Friday
This Is Me
LK Ludwig
Revelation, exploration, introspection… self portraiture in a book format. We often photograph friends and family, but typically not ourselves. To whom are we closer than ourselves? Self portraits create a unique and important visual dialogue. Whose image do we know and understand more than the face we see in the mirror each morning? Rather than being a daunting, being in charge of your own image can be freeing and inspire your creativity! We’ll take a large book, and using photographic images work with them to create pages. Images can be serious, soulful, funny, or creative. Combining the self portraits with text, favorite poetry or quotes, and inspired writings can create a treasured, but not precious autobiography, one that will inform and inspire your work for years to come. A depth and authenticity will arrive in this work that will surprise you. We’ll work with ink-jet water transfers, patina text onto metal mesh, use mark making and collage, guided by some exercises that will help you work, to create a book with several finished pages.
Supply List:
- I will bring craft paints, dyes, speedball black ink, deli tissue, sewing pattern paper, patina solution and supplies, latex gloves, spray bottles, burnishing tools, clear spray paint, masking tape, painters tape, HVAC tape, various tools, practice images.
- You will need:
- a large book 9x12 or 10 x 13. An old book is fine- atlases work well, a new sketchbook is fine, two large covers and loose papers to be bound later are fine- it is your preference.
- photographic images of yourself, photos, at least ten different ones. None of these should be your only original or precious. Make copies on your home printer in various sizes- some as large as you can. Use different papers- plain paper, art paper, rice paper, transparency- what have you. Even some photocopies from the copy center will be great to use. The more the merrier.
- AT LEAST THREE photographs of you should be printed using an inkjet printer on Jetprint Multiproject Glossy paper. These are for inkjet-water image transfers.
- NOTE: Please do not use some other type of paper for these images. Every time I teach inkjet water transfers, I have a few folks who use another type of paper or a different type of printer or copier and their transfers DO NOT work. JetPrint Multiproject paper is available in the office supply section of walmart, from amazon.com, or from jetprintphoto.com. Please, if you wish to learn inkjet-water transfers, do not substitute another paper.
- Two packs of cardboard letter stencils from Office Max or Staples. You may want two different sizes or you may find others in class with other sizes to swap.
- 1 or 2 packs of press on vinyl letters – also available at Office Max or Staples
- one pack of WireMesh, by Amaco available at misterart.com, dickblick.com, or Michaels. Product looks like this: http://www.misterart.com/store/view/001/group_id/7063/AMACO-WireMesh-Woven-Fabric.htm
- If you wish to purchase only half a pack of mesh, I will have some for sale for $5 via my etsy shop (link on my web site). I cannot get the mesh wholesale, so this is my actual cost of obtaining the mesh. If you wish to purchase the mesh from me, you will need to order by March 1, so I have time to order, and then ship the mesh UPS ground to Ft. Worden.
- a few paper brads or eyelets and eyelet setting tools (to attach the mesh to pages)
- one sheet of Rives BFK, Stonehenge or other smooth printmaking paper.
- china marker, charcoal, or graphite pencil, white marker, black extra fine sharpie
- paint brushes
- something to hold water for your paint brush
- six feet of freezer paper
- a pack of baby wipes
- basic tool kit- glue stick, scissors, pencil, ruler
- a selection of favorite poems, quotes, writings
- any ephemera, papers (decorative, scrapbooking, wallpaper, wrapping papers), doodads, charms or what have you that you wish to use on your pages.
- Optional:
- watercolor crayons
- alphabet stamps
- ink pad
- If you need additional information on shooting self portraits, there will be a link on my website with information, resources, etc.