While I was researching color theory and focusing on creating collages, something I was, at the time, inexperienced with, I decided to make a collage based on a specific decade and its influence in the United States. Narrowing down the decade wasn't difficult for me because the 1940s appeals to me greatly, at least in regards to interesting historical events and the emergence of a new medium for art: comic books.
To me, the three things that seemed most relevant to me about the 1940s were, of course, World War II, the "Pin-up Girl" aesthetic, and the rise of comic books. I chose to have my subject be a pin-up girl wearing a World War II soldier's uniform (which is an idea actually used throughout the 1940s). To further represent World War II, specifically, I took one of its most defining and unique elements: the use of the atomic bomb. The "bombshell" rides a literal bomb. By the way, I want to make it clear that this is not me "making fun" of the use of the atomic bomb or making light of it; I actually believe that the introduction of that type of warfare was a huge mistake and unethical. I just feel that it is an easy way to represent US involvement in the world's deadliest war, to date.
The colors I implemented, as well as the sharpie detailing, are meant to remind the viewer of the clean lines and bright colors of comic books, especially the early ones like Action Comics, Detective Comics, and Wonder Woman. The bombshell also grabs onto the pole sporting the American flag (or an abstraction of it), attempting to further remind the viewer of the extreme patriotism during the 1940s, the era of "victory curls," "victory gardens," and characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Captain America who wore American colors and saved the world by fighting the Nazis.
The design was overall inspired by other homages to the 1940/50s like Fallout's Nuka-Cola Girl and DC Comic's title, DC's Bombshells, which places the classic characters into the clothing and environment of the 1940s. The reference to Fallout's Nuka-Cola girl is also reinforced by the Coca-Cola bottle in her hand, another staple of the 1940s.
The colors I implemented, as well as the sharpie detailing, are meant to remind the viewer of the clean lines and bright colors of comic books, especially the early ones like Action Comics, Detective Comics, and Wonder Woman. The bombshell also grabs onto the pole sporting the American flag (or an abstraction of it), attempting to further remind the viewer of the extreme patriotism during the 1940s, the era of "victory curls," "victory gardens," and characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Captain America who wore American colors and saved the world by fighting the Nazis.
The design was overall inspired by other homages to the 1940/50s like Fallout's Nuka-Cola Girl and DC Comic's title, DC's Bombshells, which places the classic characters into the clothing and environment of the 1940s. The reference to Fallout's Nuka-Cola girl is also reinforced by the Coca-Cola bottle in her hand, another staple of the 1940s.
This piece is actually quite small and intricate in real life, so creating it was definitely a challenge, as my typical medium-of-choice is not collage. However, I am very pleased with the end result.
