develop on fridays :: week 2 | champaign-urbana photographer

This week’s assignment (isn’t playing catch-up fun?) was all about what influences the creation of art. Because I’m not a wonderful writer, I’ll share some of the thoughts expressed by Jefra Starr Linn…

“Why are influences important? Influences cause you to think. They activate your eye and assist you in seeing in a new way. They help you to see more of what you want in your own work. … Influences enhance a vision that is already there within you.  Seeing the way that other artists see their world helps ME see my world uniquely.”

She goes on to discuss the difference between influences and copying – which can be a touchy subject with some fuzzy borders.  I know I never want to be viewed as a copycat (mainly because it triggers a memory from second grade when I didn’t finish a math timed test – because I realized at the last second that I had misread the instructions – and was peeking over my classmate’s shoulder in an attempt to quickly finish up before the papers were collected… when I felt the dreaded tap on my shoulder… ugh. It still makes my stomach churn. No cheating here people.)  Anyway, Jefra makes a good point that we are all influenced by things around us, and the same is true for artists in the past (and future).  Actually, Sky and I have conversations about this every once in a while… Are there really any completely NEW, original ideas?

Back to this week’s assignment… this one had three parts.  1) make an individual inspiration file of not only your favorite photographs/contemporary photographers but also paintings, old photos, works of the old masters, etc.  2) review these artists and works and define WHAT it is that you love about that piece of artwork, or that style of art.  3) make a specific photograph based on that influence. Explain who your influence was in for this piece and what you learned / incorporated from that artist’s work.  So, here we go…

Part 1 & 2:

My all-time favorite painting is A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, by Georges Seurat.  I remember learning about this painting for the first time in elementary school (2nd grade again, perhaps?) when my mom was the “Picture Lady” for our class. She would come in to our class once a month with a different example of art, and discuss the artist, and we’d do some sort of project related to the painting we learned about.  I think pointillism is incredible, and whenever I shoot an image with some (good, intentional) noise, it reminds me of this style of painting. I also love the colors in this painting – especially the different shades of grass.

Another artist I have always enjoyed is Claude Monet.  Again, the colors are what capture my eye. This painting is Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through the Fog, and I especially love the red and orange hues (I have this one on a coffee mug at home…)

Some examples of more contemporary art that I enjoy are Picasso (not everything – just these types of simple line drawings — this one is called Hand With Flowers) and this awesome example of modern architecture that I actually got to visit the summer after college – the HundertWasser House in Vienna. Just incredible.  I love the colors, shapes, lines – all of it. I could have just sat and looked at it for hours.

Next, my absolute favorite contemporary artist – Brian Andreas – and his amazing storypeople.  My husband and I first stumbled upon his work in a little shop called “Poopsie’s” in Galena, IL while we were on a quick post-honeymoon-vacation.  We couldn’t make out the artist’s signature on the drawings we purchased, so we’ve always just referred to them as our “poopsies” (they’re the two on the left side).  Occasionally we have run across other prints in little shops, but it wasn’t until I sat down for this project and began thinking about art that I really love, that I googled and found the website for all of Brian Andreas’ work – and then spent about 2 hours reading through just a handful of his storypeople.  It took me 2 hours to just scrape the surface because 1) there are so many, and 2) they all either make me giggle or weep.  I love the colors (again), the playfulness of the drawings, and most of all – the simple stories that say so much truth with just a few words, that they make my heart swell with emotion and my breath catch in my throat…  Go check out his work — it’s incredible.

Next – music that influences me… I’m having a hard time thinking about how music influences my photography, but it certainly influences me as a person. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember – from sitting and listening to my mom conduct our little church choir, to taking piano lessons for 12 years, to singing in school groups through high school and college, to now serving in the praise team at our church.  Even at home, if my day is going rough then I’ll pop in a CD and things will get better.  Lately, this Josh Wilson CD has been playing non-stop in my car (ok, in between Veggie Tales and VBS songs) and is definitely what I listen to as I drive to photo shoots – if I’m not listening to Lynn O’Brien (and anxiously awaiting her new release!).  At home lately, Diana Krall has been in the CD player – and that’s definitely relaxing music to improve a crazy day.

Okay, and finally – my favorite photographer is definitely Barb Uil of JinkyArt. Her work is vibrant, light, lively, colorful, and just overflowing with love. It was when I first ran across her work several years ago that I decided to start moving my sessions OUT of my basement and INTO the real world of people’s lives – and I’m so glad I did.  I’m also SUPER excited to attend a JinkyArt workshop later this summer… yes, it’s still far away, but I can’t wait!!!

Now for Part 3:

I wanted to create images with lots of color, and also ones in which I was able to incorporate some quotes from my children, or my thoughts about them.  This turned out to be very challenging, mainly because it’s WAY more difficult to photograph my own children than it is to photograph other peoples’ kids!  But, I finally succeeded today… and here are my favorite three creations.  First, a combination of the pointillism influence with Brian Andreas – influenced text added.

Then a few more that lean toward Jinky’s style (which is a lot like my typical style of shooting — bright colors, lively images), again with some text added.

So, there’s week 2. Whew!  Until tomorrow (whcn I finally get caught up!)…