1st process step:
In class, we learned about one point and two points perspectives. We were told to sketch out a set of still life in front of us with charcoal. We had to make the sketch black and white according to the brightness of the light, with some alternations of the structure if needed. The above image shows the way I interpreted the still life, I also added a block of black shadow behind the still life on the top left corner to balance the positive and negative space. Then I put my drawing into photoshop to clean up the spots I didn’t like, I also got rid of some of the yellow tints the paper had and refined the lines and edges.
2nd process step:
After putting the still life I drew onto photoshop, I tried using lines as guides to further correct my perspectives. Then, with the more accurate guides, I created another layer and used different shades of grey to create a digital version of the same still life. This time with more dimensions.
3rd process step:
This is pretty much the final step, with the knowledge I learned from class about photoshop, I incorporated different textures, pictures I took, into one of the still lives. I tried experimenting with different effects and opacities to make the texture more interesting. It was an enjoyable process.
Reflection:
This project was a very good practice and review of my previous photoshop knowledge. I also learned many new skills through this project. Especially the usage of masking and how important it is. The project involves a variety of different tools and skills, I had to not only pay close attention to the perspective drawing at the beginning stage but also be very careful and accurate with the later steps in remaking the still lives in photoshop. I learned a lot about perspectives, lighting and the usage of different shades of grey. The importance of accuracy and the amount of differences a small block of black can make in terms of the whole structure of a piece of work. How to manipulate different shades of grey to create dimensions.
It was also very fun to experiment with different tools in photoshop. Incorporating photos I took with the still lives and messing around with different effects and opacities. I think it is an essential ability for the future if I want to look into interior design or fashion design.
It was a hard and complicated process, getting the proportions and perspectives right were very difficult let alone using one of the most annoying tools, charcoal, which gets smudged easily. The process of putting the drawing onto photoshop and correcting the perspectives with pulling guiding lines was also a huge headache, however, seeing the final result is very satisfying.
Final Product:
This is the final product, it consists of the three textures I have chosen out the 35 pictures I took in the streets of New York. A raw image of my charcoal drawing of the still lives, a digital copy of the drawing and a textured version of the digital still lives.
