Drawing - Development relating to crit.

Looking through the points made during my crit for the Journey project I then had an idea of how to further develop and refine my ideas. I began by developing the use of photo collage and pencil as it was mentioned in my crit as being a successful combination of media.To do this I produced a number of small scale ideas looking at ways in which I could combine drawings and photographs. I used combinations of ink, photo and also graphite pencil including more or less of each media. 

(Untitled, ink and photo collage, A5)

(Untitled, ink and photo, A4)

(Untitled, Graphite and photo, A5)

As well as using the combinations of media that worked well I also attempted a new combination of emulsion print and ink as suggested by a peer in my crit.

(Untitled, white emulsion print and ink on canvas)

When I created this, the emulsion print its self didn't work as well as I had hoped. The ink didn't transfer very well due to the printing paper being very thin so when rubbed off most of the picture came of with it instead of the ink remaining behind like it usually does. However you can still make out the faint outlines of the people and buildings so I worked into the picture using black ink. I only used it in certain areas that I felt needed more attention leaving other sections untouched. Even though the image transfer didn't work as well as I had hoped I think that having the picture slightly distorted adds an interesting atmosphere to the scene.

After creating these small scale drawings in relation to my crit I think to further refine these ideas I will scale up some of the compositions and see how they work on a larger scale.

Paint - Development relating to crit and artist research.

In relation to my paint crit and also my artist research I wanted to research ideas looking at the city in the dark and contrasting the dark cool tones of the night sky against the more industrial bright lights of the city transport, shops and adverts. To do these ideas I firstly looked at photographs that I took during my research which focused on the elements of light and movement combined. In contrast to my previous ideas I painted onto acetate using a brush to enable me to create smooth more controlled textures in comparison to the more rough course textures of the paint when applied with a pallet knife. 

(Untitled, photo and paint collage using acetate, acrylic, A5)

(Untitled, paint on acetate, acrylic, A4)

Looking at my paintings on acetate I think that due to using a paint brush on a smooth surface like the acetate, the textures are a lot softer and appear to be more controlled compared to the marks created by using the pallet knives. I think that this helps to show the movement of the traffic going through the city. I also like the extreme contrasts between the dark and light tones in particular with the London Eye painting. I think that using high contrasts creates an element of depth that draws the viewer into the picture. This idea of using bright and dark tones was influenced by my artist research on both John Piper and Vincent Van Gogh's painting 'Cafe Terrace at Night'.

Vicent Van Gogh.

Van Gogh was recommended to me in my paint crit and the painting I decided to look at in detail was his painting 'Cafe Terrace at Night' painted in 1888. 

(Cafe Terrace at Night, oil on canvas, 80.7 x 65.3 cm, 1888)

What I love about this painting is the extreme contrasts between the cool colours of the night sky and the warm yellow tones glowing from the cafe situated in the center of the composition. I find that by contrasting warm and cool tones helps to create a strong atmosphere that reflects that particular scene as it really was when Van Gogh painted it, the temperature, noise and the over all hustle and bustle of people as they sit in the cafe and also walk through the streets. This has inspired me to look at the use of light within my ideas and how it can create a strong atmosphere reflecting city life, in particular during the night.

John Piper.

It was suggested to me in my paint crit that I take a look at the work by John Piper. Piper was a British born artist whose work mostly consisted of paintings and print work but he was also a designer and writer. His most well known paintings are his ones of architectural views; consisting of churches and stately homes. Before the height of his career he was very much an abstract artist but over the years he gradually began to change and develop into naturalism. In the 1940's he was appointed as a war artist painting bomb damaged buildings across the most affected areas. After the war he gained more recognition for designing the new stain glass windows for Coventry Cathedral. Looking at his work I love his use of layers in his paintings, most influential to me is his application of textures which in turn add a sense of movement to what is a statutory subject matter. I also admire his subtle contrasts between the dark and light tones within his paintings, I feel that this helps Piper to create depth and intensity within the paintings atmosphere. 

(Castle Howard: Temple and Mausoleum, oil on canvas & Laid on deal panel, 1944, 63.4 x 76.2 cm)

Drawing - Crit Term 1

Points made during my crit for the Journey Project...

- Good tone within my current ideas

- It looks as though the people in the drawings are leaving a trail

- My ideas create depth & distance

- You can feel a sense of environment and location even though it is subtle

- They feel quite cold, you cannot see the peoples faces - they are all going in one direction

- The blank spaces are very effective, they make you want to walk into the drawings

- The sketches feel very delicate

- Good composition

- Full of mood and atmosphere

- Its as though we are a spectator watching the world

- Ideas consisting of photo and drawing collage works well

- The movement within the people reflects the rippling water on a river (relates back to my initial research?)

- To develop my ideas I could scale up, but will the sketches lose their intricate detail? Try this out

- Image transfer - draw on top of them

- Use different paper e.g. parcel paper, tissue, tracing, acetate

- Use wet media - ink 

It was interesting to hear how people reacted to what I thought were simple thought out sketches of crowds of people. I now have some good points of advice to work from to further develop my project. 

Drawing - Project Development.

After looking through my initial ideas I found that the sketches that portrayed elements of movement within people and landscapes, influenced by James Allen, appeared to be the most effective and eye catching. So to continue on this I documented people and crowds in different areas using more detailed sketches and ink studies.

(Untitled, graphite, A3)

(Untitled, graphite, A3)

 I found doing this very interesting as you could create an element of location without having to include the full background in detail and also ideas of life and movement. Also looking at my sketches I think that by portraying a crowd of people helps to create depth and distance drawing in the spectator. 

Drawing - The Journey.

For our term 1 drawing project the theme is 'Journey'. Its all about exploring a particular journey either around the area, through your life, memories or what you see or do in your day to day life. I also wanted to show how James Allen's idea of showing movement has influenced my beginning research. To start off my research I walked around Leicester collecting initial sketches for ideas, looking at the landscape as a whole and also macro detail looking at textures and ideas of movement. I wanted to look at different ways at which I could capture the idea of a 'journey'. 

(Untitled, movement of cyclist, graphite, A5)

(Untitled, graphite, A5)

(Untitled, photo and graphite collage, A5)

(Untitled, watercolour, A5)

Looking through my initial research sketches I can see a running theme of movement relating back to my inspiration from James Allen's work. I like capturing the movement of people and also reflections on the water both completely different yet similar in the way I capture it in a delicate yet gestural way. To continue my project further I think I will know focus on looking at the movement within people and crowds. I walk through the town center every day to get to and from Uni and my ideas which contain elements of people seem to be the most interesting to me personally, I find it fascinating to capture a persons movement as they go about their day to day life.

Paint - Crit Term 1.

Some points made during my crit about my current project work for paint..

- The use of purple is good, creates a strong atmosphere, feels quite cold, represents city life

- The paintings over the black and white emulsion print works well, they contrast well together

- Colour the backgrounds first so that there is no white from the paper left

- Paint over the photographs is working very well - good textures help reflect the structures. 

- Begin to scale up - work bigger to see how the techniques I am applying work 

- Continue to use people within my work - creates good movement

- Look at different colours

- Maybe do a reverse photo copy and work on that?

- Must paint on my canvas!!

- Artists to consider looking at ... John Piper, Edward Hopper and Van Gogh's Street Cafe Scene

After noting down the comments and listening to peer feedback I now feel confident with how my project is developing and I have been given some good points to help me further my ideas. I will take a look at the artists mentioned and then maybe look to use them to help influence my work.  

Print - Development relating to artist research.

After looking at the work by Keith Tyson and his use of chance and manipulation, I felt inspired to explore in detail the different ways in which I can move and distort the printing ink. I also wanted to focus on the idea of accidents and how I control them to produce a print just like Tyson uses chance and manipulation to create his work. To do this I used a very simple pallet to allow me to see how the ink can be moved about. Firstly I used a single toned pallet pulling the paper down on the surface, adding the  liquid zest-it to the ink and then moving the paper around on the surface to create different lines and densities of colour. 

(Untitled, print produced by dragging the paper, printing ink, A4)

(Untitled, print using zest-it and dragging and sliding the paper, printing ink, A4)

After this, instead of applying the colour to a solid glass surface I created my idea on a plastic pallet allowing me to move the ink around once zest-it was added instead of moving the ink with the paper. 

(Untitled, print done on plastic pallet using zest it, printing ink, A3)

I found this very interesting as it allowed me to research different ways in which I can move the ink around in preparation for my print. Also using a single and mono-toned pallet allowed me to see this in a simple way without lots of colours being used. To take this idea of manipulating the ink on the surface, I then introduced thought out colour pallets to my prints applying the processes I had previously tried out. I found that introducing colour to the work allows you to see the textures and movement within the ink more effectively compared to my simple ideas done before hand. 

(Untitled, print created by sliding the paper up and down, and using fabrics to make marks, printing ink, A3)

(Untitled, print using thick ink and zest it and dragging motion, printing ink, A3)

After experimenting with how the ink can be moved and then printed with I now wish to continue the project my looking at layering more contrasting colours together like extreme dark to extreme bright colour. When doing this I will apply some of the processes I have researched. I think that I have looked at how I can manipulate the ink quite well so will now look into the colours I use with more detail and consideration, applying them in ways that will help to express the textures and movement within the ink.

Drawing - Presentation - James Allen.

For drawing our task was to give a short 5 minute presentation on a drawing artist you found in London. I chose the artist James Allen. I came across his work at the Jerwood Gallery and he was in the shortlist for this years drawing prize. 

James Allen

The verb 'to draw' originates from the old English work 'dragan' meaning to drag/ leave a mark or trace and this is a critical part of Allen's work.

(Liverpool Station, 2007, charcoal, 126cm x 143cm)

Allen draws both interior and exterior drawings of urban environments often depicting areas that are key tourist destinations. As well as drawing the key shapes Allen also draws illusory traces of figures/ objects in relation to the subject to show traces of movement. He has a good eye for structure and the idea of motion, this could be considered to be an architectural style. The marks within his work are purposely controlled across the page - there is evidence of new, erased and replaced marks which in turn help create a controlled chaos around the still structures. 

Interior Drawings

(V&A Museum Help Desk, 2008, compressed charcoal 42cm x 59cm)

(V&A Museum Help Desk, 2013, marker pen charcoal and white acrylic    42cm x 59cm)

Above are two drawings of the same location, one old and one more recent. I find it interesting to see how his style has slightly changed and became more detailed in a way. In his more recent drawing he has combined many medias together. I think his more recent work is more controlled but personally I prefer his previous work, it feels more free and gestural with less control. 

Exterior Drawings

(St Paul’s Cathedral, Study 7, 2007, charcoal 84cm x 59cm)

(St Paul’s Cathedral, figure study 2, 2007, charcoal, 42cm x 59cm)

Shown here are two very different drawings from the same year and location. Both drawings create movement in different ways - the sky in the first drawing feels very threatening depicting the weather at that particular moment. In contrast the other sketch is calmer showing the movement of people in a delicate yet sketchy manor.

His Drawing Process

Allen focuses mainly on the activity of the human figure over long periods of time in contrast to the architecture. He begins his work by making informal sketches that can be small or more exploratory using marker pens and paint. These initial sketches help him to construct larger drawings that will capture his complete experience. He also always uses a variety of approaches to keep his work fresh. When he starts his larger drawings he continues to gather information to enable him to see whats missing. Allen believes that a final piece is not separate, it combines with informal sketches working as a parallel. Also he does not want his drawings to reflect one direct statement, he wants the viewer to be able to use their imagination to piece together the picture allowing for a universal viewing experience for the artist and public.   

Recent Work

(City Hall 2, 2013, marker pen and charcoal 60cm x 59 cm)

This is one of Allen's most recent piece of work. I think it is interesting to contrast this against his earlier work to see how it has changed. His work now seems a lot harder feeling more dramatic in atmosphere. Yet I still believe his work continues to express his key element of movement and structure. 

I find his ability to show movement and life in a drawing that consists of a statuary building very interesting and inspiring. I like his technique of applying his ideas quickly with bold gestural marks, that end up creating what looks like a very controlled piece. 

Paint - Development no.2.

Further developing my paint project, and also in relation to my artist research on Sabine Moritz, I have began to look at using people in my ideas to create movement and life and also texture and colour to help create a stronger atmosphere. As well as this I also started to use different tools and medias as well as combinations to show more experimentation within my work. To begin with I looked at using elements of my photography and emulsion prints within my work to create collage pieces consisting of layers to help produce a sense of depth within my ideas. I began by painting onto acetate using well thought out ideas that had an interesting composition reflecting the urban environment. I then looked at layering the acetate paintings on top of original photographs and emulsion prints to create a slightly distorted image consisting of photography and paint. 

(Untitled, acrylic paint on acetate over photograph, November 2013, measurements)

(Untitled, acrylic paint on acetate over photo emulsion print on board, November 2013, A4)

What I like about these pieces are the colours used and also the way they are layered over a photo which creates a distorted almost abstract feel that in turn reflects the atmosphere of the scene being depicted. I chose to use a purple colour pallet to help show the mood of that particular scene. I feel like the use of cool purple tones creates an atmosphere that strongly relates to the subject matter, people going about their unknown day to day lives in the city. 

As well as layering the paint over a photograph I also looked at applying the paint directly onto the picture its self using contrasting colours to enhance the mood and atmosphere of the image. 

(Untitled, acrylic paint over photo collage, November 2013, A3)

What I find interesting about the idea presented above is the fact the colours spread away from the main composition create heightened perspective to draw in the viewer. When producing this I used a pallet knife so I could experiment with using different textures and marks within my work to put and emphasis on the structures and over all city life going on with the image. I find the textures created on this idea are a lot more interesting and visually stimulating compared to the softer brush strokes of my previous ideas.

(Untitled, acrylic paint on photograph, December 2013, A4)

Above is another mixed media piece I created again applied using a pallet knife. I created this by placing the photo in the center of the board and I then painted the gaps using the colour pallet found in the photo. Looking at both ideas where the paint has been applied directly onto the photographs, I feel like the bottom image is more successful. The image above feels unfinished in a way due to the white gaps. however what I do like about it is the strong element of movement created due to the texture and marks applied. 

Keith Tyson.

As a part of my artist research it was suggested in my print crit that I had a look at the artist Keith Tyson. Tyson is a British artist born in 1969 from Cumbria. His work expresses a fascination with scientific systems and their limitations. One theme that Tyson focuses on is the idea of unpredictability. The artwork produced by Tyson that has most captured my inspiration is his series of 'Nature Paintings' which he began in 2006. Throughout these paintings he explores how making art can communicate the complexity of nature around the world.

(Nature Painting, industrial paint on aluminium, 198cm x 198cm, 2008)

This piece of art work shown above relates to cosmology, physics, meteorology and topography. It makes allusions to the natural world; it reminds me of a satellite image taken from space showing the movement and colours within the surface. Tyson's art work is mostly achieved by chance rather than a particular skill, unlike most artists who are valued for their 'skills'. The colours and shapes created are formed by the reactions between specially mixed paints and chemicals which Tyson pours at different angles and temperatures onto aluminium plates to help achieve different results. 

I find Tyson's work extremely interesting and appealing to the eye. I love the colours and forms produced in the paint that ends up creating a strong sense of movement and texture. Looking at his work it has inspired me to become more experimental with the colour pallets I produce and then print with in my project work. I will continue my ideas attempting to distort and mix the colours in different ways to show experimentation and to also allow me to print different textures. I will look at the shapes and movements within the colours more closely to help me further develop my work.