MY EXPERIENCE WITH ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
So, this was a project I had to do as part of my course and the topic was Folklore Postcard Design. I have tried to learn Photoshop multiple times before but was always intimidated by the vast number of features and possibilities this software offers. I was scared that the work I did would never be good enough compared to all the things that were possible with PS.
Therefore, this project naturally freaked me out. Initially, I had no clue how to start, and I was on the clock. I ended up making a couple of sketches, not being able to finalise one. I binge-watched YouTube videos on photomontages and PS tips and tricks. I also had to pick a montage or collage artist whose work inspired me and use that as a reference or pull elements from their work to learn about different concepts. My research brought me to the portfolio of Jenny Lloyd. Her work is mindblowing. The colours, the concepts, the vision, and how all the different elements in her work somehow work together beautifully to bring her idea to life is so incredible. Her work was such an inspiration for me.
I made a rough draft of how it would look, and trust me, it was bad! There was no balance between the elements, whatsoever, and there was too much going on on one side and too much white space on the other. But trying to figure things out by myself, going back and forth between tutorials, and spending long hours trying to get it right, taught me a lot of things. And even if my project was a complete PS disaster, I was learning from my mistakes.
I consulted with my professor. He gave me wonderful insights about my work. He told me that because of the lack of proportioning and hierarchy in my work, the focus was being split between multiple objects and people didn't know where to look. He said I needed to make one thing the prime focus of my work and let everything else support the main concept. This advice helped me immensely in making my project better.
Over the following week, I kept changing things around and playing with the editing until I got all the different photos to come together and cohesively make it look like one complete work. It was not easy, but the end was very rewarding. I ended up so far from my initial idea, but all the changes were necessary. My project is not perfect, but it is good for a first-timer. Now, here's some things this project taught me:
~ It's okay if your final work is very different from your initial idea. The ability to let go of something that you find is not working and come up with a better idea is absolutely necessary. Not all first ideas are the best. If you can give yourself the space to refine your work, you'll be amazed by what you create.
~ You don't have to be the best on your first try. Not even on your second try, or third, or fourth. It's okay to take as much time as you need, as long as you don't give up.
So, this was a project I had to do as part of my course and the topic was Folklore Postcard Design. I have tried to learn Photoshop multiple times before but was always intimidated by the vast number of features and possibilities this software offers. I was scared that the work I did would never be good enough compared to all the things that were possible with PS.
Therefore, this project naturally freaked me out. Initially, I had no clue how to start, and I was on the clock. I ended up making a couple of sketches, not being able to finalise one. I binge-watched YouTube videos on photomontages and PS tips and tricks. I also had to pick a montage or collage artist whose work inspired me and use that as a reference or pull elements from their work to learn about different concepts. My research brought me to the portfolio of Jenny Lloyd. Her work is mindblowing. The colours, the concepts, the vision, and how all the different elements in her work somehow work together beautifully to bring her idea to life is so incredible. Her work was such an inspiration for me.
I made a rough draft of how it would look, and trust me, it was bad! There was no balance between the elements, whatsoever, and there was too much going on on one side and too much white space on the other. But trying to figure things out by myself, going back and forth between tutorials, and spending long hours trying to get it right, taught me a lot of things. And even if my project was a complete PS disaster, I was learning from my mistakes.
I consulted with my professor. He gave me wonderful insights about my work. He told me that because of the lack of proportioning and hierarchy in my work, the focus was being split between multiple objects and people didn't know where to look. He said I needed to make one thing the prime focus of my work and let everything else support the main concept. This advice helped me immensely in making my project better.
Over the following week, I kept changing things around and playing with the editing until I got all the different photos to come together and cohesively make it look like one complete work. It was not easy, but the end was very rewarding. I ended up so far from my initial idea, but all the changes were necessary. My project is not perfect, but it is good for a first-timer. Now, here's some things this project taught me:
~ It's okay if your final work is very different from your initial idea. The ability to let go of something that you find is not working and come up with a better idea is absolutely necessary. Not all first ideas are the best. If you can give yourself the space to refine your work, you'll be amazed by what you create.
~ You don't have to be the best on your first try. Not even on your second try, or third, or fourth. It's okay to take as much time as you need, as long as you don't give up.
