Safety In Scent
Lotus Blossom
Protection
From the moment we are born, there is always someone there to protect you. Whether it be your parents, siblings, or grandparents. The embrace of a hug or a kiss on the forehead, had always been the remedy for a cut finger or scrape on the knee that has effectively provided that protection. As we grow older, more people and experiences enter and exit our lives, bringing either conflict or comfort. Unfortunately, the biggest conflict that has entered and continues to linger is my epilepsy. Medication had been my only line of defense for a long time, yet; I didn't want to be reliant on a prescription. Through research it was discovered that lavender lessens the frequency and severity of seizures brought on by stress. This served my remorse to be cushioned by flora, something living and beautiful rather than something unpleasant and repetitive.
Words Defining Protection
Safety, Assure, Love, Mother, Father, Family, Guardian, Shield, Strength, Defense, Armor, Refuge, Secue, Help, Aid, Support, Watch Over, Loyalty, Guidance, Faith, Hope, Conservation, Custody, Vulnerability, Watch.
Illuminate Theme
Protection
Lavender is the source of my influence for the theme of protection because I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 14 years old. I had been grappling with the diagnosis and the obstacles that came with it for a very long time. At the time, medication was the sole means of defence, and I dreaded medication. In order to change my perspective, I sought for lavender, which I later learned is a natural means of creating resilience. Lavender calms the mind and unwinds the neurons. In this manner, a seizure will subside or mitigate to the consumer. In respect to this philosophy, which calms both my brain and my mental health, I continue to surround myself with lavender every day. In order to completely capture the calming effects of this plant, I have decided to use lavender and light purple tones for my project's colour scheme. Ultimately, the message I wish to convey is the protection of oneself, as when you are having a seizure your body is against you. Yet, you must find fortitude, and for me it is in a form of herbal essence and floral beauty.
Mood Boards
Proposal
The community that battles with feeling uninformed and despondent when it comes to their health will be the target audience for this magazine cover. Medication is frequently prescribed to patients by doctors who act as if it is the only method of treatment. As a result, TEN Magazine is a naturopathic publication that explores the field of self-healing with natural components and products. Typically, when at the hospital a doctor would ask a patient to rate their level of pain on a scale of 1 to 10. Ultimately, the name of TEN Magazine comes from this statement. Even though their agony may feel like a 10, the natural treatments and remedies provided throughout the magazine can help you reduce your pain naturally to a zero. This illustration conveys the idea of protection through the representation of a woman with medical gauze wrapped around her head and lavender flowers sprouting out. Since lavender lowers the risk of having a seizure, as was previously explained, this woman is treating her epilepsy naturally rather than with medication. The work of art transforms a terrible medical condition into something pleasant. My personal experience with epilepsy has taught me that while it does cause me pain and suffering, it has also given me new perspectives on life and made me proud of how far I have come in my journey.
Iterations
Final Design
Reflection
Reflecting back on my process, I had initially intended for the finished outcome to resemble a fashion magazine. An image of myself would be used in this concept, and it would be digitally modified in Photoshop. Unfortunately, I eventually gave up on that idea and was getting impatient. I began browsing the magazines and books in my house in the pursuit of inspiration. Finding several intriguing collages created from various random objects. My eye was drawn to this inspiration, so I started cutting and pasting pages from those books. Using images of Victorian women which I would cut, distort, and paste landscapes in between. This was the beginning of what would eventually become my final piece. After extensive research online I had discovered an ideal portrait of a Victorian woman. I began dividing the portrait into thirds whilst adding shadows. This was challenging as I had to re-teach myself the Photoshop features. Once finished I started designing a halo of medical gauze. By making translucent grids of white rectangles I was able to make it appear authentic. Additionally pasting pictures of lavender between these grids as I layered them on top of one another, to obtain the urge of bursting. It was time to begin designing the text after establishing the major focal point. Finding the appropriate typeface and positioning it in accordance with the weight of the picture was the most difficult part. After several hours of exploring different fonts, colours, and sizes, I had finally discovered the arrangement that worked most effectively. Overall, I'm quite pleased with and proud of the outcome, though I would like to use the liquify tool to further distort the face. The first time I tried this, it didn't work out the way I had anticipated, granting that I reconsider my original thought.
Artist Statement
The portrait of this young, vibrant Victorian woman has been distorted and divided up as she conveys the difficulties associated with epilepsy. Your brain is making decisions that your body doesn't want you to act on, leading you to feel detached from yourself. Although this is difficult, lavender minimizes people from experiencing that disconnection. Being safe can be felt in one's arms, wearing layers to keep out the cold, or even when absorbing an aroma. Lavender is what gives me a sense of security since it provides a barrier against a dreadful recurrence that ultimately harms both my physical and mental health. The feeling of estrangement from the mind to the soul served as inspiration for this composition. I started chopping and pasting photographs together to generate ideas out of rage from failing my first effort at this assignment. Properly expressing the emotion I experience following an episode. Therefore, as that idea reflects so strongly on the subject, I wanted this to come out in my artwork. With anger and danger comes protection, and it is up to the individual to find that virtue.
Citations
Bridal Lace Trim | Lace fabric | Melanie Jayne. (n.d.). https://www.melaniejayne.com.au/products/bridal-lace-trim-1040?variant=42050467102972
Bridal Lace Trim | Lace fabric | Melanie Jayne. (n.d.). https://www.melaniejayne.com.au/products/bridal-lace-trim-1040?variant=42050467102972
Lace.. Images – Browse 1,672,307 Stock Photos, Vectors, and Video. (n.d.). Adobe Stock. https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=lace..
Portrait of a lady "La bella": Artworks: Uffizi galleries. Portrait of a Lady "la Bella" | Artworks | Uffizi Galleries. (n.d.). https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/portrait-of-a-lady-la-bella
Solid Grey Tulle Ultra-fine Tulle Fabric With Soft Feel and—Etsy Canada. (n.d.). https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/455719562/solid-grey-tulle-ultra-fine-tulle-fabric
Thanks to Ali Karimiboroujeni for making this photo available freely on @unsplash : Photo, Shadow Silhouette, celebrities. Pinterest. (2022, February 21). https://www.pinterest.com/pin/thanks-to-ali-karimiboroujeni-for-making-this-photo-available-freely-on-unsplash-in-2022--778137641879001477/
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Unsplash. (2021a, April 21). Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/zp6wHVSm-0c
Unsplash. (2021b, April 22). Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/RLfNW5CBmx0
Unsplash. (2022, July 5). Photo by Josie Weiss on Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/wpb7D0gBWKY
