Krystal Aguilar - Typeface Art - Week 7

Krystal Aguilar -Typeface Art
Mestizo Font by Johannes Konig
http://creativeroots.org/2012/08/mestizo-typeface/

                      

                     

The "Mestizo" font illustrated by Johannes Konig particularly appealed to me due to its representation of culture through typographic elements. I was curious how artists could portray culture through typeface and if it was done successfully. Overall, his use of white space within and around the letters makes the form legible, aesthetically pleasing, and incorporates enough balance of the Spaniard and Latin influences. I searched for Mexican typefaces and Konig's work was executed the most, what I felt, truthfully. "Mestizo" is a term used to categorize people of mixed race from Latin American and Spanish parents. I chose Konig's typeface because I recognize myself as Mestiza. I have both Mexican-Native and Spanish ancestors. 

In my findings, I observed how other artists used Native-American patterns and colors. I felt their interpretation was a poor representation of the Mexican culture. On the other hand, Konig's typeface, both in caps lock and lower case, shows exactly what the concept of Mestizo is. If one really thinks about it, it can be offensive, being lumped into an inferior category due to the blood in one's veins. The Spanish were and are, whether subconsciously or deliberately, thought to have finer blood and superior physical features. This can be seen with the bold white lines, forming the letter, just as the Spanish tried forming the government and conquering Mexico. The more flavorful, artistic, wild-yet-ordered shapes that make the other half of the letter are supposed to represent the Latin American blood. Konig chose to use English words of things or ideas that have been infused into the American culture like "Tequila". In his other pieces, he also chose to use the font he created with a backdrop of classic photographs. Those photographs are what he perceived to be ideal-looking Mestizos - his reality.

Teresa Shannon Vector Image 10/02

http://www.chilloutpoint.com/science_and_technology/the-best-digital-vector-artworks-by-cristiano-siqueira.html 

This vector image has many levels of representation.  First it represents a human, most likely a woman because of the small facial features.  It also gives me a feeling of the melding of organic and inorganic elements.  Although this figure looks human-ish there is something manufactured about it, like a human looking robot.  Lastly the way the figure is breaking apart reminds me of digital noise. This element  gives the idea of motion or some sort of violent movement.  These components  come together to make a interesting representation of a human like figure, that communicates and an idea of movement, disintegration, pain and distress to the viewer .

Kristina Ricci

Vector Graphics Research:

http://nosurprises.it/portfolio/abstract-colors-2012/

This image is a representation of Marilyn Monroe in a more current context.  The artist used the iconic Hollywood star as the subject and reinterpreted her picture using abstract pattern and color.  The color scheme was purposely chosen as a revival of colors from the past, furthering its representation of old tastes merged with the new. The patterning is representative of more current trends with the vivid geometric schemes. Placement of the almost unnoticeable heart shape on her face is reiterating our ever-growing love of the star but to me it seems that people are more in love with the ever morphing representation of the star instead of the star herself. 

Week three - research for raster project

For week three I was researching human to animal feelings for my raster project. I wanted something that conveyed feeling "animalistic". I had seen this image some time ago and decided to use it for this week's research. Though it expresses a good feeling (passion), I still feel that it is applicable to my project because it shows how, at times, humans feel animalistic.

link:

http://www.baeditions.com/robert-longo-artwork/robert-longo-strong-in-love.htm

Krystal Aguilar - Vector Graphics and Representation - Week 6

Krystal Aguilar - Vector Graphics and Representation

Charles Williams - Illustrator

http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/car-driver-portraits.html

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Car-Driver-Magazine-Portraits/8336261

These vector images are supposed to represent racecar drivers. I chose these images specifically because of the illustrator, Charles Williams', indirect approach of portraying these thrill-seeking men and their careers.

Charles Williams derived his influence from the men's history, car designs, a steering wheel and other car-racing elements. He also decided to keep one common, representative element - the circle. Williams wanted the portrait to be abstract. Certainly some pieces do invoke a sense of deciphering from spectators. I had to do really absorb and dive into the image to see his representative cues. I found the "wheels" visual for the first image, car in the second, semi-circle and helmet in the third, and the fourth racetrack-like figures.

When I first saw these images I had no idea that they were particularly representing racecar drivers until after I read the article. I think it is more artistic this way but again, does it relay the article's concept - "racecar drivers and what they would do if that wasn't their career". The ambiguity of them not knowing I think relays in their stare or the shapes that make up their stare. I see the paths that loop erratically yet in an orderly fashion. This really embodies who these men are or were - wild but in the same path that we are all in life. Their career is their life. The media only represented the fame and glory of them. The reality is they are built up of different shapes as Williams showed. I discern that we are all in this circle with them and have circles of our own. The circle of a day and the circular pattern of our own self-reflections. We can steer and "go around the track" finding out that we made the same mistake twice, or, asking ourselves, "Am I headed the right way?" All in all, the ambiguous representation of these men has a benefit and that is the ability to relate to the uncommon man.

Week two research - layering

For this week's research I chose this piece by artist Robbie Cavanaugh. He used layering her by taking multiple pictures of the girl with the cameleon in different places, then digitally pieced the cameleons into one picture. I personally like this very much because of the ethereal feel of the entire piece. At first, I thought he had actually appropriated the images of the cameleons but after reading his description of the photo, I realized he actually owns one and took pictures of it. Robbie Cavanaugh is a great photographer in my opinion.

Check him out here: http://sea-of-ice.deviantart.com/
Link to original pic:http://sea-of-ice.deviantart.com/art/unwilling-to-adapt-305451911

Week one research - Challenging truth

When asked to find an image that "challenges the idea of truth in photography" I immediately thought of forced perspective. Forced perspective is when you take a photo at such an angle that the foreground and background seem to be one. Essentially "forcing" the viewer to see something a certain way. These types of photos are very popular right now, and are usually meant to be comical.
I chose this image because I like it. It's a great example of forced perspective because you can see how the woman appears to be drinking the cloud, but of course we know this cannot be the case.

Original site:

http://www.theendearingdesigner.com/20-forced-perspective-photographs-with-clouds