LORI DUNN SCRATCHBOARD ART
promoting conservation through artistic efforts
Flare
12 x 18
SOLD
As an artist specializing in achromatic (black and white) artworks, one has to constantly visualize light in new ways in order to remain creative. One of the concepts I’ve been exploring lately is how light is reflected through the lens of a camera.
Lens flare is caused by light passing through the camera in an unintended way, sometimes resulting in rings or circles in a row in relation to the light source. Once considered a degrading artifact by photographers and cinematographers, it has since become a crucial component for creative imagery and an artistic means to increase perceived brightness.
The word flare has several definitions; 1) to shine with sudden light 2) to open or spread outward 3) to display conspicuously, and 4) light resulting from reflection. In this artwork I’ve attempted to unite all of these definitions by challenging the viewer to blend the optics of the sun breaking the water’s horizon through the lens of a camera, with the naked eye view of this rather flamboyant common loon. Both are intended to be equally dramatic but play off each other in a visually distinct manner. The water is intended to compositionally unite both elements of realism and abstract.
Experimenting in this way with the medium of scratchboard presents many challenges as it is not easy to erase or reposition anything without degrading the surface of the board. Challenging myself to visualize something outside the mainstream, and create something unique in a black and white image, is what I hope to achieve.
