Self Visualization

I don't think that I have ever thought so hard about an idea for a project in my life. I had a few different ideas in my head, but there is one I am leaning towards. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the 1950's and how simple the times were. There wasn't much to do, there wasn't much technology, and there wasn't much variety. I often wonder what it would have been like to be a teenager during this time. Along with thinking about this, I have been listening to a band that are all in their late twenties, but write lyrics as if they grew up then. In my photos I'm wearing a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans. No logos, no gimmicks. I wonder if this simplicity would be a good thing. I always hear members of this generation saying "Those were the days." But were they?

That's how I came up with the idea to explore this scenario, and place myself into an era by aging the photographs. I also want to scan actual old photographs and use them as a background. Then, I came up with the sink or swim idea. Again, tying in with the same band, it has been a thought stuck in my head for quite some time. It's the simplest answer to life; you can either sink, or swim. It also ties in with where I live and grew up, surrounded by water. These ideas are very different but I feel like somehow I can connect them. Who knows.

Artist comparison

When looking through the different work of these three artist there is an obvious common link between them: femininity. Each one of them expresses different aspects of the female form in their work. Cui Xiuwen's work was quite depressing. The sharpness of the images and the white made everything seem very cold and depressing. Of course the subject of maternity comes about and adds even more impact to the aspect of isolation. This artist's work is very different from the the other artist's because her subject seems fragile and alone, while the other artist's subjects have a certain sense of independence and confidence. Xiuwen's pieces are quite sad and they make you wonder what the outcome of the story was.I have enjoyed looking at Cindy Sherman's because they have a very film noir look to them which i have always loved. Her pieces are different from the others because they portray a confidence in her subjects as women, but in more of a sexual way. Her subjects seem more like sex symbols than anything which is very important to how the work is interpreted. It embodies a confidence in female sexuality, the body, and power. They are also done in a classy way combining both status and sex. Personally, I enjoy these photographs merely for the way they are composed, but their purpose only makes them stronger.


Frida Kahlo's images, though similar to Sherman's in the sense of confidence, are executed very differently. Her images have a certain sense of elegance and sophistication that did not match the other artists. A major reason for this could simply have been the times it was made. The other two artists created their images long after Khalo did and it would be interesting to see what she would do now. Kahlo's images also tie in the aspect of culture, which all three artists do well. Xiuwen shows aspects of Asian culture, Sherman shows American, and Kahlo's shows Mexican. Her images convey a message of strength that I feel is stronger than the other images.

Illustrator Exercise

Tracing Exercise