All images © Melissa T. Hall, 2005

While taking a basic black and white photography course, I was assigned the obligatory Line, Shape, and Form assignment. If I was feeling saucy, I could also tackle Texture for extra credit. I don’t remember what I turned in for line, shape, or form but the extra credit assignment began a love affair with texture that emerged in full force during my digital work.

At the culmination of my time as a photography student, another class provided the emotional landscape for my present work. I chose to do symbolic self portraits for my portfolio development class.

For my current body of work, I create textures from unrelated organic and man-made objects to combine with the human form. These works result from explorations of who I would like to be, who I fear I am, and female archetypes with whom I identify. My goal is to visually manifest reflections of my efforts to understand myself and the various roles I assume in my life.