Skip to main content

A Muse to Florida

Recently I received an email from a high school gal, Heather, who lives in South Florida. She plans to study photography after high school so is wisely taking her photo class seriously. Her assignment involved an assemblage project and her research lead her to my site. She inquired after some of the techniques I use in order to apply to her project.

Heather's Creative Brief

The project I'm working on is an assemblage sort of like Joseph Cornell.... My meaning for the box is for the viewer to see all sides of the box because everyone has a need to know everything they can about an item and/or person, like Pandora's box. It started as just the box being the center of interest but I started adding a story to it. See my model has a possessiveness of the box so I photographed her with the box in different locations and I'm planning on transferring them into the box in a montage like your work or Robert Rauchenberg then inside I want to assemble it somehow like Cornell to show my model giving up the box, like leaving it behind.... basically I want to portray this mystery of a box so the viewer can come up with their own story for it. I'm still playing with the idea.

Heather & I had a bit of an exchange (we both share a love of Joseph Cornell's shadow boxes and all things Robert Rauschenberg). I offered her explanations of my techniques, sent her a handful of links and wished her luck.

Results to Date

I'm thrilled that Heather sent me samples of her work-in-progress (photos left)!

"I used Modge Podge as my medium to transfer the pictures onto this thick watercolor paper and I plan on reprinting these scans and using packing tape to transfer them and pasting those on my box."

I think these look gergeous already! I'm proud to have influenced Heather's creative process. Thanks so much for sharing and for having the courage and maturity to reach out for advice.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Picture-perfect Idea

When I last spoke of the Anonymous Art Show that I participated in back in Nov. 2011, I neglected to note a detail that really stood out for me. On the main wall near the entrance, the organizers hung a large canvas wrapped with all the names of the contributing artists. I was proud as punch to see my name included in print among the over 400 other talented souls who participated in the annual event. It's a small thing, one's name typeset amongst so many others, but it spoke in a large way to me. It said that my work is valuable to this organization; it's appreciated, acknowledged, and recognized. And that feels great. So if you find yourself in need of a creative way to express thanks to your contributors at an event, this may just be the final touch you need.
Post a Comment
Read more

Starbucks saved my marriage

In early February I was still greatly enamoured with my Christmas "urchin" necklace ( see Jan 20th posting). I put it on daily feeling extra warm and fuzzy with the knowledge that my guy had showered me with such a special gift of love. And then I lost it. I mean I physically lost my necklace. One morning, apparently the clasp wasn't fully closed, the chain released and the necklace slipped off of my neck. I was beside myself with sickness; and my better-half was using all of his energy to restrain anger-based comments from exiting his mouth. Pulling my emotions together, I retraced my steps multiple times, posted LOST signs around the neighbourhood and sent out a lot of gratitude vibes hoping a Kind Soul would return it to me.  One very long day later we received a call from a Kind Soul. A fellow Starbucks regular found my necklace on the floor near the coffee bar! English isn't his first language so he didn't know how to go about finding the necklace...
Post a Comment
Read more

My latest favs

From Canada to the States, print is alive & well. Currently I'm crazy about these two mags. Uppercase  is published from Calgary. Yes, I too was surprised that Cowtown could be so design-stylish & typographically sensitive. But that shows how ignorant/prejudice I can be. The mag features designers and artists from across the globe. Additionally interviews include folks that run their own business in a creative manner, such as the British family whose business is to refurbish retro trailers and caravans and rents them out for personal & business use. The mag is delightfully detailed with illustrations and graphics that support each story. The stock is hefty and over-all a joy to soak up. Where Women Create is fully American. But don't let that leave you feeling excluded. The stories are warm, inspiring, & drenched with rich, detailed photography. Each page I turn leaves me enthralled. I envision myself in each studio (and secretly, being featured i...
Post a Comment
Read more