This project requires students to create a digital painting using Photoshop techniques that conveys the emotional feeling of a musical piece without using any text or images of the musicians. Students must apply layer masks, digital painting, and selections to blend images together in a 8x10 inch CMYK image at 200 ppi. The painting should embody the emotions felt when listening to the song through the use of color, composition, and brush techniques. Students must submit a minimum two-page typed description explaining how their work fulfills the requirements and objectives of the project, including how it relates to the chosen song.

1. In this project you will apply your digital painting and layer
masking skills to a song or musical composition. The idea is to
produce a complex digital image that provides an
impression
of that song – i.e., no pictures of singers or band members
allowed. The finished piece should embody the emotions this
particular song invokes when a person hears it – which may or
may not have a direct correlation to the song’s lyrics, assuming
there are any. In your artist statement, you will need to provide
a link to that song so others can refer to it and visualize the
connection
. Layer masks, digital painting techniques, and making and
saving selections are key elements of this project. The end
result should be something artistic and compelling, something
that makes the viewer take pause to study your design and
investigate its multitude of details. No text is allowed in this
project, so your message and its connection to the musical piece
you've selected must be conveyed solely through the digital
imaging techniques you utilize. Do not be too literal with the
lyrics of the song as it's the emotional feeling of the piece that
you're trying to convey. Bear in mind
this
project is about creating a digital painting (
using mixer brushes
and custom brushes and
layer masks and o
ther Photoshop techniques you've
le
arned
so
far)
that is
an emotive piece of digital
art that

2. communicates
a feeling
. Of warmth. Of sadness. Of jubilation. Of peace. Etc.
The emotional feeling that
overcomes you,
the listener,
upon hearing
this
particular musical piece is what you're trying to convey
.
Begin by creating a new image in
Photoshop
with dimensions of 8" by 10" (or 10" x 8"), an image resolution
of 200 pixels/inch, and CMYK mode. Be careful that the images
you use are not copyright protected. The digital images you
incorporate into your work may be obtained by (a) saving to
your USB drive your own photographs, or (b) copying to your
USB drive any of the digital photos available on the
MiraCosta
College server, or (c) downloading royalty-free images
provided in the Digital Stock Photography Resources folder
under External Links, or (d) any combination of the above. Do
not
download any other images from the Internet. Not only is this a
copyright violation, but such images are low resolution (72
ppi
) and will not work for this output-for-print project. Remember
that this project has no title and, therefore, no text layers.
Many tools and techniques are required for this project. In
particular, the use of layer masks is a key requirement; your
ability to utilize layer masks effectively is crucial to the success

3. of this piece. Also, keep in mind that you must use the quick
mask selection technique to save at least two selections as their
own channels. Use at least two color adjustment layers to adjust
the tonal range, remove any color casts, and bring out the
highlights,
midtones
, and shadows of your image. Create and apply a custom
paintbrush, the painting of which should be on its own layer for
better image control. Be sure to incorporate a painting blending
mode, a modification to paint opacity, and some customization
to your brush dynamics within the Brushes palette. Use the
Mixer Brush in your work and modify its wet, load and mix
options. Be sure to explain how and why you did
this. Remember to create snapshots as you work and apply at
least one
Photoshop
filter to enrich the appearance of your design. Do
not
flatten your image.
Consider the following when you are painting:
How color schemes can communicate mood (analogous colors
can be subtle, complementary colors can “pop” for conflict or
excitement, etc.)
How color can illustrate characteristics of objects, spaces, or
figures (warm colors vs cool colors, soft hues vs vibrant hues,
etc.)
How changing expected colors of familiar things can unsettle
viewers.
How varying the size/scale of elements in the composition can
affect the audience’s perception of space, hierarchy, and reality.
Line placement, especially with respect to brush strokes. You
can communicate feelings via the direction of your painted
brush strokes. Some standard associations are as follows:
diagonal
: dynamic, movement

4. spiral
: depression, confusion, anxiety, off-balance
crossed lines
: fear, anger, frustration, impact
vertical
: hope, uplifting, peaceful motion
horizontal
: calmness, stability
zig-zag, squiggles
: erratic, energy, commotion
Making the composition more dynamic by moving design
components partially off the picture plane/frame to keep the
viewers’ eyes moving in and out of the composition.
Compositing images to give a sense of dramatic spacial
perspective. Common ways to communicate space in 2-D art is
through employing overlapping shapes, using positive/negative
space, adjusting value difference, and varying the size of
objects.
Write-Up/Artist Statement
:
You must attach a typed description (two-page minimum) of
how you achieved the stated objectives of this layer
masking/photo painting project. The Word template you will use
for your write-up/artist statement can be found at the end of the
description for Project 1. In your write-up explain how and why
you applied the tools and design techniques required of this
project, explain why you chose the images you did and how they
fit with your artistic goal, and explain how your end result
fulfills all the requirements of this project. Use thumbnail-sized
copies of your original digital photos and embed these
thumbnails into your Word write-up. To do this, create and save
a JPG file of all the original images you used (reduced to 72
ppi
and thumbnail size), then insert this JPG image into your Word
write-up.

5. Be sure to provide photo credit and website source information
where applicable. Very important: Within your write-up include
a link to the song that inspired this digital art piece.
Attach this write-up to the back of your black mat board.