Surreal September: “Disquieting”

Surreal September Tip #1: Uncanny Valley

Here are three suggestions to create a darker, more surreal uncanny portrait:

#1 Absence of Features — In this case, a distinct lack of eyes creates a discrepancy between what we understand about faces and what is presented here, especially considering that every other main facial feature is visible.

#2 Discoloration — The usage of garish, saturated reds and blues in contrast to a typical range of skin colors allows for another disconnect, pushing the portrait further into the realm of the unsettling.

#3 Repetition/Smearing — One artistic concept I have found that can really mess with a viewer’s expectations is the repetition and iteration of a portrait subject. This usually can happen through outward radiation from the original (as seen here), from superimposition, or from fracturing/glitching. Facial smearing of a portrait can also cause the same confusion — think the cover for Queen’s The Miracle.