Soliloquy- Tactile Experiments

These next images show more experiments that I completed when working with a more hands on attitude. I experimented with materials and ideas from scratch and played around with various effects and layouts which led me to my final image.

This first image below was my initial experiment: I printed off a couple of images at home and explored various ways of changing the background image.

Here I dropped water on the page and let it drip down and run the ink off the page. This adds more interest to the image and links with the pain and sorrow Helena was feeling. There is a slight link between the idea of Helena weeping and the dripping water but also with leaking sponge and the intention from both water and weeping.

This page I sprayed water on to the page to give the page more of a tear dropping effect but this effect did not reveal the idea I was hoping for. It adds no attachment to the images or quotes meaning. Although the idea of experimenting with different techniques lead me to disregarding this effect.

I also attached tiny pieces of paper with each word from the quote by a staple and I smudge the paper with a tea bag to add an old era essence to the quote and meaning. I do on the other hand feel the way I wrote the words blocks the understanding and feelings that the quote holds.

This attempt includes the words being attached to green string stapled to the initial image I sampled with. The staples show a sense of 'stapling' or 'hailing' (like in the quote) down oaths, it adds that feeling of pain that Helena felt during the play. Again the font of my hand written words blocks the feelings that could be portrayed through the essence of the quote and image.

I like the way that the words hang on the string; and show the intention that Helena's words meant nothing to the 'one' she loved as well as for him, her feelings and words she speaks are metaphorically 'hanging themselves'.

Blood or Helena's love is portrayed through the dripping red paint and the contrast between the white paper and the red blood stands out. Even though the font of the quote is again secluded from the rest of the emotion, the falling of the words have a relationship with the feelings from the blood.

Above are experiments I completed at home with my own materials. But I decided to experiment more, and develop what was my final idea.

These images below were printed out on better quality paper and ink, so the images look sharper and more defined in colour.

This first image has red ink flicked all over as well as being held up to drip. This initiates blood and pain of love.

Here is one exploration of font styles when writing it myself with an ink calligraphic pen and blank ink. Unfortunately this looks more Chinese than Shakespearean era.

This image was initially cut and teared in a few places but then it led me to experiment with burning the tears and holes unfortunately this didn't come out the way I had planned.

This image was printed through a printer with low colour ink which led to the many lines it shows. This was unexpected and not intentional. On the other hand when I decided the drip water down the page and get the ink to run it added effect to the image.

This experiment was to damp the image and scratch in the words of the quote, I thought this might show the fragility of Helena's character and how easily the paper could tear.

This next image is literally pieces of string that I could have used for my images. But the two seemed to become to detached from the image due to it being either to 'pretty' (red string) or to 'boring and straw-like' (white string). Previously I used green string but this just like the other examples didn't connect or link with the picture and the quote.

This was my last experiment, here I purposely dripped down red ink in order for it to look blood-like. The idea of making it look realistic adds to the affect and emotions behind Helena's feelings. Although it adds a sense of fear and death with the idea of blood but the colour red links with the idea of passion, excitement, strength and strong emotions.

These experiments led me to my final idea and the experimentations of being tactile I feel were a positive step forward and being creative really helped me to create things and produce different ideas.