Art Series Art 30

For a series to work, you need to find a subject you are passionate about. A strong series is like a really good television show. You want to have details that make the show distinctive, but the fundamental premise has to be open enough that many contrasting episodes can be generated. A successful series should allow each individual work to be able to stand on its own, yet simultaneously relate to the rest of the other works in some manner.

I find that it’s helpful to establish a list of “rules” for your series that you can consistently follow. This could be done in terms of the format, the size, the materials, the subject matter, etc. Write down what the list of rules are and make sure that you stick to them from the beginning to the end of the series. Even if you have moments where you want to stray from the rules, force yourself to adhere to the rules. Not only do the rules help keep you on track, but they can create both conceptual and visual cohesion for the series overall.

If you are starting with the word like “transformation” which is quite abstract, do some extensive brainstorming first. The primary objective of brainstorming is the creation of as many ideas and images as possible, with an emphasis on quantity over quality. One of the key elements of this process is that brainstorming is inclusive of everything that emerges, regardless of how odd or unappetizing an idea or image may seem at first. Write everything down, and play “word association”. Give every idea and image a voice and a place on the page. Once you are done brainstorming, you should have enormous amounts of pure, unedited content to select from. This content is the raw material from which you can create thumbnail sketches.

Example of Brainstorming

Alphonse Mucha

Claude Monet

Andy Warhol