From the Mind to the tip of the brush

In recent times, I’ve been exploring the 3 dimensional representation of thoughts, I’m exploring the use of 3D objects as canvases, this has led me to create a three-stage process:

Stage 1

After defining a specific concept for the piece, I start by creating a narrative-oriented shape. As I create this shape, I try to focus on the different possibilities of the overall shape, avoiding going into too much detail. In this stage, I also avoid thinking about specific images I want to use.

Stage 2

I use this object´s faces to place images and colour in order to compose a “three-dimensional image”. Although I keep thinking about the concept, I try to let it evolve by not focusing on a specific narrative but only on the formal value of the piece until I reach a point where I feel it is completed. So far, I have always printed the piece before starting this stage.

When I’m satisfied with the sketch, I start to paint on the object. So far, I’m trying to paint an accurate copy of the images I used for the sketch.

Reflection about Stage 1

Creating 3D shapes as a way to represent concepts is an exciting challenge for me. I can’t explain it, but it just feels right, it's like giving voice to a part of my brain that is able to do this without giving me conscious and structured feedback. I want to explore this further.

Reflection about Stage 2

I think that this stage is like a game in which I present images to my mind in order for it to arrange them while mixing conscious and less conscious decisions, although I know I’m thinking, I’m not able to fix a specific outcome. Working with both Illustrator and Blender has created an unsuspected additional challenge for the visual composition; on one hand, working with the vector UV map forces me to arrange elements in an order that is dependent on the 3D model, so I have to change into Blender in order to see the end result, this is not a direct process and this separation forces me also to work from memory. On the other hand, because of the properties of the 3D environment, my end result is an ever-changing 3D image, so maybe my mind switching on and off from consciousness has to do with the fact that my brain recognizes the impossibility to find a fixed narrative, so then I have the opportunity to see the piece as an abstract representation.

Reflection on Stage 3

At the moment I’m trying to control the outcome by doing a faithful painted copy of the digital sketch, I guess this is my way to avoid getting lost or even destroying what I have accomplished in the other stages, and even though this seems logical, I have a feeling I can enrich the final outcome by letting physical expression take its part, for this I want to create bigger canvases to see if I can use paint strokes to blend the apparent edges between abstraction and representation.