Hibiscus Collage

In early 2010, I decided to focus my creative efforts on a new series of work. My methodology has remained consistent since then. This process, a form of collage, has enabled me to fuse my knowledge of graphic design and fine art, thus allowing me the opportunity to combine the bold, arresting, and instantaneous visual qualities of communication design, along with painterly aspects such as line, color, form, and composition. The result is a visual representation reminiscent of and inspired by Pop Art. The primary tools I work with are art paper, an X-Acto knife, and an acid-free spray adhesive. I usually find source images via the internet, newspaper and magazine articles, and personal photographs. First, I draw outlines of the essential pictorial elements found within the image I choose to work from, specifically concentrating on forms of shadow and contrast. The line drawings are then transferred on to the combination of art papers I select. I then use a sharp blade to cut out the various shapes from the different colored papers, resulting in an array of seemingly unrelated elements. As these abstract shapes are arranged on a board, the image progressively begins to take form and come to life to display the final intended composition. This is a very exciting stage of the process for me because it indicates that I am on the right path to making the desired likeness apparent. The subjects I choose to depict are comprised mainly of pop culture celebrities and entertainment icons who have moved me in some manner. Nature, architecture, relatives, and friends are also among my favorite representational content. As I chart the progression of the completed work in this series to date, the notion of a working diary comes to mind; images recall particular events and moments in popular culture that transpired as I was involved with the creative process. When I reflect on the works I am reminded of the state of being I experienced at that particular point in time of creating the work and the accompanying emotions which prompted me to select and depict the given subject matter.