Right now is such a *fun time* to be an artist. I found a Luna moth in the forest, took a photo of it, printed it life-sized in grayscale on thick paper, cut it out, tore the edges, and painted it with clear gesso & watercolors. Then, I used the painted moth in an analog collage and took a digital photo of it. 🦋 Analog-> digital-> analog-> digital.
The collaborative work that you and Carolyn make is very cool!
I really enjoyed reading about your process!! I've enjoyed combining analog and digital collage elements too. Most of my work is representational so it's usually just cutting and pasting the main element and photographing it and applying a digital background texture that's consistent across them all.
But my favorite was where I collaged a paintbrush, photographed my hand holding it, and then put it all together. I'd love to get more of that human element or "me" into the mix but not sure how exactly. Fun though! ✂️
Thanks for reading! I always feel weird writing about “my process” because it usually amounts to little more than “what would happen if…”, which itself is something of an adhoc mixture of juvenile curiosity and the delinquent desire to do something the wrong way for the sheer delight of it. Always under the most scientific of auspices of course, haha.
I like how efficient your approach is! The collaged paintbrush/photograph sounds so fun! I’ll have to look for that! I love introducing randomness and imperfection into the process of it all. I like not knowing the outcome. I like being as surprised as the viewer. Have you thought about printing out the background you make manipulating them by hand in some way and then scanning them back in for assembly? Could be something to try.
Omg that's the BEST process though! I don't know of any better way to create 🙌☺️
And yes exactly - efficiency is my goal since I have pretty limited time and want to keep it very doable. But sometimes I'm done in a jiffy, and other times I want to spend hours on the most fiddly details. Usually very late at night haha.
And that's a great idea! The background is sort of like film grain - in an ideal world I would actually really love to create analog film photography textures and then layer those in digitally. I'm drawn to the little details/light/textures in editorial photography so it would be cool to source them from photos I created. But that'd be a slippery slope to picking film photography back up again... 😅 One day haha!
I can definitely relate. I have a dedicated place and time for daily making, but that still only accounts for a small fraction of my day. I was telling @James Hart that I try to think of myself more as a line cook than an artist. I keep my station prepped, my tools sharp and at the ready, I’m always mindful of my mise en place. It’s my job to make things. And it’s done I move on to the nest thing to be made.
Film noise/grain is nothing short of gorgeous. My love of vintage magazines is more about finding grainy photos than working with aged paper (but i do love that too). It sounds like such an incredible process, I really hope you do it one day!
Really enjoyed your painting post! That image came out great!
Thanks Jenn! It’s such a fun process. So full of surprises. I’m starting to lean into and explore this process more and more. And in more and more ways.
In the text I published today I also talk about analogue and digital, although I hardly use the second version. I find this "flip-flopping" you talk about very interesting. In reality, all experimentation in creativity, whatever the result, is interesting.
Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to reading your post. This is definitely something I’ll continue experimenting with, hopefully I can find a way to push it further.
in the end everything in analog is printed matter so why not design your own printed matter, I do that all the time. Of course nothing like the tactile bumps and grinds and evidence of life in the world found in old used papers. But you can also abuse your own printed matter too. I do that a lot also with sanding, folding, staining, crumpling, rubbing, tearing, taping, repairing, etc.
Great points! Like most things, I’m behind teh curve and late to teh party, lol. It’s been an enjoyable and interesting process, one that I think I’m only at the tip of the iceberg of. I’ve been lightly distressing some of the printed material (crumpling, folding) but the sanding, tearing, taping I think is a really good direction to go. Thanks for the tips!
I love that there is a name for this! I have been printing out some of my digital photos and playing around with incorporating them into my collages. I have not (yet!) tried running those back through the digital mill to continue the cycle, but I might have to try it. As far as ideas for you, I'd say, as always, keep going! I particularly like the effects you got with that photo of the old sign (an E, I think). The little curl at the edge where it's peeling up is so cool.
Thanks so much Lisa! I love that you're experimenting with your photos in your collages! I'd love to see it! I'm trying to dabble with that approach more. I'm not a particularly good photographer, but taking photos that you know you're going to cut takes the pressure off and allows a lot of room for play. I find that it also helps with practice of careful noticing. You're not looking for scenes, or landscapes, or subjects, but instead looking for textures, and patterns, and colors. The small minute but immensely interesting details of the world that go unnoticed. Like a curling E of weathered lettering, lol. Thanks again!
I don't know that I'm necessarily a particularly good photographer. But actually, I've noticed that the photos that are not great as stand-alones are the ones that work best in collages anyway. They reliably blend and interact in more interesting ways with the other components! All those textures, patterns, colors, and details, are what matter, like you said. So maybe what you have is exactly what you need.
great points! I think you’re absolutely right! I’m still pretty early on in these printed photo/collage experiments. i have a bunch of photos I really need to make it a point to edit and print. I’ll be working on that soon! Thanks for the push!
Davin, thank you! I think you’re always coming up with great compositions from this flop-flopping technique! Definitely excited to see you take further!
Thanks for sharing this one. It’s like collaborating with different parts of yourself!
That is fantastic way to look it! Thanks for that!
I just love your work, Duane.
So so kind of you LeeAnn! Thank you so much!
Right now is such a *fun time* to be an artist. I found a Luna moth in the forest, took a photo of it, printed it life-sized in grayscale on thick paper, cut it out, tore the edges, and painted it with clear gesso & watercolors. Then, I used the painted moth in an analog collage and took a digital photo of it. 🦋 Analog-> digital-> analog-> digital.
The collaborative work that you and Carolyn make is very cool!
Such a fantastic process! Every part of it! Would love to see it! Carolyn is always an absolute pleasure to work with.
I really enjoyed reading about your process!! I've enjoyed combining analog and digital collage elements too. Most of my work is representational so it's usually just cutting and pasting the main element and photographing it and applying a digital background texture that's consistent across them all.
But my favorite was where I collaged a paintbrush, photographed my hand holding it, and then put it all together. I'd love to get more of that human element or "me" into the mix but not sure how exactly. Fun though! ✂️
Thanks for reading! I always feel weird writing about “my process” because it usually amounts to little more than “what would happen if…”, which itself is something of an adhoc mixture of juvenile curiosity and the delinquent desire to do something the wrong way for the sheer delight of it. Always under the most scientific of auspices of course, haha.
I like how efficient your approach is! The collaged paintbrush/photograph sounds so fun! I’ll have to look for that! I love introducing randomness and imperfection into the process of it all. I like not knowing the outcome. I like being as surprised as the viewer. Have you thought about printing out the background you make manipulating them by hand in some way and then scanning them back in for assembly? Could be something to try.
Thanks again!
Omg that's the BEST process though! I don't know of any better way to create 🙌☺️
And yes exactly - efficiency is my goal since I have pretty limited time and want to keep it very doable. But sometimes I'm done in a jiffy, and other times I want to spend hours on the most fiddly details. Usually very late at night haha.
And that's a great idea! The background is sort of like film grain - in an ideal world I would actually really love to create analog film photography textures and then layer those in digitally. I'm drawn to the little details/light/textures in editorial photography so it would be cool to source them from photos I created. But that'd be a slippery slope to picking film photography back up again... 😅 One day haha!
The one collage/photo combo I mentioned is at the top here ☺️ - https://open.substack.com/pub/jessbarker/p/what-i-know-about-resistance-and-transformations
I can definitely relate. I have a dedicated place and time for daily making, but that still only accounts for a small fraction of my day. I was telling @James Hart that I try to think of myself more as a line cook than an artist. I keep my station prepped, my tools sharp and at the ready, I’m always mindful of my mise en place. It’s my job to make things. And it’s done I move on to the nest thing to be made.
Film noise/grain is nothing short of gorgeous. My love of vintage magazines is more about finding grainy photos than working with aged paper (but i do love that too). It sounds like such an incredible process, I really hope you do it one day!
Really enjoyed your painting post! That image came out great!
Ooh I love that line cook metaphor - that's such a refreshing take on what the creative process can look and feel like.
And thank you!! ☺️
My pleasure! Thanks again!
These flip flops are so cool! I didn’t know anything about it, and it’s really cool to see how you do it and how much fun you have playing. Thank you.
Thanks Jenn! It’s such a fun process. So full of surprises. I’m starting to lean into and explore this process more and more. And in more and more ways.
Excellent; that is an exciting adventure to be on . Enjoy the ride ☺️
Will do! Thanks for everything!
Flip-flopping is a new concept for me, thanks for bringing it up. This post csme to me on my birthday, so I thank you for the "present." 😊
Happy Birthday!! Hope you had a great one!
270 / 5.000
In the text I published today I also talk about analogue and digital, although I hardly use the second version. I find this "flip-flopping" you talk about very interesting. In reality, all experimentation in creativity, whatever the result, is interesting.
Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to reading your post. This is definitely something I’ll continue experimenting with, hopefully I can find a way to push it further.
in the end everything in analog is printed matter so why not design your own printed matter, I do that all the time. Of course nothing like the tactile bumps and grinds and evidence of life in the world found in old used papers. But you can also abuse your own printed matter too. I do that a lot also with sanding, folding, staining, crumpling, rubbing, tearing, taping, repairing, etc.
Great points! Like most things, I’m behind teh curve and late to teh party, lol. It’s been an enjoyable and interesting process, one that I think I’m only at the tip of the iceberg of. I’ve been lightly distressing some of the printed material (crumpling, folding) but the sanding, tearing, taping I think is a really good direction to go. Thanks for the tips!
I love that there is a name for this! I have been printing out some of my digital photos and playing around with incorporating them into my collages. I have not (yet!) tried running those back through the digital mill to continue the cycle, but I might have to try it. As far as ideas for you, I'd say, as always, keep going! I particularly like the effects you got with that photo of the old sign (an E, I think). The little curl at the edge where it's peeling up is so cool.
Thanks so much Lisa! I love that you're experimenting with your photos in your collages! I'd love to see it! I'm trying to dabble with that approach more. I'm not a particularly good photographer, but taking photos that you know you're going to cut takes the pressure off and allows a lot of room for play. I find that it also helps with practice of careful noticing. You're not looking for scenes, or landscapes, or subjects, but instead looking for textures, and patterns, and colors. The small minute but immensely interesting details of the world that go unnoticed. Like a curling E of weathered lettering, lol. Thanks again!
I don't know that I'm necessarily a particularly good photographer. But actually, I've noticed that the photos that are not great as stand-alones are the ones that work best in collages anyway. They reliably blend and interact in more interesting ways with the other components! All those textures, patterns, colors, and details, are what matter, like you said. So maybe what you have is exactly what you need.
great points! I think you’re absolutely right! I’m still pretty early on in these printed photo/collage experiments. i have a bunch of photos I really need to make it a point to edit and print. I’ll be working on that soon! Thanks for the push!
As someone who is also a flip-flop experimenter, your work gives me some great prompts to take that even further.
Davin, thank you! I think you’re always coming up with great compositions from this flop-flopping technique! Definitely excited to see you take further!