The Paper Mirror

Photographic self portraits are the focus of this class.  Think of the self portraits as a mirror made of paper.  Instead of seeing just yourself  in the paper mirror, you can see the current events in your life, your history, your feelings, your thoughts.  We'll use some easy techniques to work with the images- gel medium transfers, converting lightened images to drawings, layering to add content and meaning to the work.  Using some guided activities/exercises, we'll explore ways of approaching content.  Remember self-portraits are images you make yourself- where the distance between photographer and subject is collapsed entirely.  If you haven't a pool of self portraits, take some- take a ton- digital is the best way to go.  Do close ups of body parts, put on hats, pretend. Keep shooting.  Use the delete button as much as you like.  Bring only what you are comfortable with using. Feel free to contact me for info.  

Bring some of those images with you printed on an inkjet printer.  Print some on regular paper, some on Staples brand matte paper, some on surfaces of your choosing. Print some large a your page, some small, some in-between.  Lighten some images, perhaps play with some in your image editing software. Pick out some favorite words- quotes, poems, text; print those out to- they'll add to your explorations.  Prep some pages in your journal, and come spend a day thinking of the moments.

Supply List

• Your journal,
• photos printed as noted in the description,
• glue/adhesive,
• your favorite pens, markers, and/or pencils, 
• watersoluble crayons, pastels or pencils- you choose,
• gloss gel medium, a baggie of collage material (scrap paper, text, etc),
• paint brush, water cup,
• copies of quotes, poems and text that have meaning for you.
• 3 or 4 colors of acrylic and/or craft paints