Surreal+Composite

Surrealist Composite Image

In this project you will make a single surreal image using bits of imagery from many sources. You will start with an historical image from:

[] or [|NYPL]

You will then separate the subject matter from the historical image and place it in a new, constructed space. While the composite image can be fantastical try to make the setting visually plausible.

Requirements

Final image must be at least 3000x4000 pixels, so use high quality sources. Use elements from at least 5 sources to create your image. Starting historical image must be black and white, but final image must be in color. Final image can be either horizontal or vertical. A majority of your image should not be from a single source image. The final image will be printed. You must post each of your source images and a progression of your final images on your wiki page.

You will document your project on your wiki page, posting a sequence of images that show the stages of development of your project, so save versions during creation.

This project is inspired by the artist Jane Long’s Dancing with Costica series: [] but there are many other examples of other artists working in similar veins.:

Artists to look at:

Joel Peter Witkin, Jerry Ulesman, Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Man Ray,

Skills and steps: Acquiring high quality media Introduction to Photoshop Making selections Masking Colorization Blending modes Compositing techniques.

-Start by selecting at least 3 historical photographs (to give you a variety to experiment with in class). -Start designing your composite by sketching ideas. Make quick thumbnail sketches that place your subject in different situations. Look for situations that are interesting in combination with your subject! -Gather elements. Put together an imagery bank. Gather more than you might use, as some things will inevitably work better than others. -Make selections and colorize the parts you are going to use. -Bring elements together and insert your subject. -Use techniques covered in class and online to unify the elements and make them appear to be part of the same world. -Print your image.

Some Examples:

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Student work: