Studio Brief 1 - What is drawing? PHOTOSHOP DEVELOPMENTS

IMAGE 1                          IMAGE 3                             IMAGE 2

PROCESS & EXPERIMENTATIONS

Following on from the observational tasks we carried out on plant studies, I have used photoshop to develop these through layering and blending modes. I initially found it quite difficult to achieve treatments that complimented the subject matter, trying to achieve adjustments that did not distract from the delicate and natural aesthetic of the plant drawings. An outcome I felt did work quite well was the use of duplication and blending. Duplicating areas of the images and transforming these enabled me to create layered compositions that enhanced the natural textures in the drawings. 

Further to layering, I explored blending modes to explore interplays between colours and layers, almost mimicking a screen print outcome through dual-layers. I feel that a success of these outcomes is the use of a repeated motif, transformed to create the impression of a busier image. This could perhaps work well in order to create consistent, yet aesthetically varied images within a given theme. 

                      IMAGE 4                                                             IMAGE 5

Images 1 and 3 both demonstrate a consideration of composition through the rule of thirds which works well alongside dark and light variations of the imagery to create interesting compositions. While images 2, 4 and 5 show lesser considerations of composition, they demonstrate consideration of layering and colour interplay, exploring colour palettes and opacity to create textural imagery that demonstrates a use of digital collage and blending modes.

REFLECTION

From this task I have developed a greater understanding of the uses of blending modes and how these can work to mimic screen-printed qualities. This could be particularly useful as a method of testing out possible positives before committing to the screen print process, and could also work well within digital collages to achieved interplay between layers and components. However, I would be looking to develop some stylistically different photoshop treatments in order to use it in its most relevant form.