When I first saw @shaka's template photo for this round, #137, of LMAC's collage contest, I thought of an altar.
The Template Photo by @shaka
Perhaps it was the rock pile that suggested this. I do notice that other collagists had the same impression and used the image to reflect a similar theme. Check out our entries this week to see what I mean.
Rock piles may be found all over the world. They have different significance for different cultures, but often that significance is religious. The rock piles may also serve as grave markers, or memorials.
Memorial Cairn, Duthil and Rothiemurchus U.K.
Credit: Attribution Memorial Carin by Dave Fergusson. Used under CC 2.0 license
Sometimes rock piles (cairns) are simply practical. That is true for the Inuit, who build cairns that sometimes look anthropomorphic. These rock piles, called Inukshuk, are built to help guide seafarers.
Inukshuk at English Bay, Vancouver
credit: Peter Graham. used under CC-BY-2.0 license
The idea of an alter was the takeoff point for my collage. I became adventurous and decided to make my own idol. In this way I would offend no established religious tradition. I used the MakeHuman program to create my idol, which looks a little like a very large child.
Here is an early iteration of that idol, before it underwent modification:
Then I needed acolytes. These I also made from MakeHuman. An early version of the acolyte:
Then there was the matter of staging: dressing my characters, finding the right accessories, creating the right mood. Here is an intermediate step:
I wish I could show you a neat process exhibit the way some of the collagists do. But my process is more cut and paste, shape and try. I poke around until something works. Rather chaotic.
In the end, I wanted a cat, because cats often have religious symbolism (thank you @yaziris). A dramatic sunset (thank you @muelli), a fern (thank you @borjan), a flower (thank you @quantumg), and an exotic vase (thank you, @redheadpei). These I borrowed from LIL, the LMAC Image library. Anyone on Hive may borrow from this public domain resource. Anyone may contribute to it. Procedures may be found here.
Each of the contributors listed below will be designated as 2% beneficiaries on this post:
- Sunset
@muelli - Vase
@redheadpei - Cat
@yaziris - Flower
@quantumg - Fern
@borjan
I also borrowed images from Pixabay, and I thank those contributors: - wreath open clip vectors Pixabay
- lantern offering robertchealb Pixabay
- altar peggy_marco Pixabay
- acolyte gown/head covering norca98 Pixabay
The flowers that adorn the idol are simple layers of the single wreath I borrowed from Pixabay.
I changed the posture of the figures by by manipulating limbs on Paint 3D. The kneeling figure wasn't easy to achieve :) Here is one step I was able to trace in my files:
I ran these figures through a Lunapic filter to help create a complexion effect. And then I used Gimp to try and get the tone I was looking for.
The cat from @yaziris originally was pure white, but that didn't work for me. I had to change the color to make the animal appear more mystical.
My inspiration for fashioning these figures comes from @adncabrera, who has mastered the art of creating figures with the MakeHuman program. I learned about the program from @quantumg, who has taught me a great deal about manipulating pictures.
The LMAC contest has concluded for this week, but voting is in progress right now. Please, vote. Everyone on Hive can vote for their favorite collages. The contest announcement may be found here. On Thursday, we begin round #138, with a new template photo and a new art challenge.
I thank @shaka for his vision in starting the community and in guiding it. I thank my team members, @quantumg and @mballesteros for their hard work in helping the community to function smoothly. And, I thank everyone who participates. The artists and would-be artists are the heart of the community.
