Until Now

My theme for this semester has been cryptic color; exploring the significance of color and the absence of color. However, my theme not only explores this idea, but also a particular medium which is photography mixed media. This came from a want to combine two of the visual art worlds, and has turned into being able to expand my horizons in and out of the studio in more ways thought possible. At first mixed media was just with traditional supplies like other types of paper, paint, and writing utensils, but it has turned into a lot more than that. I have explored the idea of photoshop, 3D elements, and more just so far.


After coming to an artist block for awhile, I finally came back to figuring out where my best art comes from and that is the art I can relay a message through that particularly deals with my personal experiences. Through my theme I have been able to pick and choose what exactly I want to highlight for my audience to try and interpret, and what I rather include but not emphasis. I have found as an artist this element is most important to me, because art is a therapy on its own for me, it is a way for me to get things out, but I do not necessarily want everyone to know exactly what I am putting out there. This is why this theme has worked well for me so far; I can include everything, but emphasis only some parts. 

Currently I am brainstorming multiple ideas for projects to come, but the difficulty in it all is now picking mediums. With mixed media being part of my theme, I have a lot more options than anticipated and it has been overwhelming picking what I want to work with in particular projects. Right now it seems as if I was given a whole new world of tools, and do not know what to do with them. I have several ideas, but now it is a matter of narrowing them down and executing them.  

The sentence of it all...

Through this collection of pieces stories will be portrayed through photographs and interpretation of the use of color and lack of color. 

Cryptic Color

The piece that is still in works right now originated when I wanted to combine my studio art background with my new interest in photography. This piece was more built off of that and still wanting to continue with mixed media. I have always had an appeal to black and white with an intrusion of color, and the ideas that it can convey depending on the heaviness of the black and white and also the choice of color that is being added.

Therefore, continuing forward I am going with the theme "cryptic color." Throughout the semester my pieces will not only be connected through the idea of "cryptic color," but through the pattern of mixed media with photography. Rather than there being one overall meaning to the collection of pieces, they will be connected through look and construction. This way each piece may offer its own meaning, but it will still be a collection.

The Beginning

Photo in the works
Photograph by Emerson Lawton

Project #1 of year #3 begins with yet another mixed media piece. However, this time around it is digital photography, sharpies, illustration pens, and we will see what else. Thinking going big once again with possibly a 24 by 36 inch piece. Expect to see a contrasting fade out of color and black to white in this next project, and maybe even a little pop of 3D. Some editing still left to do before we can officially begin.