My PhotoShop Projects
We pride ourselves in our PhotoShop work. I created the initial PhotoShop products using Adobe Creative Suite. Personal pictures, book covers, movie posters...there are endless possibilities.
Works 1, Photoshop: Meeting Elvis last year. CMST 325, Image Editing, 2020. I was able to "meet" the King of Rock "Elvis". Photoshop is used to combine a present image of Alex Galesi (myself) with one of the past images of Elvis. Elvis met President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office; the original photo was taken on December 21, 1970. The White House environment gave the scene a special background to suspend Elvis' stardom, while americanizing him and framing a patriotic moment of remembrance. Embedding myself into the picture proves that anyone can meet Elvis, demonstrating appreciation for human nature and everlasting friendships. For good reason, many people still believe Elvis is alive. Graphic design and Illustrator can keep him alive within our living space.
Works 2, Photoshop: Pablo Picasso, CMST 325, Image Editing, 2020. This is Pablo Picasso at his best. Picasso had secrets; everyone has something to hide. Since we do not have many videos of Pablo, we can only imagine him as he lived his life in Spain, France and Italy. This font was designed by Carol Twombly for Adobe. It has a golden coloring to give it a tone of dignity and for Pablo’s artistic heroism and influence. Like the Italian’s would say “Bravissimo!!” The image of Picasso with a coat reflects cooler temperatures of the season. His pipe reflects wisdom…a person in command of their environment. Many famous writers like Ernest Hemingway and Mark Twain also smoked a pipe or a cigar, as sign of the cosmopolitan spirit and societal evolution; perspectives are ever changing. Pablo Picasso had many secrets, which he expressed in his excellent works of self-reflection. Immortalizing Picasso further is the duty of every artist, whether the graphics are built with a brush or on an iPad.
Works 3, Photoshop: Replication, CMST 325, Image Editing, produced in 2020. Replication is a work of art representing human desire and the quest for immortality. Humanity does not want to be annihilated by a robotic race that takes over everything like Skynet, like the saga of Terminator smart robots we saw in the Hollywood films with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the era of COVID-19, perhaps we can dream of one day transforming ourselves into a more resilient being, one that can survive the test of time, overcome diseases, and survive tough journeys through space with return. With cybernetics, technological and engineering advancements, we might stop forgetting people's names as we often do, even if a few hundred years go by, with our hearts still clicking like a high-end Rolex. Replication is about keeping our humanity, while having a lubricated and powerful spine of steel to go after life with vigor and passion. There is zero time for depression!
Works 1, Meeting Elvis
Works 2, Pablo Picasso
Works 3, Replication
My Illustrator Projects
We also pride ourselves in our Illustrator work. I created the initial Illustrator products using Adobe Creative Suite. Personal thoughts drove the creations here. Imagination carried the day, for the sake of unity for all.
Works 4, Illustration Graphics: Logo Design, the "Heartland." CMST 320, Illustrator, 2021. A client wanted to invest on a new logo for a new investment opportunity with a tech company to express his conservative values. The logo client expressed that he was apolitical and is open to invest in any investment for high profit. Opportunity to profit from investment in a conservative social media platform is greater than ever, regardless of an investor's political viewpoint, considering the status of the industry in a climate of political strife across the nation. Conservatives in general perceive that their rights to free speech are restricted by a new "cancel culture;" powerful tech companies like Facebook and others are leading the effort against conservatives, in their opinion. There are not any viable alternative conservative platforms. Investing in any business idea such as a social platform is a matter of timing to break into the tough social media market. A logo is central to represent a perspective as many organizations have discovered.
Works 5, Illustration Graphics: Stamp named "Explore Space," with a 55 cents cost, CMST 320, Illustrator, 2021.The focus for the Explore Space stamp was to demonstrate unity across the world, since wars and confrontation continue unabated. All is not hopeless. To reflect that philosophy, there is a United Nations flag on the spaceship. Although this represents a Utopia, it never hurts to imagine the political views of others, although people thinks this is an extreme fantasy. Maybe one day the rest of the world can shoulder or pay for the cost of space exploration. Having the United States pay for most of the costs is unsustainable. Spreading into space could result in discovery of new technologies for longer living and better outcomes. People who have trouble finding friends on Earth, could also benefit from space travel by expanding their horizons.
Works 6, Illustration Graphics: Stamp named "Protect Marine Life," with a 55 cents cost, CMST 320, Illustrator, produced in 2021. Protecting marine life sustains human life for the long-term, feeding over 3 billion people. As much as 80% of the oceans have not been explored. The fish and the crab are happy because there is nothing negative about the existence of marine life in general, although sharks and agressive predators (like humankind) are always part of that balance. The ocean animals provide humanity with sustenance and livelihoods. The bubbles in the stamp depict the importance of oxygen, key to all life; 50% of the world's oxygen is produced by the ocean, because marine life includes plants and many organisms that result in a better atmosphere. Medicines to fight arthritis, heart disease and many others are a result of marine life's existence in the vast oceans.
