developing collage style

The scenes of the illustrations are again random picked. It is for me to develop a new style and character that suits the theme identity. The illustration above contains a map of Italy (her skirt) this could refer to her nationality which is a great part of someone’s identity. The flowers add colours and a happy scenery, but the background contains a bit of grey which causes a dramatic effect.

All the materials used are collected during the day. The things around us can tell a little bit about ourselves. The books we read (the flowers are made from a textbook) the tea we drink (her hair is coloured with cinnamon tea and adds a scent to the paper (you have to trust me on this, if someone wants to publish it, I can ask the publisher if it is possible to add some scents to the paper ).

The cardigan of the girl below is made of a clothing label-clothes (dessins, colours, style) tell a little bit about your mood and character and a brand tells us something about the group of people you want to be associated.

Other materials used are math paper (is that the correct word?) it refers to building and (re)constructing an identity. I have used label stickers which refers to the labeling of identity, when people met for the first time they tend to give someone a label: a preppy girl, a skater boy etc.

The map normally used in an archive can refer to our identity in a hospital or government agency.

For them we are just a number in a map.

Material experiments

I am using different kinds of materials in order to find a suitable style. Most of the material used is one of a kind, which makes it unique. Uniqueness and identity are obviously connected to each other so the material suits my theme, now I have to create a balance between the materials used, and find a way to use the material to express feelings.

I had the thought of literally building the character during the story. E.g. I start with a blank page and on the every spread she meets, sees or hears a person, animal or a thing. From everything she meets, a little piece gets stuck on her; eventually these pieces construct and re-construct the character’s identity. Instead of I am the title could be: ‘I was, I am, I become.’ The mind and self are in motion even if it sometimes appears to be slow motion. They are in a state of becoming even if what becomes is similar to what has been (Jenkins, R. Social identity 2008).

Still not sure of this is a good way to express my theme…

The list I have made earlier is also an option. I am rewriting the list and trying to connect in order to create a story that makes sense.

I am:

Emotions (metaphors) like angry, happy, sad, confused etc.:
-feeling blue
-on top of the world
-lonely
-just the way I am

Medical Science:
-a network of cells (or not?)= issue between body and self
-fat (in real life she is slim)= body disorder, anorexia, identity and mirroring

-Unique (DNA)
-Diabetic, asthma= issue about relating our identity or the identity from someone else to a disease

Fashion:

-Chanel =brand issue
-because of my surrounding

Contemporary world:

-No: 2385674 =passport identity, patient identity etc. issue you are a number instead of a person
-2500 pixels= internet identity, avatar, social media

-Not alone=big brother is watching you

Perhaps I should choose just one or two to develop? So only fashion and medical science.

Sketches

Searching for:

1 An appealing character

2 A simple form, so it is easier to combine with the collage technique I would like to use

It needs to be a bit messy; identity isn't orderly or fixed, identity is constantly building and re-building.

Wordless book: Shadow by Suzy Lee

Multi media illustrations by david habchy

Layers

http://www.benzilla.com/?p=2412

What Are You Like?

What Are You Like?
Self Revealing Artworks by
People in the Public Eye.

This was the name of an exhibition held in 2008-2009

The idea for this exhibition, curated by the House of Illustration, is taken from a Victorian game of describing yourself with images of your favourite things; like a cryptic visual essay, a self -portrait. It will appeal to a wide audience because it will give an insight into how the
contributors see themselves. The show will also celebrate the art of illustration as an eloquent tradition which, as a means of communication, crosses the boundaries of language, culture and age.
The House of Illustration has asked people from many disciplines who have the skills to express themselves visually.

Contributors have been asked to illustrate eight favourite things from a list of twelve – their favourite animal, book, clothes, comfort, food, pastime, place, possession, music, shoes, weather and their pet aversion. They have been encouraged to use whatever medium they most enjoy.
The artists' names will not appear on the artwork to allow the visitors the fun of trying to guess their identity – they will be provided with a definitive list should they wish to cheat.

Images by: Jonathan-burton, Posy Simmonds, Sara Fanelli, Peter Blake, Mary Fedden, Mini Grey, Peter Blake, Jeff Fischer