When it comes to technique, I am pushing myself to combine what I already know with the ideas that take more effort on my part. My natural sense is to start my sketches by incorporating objects in still life and not-so-much the figure or a landscape. At the beginning stages of an idea, I typically start with objects because it’s what I know. My plan is to study the figure with gusto by taking anatomy classes, figure workshops, and continuing life model time.
That aside, I am excited that this new art scheme I am currently engrossed in is allowing me to express my vision with confidence. I don’t feel a need to render my figures expertly so I can relax and have fun with this one. As for those ideas… I am also looking to push conventional thought with the use of symbolism. I came up with “staging” a composition using foamcore — which was to be used as observational reference, but turned into actual players on the stage.
I’m not gonna lie, placing cartoon-like objects within two-dimensional realism nudges at convention and will be tricky ??. An inspiration, see German contemporary artist Neo Rauch‘s cartoon/surrealism. My next blog post will highlight the same imagery in an ink value collage, as well as some more discussion behind the dreamscape. I am on the verge of taking this particular idea and embarking on a body of work. It’s exciting!
