This semester (for the critique class that I'm taking at SAIC) I'm finding myself taking somewhat of a detour from my usual acrylic figure paintings.
About a month and a half ago, I started playing around with photo images printed from the computer. It was part walk down memory lane and part research project. I wanted a collection of people who have been influential to me-- from the doctor in Johnstown, PA who saved my life, to my husband, to ex-bosses. I scoured Facebook and other sources and put together a Warhol-ish black and white photo collage. Next, I introduced a little bit of color with some acrylic glazes. Finally I put myself into the work... literally. Using (very tame) nude photos, I collaged myself on top of the snapshots of those who have impacted me. It was perhaps the most personal and heartfelt work I've ever produced. The ideas kept coming. On top of the photo images, I added watercolor-tinted twine and some rhinestones. The end result pleased me very much so I brought them to critique.
I'm lucky to be in a group of such dynamic, creative individuals who helped to encourage me to pursue this new direction in my artwork and to push it even further. So this week I spent countless hours expanding upon this body of work. This time I added even more color, played with dimension, perspective and viewpoint. The materials are completely new to me and I'm making up the technique as I go along, but it's a whole lotta fun. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.
But I do miss my acrylic figurative work.
Nothing like working on something new to get the brain juice flowing.
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