I based my portfolio based on my influence of Henry Flores. Within some of his series he does digital composition to create masks and overlapping of textures. Similarly, I created layers of textures using different fabrics. I also used the fabrics to pick a color theme for each composition, which I then used to find a flower on Envato to also use for textures and masks.
Untitled 8
Untitled 7
Untitled 6
Untitled 5
Untitled 4
Untitled 3
Untitled 2
Untitled 1
ReplyDeleteI’ve chosen to look at Ximena’s portfolio for my Critique. Her work was based on the artist Henry Flores. The reason I chose Ximena’s portfolio is due to the use of color and negative space, as well as how she has positioned the figures in the pieces. The use of white space is the most striking out of these reasons, as it isolates the main work, giving it a fluid and organic shape not restricted but the square format.
I think that the work is definitely cohesive, each piece is different but due to recurring shapes and techniques you can tell that they are meant to be a collection. It also embraces digital compositing by way of abstracting the photographs of the figure in dynamic ways. I think the work is creative without too much repetition. The style of her portfolio is repetitive in nature, but it’s clear that it is an intentional choice. One thing that could have diversified the work would be to zoom further in and out on the figure in different compositions. This can partly be seen in Untitled 8 as the figure is further from the camera, but doing some tighter closeups of the face might be interesting as well. From looking at Henry Flores’s works it’s clear that while Ximena took inspiration from him, her work is also clearly her own and does not just imitate what he has done in the past. His compositions use more illustrative elements and neon colors, while Ximena uses more textures and neutral colors.
I think that the photoshop techniques used here are challenging as it clearly required a lot of layering and masking to make the shapes in the composition. It also shows a use of photoshop in a more illustrative way than is seen in other compositions. Most of the photographs work well with the concept. I think the ones that have dramatic lighting work the best, such as Untitled 1 & 6 as it creates a sense of depth and contrast with the figure. The photos where she is looking at the camera (Untitled 8 and Untitled 3) don’t give off a selfie vibe, which is easy to fall into. Her expressions and posing make it seem like the eye contact is with the viewer of the composition, not the camera.