It's been quite a challenge kalemandra set us, this week!

I took up the challenge to stimulate my artistic juices and above all learn to use PS. First I lost a keyboard (to wear and tear), then I lost my work (after 3 days and nights) and almost threw in the towel. Then I got myself a Wacom Intuos tablet before my hand turned into a mouse-claw, and got my second wind back. Yep, I'm taking this very seriously! (I love learning something new! But boy, is it ever tough going on the old grey cells!)

My Story

First of all, I like the green line 4, which I have been studying hard the past week; its stainless steel, glass, and concrete lend a clean, spacious and modern feel. Above all its lighting gives wonderful shadow play and is very atmospheric in parts (on the photo, at least).

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However,I can appreciate Kallemandra finds her Kálvin stop a little grey compared to the second one down from it, Szent Gellért station, with its white and bright platform decorated with pastel butterfly shapes to dream to. But here, too, there is one feature that all the stations seem to have and I with my wonky eyes am no fan of: blur effects!

The Process

• So, my first task at Kálvin was to do away with those awful orbs. They made me terribly dizzy. I suggest a white wash with a hint of yellow or red.

• Next, I was tempted to call upon the fabulous Hungarian illustrators to dot their work around the station. I tried calling in Gévai Csilla,Kinga Rofusz, Cecília Simony, Lilla Pájer, Kata Pap and Monika Egry, but it was too short notice for them all.

It could have looked like this if we had Kinga Rofusz for the job:

Then I lost 3 days work on a piece with an astrological theme that complemented a quote by André Gide - There are admirable potentialities in every human being. Believe in your strength and your youth. Learn to repeat endlessly to yourself, “It all depends on me.”

When I refound it 2 days later, I no longer liked it, but am continuing to work on it in my own time (to practice more with my Wacom.)

Frustrated by this, my learner stage on PS, I wanted to white wash the whole darn station in one sweep! And I became progressively more frustrated with the art already there: that illegible script on the back wall! It had to join the orbs and AWAY with it!

I decided we would use famous quotes in various scripts (I have used Futhark in the hall below the escalators). On the second bit of the station I worked on - for a fresh start - the script almost felt a bit too Big Brother, with its possibility to indoctrinate; but it's all positive! I would like to stimulate new ideas in the passengers, or provide consolation or general food for thought.

My Two Entries:

In the meantime, I had become in need of an ultra relaxing theme, so I went and looked for it in nature.
I figured, you spend the most time staring at the tracks waiting for the next train, and discovered the wall above it was, indeed, very drab and even depressing (London has some of its most expensive advertising on it).
I brought more space and light onto it.
I hope it now doesn’t form a hazzard! (with passengers wanting to walk out into these fields).

No 1.

No.2

I went back to my trauma location, at the escalators, and continued this nature theme, opting for bare, winter trees for a more introspective (calmer) mood.
I figure most people have enough on their minds (before or after work/school) and the rustling of a full canopy of leaves will only add to the noise in their heads.

Since one of the stipulations was use your own work, I can confirm that the photos, including the singular flowers, used in the montages are all my own, shot with a Canon EOS 550D.

Which station next?!

In the meantime, since I ran out of bandwidth (still don't know why) I finished my entry

No.3

I asked the children of Budapest to draw their star sign.... Only those who peer up high will be treated to the work of innocents...

It is now a race against the clock, with the deadline approaching fast, as I wait for more steam....