Artist Statement
The goal of this project is to create compelling narratives through compositing while using Adobe Photoshop. Composition is when one person takes several photos and combines them to make a new, single composition. I had to come up with concept art to detail my chosen narrative, which I chose to do with an abusive relationship. I named my project the Slavery that is Romance. As I worked on my project, I had to learn new photoshop tools, of my choice, such as: hue and saturation, perspective warp, and liquify.
I set aside a few photoshop skills I wanted to learn while I worked on this project. I feel as though I have strengthened my skills with the hue and saturation settings and the perspective warping. Several of my previous projects have used those tools before, but I was not confident in using them. One of the newest tools I have learned to use is the liquidation tool. I have always wanted to use it, so I tried to manipulate the wings to have a more bent look. Although the wings do appear bent, I do think I could have pushed myself to make them more curved. Otherwise, I think they look decent.
What I tried to convey through The Slavery that is Romance was the narrative of an abusive romantic relationship. The fey, often considered curious yet powerful creatures, is trapped between the hands of a human. There is no sign of escape, so the fairy must wait for an outing. The fey represents how anyone, even those who seem to be on top, are capable of becoming trapped in an abusive relationship. And although the fey is defiant and desperate to escape, it is nearly impossible for her to do so. The hands are far too close together, and could crush her if she tried to flee. I hope this project conveys the severity of being trapped in an abusive relationship, and how anyone is susceptible to it. Even though it is uncertain what might happen to the fey, it is up to the viewer to decide her fate. Maybe even decide her fate through her own relationship.
Throughout the project, I learned how to use several different tools in photoshop. However, most importantly, I learned what was expected of me as an artist. One of the main things I had to consider while brainstorming a concept piece were the resources I had and my ability to put them into a single piece. Although I originally had a lot of ideas, there were some that I could not do. I either could not find the proper tools or I was not at a skill level to replicate what was in my mind. Because of this, I was also aware of the time constraints I had. Although two weeks is a long time, a too complicated idea would have begun to interfere with my other classes. As the semester progresses, I am beginning to learn that in order to produce my best content, I need to understand time constraints and my level of skill.
Although I have experience with Photoshop, this project helped me get out of my usual boundaries. I learned how to use several tools, some of which I had never used before. While learning about Photoshop tools, I learned what to expect from an artist in college and the workplace. I really enjoyed working on this project and look forward to making more artwork.
