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Portfolio

Photomontages

by Wendy James

My intent is to create environments that reflect the atmospheres of our inner worlds. Often there is one unidentifiable figure as a port of entry for the viewer. The figure is frequently experiencing an alone moment, not phased by the altered, surreal environment. For a split instant I hope for the scene to be plausible and then to knock the viewer off balance by a skewed perspective, placing unlikes together or morphing one part into another. Maybe the scene will become a stage set for the feeling of a past memory or day dream.

I begin with a compositionally dynamic background photo. This might include strong diagonals, high contrast, repetition, converging lines, large black areas, etc. Next I pour through years of accumulated film and digital images looking for ironic opposites, suitably posed figures, or symbolic objects, taking visual clues where a shape or line might fit or morph easily. I usually have many photomontages “under construction” at a time. Many random images are displayed on the computer simultaneously until two jump out as a perfect match. Sometimes the process is instantly magic and fluid and sometimes an image will sit for weeks until the perfect mate appears. Using Black and white images are ideal for seamlessly merging or pasting parts.

Wendy James
11 Colbert St.
Essex Jct., VT 05452

Tel. 802 878.6874
www.wendyejames.com
jamwendy@gmail.com

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