Texture photos
September 22, 2008 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Home & Living
Make Art Monday
I use photo images in so much of my work that my camera has become my most essential tool, as I shared with you on the Question of the Month post. Even when we went to Italy, I spent a certain amount of time just simply shooting things that would make interesting texture shots. Most of these are less interesting as compositions than they are in terms of how they can be used in the future: backgrounds or elements of a collage, a layer in a digital piece, warped and Photoshopped into something else…
Do you spend time shooting elements for later use too?
I photo my background papers and collages at various steps to use later either digitally or printed and collaged. I have recently started to photo finished pieces and reuse them which I am fascinated by. I mean, it is that whole “chicken and the egg” sort of thing… a single piece of art, photo’d and repurposed into another piece, photo’d and… you see what I mean?! Love this post (as always).
Oh my, YES! I can hardly take “ordinary” pictures any more. I’m always thinking of line, texture, shape, colour for future artwork. And like Christy (whose work I really like, by the way), I take pictures of my own work in various stages to also use in future work. It’s like the mirror in the mirror, it keeps going on forever. When you “repurpose” your own work, it’s much like a color that looks completely different beside other colors. And you can take any small piece, and produce a whole design out of it, or make different design papers for collage. Thus, any one piece can instigate a myriad of others. It makes creating a series such a fascinating journey!
Thanks guys! I am so relieved to hear that you know just what I mean
I would really like to see you take one of these pictures that you posted and go step by step and show how you would use them in a project. I would love to see something using the 1st picture with the brick and ironwork. I think this would be very helpful to some of us who are somewhat challenged in how to make these into a fabric piece. Thanks, Diane
I just might do that! In the meantime, here is an example of how I combine texture shots into other works:
http://www.layersuponlayers.com/digital-collage-using-scanned-background-papers/
In these pieces, I scanned textured background papers that I had made. You could easily use a photo instead of the papers, and either scan it, or use the digital file if you have it.
Love these pics. I have taken a few texture shots but tend to forget the camera when I go somewhere. I’m better with the digital camera than I ever was when we had to buy film and have it developed (both of which I could seldom afford at the time). I do take photos of some of my backgrounds and projects which I have at times repurposed.
I put together a digital composite yesterday after Diane challenged me! Hopefully I’ll be able to print it out and use it in a project within the next couple weeks. Then I’ll share it with you all
I am glad that I could challenge you to make a project. I cannot wait to see it. I know it will be very instructional and will help me in future projects. Again, I really love the way you show step by step how you do projects. It is greatly appreciated.
Look for it to start next Monday, Diane!