Instruments of Atlantis

These four instruments were discovered at the archeological site for Atlantis. Listed are the instruments and what we think they were used for.



I scanned in a sketchbook page and used it as my background layout and then I created a few texture brushes (i.e. watercolor, colored pencil) to give it more of a drawn and painted feel to each image. I used Garamond font for the text.

The Crucible Poster

Image to replicate shadow puppet style

Shadow Puppetry

Unlike other types of puppets, the shadow puppet itself is never seen in performance, only the effect it creates. The performing shadow puppet is not just a single object of wood or cardboard, but a collection of things working together. However clever or beautiful the puppet shape, it's the puppet's combination with light and a screen that makes its magical effect.

Shadow puppet shapes are made to block some or all of the light and cast a shadow. If you are trying for crisp edges on your shadows, it's important to keep the material thin. Good quality, small scissors give clean edges and the curved scissors make cutting round shapes easy. Remember, it is the edges of the puppet shape the audience notices most, so spend extra time making sure they are clean and even.

Simple puppets use just the main control wire, but more complicated puppets may need a second wire to operate a moving part. For most performances, two wires is about all a puppeteer can handle. While the same type of wire will do for both main wire and second wire, the best second wires are old umbrella wires. These have a tiny eyelet in the end and let you attach the wire to the arm, leg, head, etc. with thread.

Digitally speaking, one is using shadows as the main medium and edge quality. Similar to cut paper, various cutting tools can be used to give different edges, from frayed to clean and crisp.

Richard Bradshaw (http://www.bytypuppets.com/main/page_richard_bradshaw_style_shadow_puppetry.html)

Martha Stewart (http://www.marthastewart.com/article/shadow-puppets)

Wayang Kulit (http://www.edwebproject.org/bali/gallery/puppet.html)

Illustrated Me

Me as a cut paper illustration

Paper Cutting

Cut paper art is used commonly for scrap booking and construction images. It is great for giving a textured and assembled collage look to a piece. Such techniques are also great for pop-up book art and can incorporate interactive elements either for children or adults. Artists today use this method for landscapes, flowers, and animals. It is usually placed in with the craft category as it is more hands on than other methods.

Important to remember about cutting paper is that it is all about texture and edges.

Paper trimmers are the most efficient in cutting clean and straight lines. They are used most commonly for cards in scrap booking. In recreating this digitally, one can use marquee tools or vector lines to make a refined edge along with various embosses to give a lift to add highlight and shadow.

Scissors will give a slight bend and give to the paper depending on the type, design, and strength of the blades.

Tearing will give a feathered and uneven edge which can be great for more organic creations.

Crumbling will give a wrinkled and organic texture to the paper, that can be a good use for many shadows and highlights along the surface and edge of the paper.

Folding will also give creases and add highlights and shadows to various pieces.

In creating all of these digitally, it is important to use illustrator for edge and line to help with vector lines and patterns that can be transferred to photoshop for texture and painting, etc.


Florindamaria (www.apapercutter.com/papercuttingportfolio.html) uses paper cutting for animals and celebrities, only using one color.

Peter Callesen (www.petercallesen.com) uses paper cutting to creat 3d works of art.

Hina Aoyama (www.designrelated.com/inspiration/view/Karen/entry/2976/paper-cutting-art-by-hina-aoyama) uses paper cutting for fantasy images such as foliage and fairies.

The Tree

My lithography piece