08.01 inventing a musical instrument

Invent five musical instruments; five sheets; one invented instrument per sheet. Each invented instrument is seen as a combination of collage crystals, nuggets, mechanisms searching for inventive combinations. Parts from many instrument photos and drawings are selected and exchanged (saxophone, trumpet, drums, piano, bass). Recycle parts and ideas from previous collage studies. Work quickly and do not dwell on decisions. The following thoughts are considered:

• de-familiarize from the original instruments.
• avoid using whole instruments.
• plug-in or interchange parts of instruments.
• look for interlocking and ironic combinations.
• break up symmetry (overall and localized).
• use erasure or subtraction.
• watch scale of elements relative to the sheet.
• follow the natural contours of an image.
• break up circular objects into arcs; consider using perspective of circles.
• create repetition with variation.
• mix diagrammatic elements with photographic elements.

format: print to 8.5 x 11 sheets; use photoshop; do not use special effects or transparency tricks. Canvas size: 10” x 7.5” @ 300 ppi (3000 x 2250 pixels); turn in file as flattened JPEG set to 12 High.

Due: Wed. Jan 31. 9am.