Alchemy

Wisdom

Assignment Week 7-Pen/LiveTrace/LivePaint

Part 1: Experiment w/the pen tool. I traced the grasshopper and filled w/a color & transparency so you could see the tracing.
Part 2: Using Live Trace. With a photo of a rudebeckia, I used the paint bucket and eye dropper tool to work with the colors of the flowers petals. I used the direct select to transform the petals by putting in spikes at the tips. I also used the delete anchor point tool along with the convert anchor point tool. I warped the inside of the flower with, Make with warp and then decided to delete the inside entirely. I changed the background using a garphic style and a gradient.
Part 3: Using Live Paint. I again used the photo of the grasshopper.

The World Peace Federation Logo

Week 6 Logo

This is the Logo for The World Peace Federation created in AI using drawing tools and color gradiations.

Winged Migration

Winged Migration

Creating Perspective; After selecting the moth I then created multiple images giving them all their own layer. I had fun changing their sizes and using the transform tools and free transform.
The warp tool was especially helpful so all the moths didn't have the exact same appearance and I could played around with the illusion of changing their wings and direction of flight. I then attempted to create the illusion of a mini moth migration and made their sizes get smaller and changed their opacities as they flew to the background.

Neon Moth Migration

Week 5 Glazes

With my new selection, the moth, I played around with creating new layers for each one to give them each a unique look and give me the opportunity to get more familiar the tools in Photoshop and how to change colors with a selection using new layers.

Experimenting with Text

Well, it is definitely taking me more than three hours but the good news is I discovered some things about text. I am grateful for 2MPT and their tutorial on Text as it helped me a great deal.
Anyway, this first photo I had to change a few things. There is a sign under The World Flag that said Guatemala. Since I extracted the Guatemala flag and replaced it with the World Flag I now had to change the sign. So with a few layers the new sign reads now reads The World Flag.I also had to replace the mini Guatemala flag on the sign with a mini BLU Flag.
I then lightened the dark shadow of the flag and proceeded to add text. I created a circular path for; World Flag Flys in Philadelphia, and a straight path for; March 2007. I created layer styles and added a darker stroke, gradient overlay, color overlay, satin, texture, and outerglow. I felt it really let the text pop and gave it some added dimension. I picked this photo as I am really enjoying seeing The BLU Flag fly all over Philadelphia. When I first had the vision to create the flag I was shown the flag flying all over the world. So this is a great start.

World Flags showing up in the desert

In this image I decided to redden the door and window to brighten up the photo. I then thought it would be fun to extract a couple of World Flags to add to the photo. I found a photo of a girl walking with an Earth Flag while researching images on the web and the other I had of the BLU Flag. I thought it was funny to see a girl walking through the desert with a flagpole while glancing over to see the other world flag. I also lightened up BLU as it was much darker then the other flag and I wanted to depict them as equal. I had fun with this one.

Brightened BLU

In the first image, I decided to brighten up BLU and the sky. The sky because it was dusk when the photo was taken and it was a bit dark and BLU as that is the highlight of the photo.

First Attempt

This is the first attempt. I played around with the extraction tool, fills, colors & textures.
Was a bit overwhelmed this week as I earnestly attempted to navigate around Photoshop for the first time and become familiar with the program in order to complete the assignment. Didn't have PS on my computer so I spent a lot of time in the lab @Moore. Happy to say I now have Photoshop on my home computer.

Rocky at the Art Museum

After taking some photographs of the flags on JFK Blvd. the other day to use in Photoshop, I realized while working with this particular photo that I inadvertantly captured a man posing as Rocky for a 'friend' that looks like he may be taken his picture. I thought that was really cool and I wanted to have the image of 'Rocky' stand out more in the photograph.

So I used the photograph, "The BLU Flag Flying High" the one where I extracted a flag flying in front of the Art Museum and replaced it with the BLU flag. Then following the 2MPT #24; Hand Coloring tutorial, hand colored the man, his friend and the wall behind him to have the image stand out. I also, thought if I extracted all the colors from the photo that would help. So I followed the 2MPT# 2; Converting Color Photo to Black and White.
I decided that having only The BLU Flag and 'Rocky' colored would highlight two images that reflect true champions of the world. Again, the power of universally recognized images that are truly uplifting.

BLU Flag Flying High

In this image I used the extraction tool; extracting two flags from JFK Boulevard and two BLU flags from other photographs I had taken. I then 'placed' the two BLU flags into the JFK photograph.
I love seeing BLU flying high at the Art Museum. It reminds me of the power of a Universally recognized flag.
I believe a World Flag symbolizing the unlimited possibilities of a global community living in the freedom of harmony and peace, one that includes Earth in its representation expands world consciousness.
This expansion of consciousness raises our awareness of being citizens of Earth and as we remember our deep connection and the interconnectedness we share with one another, the world over, we broaden our sense of stewardship beyond the borders of our families, communities and respected countries into the Earth community as One.

Peacekeepers of Horace Mann with BLU

Peace Flag created for Horace Mann Elementary School

BLU, A World Flag

Research Project/Universal Flags

I am choosing to research Flags that are Universal and non-political in nature. Flags that encourage or symbolize Global Peace and Freedom for the entire Global Community.

I am interested in this type of flag because in 2002, I created a World/Universal Flag, which took thirteen years to make. It's name is BLU, an acronym for B~being L~love U~universally. BLU is a flag symbolizing Universal Love, Peace, Freedom, and Equality for ALL citizens of Earth and a flag that includes Earth and the Natural World in its representation.
I believe there must be other people on this planet who felt the same calling and I am interested in seeing other creations of this type of flag.

Part III Assignment

I purchased a thumb drive today after some research. I also signed up for mac.com as I found out I could also store 1GB on that site among other things I felt would be useful. A file folder was created on the thumb drive and a text doc in the file folder. Navigated some more on delicious, took a look at some other blogs and tagged a few websites that interested me, especially sites on color for some reason.

I also got a external hard drive as I have so much on my computer. So, I will use this weekend to organize and place my files on it,finally cleaning up the computer/desktop.
Been working with the short cuts and do find it easier, just now it takes more time to remember and many times to look them up in my notes. Know it will help in the long run.

Whew, finally set up!

The day started with trying to do everything in safari and we used firefox last night. So, I decided to download firefox so it all would be recognizable to what we did last night. I then downloaded Delicious and was delightful to see a screen that resembled last nights in class. I then looked into Delicious and found a website I was personally interested in and included it in my bookmarks.

Going over my notes, I realized I sent Lena duplicate delicious accounts instead of my delicious and blog account. I then realized I couldn't get into my blog account. So after reading over everything I now figured out how to get in there to post my
first official blog.
It was amazing to relearn getting around the computer with the shortcuts. I know it will be easier in the long run, it just took longer today to go back to my notes and remember what keys to use.
It feels a bit like learning a foreign language.

What I would like to get out of the class is to be efficient on MAC,and using it as a creative tool. To become familiar with graphic software programs; Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator. And if we have time, I would love to learn about video, sound and animation. I would like to understand enough that when I come upon an obstacle, I can quickly and effectively move through it using help. And that I have a working vocabulary in regards to all aspects of the computer and its uses. Rather then spend time on a research project, I would rather spend more time on the different software programs.I would love to professionally take my many projects and ideas to the next level.

Well, I have used help with Blogspot, and 'spotlight' to find things, like the dictionary, that I now have in my dock along with firefox. I was choosing to use shortcuts as much as possible. It really is easier using firefox then safari with the shortcuts given in class. I do miss the familiarity of Safari.