Skyline High School Graphic Design 1: Exquisite Corpse Collaboration

Exquisite Corpse is the name of a Surrealist parlor game in which a collection of images are assembled by several people into one completed image, typically of some sort of figure, whether human or animal.

In the digital world, sharing is often considered bad. But designers are returning to the old Surrealist exercise "Exquisite Corpse" for new perspectives on collaboration. The article, New show explores “the concept of sharing in the digital age”, explores collaboration.

You will be in a group of three.

If you are #1:
#1 will create a head on the Exquisite Corpse main piece. You will than add a body to student #2 and legs to student #3.

All work will be done on paper that has been divided into thirds. Please draw your work in lightly in pencil and outline in fine tipped Sharpie once all sections are completed.

Below is the chart of how it will work. As you can see everyone will create a head, body and legs.

Below is how it will work.

Head #1 Head #2 Head #3
Body #2 Body #3 Body #1
Leg #3 Leg #1 Leg #2

You will also need to create an environment for you finished creature. This will take at least 4 class periods. Each illustration will be finished in Illustrator and require color.

The first participant will lightly draw a head on the top third of the page (continuing the neck lines slightly onto the middle panel) which is then passed to the next participant to illustrate the torso. In theory you should not see the drawing of the head so you can fold it over. The page is than given to the third person in which they complete the figure by drawing the legs and feet.

Once you have a finished drawing with a head, body and legs that has been Sharpied you will need to take a picture of it or scan it.

The Process in Illustrator
Begin with a NEW FILE IN ILLUSTRATOR that is 8 x 10 inches and name the file your initials- head (example: MG-Head).

Next go to File- Place and add your image. Expand your image so it fits the canvas.

Next go to Image Trace and click Low-Fidelity.

Next click on Expand. Make sure the blue lines are showing.

Next, go to Object, Live Paint and click Make.

Using the Paint Bucket (k) you can start painting your image.

Make sure to add an environment to your work. Post your final image to your Weebly. You should have a page titled Collaboration. You should have the sketch up as well. Add links to the pages of your other group members and there finished work.

Adding links to your Weebly will be demonstrated in class. If you would like to know ahead of time please watch the video below.