Geo Exposure 1: Folia

The self-portrait from the previous post was highly inspired by geometry and the double exposure photography technique. It actually set off this series that I am currently working on. Geo Exposure is the working title and it is my first (serious) themed series of colored pencil artworks.

  

Geo Exposure (working title) is my first themed series of colored pencil artworks. The first piece is called Folia.

The plan is to produce 11 paintings, 10 of which in 8.5 x 11 Bristol boards and the final piece on a large 20 x 30 Bainbridge cold press illustration board. The first piece is entitled Folia, the Latin word for leaves. My reference comes from two photos (a tree and lahar with mountains on the background) that I took from a trip to the province of Zambales using the application, Camera360 with its double exposure function. Furthermore, I turned it into a black and white picture.

Circles were traced using Philippine Peso coins.

Using Philippine Peso coins (P10, P5, P1, P0.25, P0.10 and P0.25), I traced the circles on the center and filled it with watercolor. After that, I began the rendering of the photo. As the render came in contact with the circles, I used other colored pencils on the circles to bring transition from the neutrals and continuity of the image.

Building up the black and white photo reference.

The vibrant circles serve as contrast to the black, grey and light grey colors.

Fragments of colors.

For me, it is like a huge what-if moment, when the world we see right now becomes devoid of brilliance or is left only with fragments of hues. I actually realized this after weeks of staring on the finished artwork.

Folia, watercolor pencils, 8.5 x 11 Bristol board.