Self-Visualization Concept

So, my concept for my self-visualization project has had a complete turn-a-round. My initial concept focused on how I have struggled in my life and how people have failed to hear me and what I have been trying to say...basically I put myself on the pity path. After my initial concept failed to translate well to viewers, I was forced to take a second look at my project. It was at this time I decided it was bad karma to say, oh woe is me, and decided my project shall be more optimistic.

Obviously being a triptych, there are three main components to my project, highlighting three different emphases in my life. One focus would be a spiritual side, derived from my religious upbringings (and rejection of organized religion). I place myself in the form of the goddess Lakshmi, a Hindu goddess of great meaning to my mother; Lakshmi is the goddess of beauty, wisdom, and fortune. I use this symbol because it is an obvious religious icon and also because Hindu deities conveniently have many arms- this is ideal for me balancing and using several items in my life as pillars of strength (each arm will be holding a representational symbol for each "pillar"). My body shall be overlaying prayers that have encouraged me, despite their ties to difference churches, and various symbols of beauty.

A second focus in my life is my education. College has been an interesting quest to figure out what I really want to do. Even though I was never quite sure, I was always enthusiastic to learn more. I hope this image translates its meaning, but I plan to have a child-like me, full of curiosities and ambition, facing an older, calmer me....the older me I have skeleton figure overlaying my body image to represent my interest in anatomy.

Lastly, I have a centerpiece image of me having slain my demons, whether it be financial or greater attempts at maturity. It represents that "happy place" that you hear TV psychologists talk about, where my loved ones feel close to me, and it would be safe for me to carry my heart on my sleeve. I am still working out the kinks of exactly how the composition will look, but I imagine it will have the negative aspects washed out and in the background with representational symbols in the foreground...working that out.

...we shall see

So over the past few weeks I have had ridiculous opportunities to practice illustrator and photoshop. Considering I was a novice in both of the areas, I feel as though I had made major leaps in progress. Although I am not nearly as experienced as my friend PJ, a fellow art student, I feel I have learned exceptionally more than the average person, which was more than I anticipated.

My first photoshop concept was perhaps not the best for the digital medium, but it still came out looking very vivid (in my opinion). My boyfriend thankfully posed for me...I wanted a scene that elicited a sense of meloncholy and reminesence. The character is longingly looking down at a photo album, and images from his past appear to haunt him.



Further, we learned to work in Illustrator. Before all else, we practiced a simple tracing technique. It turned out to be slightly more difficult that I initially thought, although it all turned out for the best.


Finally we proceeded to practice skills and techniques in Illustrator involving our "Film Still Visualization" project, which is reflected in the image above. Below are some simple renditions in Illustrator... They are nothing complex, but simply practice with some Illustratory tools.