© Sally Stockhold
Afterimage Gallery 2800 Routh St, Ste 141 TX75201 Dallas États-Unis
Artist Statement for “myselfportraits, ode to icons”I have been acquainted with stories of accomplished women from history and fiction whom time has not been kind to in the remembering. I wanted to rediscover these women and create a narrative using myself as the “canvas” to depict them. Realizing that men often played an integral part in these iconic women’s lives, I began to include them as well when pertinent to the photograph. This multi-layered project has enabled me to express my artistic center in imagining a moment in the life of these women and sharing that experience with others through acting, painting and photography.
I begin a new photograph by extensively researching the lives of the women I intend to portray. I seek out the essence of a person, and distill that concept into a single image. My intention is never to impersonate but rather to refer to the iconographic qualities of each woman.
© Sally Stockhold
How I Work
When I have a concept, I hand-paint a “magically realistic” life-size backdrop and give my subject a “sense of place.” I also rummage in thrift shops for clothing, wigs, props, and the little details that will enhance the story.
When the set is complete, the lights are in place and the camera and tripod are locked down, I put on a wig and make-up, change into costume and begin to embody my iconic character or characters. I shoot with a digital camera so that I can step out of the set from time to time and determine if I have captured my perception and placement of each person or persons in the picture. I use Photoshop sparingly to crop and “stitch” together multiple characters in a scene as I play all the characters in the photograph. After the image is printed on inkjet watercolor paper, I minimally hand-color the photograph with prismacolor pencils and pastels...I enjoy leaving a personal touch in the digital age.
Currently I have made twenty-five “iconic” women images but there are an endless number of women whose portraits are waiting to be made. My goal is to eventually publish a book of the “Ode to Icons” series
text of Sally Stockhold
© Sally Stockhold