Moodboards are a collection of images that fit a specific theme or topic. Moodboards are usually used by artists at the beginning of larger projects as a way to inspire and guide the process. There are endless possibilities and no right or wrong way to make one. That said, there are a few things you can do to make the process a little bit easier.
I like to start with image collection. Since I am working analog, I am using images mostly from magazines. I am subscribed to a couple of fashion magazines that arrive monthly (thanks mom!), and when they arrive, I rip out images that inspire me. I store these images in containers for later access. To start a moodboard, I look through these images and pull out ones that catch my attention. Usually, I do not have a topic in mind when I start, but figure one out as I go.
I always pull more images than I think I need. This gives me more options and more opportunity to move elements around and play with composition. I like to start by cutting or tearing my images first before I start to arrange them on my paper.
I rearrange my images a lot before gluing anything down. This way, I can make changes if I need to. Once I have everything exactly where I want it, I take a photo of the layout before removing images for gluing.
When I make moodboards, I typically go for a collage-type way of working that involves a lot of layering. This is what works well for me. But, I have also seen moodboards with more rigid layouts that are also successful. For example, this moodboard that I made a while ago is composed of squares lined up in a grid. It is still a collection of images surrounding a theme, but laid out in a different way.
Once my moodboard is complete, I scan it and clean it up in Affinity Photo. I typically use the clone stamp tool to hide any stray marks or evidence of glue.
Did you give this a try? If you did, I would love to see it! Tag @prettiestpear on Instagram or Tiktok. Wanna make one but can't come up with an idea? Try one of these.
Moodboard Topics to Try:
Seasons
Patterns (dots, stripes, plaid, etc...)
Weather
TV shows
Movies
Books
Special Occasions (weddings, prom, parties, etc...)
Accessories (socks, watches, glasses, etc...)
Textures (fur, leather, latex, etc...)
Specific articles of clothing (turtlenecks, dresses, colorful pants, etc...)
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