Exercise 1.1. Body as canvas. In this exercise we have to come up and explore different creative options, using our body, hands in particular, in re-staging the fragment of the image. We have to do a research for photographs and paintings, which include hands, and after that we have to re-stage the fragment of an artwork and make photos of our hands, creating a background resembling the one in the artwork. We can ask for help to make photos or use the tripods and timer on our camera.

Below from left to right is my selection of photos and artworks:

Meatballs, Boo Ritson, 2007, image via http://www.artnet.com;

Painted Statue of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, India, image via http://www.alamy.com;

“The Origins of Cornucopia”, Abraham Janssens, ca. 1619, oil on canvas, image via http://www.gailsibley.com;

Below:

The Virgin in Prayer, Francesco De Rossi, 1640-50, oil on canvas, image via http://www.artnet.com;

The Virgin appearing to St Philip Neri, Carlo Maratta, 1675, oil on canvas; image via http://www.en.artsdot.com;

Below: The Annunciation, Leonardo Da Vinci, 1472-1475, oil on tempera on wood; image via http://www.leonardodavinci.net;

Below are my works for staging hands into the painting. My work in progress. I decided to enact fragments from the two paintings above: “The Virgin in Prayer”, Francesco De Rossi, 1640-50, oil on canvas, image via http://www.artnet.com; and “The Virgin appearing to St Philip Neri”, Carlo Maratta, 1675, oil on canvas; image via http://www.en.artsdot.com;

I have asked my 11 old daughter to help me with taking photos of my hands. For the second painting I asked my son to participate as a hand model. I used my set of Japanese aquaerelle and A2 size drawing paper from Fabriano.

I enjoyed the exercise and found it as very creative. The contrast and the union of a very realistic hand from the photo with a paint is very appealing to me. If I compare the fragments I have replicated with my own photo and painting, I see some resemblance with the fragment of the original painting. At the same time the fragment looks quite different and there is an obvious transformation as in terms of dimension, as well as in terms of mediums used. The whole process and the outcome reminded me the digital art technology, where we can always incorporate photographs, using them for further design and developing a new image.