Kristina Hawk's Digital Media Blog

  Original Picture: Monochromatic: Analogous: Custom: ARTIST STATEMENT: This project was an effective practice in creating and using masks in photoshop. The first picture was a little difficult and time-consuming but by the third picture, I was working smoothly. I think it's interesting how the different color schemes give each piece such a different mood. The custom scheme is bright and warm, creating a fun, pop-ey mood. The analogous scheme was very vibrant and green, creating a very alien, intense mood. The monochromatic scheme was shades of cool purple, creating a relaxed mood. 

An image from The People's Portfolio that particularly resonated with me was the portrait of Anastasia Smirnova. Smirnova was an activist with the Russian LGBT Network and was arrested in 2014 for protesting at the opening of the Olympics, calling for the upholding of the non-discrimination clause in the Olympic Charter. In the documentary, Platon states that "Great design simplifies a very complex world." This ideal is emulated through this piece. The portrait's simplicity and sharp focus capture Smirnova's raw emotion. Her face is the singular point of focus in the image, with direct front lighting and a dark background. Attention is drawn to her vivid eyes and slight frown, creating an angry, bold mood. I resonate with the emotion of this piece because as a lesbian, I recognize her longing for justice and equal rights. It reminds me that people like Anastasia Smirnova, with human determination and a willingness to fight, bring about social change. Anastasia Smi...

 ORIGINAL B/W LOGO TAG ARTIST STATEMENT: By creating a tag for my logo, I will be able to incorporate into my future work to add a personal touch and mark work as my own. In the image above, I experimented with color, layering colors on top of each other for a bold effect. Overall, I'm happy with how my tag turned out. The messy, spray paint look works pretty well with the shape of my logo. I think it will fit well with whatever work I incorporate it into. 

 VIDEO ONE: https://youtu.be/aMDPNqu9pnA?si=dpLJOQFWjzDDauq9 5 MINUTE GUIDE: How to retouch photos in Photoshop CC This video provided a brief and easy guide to retouching photos in Photoshop. The creator started by showing how to adjust color settings like white balance, temperature, contrast, and shadows. Then he turned the photo into a smart object and displayed the pixel-pushing tool. He used a liquify tool to make minor adjustments to the model's face. Finally, he retouched the face some more using curve adjustment layers. This tutorial was helpful because I could see myself using these features to retouch my personal photography portraits. The tools he used seemed a little complicated but hopefully they'll seem more accessible with practice.  VIDEO TWO:  https://youtu.be/KAmSB5MQxOo 5 MINUTE GUIDE: How to retouch photos in Photoshop CC This video provided a general overview of Photoshop. It started by showing how to open a new document and place your photo, alo...

 POSTER: REFERENCE IMAGE: ARTIST STATEMENT: I chose to adapt this picture of me because it was taken on a day when I felt very confident. I had just bought myself a nice suit set and it was my first time going to a formal event in pants rather than a dress. Though the outfit was a step outside my comfort zone, it made me feel like myself that day. Based on this memory, I choose to caption my poster with a quote from Rebecca Sugar's show Steven Universe: "I don't need you to respect me, I respect me.". To me, the quote means that by fulfilling your own needs and being true to yourself, you won't need to rely on the validation of others. Express yourself freely and be confident and you will attract people who love you for you. 

 SKETCHES B/W VERSION  3 COLOR VERSIONS ARTIST STATEMENT   My Logo depicts a feather quill over a blot of spilled ink. My initial sketches include bird-related imagery as a nod to my family name, Hawk and to symbolize my connection to my family whilst exploring my new-found freedom in "leaving the nest". Ultimately, I decided on the feather based on its simplicity and ease of recognition. Feeling like the feather was missing something, I further personalized it by turning it into a quill. This represents my love of writing and my pursuit of a career in screenwriting. The spilled ink symbolizes my creativity and ability to grow from my mistakes. 

 Calligram Project  Artist Statement This piece is a calligram picturing Russian Nesting Dolls created from a letter I wrote to myself 20 years in the future. In the letter, I urged my future self to remember and honor each version of me. I acknowledged that every past version of myself lives within me now, making me the person I am today.  I felt that a set of Russian Nesting Dolls was fitting imagery to convey these themes. The largest doll is filled with stacked, increasingly smaller copies of itself. The spread of dolls represents each version of myself, including the person I am today and who I'll be in twenty years. Sketch and Letter Dear Kristina, Congratulations on being old. You should be nearing your fortieth birthday which is pretty unfathomable to me. In about a month, I’ll turn twenty. In all honesty, twenty is a pretty unfathomable age to me too. I’m not used to being an adult yet. It is hard to picture my twenties and even harder to imag...