Starting the final process.

I started creating a collage that brought together all my final pieces of research, colour palette ideas, and general inspirations in one place. This made it easier when working on my final piece, as I had a collection of references to draw from.

For my final idea, I was really drawn to the suggestion of creating a mural featuring a single figure, resembling something you might see in a church or a modern stained glass window. If I could only depict one person to represent me, it made sense for that person to be me.

When choosing a photograph for reference, I wanted something that symbolized an important moment in my life. Since my research had focused on the significance of education, it felt fitting to use a photo from my graduation day, which you can see below. I also included examples of both traditional stained glass from a church and modern stained glass from my previous research, aiming to strike a balance between the two. I wanted the final piece to feel contemporary while still maintaining a connection to the original religious inspiration.

Additionally, I added an image of the quadriptych from my research as a reminder of the pieces intended meaning. I’ve been exploring the idea of incorporating small sections within a larger composition. I wanted to keep the square format but use black lines to divide it into sections, creating a subtle nod to the four-panel structure outlined in the original brief. However, I'm now leaning toward using three panels instead. Since I was originally meant to be one of the sections in the WhoWhatWhereWhy project, there would only be three remaining.

For my main colour palette, I've chosen shades of yellow, orange, and blue to represent the seaside, an important theme in my project. The coast is where I grew up, where I find inspiration, and where I create my designs.

Creating the outline.

I thought about sketching out my idea to visualize how everything would merge together. This was the vision I had, a large stained glass piece featuring me at the centre in my graduation outfit, set within a three-panel portrait.

To create the appearance of glass, I used sharp lines and geometric shapes while also incorporating additional lines to add detail. I started with a basic outline of my composition, and from there, I could begin incorporating colors and exploring ways to fill out the design.

Experimenting with colour.