EXPERIMENTAL COLLAGE:
Gathering separate elements and using digital tools
to collage an abstract image

Scan various objects in composition and individually and collage together using techniques in Photoshop. You can build on your previous project, but you should alter it substantially. 
 
Show all your selection skills, using full images in layers and masking on each layer. Do not leave areas “empty” but layer each texture to fill the space.
 
Make sure you can identify the following:
Open or closed composition
Activating the whole picture plane
Background shape and texture as interesting as foreground
Integration of foreground and background
Creating a sense of depth
Unity of elements
Focal point movement through the piece
Symmetrical or Asymmetrical Balance
Rhythm of elements
Complexity/ obsessive attention to detail
Surprise, mystery or unusualness
 
Make several of these compositions and choose the best for critique.  Put in the Petra Critique folder.
 
For additional inspiration look at the design principles and elements presentation on the website and examples on this page.
 
Artists:
see artists from abstract formalism
 
​Experimental Collage: specific steps from class demo:

1. Scan new compositions or substantially change your first composition AND Scan INDIVIDUAL objects for their FORMAL qualities, using contrasting background 
2. Transfer files to your computer
3. Open and sort files in Lightroom
   1. adjust general qualities
   2. either export or open in photoshop from Lightroom
4. You can start with a background scan or create an empty document canvas in Photoshop that is approximately 8x10 inches at 300 dpi and copy and past image elements on different layers. Do not cut out elements before pasting into new document. Select and copy entire scans and paste into new canvas on separate layers. 
5. If you leave file as a smart object before resizing, you will not deteriorate the quality. Resize as needed. (lower opacity to position it). You can change to a rasterized image if needed for certain filters. 
6. To use just a portion of an image or one item, Use a mask to block elements you don't want to see.  Clean up mask as needed.
7. Repeat with all layers
8. You can duplicate layers as needed.
9. Use your masking skills to have the layers interact with each other. 
10. Add adjustment layers where you want to change colors, etc
    1. Choose the layer you want to affect.
    2. Click on adjustment layer symbol (b/wcircle) at bottom of layers palette (curves for instance)
    3. Change properties of adjustment layer in properties box
    4. To affect just the one layer you have to link the adjustment layer to the layer below. To do so, click on the box with arrow symbol on bottom of properties panel or going to Layer/create clipping mask. If you place an adjustment layer in the stack of layers without a clipping mask, it will affect ALL layers below it.
11. You can group layers if you want to condense layers palette (folder icon bottom of layers palette)
12. You can temporarily hide them (eyeball).
13. You can change opacity of adjustment layers or other layers.
14. You can mask an adjustment layer 
15. You can change the blending mode of layers to blend them in different ways (drop down menu above layers palette)
16. imagine that you are weaving the images into each other to bring the viewers eye throughout the image on the picture plane and deep into space. think about the principles of composition you have studied.