I've used Photoshop for years for only the most utilitarian and simple functions and am now finally trying a few experiments. Here I've combined an abstract calligraphic piece using the word love with a photograph from my 2006 Solstice card.
My love of ink and paper was reawakened last year with the outdoor installation, Translations I. Before the installation, I tested the durability of the paper outside in the elements. One of my thoughts was to waterproof it. I used tung oil which I had read is used to waterproof paper umbrellas in Japan. It made the paper somewhat translucent and darkened it. I loved the way it looked but not for the installation. I had had a bamboo oil paper from Paper Source in my drawer for several years. I began to play with making accordion structures and combining the two.
This is now the beginning of a new series, Sumi Suite. When my son was helping me with the card photograph in the studio, he suggested that I take the books to different outdoor locations and photograph them and that is now in the works.
For those who are interested in what I did in Photoshop:
Layer 2: Blank, filled with paint bucket with 15% gray, set at Multiply
Layer 0: Book image, set at Screen
Layer 1: Love calligraphy, set at Normal
This is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing what two complex designs look like when blended together? No amount of printing transparencies can do this as elegantly and simply.
I remember in the early '80s when the computer was so scorned in art. It's just different, not worse than art you make with other tools. Sometimes, I just don't want to get my hands dirty.
P.S. I didn't realize this, but my last posted computer art also combined text and abstract and the text referred to the solstice!
ReplyDelete