Marcello Buffa - Opera Whale

Marcello Buffa

Marcello is a talent beyond compare.  With the natural singing abilities from both his Orca and Humpback whale heritage, and his human attributes allow him to tour on land.

Below are various stages of the development of Marcello on location  or on stage.

Marcello's outfit was from from a scanned picture of an opera singer.  It was then enlarged and opened up at the top to accommodate his large frame.  Accent trim is to give highlights on the black tuxedo.

Marcello Buffa's right fin is that of a Humpback whale.  It gives him the ability to physically express himself (especially during high notes).  I chose to use Marcello's Orca shape (over his cousin Mario's Humpback shape) because it is easier to see the facial features of the Orca, and they are so photogenic.

Mr. Buffa is a bit of a contradiction in that Opera is serious, and the term "Buffa" refers to "light-comedy opera".  Nonetheless, the approach for this poster is "highbrow" and so the text will not be presented in a nickel (5 cent) style, but more like that of a worth of $ 0.50.  Image, Image, Image!
                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                           

Orig  scanned image of
Tux for Mr Buffa

Orig background for first
sample



Second generation with stage green stage curtains

Below is a more complete version of Mr. Buffa on stage with green curtains.
  Later a purple backdrop was added behind the "opacity adjusted" green curtains.  This gave a glowing purple curtain effect and worked well with the yellow, pink and orange lettering and the green boardering.
Later versions were to eliminate the visible "Figaro" lettering and to tie the more important text to Mr. Buffa.




This is the presentation version

 

The presentation version now has a satge, solid red curtains with black shadows, additional details on Mr. Buffa's tux, contained informational text (from the show's sponsor), directional pointers (to direct focus from the "Come Here" lettering  to Mr. Burffa), a yellow image border, and a decorative outline.

If time for adjustments were availible, changes for this poster would include a more streamlined and flowing (less chunky) look for Mr. Buffa, and a better fitting tux.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                                          
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                          

Roughs for Art 141 Last Project

Zappo the Great

The three roughs I have include one  singing whale, an some acrobats, and Zappo the Magic Rabbit.

Singer

Acrobats and Zappo

The challenges for this project include accessing a suitable stage area for any of the  posters, as well as merging a whale or rabbit to a person.  So far I have not found a suitable full figured male singer.
The possibility for the singer could be an Opera or a Blues singer.

The Theater, Nature and Beyond

 The Theater, Nature and Beyond

This is a composite picture that brings together contrasts.  

The seagulls (from nature) are accepting the space of man made area, while the greenery is about to overrun it.  The mountains of nature appear to be the strongest, yet are dwarfed by the vastness of space and the quantity of stars in the sky.  The stars cover all dark space, even the space in between the greenery.  The thought that the stars might actually represent molecules and that things that we believe are solid are made of small molecules becomes present.  The water drop represents the link between the water (in the clouds) and the life of nature.

To achieve this composite, many layers were used.   For the greenery, both color (tints) and distinct plant types were used to create a deeper sense of depth.  Smudging and some softer focus bushes were used to minimize harsh and distracting edges of the mountains and some bushes and trees.
The stars are visible in the electronic version, but will need to be modified for print (so they will not be consumed by the intensity of the black sky).

Enjoy                                                                 
                                                                                                    
                                                                                         
                                                                               
                                                                                     
                                                                                            
                                                                                               

Photoshop Project 1
(composite of two or more photos)

This project will be to compose an image from several pictures.  The goal will be to layer some very different settings and to make a seamless transition from one perceived area to another. In viewing the image, the viewer should get a sense that these very different areas are actually very closely related, and maybe even made of the same "stuff". 

We tend to believe in what we see or feel.

So, the "stage" is set, a movie theater, a concrete sidewalk, it's all man made, here and solid, right?    

But what if it were just temporary in nature, an illusion , ready to become more "permanent in nature" again ? 

 Would you look at it differently?

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Technical Notes:

A variety of techniques (copy, paste, burn, smudge, free transform, opacity values) will be used to produce the image. 
Additional pictures will be used as a background (and negative space) that will ultimately change the perspective of what is already presented. 

Notice that the picture of the theater and the granite rock mountain are both at a 3/4 angle to create synergy between the two environments.

Original Image for Post Card 1

Bee Postcard project  Card 1                                                  

         

Original illustrated bee 

This is the original bee image

The first card was to have bee going to the desert ( near a health spa- see  above card and  photo below for the inspiration for the card).   

  

This image inspired a desert and mountain scene

After creating the first rough card, a palm tree was substituted for the fountain, and a house (at a distance away) was added in the lower right corner. 
These additions allowed for more skillful use of tools and added more depth and dimension.

Postcard image goes here

"Bee", Working to Create a Better World

Bee is part of a very successful environmentally conscious bee hive.  Interestingly enough, their primary business is “the re-pollination of urban and semi urban areas”.   

As progressive bees of action, the hive has incorporated their operation, created an Organic Honey brand (that caters to the diabetic community), and provide informational seminars (on "The damage of cell phone radiation to people’s heads", and "How the radiation from cell phone towers  are destroying bee hives all around the world by disrupting bee communication and their sense of direction").

Bee’s job is to travel around the world looking for “alternative green harvesting areas” as well as finding partner bee hives that would like to join their association and create a better world for all to live in. 

 

He travels with his “public relations team” that documents his efforts by creating postcards and sending them to member hives.

Project 2: Invertebrates; Bee in Flight

Bee in Flight  (Invertebrates);

Project One:  Shapes:

Original Cut and Paste             Digitally Produced Copy

 

Sample Shapes w/o cutout

This is the Shapes project.  The  last step of cutting out the arrow from the blue is the last step needed to complete the project.  Of course, it would have been easy to just add circles, but I would not learn the "cut out" step.

Start:
9/01/10  ~Shapes project is creatively underway, sample drafts show promise.

               ~Invertebrates  project will highlight "bees".
              

   Invertebrate project will highlight "bees"

          

Shapes

The "Shapes Collage" was constructed of paper and card stock.

Below are some of 2D principals (and their results) in my "Shapes Collage"

~ I started with the background (Negative Space) as a foundation.  The black color is used to establish a base for contrast. 
~ The negative space is used to support the shape of  "circle" and to create visual movement.
~ Simple shapes are layered to project depth, and to generate additional shapes (in the negative space).
~ Symmetry is used in both negative and positive space.

~ The Repetition and Uniformity of the circles (in negative space) encourage you to move towards the color in positive space.
~ Both shape and color generate movement throughout the piece.