Project Update #3

It's always a good feeling to have when a personal idea or vision unfolds and develops into a concise reflective body of work. As I've moved along in the early stages and now head towards the final phase of my project, this concept is becoming more evident with each step taken. Admittedly, it's been challenging at times, and often questionable of the art and direction, but certainly an optimistic process nonetheless.

When I originally planned on the formation and creation of this piece (my project) I felt influenced by a few different things; most notably Art and imagery, perspective, time and space, the art of illusion, technique, and slow revelation. To some these concepts might seem foreign or unfamiliar in the direction of their work...but so far all of these things have translated pretty vast and fluidly throughout the progression of my project.

Firstly, the art and imagery I am trying to symbolize are hopefully very similar to that of a photograph or still image...capturing a specific point in time that could be profoundly deep and meaningful like that of a portrait. With the use of perspective one could hopefully see the comparisons/contrasts through certain elements and images represented. The Time and space should be used abundantly and force the viewer to concentrate solely on the entire page as the distinctive melody is almost visually compelling.

As for the contained illusion that is probably the most challenging concept thus far due in part to the masking and blending of similar images represented within the limits of the given work. The shapes, sizes, and effects should all be of their own nature and individual craft, but most importantly flow smoothly and emphasize structure and obscurity. I am finding that the use of color is a unique and resourceful method in this regard, but should be used sparingly to focus on a more subtle blend that is not too comparable to that of a palette or collage.

All the images should go hand-in-hand and be complimentitive of each other while conducting a range of motion that triggers sufficient contrast when seen with different perspectives. For example, the movement of clouds and waves should be uniquely similar in and parallel to the direction of motion, but still still recognizable for subject that is reflected. Maintaining unity while representing conflicting images is not exactly an easy thing...especially when your work still is engaging and attractive in it's own right. Above all the quality and theme should be properly conveyed and uncompromising even when it hurts.

Lastly, the technique is more a combination of things. With the sky, water, and light, you need to reflect on things you've seen or experienced: which is often very much an important theme in art. Based on those things...I've been able to envision in my thought-process and compare with other visuals such as art, photography, film, etc. This allows me to continue developing those subjects within a given frame or space in context and then insert it into the final product. This would be very different in most cases...but the point of emphasis is still based on one subject within the whole that outwardly expresses tone, movement, and reflection.

There really hasn't been much of a slow-revelation as of yet...but I am hoping that these last couple days of work I can establish a vivid flow and mood characteristic of nature that much like the film "Fogline" rewards the viewer with slow reveals if focused with attention attention to surrounding detail. We shall see, but for now the overall tone is satisfactory and hopefully nothing short of a small, yet creative invention of art.

Project Update

In the early stages of my project, I have done a significant amount of research on different artists and forms of art to hopefully incorporate certain ideas and methods into my own work. Some of the artists examined thus far have ranged from Hiroshi Sugimoto, Phillip Alexander, Suzanne Brooker, Chris Sanders, Ruth Burke, and Phillip Pillson.

All of these artists/photographers have embodied some of the similar detail and structure that I am looking to pattern within the confines of my own project. With the photography and still images of Sugimoto, Chris Sanders and others I find that pictures of landscape are beautiful images if captured at the right moments of time. As for some of the modern-day artists like Alexander and Brooker, their use of color make the their paintings illuminate and attract the viewer with detail and motion.

I am trying find something in between those two elements where I can successfully compose an attractive idea that's properly balanced in motion and design. I am slowly finding that the use of color is not exactly imminent for something to stand out and engage the viewer. My early picture attempts have consisted primarily of rough sketches of oceans and sky with the two symbolizing their converse perspectives and the union that might co-exist.

As with the artists mentioned above they too have established similar expression with ocean and sky. With Sugimoto he uses several images of stills much like the film "Fogline" which we viewed in class, giving the viewer a taste of slow revelation over time. The thing that is most impressive is the different perspectives represented from those given images. This challenges the viewers original impressions of the work. Similarly, my work should make the viewer question the relation between the two subjects...what are those images representing? Which image is represented best? What can we conclude or come away with from that image?

Overall, I think this examination and exploration of different artists has improved my strategies for the proposed work and what I look to achieve through such a medium. It's very encouraging as well to see other people with similar thought who strived tirelessly to achieve that goal with a rewarding result. This ultimately has made my process more developed and well-defined...which hopefully will help in the long-run.

project goals/progress

For the Film 202 project, my goal is to represent two seperate images on one sheet of paper that blend in to one another as a reflection. The point of the piece is to represent the a picture displayed in two different lights as a reflection of each consuming the limits of the page. Though I'm still researching, it's been a little difficult to find the appropriate artists to study and investigate for such a vision.

I have talked with a few art majors concerning my project and the suggestions have ranged anywhere from the study of light artists to the luminist era. Though the quality and beauty have well been represented in this area of history, there isn't much of a combination of blending and reflection involved (at least not in the idea I've imagined). There is much color and detail in most of the work, but there's a basis of similar structure in the two images that I look to create...a body of water (ocean) and the sky above it in a reflective blending tone; almost one consuming the other. I am hoping to make the images so similarly drawn that at times could be indistinguishable from each other.

The colors will indeed be uniquely different and will hopefully complement the other through the overall tone and structure of the images; ocean currents and cloud movement. This will be the tricky part; trying to make them as distinctly similar as possible without being overly ostentatious. What I mean is by paralleling the images I hope to add continuity to the work, but still maintain the features that are characteristic of the two.

I am hoping to speak with an art professor this week about these concerns and also visit some exibits/galleries/museums if that's necessary. My interest in this area was generated from both my personal interest and growth in Art, but also from a couple of films viewed in class (most notably Shino Kano's "Rocking Chair") that symbolize a number of images viewed and revealed from different angles and lighting. Hopefully I'll have time to generate some observations in other films and perhaps photography to help create this puzzling effect.