Directions: Look at the following artworks and take turns with your elbow partner answering: what do you notice (think EoA/PoD)? What do you wonder? 

• Try to recall some aspects/themes/ideas of Surrealism that come up when looking at these works of art. 

Surrealism and Photography

Whereas photography had been widely used as a tool to document reality, artists began to work with the camera and progressive techniques to create images jarringly detached from photography's original uses. These visuals oftentimes challenged the viewer's perceptions with a strong basis in conceptualism, conjuring the uncanny, ethereal, or unordinary. Other times, they emphasized the artist's intent, by presenting familiar images unlatched from their usual context, inviting new perspectives of the ordinary. This practice would spread to America and become a forebear to the decades-long exploration of the possibilities of the photographic image that remains common in today's art world.

For this assignment, you will create TWO Exquisite Corpses using Ps, one portrait and one full body. See examples for both below. 

Requirements (for each):

1. You will need a clear topic or theme.

• • Example: Dreams, nightmares, nature...

  • Don’t overthink it! Surrealists believed the rational mind could limit imagination, so let your ideas flow.

2. Choose a clear visual style and keep it consistent.

   • Example: retro, antique, bright and airy, dark and moody...

3. Break your image into parts (top, middle, bottom) and include a clear background.

   • You may include more sections if you choose, but the structure should be intentional.

4. You will need to use both images from the internet AND images you photograph yourself and combine them together seamlessly. 

   • Make sure to use only high quality images! For high quality how-to click here

   • The photos you take should match the rest of the corpse.

     • Pay attention to:

       1. Lighting (bright vs. dark)

       2. Focus and sharpness

       3. Color tone and contrast

       4. Perspective and scale

5. When you've finished BOTH, Save a Copy > jpg > turn in your final finished artworks on Canvas. 

Rubric:

You will be graded on the following categories: 

1. Clear, strong theme that is easy to identify.

2. Consistent, well-defined visual style throughout

3. Both portrait and full-body corpses are complete and well-crafted

4. Highly imaginative; strongly reflects Surrealist ideals

Let's review: 

What is a collage? What makes a collage "surreal"? 

Grab a piece of paper!

In this project, you will create a Surrealist digital collage that combines photographs you take yourself with images from the web. Inspired by Surrealist artists, your goal is to create an image that feels unexpected, imaginative, and unified. Your image should form a new meaning through surprising combinations.

Remember: Surrealism values imagination over logic, so allow yourself to experiment and embrace the unexpected!

Requirements: 

1. Create a new Photoshop document:

   • Size: 11 in x 14 in

   • Resolution: 300 ppi

2. You must use both photos you take yourself and high-quality images from the web

   • All images must be high resolution (not blurry or pixelated).

3. Design Requirements:

   • Element of Surprise

     • Combine unrelated objects, people, or environments in unexpected ways.

   • Thoughtful Use of Proportion

     • Scale objects intentionally to create meaning, drama, or visual interest.

   • Cohesion

     • Edges and sides of images should line up naturally.

     • Parts should connect in a way that feels fluid and intentional, not pasted together.

     • The final image should read as one unified scene (see example).

   • Clean Masking 

     • Use precise selection tools.

     • Edges should be clean and refined.

     • No rough cutouts or visible backgrounds.

   • Lighting 

     • Pay attention to lighting direction, brightness, and contrast.

   • Use similar shapes, textures, or forms to connect unlike objects.

     • Even when combining dissimilar items, they should feel like they belong together.

4. Technical Skills:

   • Demonstrate strong Photoshop skills:

     • Masking

     • Layer control

     • Adjustments for color, light, and contrast

     • at least 20 layers

5. Submit a JPG of your artwork AND a screenshot of your layers.

*If you need help getting started, take a look at the Photo 1 Surrealism Project (linked). You can review the rules, ideas/tutorials, and a brainstorming guide to help you... but remember you need to go above and beyond as this is an ADVANCED project.