For my Andy Warhol inspired project, I chose a pair of boots from Thursday Boot Company to represent me. I am an ambassador for Thursday Boot Company and as a Retail major, fashion is something I’ve always loved. I also care a lot about investing in high-quality goods from companies with transparent supply chains. Sustainability in the retail industry is something I’m very passionate about and would like to impact throughout my career, especially in a world driven by fast fashion. Fast fashion is a huge part of popular culture today; it is one driven by consumption where clothing and other apparel items are viewed as disposable. This is closely related to many of the ideas Warhol explored in his consumer-influenced work. I believe that fashion and art are equally reflective of the zeitgeist of a time period. Today, there is a pushback against overconsumption as many young people are beginning to care more about ethical sourcing and corporate social responsibility. The growing popularity of brands such as L.L. Bean, Patagonia, Girlfriend Collective, and Thursdays reflects this shift. I believe that other young people searching for more sustainable and responsible items that are still fashion-forward will connect to the item I have chosen to feature in my work.

Andy Warhol frequently used common items in his artwork to portray larger ideas about American consumption culture. He understood that while art is a part of modern culture, so is advertising, consumer goods, and celebrity. His art stood at the intersection of all of these topics. He took advantage of commercialism and built an identity around it. I believe that his ideas have merit; it is both clever and creative to simultaneously critique a system and take advantage of it. His unique subject matter and production automation paved the way for future art movements such as street art, which have been built around many of the same criticisms and ideas. Being able to create art in nontraditional formats such as Photoshop means that the definition of art is becoming more broad and that more people have access to art creation. I love applied art; I am not skilled at painting or other more traditional mediums. The ability to find creative outlets in areas such as digital art and fashion design has positively impacted my life.

Elements of Art

Line: Lines are narrow separators that extend in a certain direction. They can serve to separate areas of an image or draw the viewer’s eye towards something. In this photo, the angle of the street lines on the wet pavement push the viewer’s eye forward towards the end of the street.

Shape: Shape is the form an object takes in an image. Below, the concrete arch forms a circle from the perspective of the viewer.

 

Color: The pigmentation of the image or objects in the image portrays color. Here, the bright green and yellow of the eggs and avocado against the more dull background draw the viewer’s eye in and emphasize the object of the photo.

Value: The level of light present in different areas of an image can create value. In this example, the bright reflection of the sun on the river water against the darker shadows of the building creates a visually interesting effect.

Form: Form is the sense of dimension in an image. The buildings in the photo below can be seen from multiple sides so that the viewer can tell that they are three dimensional.

Texture: Texture is the ability to tell from an image how an object feels. The fluffy-looking fur in this photo of a dog gives a soft, tangible feeling to the photo.

Space: Different proportions of empty and full areas of a photo can alter the amount of space that is perceived. The wide open space of the blue sky takes up most of the image below, which creates a natural and bright landscape while emphasizing the bridge, which is the main object.

 

Principles of Design

Balance: The inclusion of different components in a visually equal way creates balance. In the photo below, the city and the sky take up about the same percentage of the overall image. Despite the fact that they are very different elements, this allows for a feeling of balance.

Contrast: Contrast is the use of opposing elements (color, shape, ideas, and more) to make a statement in an image. The white text on the black wall in this picture make the message stand out and become the most important part of the scene depicted. This contrast is created by using opposite colors.

Emphasis: Emphasis draws the viewer’s attention to an especially important object or area of a photo. In this example, the background is dull and includes few details. In contrast, the foreground is bright and much more saturated. This makes it obvious that the boots are the focal point.

Movement: A variety of elements can give the perception of motion within a photo, which is movement. The snapshot below contains people mid-stride, so it can be inferred that they are walking through the space. The linear direction of the lights on the ceiling adds to the sense of forward motion here.

Pattern: Patterns are recurring designs throughout an image. The image below contains fabrics with repeating plaid designs in them.

Proportion: Proportion refers to the size that one element appears compared to another. In this example, the person in the foreground is the largest object in the image and many details are visible. The buildings and landscape behind appear much smaller in comparison as a result of the distance portrayed.

Alignment (repetition): The organization of different objects in a linear or repeated manner is known as alignment. The LED hexagon art piece in the photo below create a visually satisfying effect using this principle.

Unity: Combining many elements in a balanced and aesthetically pleasing way creates unity in an image. In the photo below, there are many different details present in the room shown. The colors, shapes, and lighting all balance out these details in a way that feels even and together.

This week, I used different blend modes from six different blend mode families to explore how different effects could be created both with additional layers and duplicate layers of an image.

Normal Blend Modes

Normal (original image)

The above image utilized the Dissolve blend mode. I actually used an image of confetti stars and adjusted the colors so that the dissolve blend would create the look of the stars being stamped on top. The dissolve mode clears certain pixels where an edge is detected, making it great for chalky or starry effects.

Darken Blend Modes

For this image, I used the Darken blend mode family to create a vignette around the photo. I created a duplicate layer of the original image and applied the Linear Burn blend mode. Linear Burn will darken the base color of the image, which can help make a photo such as this one appear as if it was taken at a different time of day. Other darken blend mode edits are below.

Darken

Multiply

Darker Color

Color Burn

Lighten Blend Modes

As seen here, Lighten blending modes can do the opposite. I wanted to contrast the work I did with the Darken family, so I again used a duplicate layer of the original image and ended up using the Screen blending mode to increase the exposure of the photo. This makes the photo look lighter and brings more attention to the subject because lighter areas will be screened lighter without a significant effect on the darker areas. This can also make the photo appear as if it was taken at the brightest time of day. Other lighten blend mode edits are below.

Color Dodge

Linear Dodge

Lighten

Lighter Color

Contrast Blend Modes

I also wanted to experiment with typography and superimposing additional images for this project. I used the Pin Light blend mode from the Contrast family on the top layer to create this image. This blend mode makes all areas that are 50% grey transparent, so I was able to combine the images in a way that played off of the geometry of the second photo. See below for other edits of this image using the different contrast blend modes.

Overlay

Hard Light

Linear Light

Soft Light

Vivid Light

Hard Mix

Comparative Blend Modes

The Subtract Blend mode of the Comparative family on the above image. I wanted to experiment with a number of very different aesthetics on the original image, and I added a layer of a light leak photo to create this dark, burned effect. The Subtract blend mode will examine and compare the colors in both layers, making the photo much darker as it subtracts pixel values. Other comparative blend mode edits are below.

Difference

Exclusion

Divide

Color Blend Modes

I used the Saturation blend mode from the Color family to combine an image of a fence with the original image. This mode will blend elements of the base layer (luminosity and hue) and elements of the new layer (saturation). By adjusting the opacity and selecting an appropriate photo for the new layer, I was able to create a subtle geometric effect and the appearance of a colorful filter on the image. Other saturation blend mode edits, including many with colored gradients, are below.

Hue

Color

Luminosity