process
Research is the preliminary stage is crucial
to the structure and cohesiveness of the series. Once research
is completed, my method is simple and painful:
I translate studies from my sketchbook
into digital collages. I chose 24 images to be finished out
of set of about 35 sketches done in a relatively short period
of time. Speed is important in order to retain continuity
within the series.
I match a face to each "character" (family or corporate
vintage photography provides the base from which the style
and expression originates) and most of the times this is the
starting point of every image.
The combination of body, insect, machine, tool, flesh and
bone parts, compose the body and evolve to finished seamless
black and white images.The choice is done according to the
"job description", or better "psychological
profile" that stemmed from the preliminary research stage.
Once most of the characters are assembled parts are swapped
and even named in order to strengthen the individual concepts,
so at some point the creative process is almost independent
from the prior research decisions.
Then I add color by combining unrelated photos or parts of
older paintings of mine who's color or textures I like. Also
a great deal of tinting and shading is combined with various
layer effects in order to get the end result. I print multiple
stages of the work in progress and mark up the changes on
the printout. The computer files are composed from over 20
sources and nearly 30-40 layers that require meticulous naming
and organization in order to handle them. Each image requires
a good, solid 40-50 hours of work between initial composition
and final output.(not including research, photography or sketches).
The final prints where done digitally on 44 x 60 canvases.
Producing them with a hi resolution 6 color laser method,
translates accurately their on-screen vibrant color quality.
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