I’ve always loved arts and crafts; there’s something so satisfying about putting time and effort into producing something you can touch, hold and appreciate. I think that because I work in a digital format most of the time, I find physical objects therapeutic, and I crave that creative outlet sometimes. The problem being that it can be very time consuming, and I tend to be time-poor when I’m in the midst of photographing for clients.
This lockdown we’re experiencing has changed that; I have time to create! Time to draw, paint, whatever it might be, I can give it a go. The problem HERE is that I have only have basic supplies at home, and I am NOT good at drawing, no matter how much I try.
Cue a creative outlet that brought me huge joy in the past week; painting Easter Eggs! Not only was it an incredibly nostalgic activity, taking me back to primary school days, but there was no pressure, I could just experiment with my favourite colours. No specific figures to replicate, nothing to complex, just colours, shapes and textures, on a small oval object.
I began by hollowing out 4 eggs, the old ‘prick with a pin and blow’ trick (saving the inside for breakfast the next day of course) and then set them aside to dry.
Earlier in the year (or perhaps even last year?) I had found a pack of paints at Kmart, in four of my favourite pastel colours, matching the theme of my studio (and in fact the business in general). These formed the look and feel for my little creations, and I knew that they would work nicely in a Charlie Rose Creative-themed photoshoot at the end (bonus). In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a sucker for branding and colour co-ordination, so I take that opportunity (and indeed, create it) wherever I can.
From here, it was simply an enjoyable 3-4 day process, sitting down to experiment with shapes and colours when the previous layer was dry and/or I felt like painting.
Because I’m a bit of a geek, I created a mood-board for my photoshoot (I do this for most shoots I create, whether they’re client focused or not). Please note that this is a visual inspiration, not something to copy! There is a fine line between these, and I’m careful to ensure I’m creating something unique, with my style, not simply mimicking what I have seen. But I do find it useful to go in with a look and feel, particularly when I’m creating on the fly - it gives me something to work to. Have you noticed that some sort of restriction/parameter helps you create, more so than having absolute free rein?
The next part was of course fun, but more specifically and a comfortable place for me - photographing in the studio, creating with my camera! I did really enjoy photographing something that I had physically created myself; I often find that when I have made a prop or a set, I get an extra kick out of the photoshoot. So I played with different colours, set ups, tried for some ‘floating’ eggs (which wasn’t working for me, so I left it) and towards the end I added glitter in, just to make it even more colourful/outrageous/extra! I felt like the glitter really added another element, a bit of a story to the subject matter.
The Results
(click them to view larger!)
The final result is a set of bright, fun and slightly quirky images! I was thrilled with the outcome and also the great feedback on these images. What do you think? let me know!
Charlie xx
