For the last few weeks, my fellow classmates have been frantically researching and writing our WAC After 1400 term paper in regards to a work of art specific to them and their interests. They have all been toiling away in the Art Library, hunched over stacks of ancient manuscripts, scouring untold pages, scrawling down fragments of information, all to finish their obligations accurately and on time. But not me! I’ve been working on something completely different. I’ve been wasting my time with silhouettes.

Yes, you read that correctly. Silhouettes. I possess great interest in retracing the advent of Photography as well as the complete history of art in general. The creation of a silhouette portrait will be one of many self-portraits I will aspire to in replicating for myself. Partly out of boredom but mostly due to my own narcissism. (Not all of them will be uploaded here however.)

I took a photo of myself from the side (of course). Transferred it. Uploaded it. Traced it. Layered it. Posted it. Take a look. This is incredibly easy to do if you want one for yourself.

After ‘Googling’ some other people’s silhouette images, I was inspired to print one of these off and frame it. Just like if I were alive in the 1800’s. And damn do I look good. I would have preferred finding a circular/oval picture frame but apparently those don’t exist in Iowa. I also don’t have the coloring right, just yet.

Sources
1. Leaf idea: Jenny Lee Fowler
2. Leaf image source: National Science Foundation
3. PS Flannel Patterns: About.com

This will be mine soon enough. Oh yes. (Watch the video.)

ABW moments before closing. Empty halls. Locked doors. Cold anticipation for the long walk back.

I love the way Albrecht Dürer signed a great number of his works of art. His initials so elegant, so simple, so exact and yet he used slight variations in style with each print or painting. Dürer, a master of his trade(s), produced some of the most amazing works of art in history. I love his signature so much that I stole assimilated it for myself. And yet my clunky Adobe Illustrator version (below) still can not compare to the simplicity and genius of his typography. A Germanic version of Roman lettering.

With my version, I plan on using it simply as a watermark for photographs.  Small and hopefully unnoticeable so that it doesn’t take away from the viewing pleasure of the actual photograph. I dislike large watermarks. When people use large watermarks, I tend to notice the watermark more than the actual photo. Take a look at my (re)creation.

Because I wanted it to be small, I felt that increasing the thickness of the lettering would make it more legible.  The exact size is yet to be determined.

Would you consider this more a consecration or a desecration?

: My new favicon 

2/14 – Update: So I made one almost exactly like his.

A (updatable) list for me to keep track of what I need to do/buy before departing for Burning Man 2012.  I have begun the research process. AND for those who must ask what is Burning Man? Check out this wonderfully written exploration of Burning Man.  It’s amazing.

Does anyone have any good costume ideas for me?! Something to wear in the land of no vending. 2012 Art Theme: Fertility 2.0

Purchase

• Few bottles of sunscreen. SPF 1000+.
• 2 extra camera batteries for both the Nikon and the Sony.
• Sombrero/Cowboy Hat (Protections from the sun)
• Goggles (Protection from sand storms)
• Fixed camera mount for bicycle handle bars.
• Large Canopy Tent
• A weeks worth of portable and highly sustainable food.
• As much water as I can pack.
• Prepare some gifts to give. (one of the ten principles)
• Water proof camera case for Sony.
• Head lamps for night riding.

• White Robe with Hood. White bandanas.
• Plastic 5-gallon utility bucket (with lid!) and heavy-duty black garbage bags.
• First aid kit.
• Camelbak?
• Water tight protective camera bag.
• Earplugs.
• Cologne. Cause there will be no showers.

Prepare

• Pre-Tan
• Tune up bicycle for desert exploration. Balloon tires. Repair kit. Tools. Lock.
• Rent vehicle for the two week road trip.

Along the Way

• Hike the Rocky Mountain National Park.
• White water raft.

Photo Source:

Both images are from the Burning Man website.

Lugged my tripod and camera around a cold and deserted campus. Tried my hand at some slow shutter speed photographs.  Too much shake still in the majority of the photos. I have since purchased a better tripod and a remote shutter.  Next time, I won’t even need to touch my camera.

Do you see it?!  Walking around this town is similar to finding all of the hidden packages in Grand Theft Auto.  Three down, 97 more to go!

See Also: http://andyz.me/2011/discoveries/