Thursday, March 31, 2011

Skyline Yellow - Sample


Although this piece has a full compliment of seven layers, the tonal gradient across them (except for the black) is mild.  I think this piece is all about color selection.
It measures 8x10 so the relative depth of the layers is high, creating the shadows in the photograph above that I would normally try and minimize.  But here I feel they contribute to the finished product.  It might be worth exploring manipulating these shadows going forward.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Charlie in 7

This is the finished work first begun with the test cutting "It's Him or Me", last year.  It's based on a nude photograph of the model Charlie Rawlins, taken by Dylan Rosser, and used with his permission.

Unlike the test cutting it's completed in flesh colors and with extra layers that provide more detail and depth.

The image above is a photograph of the finished piece.  The one to the left is an off-axis shot.  Below is a close-up of his face.





Wednesday, March 23, 2011

One More Pull-up - Sample Cutting

This is one of the smaller 8x10 sample cuttings, done as a test.  The gradient change over the body is relatively simple.  I'd normally react to this by adding additional layers to increase the detail.  But the folds of the singlet around his knees are exceptionally complicated, more layers would make them even more so.

I'm not sure this test is successful.

This image has been cropped down from a larger shot.  I do not know the original photographer.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Men In Blue - Test Proof


I often do a test cutting of an image at a small scale, typically 16x20 to test out how it reads and to keep for myself when the final piece is sold.

In this instance, I cut the 16x20 piece for the photographer in exchange for the license - at his request.  This is the piece shown at the right.  It varies slightly from it's 8x10 brother, adding detail, but its third dimension reads much more clearly in the larger piece.


To the left is the off-axis shot clearly showing the individual layers of the finished piece.

I've had a few questions about the individual layers and how they look unassembled.  Layer #3 is shown to the right.  You can clearly see other future layers behind/ underneath it.

To the left are the original 8x10 sample and the younger 16x20 test side by side.  The larger image seems to be more easily read, but this could just be a function of the distance to the camera.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Exhausted- Sample Proof

This is a sample cutting, 8x10 of another photograph taken by Jeff Palmer, and used with his permission.
To the left is the off-axis shot of the above piece, illustrating the seven individual layers.