Portals and Place

 


This design began as a trail of snail slime over the roof of the science building, as seen from the painting studio window. Soon, with questions of action and exposure in mind, I transformed the design into two frogs leaping toward each other on the second floor doors of the art building.

I am fairly satisfied with the design and final product. I think it utilizes the window space well, has intriguing moments of action to pull the audience closer, and a good balance between small detail and big picture design. I especially like how the blank white wall (in the second photo) creates a visual focal point around the two frogs and focus of the design. Additionally, I am excited by the arcing, leading lines of the frogs' paths create movement and direction within the design. This works anywhere the viewer stands, too! 

There are three pairs of yellow eyes peeping around the edges of the door, if you look close enough to notice them. While they do fade back a little bit because of their light color, I wish I had made them smaller so that they would be less distracting from the main event (the frogs meeting). I also wish I had taken more care in measuring and cutting the leaping lines, although I think they are good enough considering the time with which I had to create them.

The most fun part about this design is the fact that the doors are no longer just doors. The top left (or right, depending on the viewpoint) corner of the door is suddenly an energized meeting place for two froggy friends, the small pond creatures become large characters, and even the structural elements of the doorframes become hiding places for intrigued, spying eyes. 

I truly hope that this little scene gives each passerby (or passer-through) a giggle, or at least a funny little smile, at the thought of this froggy meeting. 

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