Artist Statements: Pixlr & Superimpose

Click on the image to view the artist statement resources

I know I've posted about making artist statements many times before. I had a way to make them using Photoshop Express on desktops and PicCollage on iPads. But, last summer PicCollage stopped being free. They added a watermark that you had to pay to remove. UGH!! How do you make art with their watermark? Funny, we were using CamWow for the posterized effect with a watermark we worked on avoiding too. So, I've had it in the back of my mind for the past year to try to find a better solution if I could for creating this artist statement project. Here is what I came up with: Superimpose app (.99) and Pixlr app (free). Superimpose app is a MUST for every art room so I don't see it as a cost for just this lesson since you can use it for probably 100 different lessons. Today I played with some of the styles, effects, and text options in Pixlr and think it has what I would need when the two apps are "smashed" together. 

1. I took the original photo with a clean background color not found in skin or hair (like green screen). 
2. Then I chose a plain black background and masked away the green in Superimpose app.
3. Then, saved it and imported the image into Pixlr. I chose under the Stylize button-->Poster, then under Effects button-->Too Old--->Agnes.
4. Then I used Pixlr's text options to add the artist statement.

Use your Camera App

Superimpose App (.99)

Pixlr App (free)

Masked in Superimpose, FXs and text added in Pixlr

More Resources:

View desktop method

See my PicCollage method

artist statement brainstorming sheet

Wait! Just when I thought I had this lesson figured out I played with TypeDrawing app. What if students drew with their artist statement words directly on their portrait? 
Update: See this post about using typedrawing for digital micrography.

Draw with words over image with TypeDraw app