Surrealism
20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images.

The movement was a reaction to the first World War. Psychologically, Europe was in turmoil. The first world war was so massive and so devastating that the art world responded by creating artwork grounded in escapism.

Why create artwork that makes any rational sense when the entire world doesn't make any sense?

Some surreal artists took their inspiration from dream worlds, while others looks more towards current culture and society and took that imagery and subverted it to make a comment about their social state of affairs.

How to create a surreal artwork: 

There are a number of key elements that make up a surreal artwork.

  1. It appears realistic. This sounds counter intuitive but the surreal artist is trying to convince the viewer that what they are see could be real, that there is a chance. So there are still recognizable objects and images that make up a surreal work. No abstract art here. 
  2. Juxtaposition. Surreal artists will take those realistic images and combine them.  By putting them next to each other it changes their meaning. ex: take a forest and a goldfish "swimming" through it. A forest is realistic. A goldfish is realistic. But make an artwork of a goldfish looking like it is swimming through the air? That is surrealism. 
  3. Breaking the laws of physics. Think about what is actually possible on planet earth. What science says is possible. Then make the opposite happen. Have people fly. Have a mouse be larger than a lion. Bending the rules of nature and expectation is a clear way to create a surreal artwork. 
Assignment # 1
Posted under assignments in google classroom as a google doc**
  1. What is surrealism?
  2. What was it a reaction to?
  3. Why did surreal artists make their artwork look the way it did?
  4. What is one key element to making a surreal artwork?
  5. What is a second key element to making a surreal artwork?
  6. What is a third key element to making a surreal artwork?
  7. How are the surreal artists like us during this time in our country?


Assignment # 2

You are to create your own original illustration inspired by Surrealism. It MUST include the following:
  1. It can be a landscape or a portrait.
  2. There must be at least 10 images combined. This includes the background.
  3. There must be a focal point in the collage that drives the narrative. 
  4. There must be a sense of space and depth.
  5. It must be a balanced composition. 
  6. There must be a final filter on top. 
  7. Evidence of good work ethic and EFFORT. 
Tutorial Below:
Photoshop How to Create a Collage
howtomakeacollage.pdf
File Size: 5230 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Assignment # 3
Reflection Questions:
Posted as an assignment google doc on google classroom**
  1. What do you think you did well in this project?
  2. What do you think you could improve on in this project?
  3. What did you learn how to do, or get better at doing in this project?
  4. What is the scene you created? How is it surreal?
VIDEO TUTORIAL BELOW IF YOU ARE USING PIXLR E:
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