Kehinde Whiley
Analysis
Kehinde Whiley is an African American portrait painter based in New York City. His work uses the poses and props seen in traditional portrait paintings. He finds his models on the streets of New York and asks them to choose a painting they want to recreate. Sometimes he already has an idea of the painting he wants to copy and will find someone to pose for it. He never asks the people in his portraits to dress up because he likes them to wear their regular clothes. His work provokes questions, challenges stereotypes and tries to present personal stories that celebrate the individuals in them.
Kehinde Whiley is an African American portrait painter based in New York City. His work uses the poses and props seen in traditional portrait paintings. He finds his models on the streets of New York and asks them to choose a painting they want to recreate. Sometimes he already has an idea of the painting he wants to copy and will find someone to pose for it. He never asks the people in his portraits to dress up because he likes them to wear their regular clothes. His work provokes questions, challenges stereotypes and tries to present personal stories that celebrate the individuals in them.
My Response
I made some images in the style of Kehinde Whiley's work. I chose a painting by Pablo Picasso called Old Guitarist Chicago made in 1903. I then I took some pictures of my Dad while he posed in a similar position as the man in the painting. These are shown in the slideshow below. I used some scans of fabrics similar to the backgrounds used in Whiley's pictures. I combined these with the photo of my Dad to make the final images.
I made some images in the style of Kehinde Whiley's work. I chose a painting by Pablo Picasso called Old Guitarist Chicago made in 1903. I then I took some pictures of my Dad while he posed in a similar position as the man in the painting. These are shown in the slideshow below. I used some scans of fabrics similar to the backgrounds used in Whiley's pictures. I combined these with the photo of my Dad to make the final images.
Editing the photos
Step 1
I first cut out the photo of my dad using the magnetic lasso tool in Photoshop.
I first cut out the photo of my dad using the magnetic lasso tool in Photoshop.
Step 2
I placed the cut out over the top of the background image. This allowed the cut out and the background to be on separate layers.
I placed the cut out over the top of the background image. This allowed the cut out and the background to be on separate layers.
Step 3
Using the opacity slider I made top layer semi transparent so I could see through to the bottom layer.
Using the opacity slider I made top layer semi transparent so I could see through to the bottom layer.
Step 4
I used the eraser tool to rub out the parts of the top layer that I wanted the background to show through. Once this was done I used the opacity slider to stop the top layer being semi transparent. Finally I flatten the image and saved it.
I used the eraser tool to rub out the parts of the top layer that I wanted the background to show through. Once this was done I used the opacity slider to stop the top layer being semi transparent. Finally I flatten the image and saved it.
What went well
I think the work I created looked similar to Kehinde Whiley's work. I took a lot of photos of my dad holding the guitar, which meant I had a lot to choose from when I selected the one I was going to use. It was the first time I used the lasso tool in Photoshop. This was more difficult than I thought it would be but the end result is ok.
Even better if
I could have been a bit more precise when I was rubbing out the top layer so the background could show through. It looks a bit messy. My first two pictures below are better than the second two. I think this is because I prefer the background in them. I could have chosen different backgrounds that are a good as the first two.
Below are the final four finished edits.
I think the work I created looked similar to Kehinde Whiley's work. I took a lot of photos of my dad holding the guitar, which meant I had a lot to choose from when I selected the one I was going to use. It was the first time I used the lasso tool in Photoshop. This was more difficult than I thought it would be but the end result is ok.
Even better if
I could have been a bit more precise when I was rubbing out the top layer so the background could show through. It looks a bit messy. My first two pictures below are better than the second two. I think this is because I prefer the background in them. I could have chosen different backgrounds that are a good as the first two.
Below are the final four finished edits.