By using skills previously learnt in Photoshop, I was able to create the image below; merging three images, with a combination of tools to cut, copy and blur, creating coherency and making one image. As I have already done this in previous years, I did not find this exercise to be challenging. Although, some parts were challenging to perfect, particularly around Obama's neck, as I tried to perfectly place the shirt to his floating head with ease. Once this was done, he was rightfully returned back to the American flag where he belongs.

In terms of progress for my Photoshop piece, I am considering creating a collage of portraits drawn in pencil. As silly as it may sound, I would like the piece to almost resemble Mount Rushman, but the portraits would be of refugees, or people who are not recognised to emphasise the concept.

Photoshop will also play a major role in my project when it comes to blurring images, and 'hiding identities' within images, to illustrate how refugees lose their face when making a big move, or fleeing a war-torn country. I have experimented with blurring images in Photoshop previously; with an example below, showing just how I would like the final images to be (where the image has almost lost its meaning or identity because it is so unclear).

SIMILAR TO: Bill Armstrong

Following last week's experimentation with photography, I would like to work with exposure and different types of lighting to distort shapes of objects and bring out features of faces, that wouldn't usually be emphasised without a light source. Brightness on faces, curves around the faces, and shadows of the eyelashes hitting the top of the cheek. These are the things to be emphasised in my final pieces, demonstrating sadness in the individuals' faces.

Snaps. Snaps all around.

The cracking of the eggshell hits your ears and it is hit against the tiles. The rainbows almost look fake as they reflect off the delicate eggshell, covered in ink reading an Arabic quote, 'The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.'

Assignment 3:

My Adobe Illustrator piece will consist of portraits. The portraits will be changed and distorted to create an abstract piece, similar to the pieces created by William Utermohlen, the artist mentioned in my proposal.

I will create the piece using a portrait I have drawn in the past, using pencil. The scanned image will be put into Illustrator and made into a simplified face, as we did in Week Four of class. I will then lay over other shapes and colours to distort the face, and make the face almost unrecognisable. This will assist in linking in the piece with the concept and emphasising the idea of ‘lost identities'. 

Potential drawings to be transformed:

After using Illustrator in week 4 (creating the image below), I would like to use similar techniques to distort the portraits; using colours and changing the lines.

ASSESSMENT 1:

Digital Art Proposal

‘Lost and Found’

The topic of refugees was one of the first things that came to mind when thinking of ‘Lost and Found’. There is no personal connection with asylum seekers but hearing stories of refugees and seeing what has been happening around the world recently, has struck a cord with me. But the topic of ‘Lost Identities’ has a personal connection with me, particularly when referring to deteriorating illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Dementia. By using both the idea of identities, it links the two words together, and shows that both are involuntary reasons, and both have devastating affects.

There are a few books that really stood out relating to asylum seekers, ‘Tears From Kabul by Michael P. Buckley’, ‘The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis’ and ‘The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini’. All three books illustrate the utter desperation and affliction experienced by refugees, who built up the courage to write about their encounters. Later on throughout the creative process, references to the Refugee Council website may be made, to refer to personal stories of refugees.

Turning sadness and suffering into art has always been an interest of mine. The idea of turning something negative into something beautiful is fascinating; the fact that a piece of art can strike a variety emotions in people depending on their interpretation.  This topic has been a major issue and has been in the spotlight for quite some time now, which is why I feel the pieces I create are suitable, and open for people to either like or dislike.

The artwork will be a series of portraits and a video, demonstrating the affects of war, forcing people to seeking asylum. The artwork will stick to a hyperrealism theme, keeping the sensitivity of the concept alive. The first two pieces will look similar to each other; portraits. They will illustrate the concept of masks and how refugees lose their identity when feeing their country of origin. The third piece will either be another portrait of a mask, or two hands gripping onto each other tightly, further highlighting the concept and demonstrating the struggle to let go when leaving their homes. The final piece will be a video, to tie in all the ideas; that although individuals lose their identity when leaving their papers and all their belongings behind, they will always remain true to themselves, and can never truly ‘lose’ themselves.

Since the focus of this concept is on ‘Lost Identities’, the artist I would like to focus on is a man called William Utermohlen. Alzheimer’s disease is never easy to hear, for anyone. He decided to show the affects of the disease through is art, ‘…before his death in 2007, Utermohlen created a heart-wrenching final series of self-portraits over a roughly 5-year period documenting the gradual decay of his mind due to this crippling disease.’ His work inspired me to create pieces that illustrate the affects of suffering, whether it be Alzheimer’s disease or seeking refuge from a war-torn country. The pieces below give you an idea of just how bad the disease is, and how William slowly lost all idea of his identity.

Who are refugees, 2011, Refugee Council, viewed Monday 21 March, <http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/fact-sheets/who-are-refugees/refugee-stories/maturs-story/>

ArtFido 2014, Artist with Alzheimer’s draws self portraits for 5 years until he barely remembers his won face, viewed Monday 21 March, <http://www.artfido.com/blog/artist-with-alzheimers-draws-self-portraits-for-5-years-until-he-barely-remember-his-own-face/>

(missed this week's class)


'Lost and found'. It was can be interpreted in any way people like. The first thing that came to mind when I saw the topic was 'Lost identities'. I immediately thought about people who go through life living a false identity, or even without an identity. Following this thought, I thought, refugees. They come to this country to seek refuge, to live a better life. With utter desperation they give away all their papers, and leave their homes and families, and along with that, themselves.

I thought I would focus on this topic by creating a series of pieces that demonstrate the desperation and heartbreak that comes along with leaving behind everything that ever belonged to you. A series of pieces with faces missing, and people's faces being taken off as if they were masks will be my aim for the semester, particularly in Illustrator and Photoshop. I will also create a video illustrating people's identities being hidden or blurred, with the end of the video either showing their faces, or a reflection of themselves (in a mirror), to portray the idea that, no matter what, one's identity can never truly be lost.


I have begun my research by asking family members on their experiences, no necessarily on seeking refuge, but leaving their countries of origin to migrate here. I have also been watching documentaries on refugees and jotting down ideas of how their touching stories can be transformed to create art.

Click, click, click. 'Ugh!', my frustration overrides my excitement at this point. The control I usually have is gone. The pencil and paper is out, it's time to finally to hit fingers on mouse, and learn this 'Adobe Illustrator' stuff. I begin with the first line, and already it's a mess. It's almost like I'm learning a new language again.

Eventually, after what feels like forever, I finally begin to understand how Illustrator works. With a little bit of confidence, and playing around with a few buttons, the shape of a circle begins to form. I then follow these arrows, first, leading me along a curved line, then different letters. The words and shapes finally looked half-decent! I'm excited for next week, to see what can be done with something more complex, possibly even attempting to draw a portrait as I would normally. 

Examples from today's class:

And as you can tell by the photo below; my frustration got the better of me at the end.