Digital Self Portrait

After nearly completing my Introduction to Digital Media class, looking back I can say that my one of my favorite pieces was one that I completed in Photoshop. My digital self portrait, was the first project we had in Photoshop. I had some experience with Photoshop, but originally took that class to improve upon those skills. I may of been somewhat blind before to not knowing the full extent of that amazing program, and even now I still feel like there is so much more that I can still learn. 

When creating my self portrait, I wanted it to mostly be black and white. I wanted to use the color in a subtle matter, to accent certain parts of images. I took many photos with imagery that may be recognizable to many viewers, and wanted to make them unrecognizable.  I tried to make my eyes the main focus, by repeating them twice. Once on the portrait of my face, and then again in the background but more subtly. I didn't want the second set of eyes to take away from the first. I think my self portrait is successful because I wanted it to come off strong and bold, but subtle at the same time. These characteristics are ones I also share, shy and quite sometimes, and other times opinionated and bold. 

Online Portfolio

Today I just finished my online portfolio in Dreamweaver. My first online portfolio I made was last year, in iWeb. Even though it lacked many design elements, it was still a great learning experience. I learned a lot about a efficient web layout and how to upload my final web site through an ftp:// program. I was just talking to my design professor yesterday, and we looked at my personal identity system; with my letterhead, business card, and envelope. He was saying that I will probably want to redesign it later on, and he was right. I have already redesigned my resume, from 2 months ago, to match the look and feel of my website. After completing my second online portfolio, I already want to redesign that one as well. I think that since being a student, all of my work is a "work in progress." I know that from now, until when I graduate in a year and a half, that my portfolio book, online portfolio, and work will be dramatically different. I just keep learning so many new things, that keeps making me change and grow as a designer. 

www.denicekinney.com

The Incredibles

I recently watched the animated Pixar film, "The Incredibles." After recently learning the basics of creating a simple animation, I found this film to be more astounding that the other times I had watched it before. My character developing for my short animation didn't involve too much time because I was really only thinking about 2D. For the computer animated film, they often use a 3D animation technique. I found this image, and was amazed as to how many creative people they must have involved in the making of a full length computer animated movie. They not only have 2D sketches but also make small sculptors of characters to see how they will look in 3D. They employee over 700 people. They range from sculptors, designers, 3D computer artists, to executives and janitors. 

Flash Animation

It appears that my Flash Animation, is finally coming together. It has taken me about a month to create a 2 minute animation. I am hoping to be able to create another animation later, where I will have more time to make the animation with more detail. I learned so much from just creating a short animation, that I am hoping to have the time to come back to Flash sometime soon.