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Creative Minds: Creating Characters from Self Portraits

with Dale Ralph

DATE: October 27th, 6:00pm
LOCATION: Zoom meeting, To get the meeting link, please contact Rebecca Ward

During the pandemic, Dale’s access to the models she usually used for her photographs was cut off. Therefore, she had to find a different way to create her art; and out of necessity, she began using herself in a variety of masks and costumes as the model.

During her presentation she will discuss the methodology, tools and techniques she utilized. These include:

  • Idea generation

  • Setting up for self-portraits – lights, camera, tripod

  • Costumes and props

  • Creating mood and finishing photos using Photoshop and other software packages.

About Dale Ralph:

Dale creates art with a message. Sometimes that message is simply to have fun, but other times it can be political or personal. Having been brought up in the 1950s she experienced the on-going struggle and changing role of women in society, which helped fuel the “Me Too” and “Never Again” movements. Her Goddess series of composites, which depicts strong and powerful female icons, is intended to balance the energy of their male counterparts and has relevance for male/female roles in society today. Her ongoing “Aliens are People Series” shows we are all alike under the skin. Her Justice series depicts a variety of current and political themes such as “The Price of Silence,” which resulted from the Catholic priest scandal

The messages in her Wizard of Oz series concern overcoming obstacles and revealing our often hidden heart’s desire by having the courage to take and complete the journey. We ourselves are rarely fully aware of the lessons our life will provide. Shakespeare probably said it best in the quote: “To thine own self be true.” Her messages are intended to be reflected upon to help us truly know ourselves; and by so doing, know and accept others.