Scrapbook, Portraits in context –– expands with additions

Scrapbook, Portraits in Context is a collection of disparate stories told through portraiture. Each artwork is a self-contained and multi-layered story that I created. Various elements seen in the pieces are meant to evoke personal memories in the viewer.

Like in a scrapbook the presentation style is casual.

“From…To…,” depicts transitions in emotion, mood, attitude and response due to life experiences leading to an inflection point, marked by the dried flower, when personality changes. These are my latest stories.

“Isolated and Gritty, a Utopian nightmare, a Dystopian reality,” a commentary about urban isolation. The single piece, inaugurated “Scrapbook” a few years ago.

Scrapbook is active! Expect more stories.

I draw or photograph people, and objects, print the portraits on paper, tear these prints and use the pieces to create temporary collages lit by ambient light for dimensionality, and capture the collage in-camera using depth of field as a compositional tool. In essence, the portraits are created twice. First, as a primary portrait, and second, part of a collage and story. Post-processing is limited to contrast adjustment. The ephemera are dismantled, and live only as an archival canvas print, hence the term for this medium, “Mixed media collage captured in 2D, archival pigment inks on canvas.”

To explore this series on my Art page, please click here.