Harmony
Relationships among colors, shapes, elements, form, space, texture, value, proportion, time…
Changing meaning, creating rhythm, manipulating perception
Throughout the creation of my collages, I inherently pushed for repetition of color and shapes within the “frame”. I really enjoy the creation of different worlds, illusions, and ideas through imagery.
In the collage I placed first (titled Recognition) I began to repeat different elements in diverging directions in order to convert the flat space into a space of layered color and forms. I incorporated the scanned tin foil face and the South Congress bowling pins (which both have recognizable facial elements) in order to continue this idea of face throughout the piece. I noticed that by varying the contrasts and brightness of the background imagery, I could create an illusion of depth and movement.
In my second collage (titled Ascendance) I wanted to create a bright environment that delivers a sense of rotation and the main subject (the skeleton with the gigantic head and cigar) rising. I worked a lot on layering multiple elements and creating repetition through the cloning tool. I think the balance of this image may require a little more work (maybe through lowering the repeated pickle-like shapes more weight would gravitate towards the center).
Final Images: Compositions of Interacting Thoughts
Process
Formal Exercises, Experimental Collages
Although this collage was the final collage I made, I call it an “experimental collage” because during the process I was focusing not solely on the whole image, but more on the idea of creating the different elements in the image. Within this collage I experimented with the cloning and selection tool in order to supply different makeup to the shapes. I also developed the background by cloning a sticker.
I didn’t put as much time into this piece as the other digital images, too, but I think this image may work with the addition of text and maybe a few more adjustments.
Within the physical collage above (which was the first collage I created), I worked around cut-outs of an already-established backdrop of the outside of a restaurant. I wanted to manipulate the viewer’s perception of the space as well as of the people at the tables, so I switched out their heads with the skeletons’ heads. I worked to create a balance of direction, so I added the arm and different angular lines to add to the concept as well as composition. I titled this piece “Peace be with you” in order to evoke ideas of violence, peace, religion, weaponry, and the implementation of each within cultures and societies.
Within the collage above, I wanted to utilize circular shapes in order to create depth, rhythm, and an overall unity. I worked to align the image of the shoes in the window with the picture of the silver cans underneath. I wanted to unite these two images because of their metallic, textural nature. I repeated the circles and reds through additional elements on the sides (these circles also mirror the pattern on the tights).
I also experimented through two other physical collages (which I have not scanned). Through those collages, I utilized a lot of paper bag material and I wanted to experiment with three-dimensional layering and form (making collages an object rather than an image).
Scanning Objects
The objects I scanned consisted mostly of trash and leaves. When I was choosing the objects I wanted to scan and incorporate into my collages, I wanted items that I could manipulate (such as the tin foil) and objects that had naturally and graphically interesting lines and shapes (such as the leaves and seed-like object in the scan titled “Three’s A Crowd”). I also chose objects because of their color (such as the bright yellow Starburst wrapper and the old, broken, plastic, pink pen cap).
In some scans I moved the leaves, stick, and sculpted tin foil as the scanner processed the information, which created reverberating lines of distorted color.
Scanned images can be found on my personal blog under the same section, via.
Color Profile (ProPhoto RGB) and Naming Properties:
File Extensions and Naming (ISO dating and Tifs):
