Figure Ground Reversal
Illustrator
The objective of this project was to visually interpret the word “mix” and incorporate two randomly assigned objects. My objects were eyedrops and lipstick. After a series of mind maps, I focused on the phrase “mixed up” and its relationship to figure-ground reversal.
Inspired by M.C Escher's image Sky and Water I 1938 wood cut, I created a series of sketches in which I explored ways to combine the two items, focusing on the similarities between the shape of the two items.
After multiple iterations involving the object contours, I explored color variations. The final design incorporates repetition and the red circle (lipstick top) is key to the illusion. What do you see? Black lipstick and black eyedrops or white eyedrops and white lipstick?
After sketching, I created stencils from the contours of an eyedrops container and tube of lipstick. This allowed me to explore ways in which I could manipulate the contours and "mix" the two objects together.
