September In-Place Residency

I’m trying out a promising art group (Rise & Repaint) whose September focus is any kind of residency that my practice might need.

From a list of fabulous choices (also known as, what am I avoiding in my art), I decided I needed to loop photography back into my process. It’s been what I lean on while travelling, and we’re about to embark on a few trips.

Research: How can I use photography in a less representational way, that enhances the abstraction I’ve adopted in my work?

In the past, I would gather images from the landscape, looking for what makes the place I’m in feel like itself, different from home, or, in its own way, familiar. But now, physical reality — it’s a tree! It’s a landscape! — feels out of place, distracting.

With more of an abstract eye, I want my composition to have more:

Graphic elements
Texture
Detail
Colour
Closeups

But I still want to evoke place of origin — can it be done?? As I’ve explored during this residency, and as my kind R&R compatriots have mentioned, the macro lens is my friend! And any kind of camera is fine, if the big camera is not available.

Halfway Point

At the midway point, I had gathered enough options out in the wild, and it was time to try some layering. I chose these shots to combine into the featured image. The first one is quite stark, and got good feedback in a social media post. (While I’d love if that was my art, it’s just a utility pole by a bus stop!) The flowers had great colour, and I added two more utility pole shots, plus some painted pavement, to further blur my intentions.

Looking Back

As I went out over the month looking for, basically, collage fodder in my camera, I’ve made a switch. Instead of full scenes or compositions, I see that I’m noticing rips and tears, cracks in the pavement, and faded notation — all remnants of a previous time, even if that was fairly recent.

This dedication to a new mode of looking has set me up for a more flexible traveling practice. Now, as before, anywhere I explore can become its own residency. It feels good to have that option back, to be able to lean on photography again, and be ready for opportunities. Thanks to Rise & Repaint for the excellent structure and support!

Created Images

Here’s a selection of compositions created from the shots I gathered over the month, with supplemental help from existing texture or colour layers in some pieces.