SURREALISM
Introduction
Surrealism began in the 1920s. Surrealists were inspired by the writings of psychologist Sigmund Freud. Freud wrote about the mind, memories, dreams and subconscious thoughts. Freud used a variety of techniques to reveal the subconscious thoughts of patients with the intent of healing mental illness. Surrealists embraced Freud's techniques to revolutionize art. They wanted to free the mind of conscious , rational thought and let unexpected ideas and imagery to arise from the subconscious and dreams. Surrealists' work would reunite conscious and unconscious worlds so completely that dreams would be joined to everyday rational world creating "an absolute reality, a surreality." Surrealists found magic and beauty in the unexpected.
Salvador Dali is probably the most well-known Surrealist. His painting, "Persistence of Memory" is considered to be a masterpiece of the Surrealist movement. Dalí frequently described his works as “hand-painted dream photographs.”
Words used to describe surrealism: dreamlike, weird, unusual, unreal, illogical, surprising, freaky and fantastic.
Digital Surrealism
ASSIGNMENT
REQUIREMENTS:
Use 5 of your own photographs.
Use at least 10 photographs from Pexels, Pixabay or Unsplash.
All photographs must be high resolution.
OBJECTIVE: Create a surreal world using photographs. Surrealism might seem a strange, but think of it as a dream. We've all had dreams where unrelated people, places, or objects come together in completely inexplicable ways. Your surreal world will have elements that look realistic by using photographs, but will have a dreamlike quality: unexpected juxtapositions of people and objects, twisted or distorted objects and objects that are larger or smaller than real life. How would your dream world look? Your world does not have to make sense. Let go of the rules of reality and create a unique surreal world.
You will be working on your Surreal Collages for the week. Create a complex surreal world. If you complete your collage before the end of the week, you must create another collage.
HOW TO MAKE THE COMPOSITE/COLLAGE
Step 1: Develop an idea or inspiration for your surreal world.
Step 2: Gather your high resolution photographs. You need at least 10 photographs: five must be your own photos. All other photos may be downloaded from the internet.
Step 3: Open Photoshop and create a new document. Make the document 19 inches by 13 inches, with a resolution of 300 dpi.
Step 4: Place your background photo into this document by selecting FILE then go to PLACE EMBEDDED. Select your photo and place it. Resize the background photo to fit either the width or the height of the document. You will crop out the extra white space once you are finished making your collage.
Step 5: Cut images from the photographs by using the SELECTION BRUSH TOOLS. Use the MAGIC WAND if the photo has a solid colored background. Use the QUICK SELECTION BRUSH TOOL to paint complicated images, such as animals with fur or images with a busy background. Remember, as you select your image you have the option to add and subtract to that selection using the options next to the the selection brush.
Step 6: Drag your selection to the background document. If you used the MAGIC WAND you must INVERSE the selection before you move it. If you don't do this, you will move the background, and not your image. To INVERSE, press COMMAND and SHIFT and I at the same time. This action is called a shortcut. Another shortcut to remember is COMMAND and D. This option deselects everything. Use this option when you make a mistake when selecting images.
Step 7: Continue selecting images, and placing these into your background to create a surreal world.
REQUIREMENTS:
Use 5 of your own photographs.
Use at least 10 photographs from Pexels, Pixabay or Unsplash.
All photographs must be high resolution.
OBJECTIVE: Create a surreal world using photographs. Surrealism might seem a strange, but think of it as a dream. We've all had dreams where unrelated people, places, or objects come together in completely inexplicable ways. Your surreal world will have elements that look realistic by using photographs, but will have a dreamlike quality: unexpected juxtapositions of people and objects, twisted or distorted objects and objects that are larger or smaller than real life. How would your dream world look? Your world does not have to make sense. Let go of the rules of reality and create a unique surreal world.
You will be working on your Surreal Collages for the week. Create a complex surreal world. If you complete your collage before the end of the week, you must create another collage.
HOW TO MAKE THE COMPOSITE/COLLAGE
Step 1: Develop an idea or inspiration for your surreal world.
Step 2: Gather your high resolution photographs. You need at least 10 photographs: five must be your own photos. All other photos may be downloaded from the internet.
Step 3: Open Photoshop and create a new document. Make the document 19 inches by 13 inches, with a resolution of 300 dpi.
Step 4: Place your background photo into this document by selecting FILE then go to PLACE EMBEDDED. Select your photo and place it. Resize the background photo to fit either the width or the height of the document. You will crop out the extra white space once you are finished making your collage.
Step 5: Cut images from the photographs by using the SELECTION BRUSH TOOLS. Use the MAGIC WAND if the photo has a solid colored background. Use the QUICK SELECTION BRUSH TOOL to paint complicated images, such as animals with fur or images with a busy background. Remember, as you select your image you have the option to add and subtract to that selection using the options next to the the selection brush.
Step 6: Drag your selection to the background document. If you used the MAGIC WAND you must INVERSE the selection before you move it. If you don't do this, you will move the background, and not your image. To INVERSE, press COMMAND and SHIFT and I at the same time. This action is called a shortcut. Another shortcut to remember is COMMAND and D. This option deselects everything. Use this option when you make a mistake when selecting images.
Step 7: Continue selecting images, and placing these into your background to create a surreal world.