Foundations of Art, Design, + Digital Culture

INSA began his career as a graffiti writer, leaving his signature “graffiti fetish” pattern on streets all over the world. As he became more well-known, INSA began experimenting with social and digital media, creating his own “gif-iti” which are animations of graffiti work. This type of work is almost like a paradox, as it is street art that exists only online. INSA has claimed most of his fame through social media platforms, often using them as his only marketing tool. To see more of his work, check out this link!

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Uno Moralez is a Russian artist that focuses on pixelated lines and strange ideas. His gifs are especially interesting, considering that the pixelation gives them a strange feeling and they normally do not include color.

Paul Robertson is an Australian animator that frequently deals with pixel art GIF animations, as can be seen above. His work has been featured in music videos, video games, movies, and TV shows (e.g., The Simpsons, Rick and Morty, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World). Personally, I find his use of vibrant, disco-like color and fast pace to be a very effective way of conveying a sense of liveliness.

Pioneered by Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck in 2011, cinemagraphs are gifs that feature an isolated movement in an otherwise-still photograph. They are able to capture and emphasize minute movements, such as the movement of water or the shifting of light. This subtle movement forces the viewer to slow down and address the peaceful, uncannily-calm nature of the cinemagraph. On top of their intriguing optics, cinemagraphs also mark an intersection between the digital age and fine art. Previously, gifs have been regarded as silly or unprofessional; cinemagraphs, however, demonstrate how gifs can take form in what is defined as “fine art” as well. 

For more examples of cinemagraphs, click here.

Ellsworth Kelly was an American artist who worked with many different media. His famous plant drawings, such as the one above, are minimalistic opposites to his boldly colored paintings. His abstract, bright paintings are what Kelly is usually known for, but Professor Comberg pointed me towards him because of his minimalist drawings, saying that my project 1.3 reminded him of them. I can agree with the comparison, I see it a bit as well.

“I have worked to free shape from its ground, and then to work the shape so that it has a definite relationship to the space around it,” Ellsworth explained. It’s interesting because you can see this with both of hid very different types of work.

To import an existing GIF into your Timeline:

– Find and download a GIF from Internet with a transparent background (or make your own)

– Open/drag your GIF into Photoshop

– Open timeline window (you will probably start with frame animation).  Make all additions to timing between frames now.

– Convert the frame timeline to a video timeline. You should see multiple layers within the timeline window to match the layer window

– Select all your layers

– Right-click and click “Convert to Smart Object.”  If done correctly, your layers should all have become one object.

– You are now free to manipulate the GIF in your Timeline and Transform, etc. You can drag, resize, mask, and use other effects.

You can also create a GIF animation from a series of photos or from a video clip.

KAWS has worked on many different media platforms including animation, graffiti art, vinyl toys, clothing, acrylic paintings, sculptures and many more.

His initial fame originated from his graffiti art on ads at bus stops.

He has worked with popular streetwear brands like Supreme and Bathing Ape. Recently, he has collaborated with Dior seen here

Lastly, he is well know for taking popular cartoon characters and converting them into his well-known style, commonly adding X’s over the character’s eyes.

 

Erik Winkowski site

@erik.winkowski