Compose styles
Rather than blending styles toward a middle, this gives them roles. The first one carries the structure, the next comes in as the accent, and anything after that shows up in a single detail. Where they fight each other, it says so before you start.
How to divide the work
- Composition
- Follow Afrofuturism: Lead with the symbol; layer strata of time
- Type
- Set in Afrofuturism's manner (Pair geometric letterforms with culturally grounded faces, carefully), and let Art Deco's lettering (Tall, narrow geometric display type) appear only where you want the eye to catch.
- Material
- Ground in Afrofuturism's material (Deep black, gold, vivid color; research where the materials come from); bring in exactly one thing from Art Deco (Black, gold, ivory; repeated hairlines).
- Colour
- Build on #17110e, #d29a2e, #5b42a2 and admit one accent from #17140f, #c8a65b, #f0e6cf.
Where they fight
These are already listed as related entries, so the join should come easily.
Caution
- Afrofuturism Never borrow patterns as anonymous 'African style.' Learn the specific makers, regions and histories.
- Art Deco Too much ornament turns theme-park. Let white space carry the dignity.
Image prompt
Produce four original images that take their structure from Afrofuturism (aesthetic, 20th century–) and their accent from Art Deco (style, 1920s–1930s). ## What to make Make the kind of thing Afrofuturism exists for: narratives that speak past and future at once, or centering the viewpoint missing from received futures. Choose one subject and hold it across all four. ## Structure comes from Afrofuturism - Cosmic futures - Cultural pattern - Metal and earth - Myth reinterpreted Composition: Lead with the symbol; layer strata of time. Type and lettering: Pair geometric letterforms with culturally grounded faces, carefully. ## Accent comes from Art Deco, used sparingly - Symmetry - Radiating lines - Stepped motifs - Gold and black Let one material quality come from it: Black, gold, ivory; repeated hairlines. ## Colour and feeling Build the ground on #d29a2e, carry the structure in #5b42a2 and #17110e, and let a single accent come from #c8a65b. These are read off real works, so a direction rather than a fixed palette. Feeling to carry: futurity, luxury, rebellion, exhilaration. ## What goes wrong - Afrofuturism: Never borrow patterns as anonymous 'African style.' Learn the specific makers, regions and histories. - Art Deco: Too much ornament turns theme-park. Let white space carry the dignity. ## Across the four Keep the roles fixed in all four. Vary the framing, the scale and the arrangement so the set shows what this pairing can do rather than four versions of one picture. ## Constraints - Do not imitate, reference or name any specific artist, studio, brand, character or copyrighted work. - Do not reproduce the composition of an existing work. - Produce original compositions in the general period languages described above.
Related entries
- Afrofuturism 20th century– / Aesthetic / Visions of the Future
Connects African diasporic history, culture and future, reclaiming stolen time and new possibility.
- Art Deco 1920s–1930s / Style / Historical Styles
Stages urban luxury with repeating geometry and a metallic sheen.
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