CPS - Statement written by a peer.


Written by Samantha Powell. 

Alice’s paintings are a series of city scapes painted in acrylic, she creates these images on wood, paper and canvas. Her paintings range from a small to large scale. The paintings also range in styles of borders and orientation, she has produced her pieces with a pallet knife which creates a more 3D texture and a very intriguing series of mark making which suggest she is trying to create a certain feeling or emotion within the images.

Before talking to Alice about her work I viewed her studio space and during that viewing I was very interested in the mark making in particular, because of its sketchy appearance and also the brilliant contrast of colours, they seem almost dream like because off the blurred and sketchy marks the pallet knife makes, and it gives the questioning to is it a memory? Or a dream its self?

After talking to Alice I understood that the reasons for the specific look and texture were to transfer how she felt about these environments, she took a mixture of images from different places in London and Leicester and created them to show the underground urban personalities of both these places. She also in doing this subconsciously created a vision of what could be memories and feelings from people who have encountered these places, giving her work a massive body of different viewers who would easily fall for and enjoy her work.

Some quotes from Alice herself about her work include when simply asked why paintings of this kind she replied “I enjoy painting the environment and expressing its urban side” also “my influence if I was to have one would me Sabine Moritz because of her environmental works.” Alice states that if she was to develop this work she would go to a much larger scale and use other tools to create her mark making other than a pallet knife to get out of her comfort zone.

Reading through this statement written by Sam, I find it very positive and it is clear that she listened to me when we did our interviews taking note of the points I made successfully.  

Self directed work in relation to group crit.

As suggested in the the group crit and also in response, I have done some more work looking once again at my use and application of colour. To do some of my ideas I went of previous paintings looking at the colour within the compositions. I also incorporated my use of photography into the ideas as well this time applying a stronger sense of texture the paint used. These ideas also relate to my previous contextual research into the works of Spencer Gore and Oskar Kokoschka who apply bright exaggerated colours to their paintings a long with strong brush marks to help show texture to define the mood and atmosphere of the composition. In my latest pieces of development I wanted to further emphasis the urban atmospheres in my ideas as this, along with my use of structure, is a main element within my concept. 


(Untitled, acrylic on paper using pallet knife, A2)


(Untitled, acrylic on card using brush, A2)


(Untitled, acrylic photo cardboard and varnish collage on paper, A2)

To paint the ideas selected above I used a range of pallet knives and brushes also incorporating relief elements within the ideas using corrugated card. Comparing my piece made using a brush against the pieces using a pallet knife, I feel that the textures made by the brush are very flat and bland where as when using a pallet knife I am able to create rough and smooth layers of texture which helps me to put an emphasis on the marks and colours used within my ideas. This then in turn helps me to generate a stronger atmosphere that is endearing to the spectator. Looking at my use of colour in more detail once again, has made me look more closely at my ideas and how I mix colours to represent different times of day and to generate an urban atmosphere. 

Drawing project - Stretching paper.

Due to finding out that my process for drawing does not work very well on cardboard I have decided to have a go at stretching ordinary cartridge paper so that my backgrounds are flat and do not crumple due to the wet media I use, in turn helping to make my compositions look more professional. I attempted this process starting with two small scale drawing to allow me to see how it would turn out. 

Stretching the paper


 To stretch the paper all you need is a role of gum tape, a wooden board, paper and a damp sponge or cloth.

Firstly I needed to dampen the paper I was going to be using with a sponge placing it in position ready on the board. Then using the gum tape, wetting it slightly with the sponge I placed four strips along each edge of the paper making sure it was all stuck down with no air gaps. Once complete I had to allow the paper to completely dry before working on top of it. Once dry I applied my ideas to the paper using my wet on wet ink technique and again letting it dry thoroughly. When the paper was completely dry, using a craft knife I cut  away the paper from the board. 

         before.              -                after            

Due to stretching the cartridge paper working positively; my backgrounds are now crumple free which helps to complement my drawings and looks more proficient when displayed on a wall. I will continue to stretch my paper gradually increasing in size to allow me to present my ideas more effectively without the distraction of warped paper. 

Drawing - Development in response to Crit.

Reading through my notes made during the group crit session for my drawing project, it was positive for me to hear comments on my use of media and also my use of just black and white. I think that using only monochrome best complements the subject matter as it focuses on the tone and shapes without anything distracting the viewer. I also found it interesting that my peers recognised my experimentation with movement of people and that I wish to represent it through the use of shadows. 

In response to the comments made by the group I decided to play around with composition once again, looking at shapes and view points of people (portrait and landscape) to help create different depths and densities of tone. As well as this I also experimented with adding subtle tertiary grays into the black ink using watercolour to see what that brought to my ideas. 


(Untitled, ink wet on wet, charcoal, graphite
and watercolour on paper, A4)


(Untitled, ink wet on wet, charcoal and graphite on paper, A4)


(Untitled, ink wet on wet, charcoal, graphite and varnish on paper, A3)

Above are some of my ideas that play around with black ink combined together with hints of colour and also experimentation with composition looking at idea orientation and also the densities of the crowds and the view points. As well as this I tried out using varnish over the completed drawing. I do not think this was successful as the varnish is not completely clear, leaving a slight yellow tone to the paper. Instead I will apply the varnish more as drips instead of painting it onto the picture as a whole to see what this adds to the idea. Evaluating these current drawings I think it is apparent that the ideas looking down on the crowd are not as interesting or as visually appealing as the ideas which generate depth with use of landscape orientation and subtle hints to structure which draw in the viewers attention. I then decided to add a lot more colour to my ideas to see how this changed the atmosphere of my drawings.  


(Untitled, watercolour, ink and charcoal on paper, A4)


(Untitled, watercolour and ink on paper, A3)


(Untitled, water colour on paper, A4)

These next few ideas show my experimentation with the use of vibrant colours as an extreme contrast to my ideas using only monochrome tones. To do this I used the same process ideas used previously, wet on wet, this time applying rich watercolour to the paper. I tried out using the watercolours on their own, mixed and also combined with the black ink to add stronger shadows. I used compositions that have been previously effective looking at landscape viewpoints. Comparing these colourful ideas to my previous dark black and white drawings, I think that by adding watercolour the atmosphere becomes less dark and  heavy, and is instead bright and uplifting to look at whilst still generating elements of people and the movement of crowds in a city environment. As further development on my use of colour I will try out my ideas on a larger scale comparing them against my larger monochrome pieces. 


(Untitled, ink wet on wet charcoal graphite
and watercolour on card board, A2)

When applying the same techniques used previously onto cardboard I found that the process was not as successful as it is on normal cartridge paper. Due to cardboard being thicker and absorbing more of the black ink, I found that when I produced the marks in the black wet surface they eventually merged in once completely dry. This then took away some texture which is expressed in previous pieces and I think that this makes the drawings seem a lot more bland and flat in tern detracting from the movement element of my ideas. 

Testing my technique out onto cardboard and finding that the process fails to be as effective as it is on paper, I have decided to attempt to stretch ordinary cartridge paper to that it does not warp as much making my pieces more professional and refined. To do this I will start by first producing some small scale pieces to see if the stretching process works to complement my ideas and choice is media.   

Drawing Project - Crit 07.03.14

Group Crit

One of my latest pieces



(Untitled, ink wet on wet charcoal and graphite on paper, A1)

Points made during my crit
- my drawing are ghost like
- lack of colour, empty spaces and blotches are working well
- resemble heart beats
- recording of movement is effective
- visually how you would see crowds if they were only noise and shadow
- they are very simplified images, focusing on shape, sound creating movement of life
- emphasis on shadows 
- choice in materials are working, my ideas are taking off
- black and white is good; helps to reflect the subject matter

Suggestions
- look at different crowds in terms of shape and density
- experiment with the reverse; positive/ negative
- thinking of presentation; produce ideas onto card or thick paper?
- look at work as collectives and whole pieces
- could add string or wire to the ideas?
- try adding hints of colour; tertiary grays 

Drawing - further development.

Continuing with my drawing project focused around crowds of people and the movements created by them, I  have developed my ideas; applying different techniques whilst still looking at ways of generating movement. 
This further development stage of my project I wanted to continue to play around with the compositions of different crowd shapes and densities. I have experimented with backgrounds and shadows to help me show the movement within people and how I see it and want to represent it. 


(Untitled, emulsion on foam board)

To create this idea shown above I wanted to look at the negative of my ideas, the people becoming the highlights rather than the background. For this composition I first painted a thick layer of emulsion onto the foam board surface and using my pallet knife as a tool I scratched away the crowds and shadows. Evaluating the results, I think it is an interesting technique used to create a negative image however comparing it to my previous ideas and choices in media, I think that this interpretation does not continue on the my use of delicate gestural marks.



(Untitled, combination of ink and black emulsion on paper, A3)

With my materials I chose to combine ink with black emulsion making a watery substance that would be easy to apply onto the surface whilst still producing contrasts in dark and light tones. To do this I applied the ink and emulsion using a brush allowing it to drop onto the paper as well as manipulating the ink my self on the paper. Looking at the idea I think this idea seems flat, even though it has depth I don't think it creates a depth that pulls the spectator into the image compared to ideas made previously.



(Untitled, ink wet on wet on paper, A2)

Developing on a previous technique that I found interesting I decided to scale up my ideas that use ink wet on wet scratching into the ink whilst still damp leaving behind my marks. I think that this process helps to complement my subject matter as the lines made are very loose and sketchy creating fine textures that in turn create movement within the composition. With this idea I wanted to play around with adding in background structures to my ideas to give the crowd a solid city location that is apparent to the viewer. I think this is visually appealing in terms of marks made, however this particular arrangement is not effective in terms of depth and density of the crowd. As a composition I don't think this is the most successful. 



(Untitled, ink, charcoal and graphite pencil on paper, A1)

In response to previous development ideas I wanted to record an idea that expresses more depth helping to pull in the viewer. To further develop my use of media that has been working I decided to combine my ink wet on wet technique with willow charcoal and graphite pencil to help define tones and marks made. I think that combining these materials has helped to refine my ideas. I also wanted to continue to use a background as this helps to ground the figures whilst still allowing me to show movement. 

At this point in my project I now feel that I have found a combination of materials that is working, helping me represent my ideas and themes of people and movement. Relating back to my contextual influences in particular; Michal Rovner and James Allen I think that the two influences are coming through in my ideas showing an environment which contains movement of people and shadows as well as structure. 

Contextual Research in relation to group crit - Self directed.

When looking into the work by artists suggested in a previous crit on my self directed project, I found the work by Spencer Gore and Oskar Kokoschka most interesting and relevant to my own work.

Spencer Gore


(Somerset Landscape, oil on canvas
1909-10, 41.5 x 50 cm)


(From a canal bridge Chalk Farm Road
oil on canvas, 1913, 43.3 x 68.6 cm)

Spencer Gore was a British born artist, born in 1878 and he unfortunately later died at the young age of 34 in 1914. Gore studied at the Slade school of Fine Art where is was taught under Philip Wilson Steer who became one of his most profound influences which was shown in his early landscape work showing elements of impressionism. Steer himself was inspired by artists such as Claude Monet and Georges Seurat who was a part of the impressionists. 

During the early 1900's Gore spent a lot of time in London, Somerset and Dorset producing paintings expressing subjects such as landscapes and theatrical scenes. Gore is most known for his importance within the 'Camden Town Group', and along with fellow artist Walter Sickertt gathering together artists for the Fitzroy Street Group which was an organisation to help support and promote artists. The Camden Town Group was a group consisting 16 of English post-impressionists, men only. Their work was exhibited in the Allied Artist Association a group which was separate from the Royal Academy. Their paintings later went on to be exhibited in the Tate Britain in London. The Fitzroy Street Group was merged with the Camden Town Group in 1913 forming the London Group which still exists today.

Gore's early paintings have a neo-impressionist appearance with the strong use of bright pastel colours and also elements of pointillism. However his later works made in his final years have a strong relation to the post-impressionists with evidence of inspiration from Cezanne and Derain. Gore's paintings were displayed in the post impressionist founder Roger Fry's second exhibition. 

Studying paintings by Gore, it is clear that throughout his career he experimented greatly with colour and application of marks to help express emotion and atmosphere within his compositions. He looked at both country and urban landscapes well as portraiture his work gradually increasing in exaggerated tones and shapes which relates back to his inspiration from the post-impressionist artists. 

In relation to my own work I find his use of colour pallet particularly interesting as each cool or warm range in tones helps to generate a different atmosphere to complement the subject being depicted. I can relate to this as in my development I am using colours that I see within the environment to show atmosphere and what I felt at the time. Looking at his work this has encouraged me to consider the temperature of colour that I use and what it does to the landscape, how it changed the atmosphere. 

Oskar Kokoschka


( Self portrait as a Degenerate Artist
oil on canvas, 1937, 110 x 85 cm)

1886 to 1980, Oskar Kokoschka was a Austrian born artist as well as poet and playwright. He is most famous for his highly expressionist portraits and landscape paintings. He was a soldier in the First World War but was dismissed in 1915 due to being severely wounded. Among his influenced are Gustav Klimt and Adolf Loos who was an architect. During the 1920's he was doing very well exhibiting artwork in Berlin. However when the Nazis came about after WWI, Kokoschka was deemed degenerate (art that did not support the ideas of National Socialism). Many of his paintings were shown in the 'Degenerate Art' exhibition in Munich in 1937 and as a response he produced a self portrait called 'Self Portrait as a Degenerate Artist. He fled to the UK where he remained for the rest of the Second World War. After the war he moved to Switzerland where he remained for the rest of his career. 

His most successful works were his portraits. Kokoschka's painting technique was very erratic with a lot of texture and movement creating expressionist paintings. His paintings appear very moody and dark in terms of atmosphere due to the intense application of brush strokes depicting movement and depth. Kokoscha also worked a lot with colour experimenting with complementary and contrasting tones, his paintings often quite cool in temperature. In particular looking at his portraits, Kokoschka generates a lot of emotion though his use of colour and texture. 

I feel very inspired by his work in particular his portraits and his ability to generate emotion through his application and use of colour. Within my work I intend to reflect a particular atmosphere through my interpretation of colour. I want to express my emotions in the landscape, how I felt when in that location and how I remember it. 

Self Directed Project - Crit 03.03.14

Group Crit.


(My current work for my self directed project)

Points made during my crit: 
- work again with using only colour looking at night time and low light contrasts.
- If I go bigger I will need to use bigger tools to compensate.
- continue to play around with perspective; it helps to draw in the viewer and generates a strong atmosphere.
- draw at night to look at light?
- focus on parts; what is it in the paintings I enjoy?
- It is apparent that I am showing my interpretation; what I remember is in focus and what is my memory is blurred (this is a good contrast)
- continue with this; depicting what I felt and saw in the chosen location. 

Artists to maybe have a look into:
- Spencer Gore
- Michael Andrews
-Richard Tuttle
- Oskar Kokoschka
- Walter Sickert
-David Hockney's polaroid pictures of Root 66


(Peer Assessment)

My intentions:
After this group crit I felt very positive knowing that what I am doing is working with helpful feedback from the whole group . As suggested I will do a little more into my use of colour showing experimentation with the time of day and also idea of perspective. This will then help me to decide on what I ideas I will represent as my final body of paintings and what colours and application of texture to use to help generate an atmosphere that reflects a city environment. 

Self Directed - Further development.

After experimenting with colour, texture and my use of structure I decided to try a previous technique of using my own colour photography against my painting combining them together once again as I felt it had been a previously successful use of media. When doing this I wanted to play around with composition layouts, portrait landscape and also time of day, afternoon contrasted with night. My aim was of this was to show my research into the use of texture and my interpretation of colour and light generated either naturally or by neon city shop lights. I also wanted to reflect on how I interpret my ideas that show a different time of day and the atmospheres created by these in terms of colour, structure and perspective which seems to be a key element that is working within my compositions helping to draw in the attention of the viewer. To paint these ideas I used a range of pallet knives and acrylic paint on a section of my photographs taken whilst on a recent visit to London which helped me to gather many more compositions to play around with in terms of structure and lighting. 



(Untitled, acrylic and photograph, on foam board, A1)


(Untitled, acrylic and photograph, on MDF, A3)

I very much enjoyed painting these different ideas; both creating different challenges for me in terms of shadow and light and also emphasising the depth within the pictures. Looking at my use in colour I think that I have experimented positively, applying what I have learnt previously when it was suggested that I focus only on the colours within the environments I am depicting. I think that this helped me to reflect the time of day my ideas are showing. 

Self Directed - Development continued.

Continuing with my development of colour and composition I decided to experiment a little more with using only colour and texture to create my ideas instead of incorporating my photography into the arrangement. I felt that I had not fully experimented with colours and tone to represent different times of day. When creating these small paintings shown below I chose ideas that were captured at a time of day that I think were quite difficult to represent; late afternoon as it is beginning to get dark so the cool winter colours are heightened against the city lamps and dark shadows created as the sun sets. The colours used are ones which I felt were dominant in the particular location applied using a small pallet knife. I wanted to reflect an atmosphere of a cool winters afternoon showing my interpretation of the location; how I remember it to be, my memory. 

This can be related back to my influences from the white paintings by Maurice Utrillo; he stuck to a limited pallet using white based tones to create a cool atmosphere. My ideas can also relate right back to my research into the work by Sabine Moritz. I feel my work does relate to her ideas in the fact that I am representing atmosphere through my own personal interpretation of colour, almost like a memory.


(Untitled, acrylic on acetate, A4)


(Untitled, acrylic on un primed canvas, A4)

After looking into colour and selecting out the dominant tones showing my interpretation of light and tone, I wanted to play around, incorporating this with my photography adding more formal structure back to my ideas. To do this I stripped my photos of colour so they only consisted of shape in a high contrast monochrome edit. From these I then added colour using my pallet knives as a layer on top of the picture selecting particular areas that I wanted to express making them stand out to the viewer against the dull duo tone of the location. I experimented with applying more or less colour to the pictures and to layer the colour on top I painted onto acetate or placed the acetate over the image to add a contrasting texture to the ideas. I found doing this interesting as I could pick out tones that would contrast against the black and white image behind. This application of high contrast colour and marks related back to my research into Post Impressionism. Even though it is very different, the artists in that group often heightened the colour and texture within their ideas. 


(Untitled, acrylic and acetate on photo, A4)


(Untitled, acrylic and acetate on photo, A5)

London visit Feb 2014.

As a chance to gain extra research and development opportunities for my term 2 self directed projects; my final project as well as my drawing project, me and a few peers decided to organise to go to London for the day allowing us to collect research from life and to also visit galleries to help us with our contextual studies. My aims for this trip was to gain some more ideas to work from looking at night and day compositions and to also capture different densities of crowds throughout the city. As well as this I also found out that the artist Sabine Mortiz, who I focused on for my seminar presentation, had a new show open in London exhibiting her current work which I mentioned towards the end of the presentation. 

(Inside Kashya Hildebrand gallery space exhibiting work by Marwan Sahmarani)

We visited galleries near to oxford circus along East Castle Street. Each gallery exhibited artist of a different style and medium which was refreshing to see. Their were installations, videos, paintings, photography and sculpture. Sabine Moritz was exhibiting in Pilar Corrais. I found it very interesting to see her latest work and it helped that I had researched into her practice as I had a better understanding of why she chose the subject matter she did. As well as this gallery we also went in gettyimages gallery, Kashya Hildebrand, Art First and PI Art works. Going into these small galleries was very inspiring to see as most of the artists exhibited were up and coming showing their first solo exhibition or in contrast they were well established showing their work in a small intimate space.


After visiting these gallery spaces we paid a visit to the National Gallery. With starting art history in term 2 and researching a little into post impressionism for my FMP it was interesting for me to see this work. I feel that having a better knowledge of the ideas and concepts behind these masterpieces I was allowed to appreciate them more.


This short visit to London was very helpful for me in terms of refreshing my ideas giving me more ground to continue my projects. I have been able to gain more research and also contextual suggestions that may be helpful to me or other people.