Ouka Leele and Julie Cockburn: Photo Manipulation

Peluqueria (2010) which translates as Barber Shop, is a series of photos like these ones where each model has something in replacement to their natural hair.

Her technique is interesting and odd. She takes a photo in black and white. Develops them and makes prints. Then paints over the top with watercolour and takes another photos of that image. It sounds insane but also so inventive. Even in 2010 digital photography was still converting people over from film and smart phones were a new thing. I love it when an artist embraces primitive techniques, like really getting to know a process instead doing it on a screen. She could have easily just photographed them as they were and tweaked the colours. But there is something magical about these images. The white and grayscales in these images would take the watercolour and transform them into varying tones. 

For the most part she keeps the faces looking real and catching the colours in their skin, then some backgrounds are just a wash of one colour caught in patterns. She still manages to make the objects look like they were colour all along. those lemons are varying yellows and it would take more than just slapping on the watercolour to achieve that. 

Like most things I was attracted to the unusual nature of these images. But mostly it was the idea of physically manipulating the image to add colour. I have always loved this sort of work. Through the last few years I have noted artists who use physical alterations to make their images. Julie Cockburn uses embroidery over the top of her work and I love this idea. Not just overlaying what is there already but geometric shapes and patterns. I think she uses vintage portrait photos but this could be applied to any photo. 

I already have this noted in my sketchbook as a project/experiment. And have been wanting to try it for ages. Both artists really inspire in different ways. The basic idea is to take an image of interest and enhance it with alterations. I wouldn't necessarily make them as bold and contrasting, even picking out parts of a photo and kid of highlighting them.