For this exercise there are two parts:
Use techniques like SCAMPER to composite images
Create collections of the composites to create connections based on themes that mean something to me
Reading ahead to this exercise, I admit I was frustrated reading the brief, as this exercise seemed too close to the exercises at the start of the unit (which I didn't particularly enjoy as much). I also have an aversion to printing off a lot of paper which will likely be discarded. In my previous unit, when I needed to do lots of playing around with size, shape and orientation I managed to tackle the constraint of not printing by playing around with images digitally. So that's what I decided to do for this exercise.
As such, my work for this exercise was very much a constant combination of parts one and two of the brief. My method was to go through all of my sketchbook scans which I have stored, and first pick out images that spoke to me (for any reason). I ended up with a collection of images which combines elements of joy, inspiration, excitement and learning moments.
I then started to place them into a digital canvas. I decided to work at A5 size - little more than a postcard - so as to imagine it was sketchbook-sized, or even that I could use the image to send to someone.
I needed my composites to speak not only of my journey during the module, but of me.
As I placed different images, sometimes I wanted just parts of a page. So I used lasso tools to select what I wanted in my collage, and copied them in. With the images as individual layers, I was able to continuously rearrange the compositions and even flip elements.
I started to bring some elements from my reportage work together first. Seeing the two images of the town hall and burger stand together I thought that I could place them in perspective so it would look like one scene. This worked, and at this point, I realised the theme of this composition was going to be around my love and ability to create a sense of place. I added in characters from other sketches but the image was looking flat. I wanted a background element. I remembered my tutor's feedback for Assignment 1 where she first helped me identify my strength for creating a sense of place. So I wondered how I could incorporate that image into the composition. I used the sunset, digitally working with the image to extend it wide enough to fit the new composition. I reversed the image so that the tree would be on the right-hand side and sit nicely inside the composite image. Lastly, I needed texture for the 'ground', so I went a bit surreal and looked at some of my mark-making work in discovering a process. I ended up choosing the one with text, as it brought back memories of listening to James Vittore's advice. I wanted to capture that. I used a perspective warp to make it fit into the scene.
Inspired by this intuitive approach to the exercise, I eagerly started a new canvas to pull from more of the images I had. I started with my cartoon of Boris Johnson and then added the sketch of the Italian diner from my reportage. Initially, I struggled with laying them out. I flipped the image of Johnson to balance it a bit more. However, it was still flat.
I remembered from investigating a process the experiment I did with capturing layers and layers of words so that every time you looked at the image you saw something new. I wanted to try something similar but talk to my learning goal of figures and expressions. First I needed a textured background, so I took the collaged rain from my experiments with collage, and replicated it across the page. I colourised the image purple, to match the text in the original Johnson image (and the colour of the sketchbook it was in).
I started to add texture by looking for patterns in my selected work. I chose the camouflage pattern from the Tank Musuem, copying it so I can cover the whole page. I adjusted its hue and layer properties to blend with the background. Playing with the layers inspired me to play with the two figure images as well. I tried lots and lots of different variations of properties, opacity and colour until I came up with options that I enjoyed.
I then added in another figure drawing, this time one of my blind contour drawings. I added this as a multiply layer and reduced the opacity so that it receded in the visual hierarchy. Lastly, I experimented with adding textures to the image to add some contrast and visual interest. I enjoyed using the little bit of halftone which inspired the next sequence.
For my third and final composition, I started with the idea of the background. I copied some of the storyboards, and laid them into the new canvas, rotating them to make them look like they had been left in a scattered pile on a desk. I wanted this composite to really exude the love I have found for aspects of sequential work. To add some colour, I added in the gouache painting of water I did in my sketchbook. Making it a multiply layer transformed the storyboards to make them look like they were underwater, and allowed them to sit nicely in the background.
I then added other images in which spoke to me from my sequential and 'comic' work. For each, I tinkered with the colours to create a homogenous palette to the composition. There was an obvious contrast in the orange of the fox, so I started to think about if I could use that elsewhere.
I added in a halftone vignette to the background to reinforce that element of comics and print. I then used texture to adjust all of my selected images to make them feel more organic and natural on the page. Lastly, I decided to add a splatter of contrasting orange to the lighthouse picture. I do still wonder if the horse would benefit from some orange as well - maybe the text?
Overall, I am actually quite surprised with my three composite images, and I think thematically they speak to the areas of interest I have discovered during this module. What was also surprising was how I was able to overcome my misgivings and let go once I had tapped into a more intuitive approach to this exercise. Usually, I do well with more structure, so it was a pleasant change of pace.
I am pleased with the images, and together with the visual action plan, they have given me some interesting ideas about how I might now tackle exercise 5.3 in a way that will still be on brief but will overcome the extreme frustration I felt when first reading the brief.
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