Girl Reading

It's amazing how little adjustments on a picture, to the cropping and colour, can enhance the image so much. This picture was a pretty standard photograph of a girl reading a book. But once I turned it black and white and coloured her eyes (the natural colour with no enhancement) and coloured the book cover, the image became much more visually interesting. I would say that when it comes to working on an image always follow your instincts and try different things. But don't do it just for the sake of doing it. There needs to be a purpose and a reason for making changes to the image. In this case my reason was because the image just wasn't that interesting. I thought that it would be better to just have her eyes in colour because the thing that she is doing is reading. The general message of the picture (if you are into symbolism and need one) is that reading that book, brings the girl to life.

But before we get too into the deep meanings behind the image, remember, remember, remember, using photoshop tricks is not always the answer. You should ideally have a reason behind your creative choices. That is how you own the image. That is how you create an individual style. This is how you give the image meaning. Anyone can use a bit of photoshop to improve an image, but an artist knows why they made that choice or used that tool. They know that their actions will have consequences for that image and for the people who see it.

I remember when I was in the last year of college, I took a history of art course. We looked at different artists and went on trips to museums and galleries. One day we went down to the gallery at Kilmainham in Dublin. I would definitely recommend a visit. It is a place of significant historical value and it is very peaceful walking around the gallery and the gardens. I really get a sense of being an artist when I go there. Last time I was there the poet and writer Seamus Heaney was walking around lost in his thoughts. The work that is on show there is random and varied. Both original and classical in style and really gets into your psyche (if you are a sucker for thinking about the reasons behind art).

Anyway, we had gone there for our final year trip and as I was standing looking at a picture of a map of Ireland whihc had been transposed over the figure of a naked woman, I realised my tutor was standing beside me. "What do you think of this work?" she asked. I looked at it and said that thought it was symbolic of 'Mother Ireland'. There were some other random thoughts that I said at the time which I can't remember now (it was 14 years ago). My tutor looked at me and said something which I have never forgotton. She said "Well, it would seem that you have stopped being an art student, and finally become an art critic". That made me feel really good in myself.

I think its good to have an opinion on art. It's good to know what you like and what you don't like, but it's also good to know why. This all helps with your own work. So my advice is to think about the images you create and always know why you have made the decisions you have made. Others will have an informed opinion about your work. So should you.