Prismatic/Pragmatic

Today in 2D Gerard returned the three full sketchbook signatures which we had previously handed in. Because I didn't have a chance to photograph them as I finished them, I took pictures of all three at once.

The format for the sketchbooks is that each signature contains 16 pages. Each sketchbook investigates one color. Each signature is comprised of two parts; the first eight pages are to experiment with the way the color reacts, mixes, etc. The second half of each signature uses the color in a conceptual way, taking into account what was learned while experimenting. We must use acrylic and have the option of using collage.

Note that the lighting in my room is not ideal, so the colors shown don't quite match up to the real thing.

This is my red sketchbook:

For the conceptual part, I looked at imagery like an iconic red fox, red herrings, the red scare/communism, Little Red Riding Hood, and butchery.

Here comes yellow:

We needed a theme, so I just stuck with banana. I tried to show it in different lights, with some quirky colors and juxtapositions.

And the most recent, blue:

This was easily the most fun I had so far. I actually came up with the idea because I wanted to incorporate the cyanotypes I made in 2D earlier, which I had used house imagery on. However, after xeroxing the cyanotypes to collage on, I didn't even use them. Instead, I used just this graphic, slightly varying icon of a house and played with the idea of inside and outside (and encouraged flow) by using cut-outs. They're used on every page but the last, opening windows and doors into the next and last page. The images created by the openings of space were very important and I planned them carefully. I also wanted to pair the houses with the ideas of flood and fire, shown specifically in the last two pages.

Having only just received feedback on all the signatures I've completed, it's now time to really push myself. My teacher only emphasized what I knew I needed to work on, which is to incorporate more painterly representations into my hard-edged, always graphic pictures. I need to take more risks be looser. I'm trying to see if I can introduce a new media such as colored pencil just to reinvigorate my stagnant thought process and force more texture into my images.

It's been hard to change my thought process because the format and prompt for each signature is completely identical, except for the color focus. Hopefully I can learn to switch things up without the prodding of assignment. By the time I bind all the signatures into a presentable sketchbook by semester's end, I'm determined to show real growth, exploration, and risk-taking which I haven't yet reached.