middle connecting everything together. Lastly, I drew the Gemini constellation, and the air symbols, without taking up too much negative space. The problem I encountered along the way was that I didn’t have enough visual interest. For this reason, I created small dots all around the piece, including the tan dots on the bottom, and black and red dots around the outline of the deer.

My micro scene is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. In the scene, Alice is drinking the “drink me” vial which makes her shrink in the movie. Next to her, is the Mad hatter. The cake in the background also represents the pastries she eats in the movie which make her grow.

I started out by planning all the props that I would need for this project. I planned to use a cupcake for the ground and mushrooms as plants, as well as mini figurines that would represent the vials and cake. I went on a mission to Michaels to go buy the figurines, and unfortunately, I did not find mushrooms but I replaced them with these orange bulbs to represent trees in the background. Next, I used a lightbox and a backdrop to set up for my scene. I placed the cupcake and all the props on top. At first, I had struggled with finding the correct lighting for the scene, but after trial and error, I finally got it. When I was happy with my shots, I opened up the file in Photoshop. I added a curves layer and adjusted the exposure and saturation until I was satisfied with it.

My PSA is based upon embracing your identity, and for me, a big part of who I am, is my religion, being Jewish. I decided to make my PSA about this. The idea of the PSA is to not be afraid of who you are, even when faced with oppression or discrimination. I hope this influences people to have confidence in embracing and showing who they truly are. I used the colors of blue, because it is commonly associated with the flag of Israel, and also because it complements the yellows and oranges I used elsewhere in the PSA. I used yellows to represent brightness, youth, and happiness. These are the things that will come to you if you are unafraid and confident. The eyes within the mirror are called “evil eyes,” and in Judaitic culture, these are symbols that protect against evil. I used this because it protects the girl in the mirror from the outside world. I also used barbed wire to represent “feeling trapped,” when faced with discrimination and being afraid to embrace who you are. The hamsa is a hand-shaped symbol, is also a representation of protection from evil. Finally, I used the Star of David necklace, which many Jewish people wear each day. The star of David represents heroism and bravery.

I started by envisioning my PSA, I drew sketches in my sketchbook and kept going until I was happy with how it would be set up. I then got out my camera and my model and took pictures of my friend, standing in front of a mirror. I placed this into a Photoshop document and cut out the background, and everything else, besides my friend in real life, and her reflection. I placed this cut out into an Illustrator document and image-traced it as a low fidelity photo. I then image-traced the outline of a mirror and placed it. Next, I drew the necklace, as well as the symbols inside of the mirror. I realized that the background was too boring inside the mirror, so I drew flat shapes inside, and live-painted them with browns from my color scheme. Another challenge I faced was that the background was also too “flat,” so I placed a texture swatch and then applied a photoshop effect to create a “texture” in the background. If I were to do this project again I might consider using a more detailed background and having my subject be a little bigger.

College Essay

Here is a couple of my college essays.

My life changed one morning when everything I loved was taken away from me. My principal stood in front of the class and announced that my best friend had just committed suicide. Suddenly my mind went numb, and my body felt paralyzed. How was this possible? I had just seen Ivanna the day before. Feelings of anger and denial quickly gave way to an overwhelming sense of guilt and depression. I couldn’t help but think if I could have done something to prevent the situation. I started analyzing every instance in our relationship, looking for cues on Ivanna’s mental struggles.

I first met Ivanna in middle school. Over the years, we became inseparable, co-captains of the tennis team, and a fellow member of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. Now, I have to learn to live without her. I learned that the best way to cope with her death was to divert my focus and attention to finding ways to spare others from the similar anguish of such an unimaginable tragedy, especially at such a young age.

I realized that I did not know the true extent of Ivanna’s mental struggles or programs available to help students and young adults. Despite my community’s robust mental health awareness programs, resources are not easily accessible, are challenging to navigate, and frequently require parental involvement. This situation can be complicated and challenging for those dealing with the fear and uncertainty of seeking help.

My generation grew up on social media, and we engage with the world by consuming vast amounts of visual data, which are often very quick and fleeting. I realized that a visually compelling poster or advertisement is a far more effective way of disseminating critical and time-sensitive information in a manner that other educational or informational media cannot provide.

Almost a year later, I enrolled in Freestyle Academy, an alternative, project-based media program offered by my school district. Freestyle provides an innovative campus designed for artistic and technological students to pursue their creative and career ambitions. I took advantage of the skills and values I gained from Freestyle’s Design class to help build a mental health program for students by creating catchy and informative posters.

Redirecting my feelings into a positive outlet, I gained permission from my school administrators to display resource posters in common areas around campus. As I watched students glimpse at my signs in passing, slow down and return to read them, I could tell the message was working. Eventually, my campaign helped encourage a discussion amongst teachers and students alike about the importance of mental health. Observing the results of my work confirmed that creative design can attract attention and deliver a powerful message. Creating media has a physicality: individual lines by themselves might appear mundane and unspectacular, but the way I choose to arrange them makes them meaningful. Whether professional, social, or academic, seeing something up close and personal always catches the eye regardless of the setting.

What emerged from the death of my friend was a sense of purpose and direction because I was able to see how impactful my work can indeed be. As I continue to pursue my interest for the digital arts, I hope to have a positive and meaningful impact on society. Graphic design and digital media have become powerful mediums to educate, create awareness, and encourage conversations over recent generations. I want to learn more about graphic design because of this reason. “Design cannot save the world, but it can make the world worth saving…. The key thing for graphic designers is that we are in a position to change people’s ideas.” – Lou Dorfsman. Design is a medium that connects and enlightens people; its power can be harnessed by changing opinions and evoking responses. And on a deeply personal note, creating art has given me a way to honor and cherish Ivanna’s memory.

2) (ILR)

When I first entered high school, I was exhilarated by the innumerable extracurriculars and activities in
which I could participate. I still remember attending my first meeting for the Model United Nations Club,
and how I was immediately fascinated by the dynamic debates and the authoritative figures that the
students became during them. I knew right away that I wanted to be a part of this organization, and I pictured myself as one of these students – debating vigorously, speaking with confidence, and delivering impressive and influential statements in front of groups of people. I quickly snapped out of this dream, however, when the club leaders discussed the conferences they attend and speak at, which often have up to hundreds of people attending. I began to doubt my abilities to speak in front of large audiences, as just the thought of it made me squirm. I could never have imagined that one day I would have been competing at state and national conferences, arguing my opinions in front of hundreds of people. I was also honored and delighted to be elected president by my fellow delegates, representing my school’s Model UN chapter.
The path to becoming a confident public speaker was not an easy one, and it certainly did not occur
overnight. My preparation included watching other excellent public speakers on TEDTalks, CommonWealth videos, and attending university lectures. Ultimately, the motivation to become an active member of MUN was enough for me to persevere. There was one technique that always worked for me, and I still use it today. I learned that if I was able to control my breathing in the beginning and tune out the crowd by just focusing on one random person in the audience, I could forget that I was speaking to a large group of people. By pretending I was speaking to just this one person, who I knew I would never see again, my nerves were expunged and I was able to speak freely, passionately, and confidently. Eventually, I learned how to focus on multiple people throughout different parts of my speech in order to measure their responses. Facial expressions that signified confusion disclosed to me that I needed to further explain my argument. When I noticed animated expressions and a captivated audience, I knew that I was then successfully delivering my ideas and my confidence continued to flourish. My experiences in Model UN and the leadership skills I have acquired have crafted me into the confident speaker I am today, and I hope these skills will continue to contribute to my success in future career and life goals. Being a leader in Model UN not only helped me gain confidence as an orator but also inspired a passion within me to understand and take a deeper interest in global and public affairs.

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