Self directed - Experimenting with layouts for assessment.

CPS - Seminar Presentation Evaluation.

For my CPS seminar presentation I chose to look at Sabine Moritz. I decided to focus particularly on her paintings which explore themes from her childhood depicting her memories as a young girl in Eastern Germany during the 1970's and 80's. 

Evaluating my presentation I feel as though I gave a well spoken account researching into Moritz's life as a young child discovering what it was that influenced her paintings and also into the political history of Germany at the time. However, I think I should have looked at the history of Germany, Eastern Germany most importantly, in a lot more depth to gain an even better understanding of life during the 1970's and 80's. Research behind her influences also needed more depth however this information was difficult to find with little books and articles available. 

Reading feedback from my tutor, comments were made that I did give a clear presentation showing good use of technology with a well organised slide show. The time for the presentations was 10 minutes, mines was in fact 6 minutes so would have needed to have been a little longer. It was commented that I did give the work good context researching into the artist well, but more depth was needed  in order to lengthen the presentation to the time required. It was also mentioned that more critical responses were needed to show how Moritz's work is viewed and experienced by the spectator. I found this part of the research particularly difficult as there were not many articles reviewing her exhibitions.

Looking at my peer feedback, they commented that my presentation was engaging and well spoken with good quality images of Moritz's work and little writing on the slides which gave the artist more presence on screen. They also said that I gave good information on Moritz's childhood and how it relates to her work showing clear links between the two describing it clearly to the audience. Like my tutor suggestions were made that I find out more about her influences and links to artist movements like impressionism and expressionism. 

I believe that I did give a well spoken seminar presentation with good research into Moritz' life as a child giving her work great context. I do agree with the comments and suggestions made about my presentation. If I were to improve it I would go into a lot more depth about the links with the history of Germany in particular the divide of the East and West. I would also research further into her influences and also critical responses to her exhibitions to find out how her work is received by others. 

Drawing project - Experimenting with layouts for assessment.

Portfolio.

Drawing Project - Artist Statement. 

For my drawing project I explored the theme of people in a city, expressing ideas of movement and life. As a starting point to my project I went out collecting photographs and initial sketches of people and crowds, using graphite sticks, in locations within Leicester and also London looking at different densities to create contrasting compositions. I recorded these quickly to allow me to capture the movement of the figures. With these I was able to produce responses that emphasised the shapes and movement of the people. When producing these I found that I was particularly drawn to the shadows, leading me to generate drawings which enhanced the use of shapes. This influence came from my research into the artist James Allen. Allen’s work expresses a great deal of movement through delicate yet tonal drawings of city environments. His work inspired me to apply a sense of delicacy to my sketches but to also include depth and density. Another strong influence to my initial ideas was the paintings by L.S. Lowry. I chose to look at the paintings by Lowry, in particular his famous industrial scenes of people, in relation to my drawing project. He is able to show movement and life through the use of static emotionless figures. I admire his skill to do this and due to my inspiration, my ideas express a similar theme in the fact that I do not give my figures a face, they are anonymous.

To develop my ideas I introduced black ink to my work to help emphasise the shadows. I found that using ink gave my drawings a fluidity creating soft, free movement within the compositions. When using ink I discovered that my application of media was becoming looser so I explored ideas using continuous line to further emphasise movement. I then came across a technique using ‘wet on wet’. I would first apply water to the paper and then I would use ink to cover the wet surface. Whilst still wet using the end of a brush I would sketch in my idea and once dry the marks would be left behind. This allowed me to begin to use layers within my work creating different textures and densities of tones. I was then introduced to the video installation work of Michal Rovner. Her videos expressed ideas of movement within people creating noise and shapes with silhouettes. Rovner’s work inspired me to further develop my composition decisions and to also refine my use of lines to express the people and their movement.

My ideas went on to becoming more abstract focusing on shape and composition to show movement and exaggerating this by adding charcoal on top to define some of the marks. I did experiment with adding in structure to my ideas, however comparing and contrasting my pieces with and without a clear background, I feel that the ideas without are more effective as the figures become shapes of movement and life rather than a decided image of people in a city environment. Further developing my work, as contrast I did add colour to my ideas using watercolour either on its own or combined with black ink. Like the ink I also drew into the watercolour to create the first layer of marks adding charcoal as another layer. I found that using colour gave my ideas a brighter atmosphere becoming more inviting to the viewer. Whilst developing these ideas I incorporated varnish into the compositions to add a contrasting texture to the work. At this stage I felt that I had found a successful combination of mixed media, producing my final body of ideas which focuses on the movement within the crowds of people as opposed to a picturesque scene allowing the viewer to generate their own interpretation. 

'Untitled, Black ink (wet on wet) on paper, Feb 2014, 21 x 15 cm

'Untitled, Black ink (wet on wet) on paper, Feb 2014, 56 x 11 cm' 

'Untitled, Black ink (wet on wet) charcoal & graphite stick on paper
 March 2014, 59.4 x 84.1 cm'

'Untitled, Black ink & black emulsion on paper, March 2014, 42 x 40 cm'

'Untitled, Black in (wet on wet) charcoal & graphite stick on stretched paper
March 2014 21.0 x 29.7 cm'

'Untitled, Watercolour, charcoal, graphite stick & varnish on stretched paper
 April 2014, 59.4 x 84.1 cm'

'Untitled, Watercolour, black ink, charcoal, graphite stick & varnish on stretched paper
April 2014, 82 x 28 cm'

Self-directed Project - Artist Statement.

For my self-directed project I explored the urban environment looking at colour, light and structure to create atmosphere. My aim was to represent these scenes how I saw them and what I felt whilst there; looking at locations during the day and night to express different colour pallets. It is the atmosphere of a bustling city which attracts me; capturing my attention to colour and textures creating the buzz of a noisy area. The colours used within my ideas show what I saw within the environments; my own interpretation.

 To begin my self-directed project I collected research focusing on perspective and composition gathering my ideas from a variety of locations in Leicester and London.  I recorded my research by producing many sketches and photographs. From these ideas I produced colour responses to enable me to pick out certain tones, exaggerating what I saw within the ideas, to create a strong atmosphere using combinations of acrylic and photo transfer emulsion prints. This idea of generating atmosphere through what I see exaggerating the colours used was generated from my research into the work of the post-impressionists. My interpretation of colour and shape was very much in this style. They were a diverse group who took aspects from impressionism and exaggerated them. For example Van Gogh intensified his use of colour using bolder brush strokes generating more energetic ideas. At this stage I also looked at the white paintings by Maurice Utrillo. Throughout my initial ideas I experimented with using tertiary colours to help me create an urban atmosphere and to also reflect on the colours I see within the environment. I feel that using complementary tones strongly relates to Utrillo’s white paintings. They were made to emphasis the environment through temperature and lighting.

To develop my ideas I chose to focus on looking at only colour and shapes, picking out the tones I see in the particular idea. To produce these I used acrylic paint applying it with brushes and pallet knives to create different textures. Studying my colour pallets I could see that I interpret my ideas using cool tertiary tones and depending on the time of day I have added hints of colour to help them contrast with one another and in turn encouraging the composition to stand out. I found looking at different times of the day very interesting; allowing me to use different contrasting tones. After experimenting with brushes and pallet knives I found that I most enjoyed using pallet knives. The textures made are a lot more successful and visually appealing, emphasising my ideas creating a strong atmosphere.

Using my development I began to apply these techniques and processes to my ideas. It was at this stage that my combination of acrylic paint and photography came about. I found that using my textural paint process against a focused picture generated ideas of memory emphasising my personal interpretation. The picture became a captured moment in time and the paint surrounding it, representing what I experienced. Painting scenes both during the day and at night, I decided to produce ideas taken from the same location one during the late afternoon and one late at night. I found my interpretation of colour very interesting; using complementary tones contrasted with fluorescent city lights.

I then came to a decision to find out what it is that I enjoy most about my paintings picking out sections and painting ideas from them using only textures and colour. This enabled me to focus purely on my memories and interpretation of colour thus allowing the viewer to make their own assumptions as to what time and city environment I am interpreting. 

'Untitled, Acrylic on canvas, Jan 2014, 14 x 14 cm' 

'Untitled, Photo transfer & acrylic, on foam board & acetate
Feb 2014, 20.0 x 29.7 cm'

'Untitled, Photo transfer & acrylic, on foam board & acetate
Feb 2014, 14.0 x 21.0 cm'

'Oxford Circus 1, Acrylic, varnish & photography on MDF
March 2014, 59.4 x 84.1 cm'

'Oxford Circus 2, Acrylic, varnish & photography on MDFMarch 2014, 59.4 x 84.1 cm'

'Untitled, Acrylic on card board, April 2014, 42.0 x 54.9 cm'

'Untitled, Acrylic on MDF, April 2014, 42.0 x 54.9 cm' 

Self-directed Project - Evaluation.

My intentions with my self-directed project were to explore the themes around the urban environment focusing on colour, light and structure to create atmosphere. I wanted to produce ideas in response to what I experienced myself whilst there, looking at locations during the day and night expressing different colour pallets to show this. It is the atmosphere felt whilst in a bustling city which captures my attention to colour and textures in order to represent the environment. The colours within my ideas show what I see with my own eyes. 

(Oxford Circus 2, acrylic,
 photography & varnish on MDF, A1)

 To begin my project I focused on ideas which expressed perspective and composition from locations in both Leicester and also London. It was from these initial ideas that I began to produce colour responses allowing me to pick out certain tones that I felt were dominant exaggerating what I saw within them to create a strong atmosphere placing the viewer in that situation.

 I experimented with many arrangements looking at ideas during the day and night to allow me to capture contrasting atmospheres through my use of colours and textures. I started off by developing my ideas using paint brushes as well as pallet knives. I found that when using the pallet knife I could apply the colours creating strong textures which in turn emphasis the environment being shown. When developing my ideas I looked at the composition as a whole and also zooming in on particular sections that I felt best expressed ideas of colour and texture without the need to use structures. I found this very interesting as it allowed me to see how I apply colour and texture together to generate ideas of a particular location. However after comparing the two together for me I find painting an environment as a whole more rewarding, looking at perspective as well as colour and texture. I believe using a strong sense of perspective combined with colour and mark making pulls in the viewer’s gaze placing them in that situation.  

This idea of exaggerating a location in terms of colour to help portray what I experienced whilst there came from my initial research into the Post-Impressionists. They came about during the 1880's and were a diverse group of artists who took aspects from impressionism and exaggerated it. For example Van Gogh intensified his already vibrant colours painting them a lot thicker onto the canvas, a technique known as impasto. These bolder brush strokes expressed more energetic ideas. The artists within this group developed a style which focused on the emotional, structural, symbolic and spiritual elements which they believed to be missing from impressionism. I think that the influence the post impressionists had on my ideas is clear. Within my paintings I have exaggerated colour and texture to help create a particular atmosphere reflecting an urban environment and how I experienced it. 

It was during the development stages of my ideas that I found the combination of acrylic paint and photography to be very successful. I found that this process of using textural paint over a focused image generated ideas of memory which further more emphasised my personal interpretation. The picture becomes a captured moment in time, the paint surrounding it representing how I remember it in terms of atmosphere and emotion.  Due to me selecting urban locations I feel that a variety of audiences could relate to my work as they may have felt the same busy over whelming emotions that I did when in particular city environments.  I also feel that I have achieved what I set out to with my own brief to look at urban environments representing them through my own interpretation; what I experienced whilst there. 

Drawing Project - Evaluation.

The intentions for my drawing project were to explore the theme of people in a city environment capturing ideas of movement and life. 

(Untitled, mixed media - watercolour, ink, charcoal

 varnish & graphite on stretched paper, A1)

To do this I began by recording ideas of people and crowds, drawing quick sketches whilst on location to create a strong atmosphere of life and city living.  Throughout my project I used a variety of arrangements to emphasis depth and density in turn generating ideas expressing noise and movement. I also experimented with media combinations using contrasting materials to show differences in texture, in turn adding to the detail to attract the viewer’s gaze. In the development stages I found that the use of ink together with graphite sticks and charcoal on paper enabled me to use different tones and textures together to help enhance the movement of the subject matter. During this process I also incorporated varnish to add a glossy surface to the dry materials used thus adding another layer helping to generate depth. When refining my ideas I began to use hints of watercolour combined with the black ink to my work which gave my ideas an uplifted atmosphere, creating more life showing the ideas in a positive light as opposed to gloomy monochrome.

Towards the refinement stages of my project, my ideas began to focus purely on the lines and shadows of the people as opposed to drawing the figures true to life placing them in a recognisable scene. This allows the spectator to make their own assumptions of the lines and marks, whether they see them as silhouetted figures or records of noise and movement. One problem that did occur was the use of paper and the fact it would warp due to using a wet on wet technique. To solve this I did try out my media combination onto cardboard but I found that unlike on the cartridge paper, the lines made on the wet ink soaked into the card so you could no longer see them. In response to this I decided to go back to using cartridge paper but by stretching it beforehand so that the paper did not warp so much creating a flat surface. 

The idea of focusing on movement came from my artist research most significantly into the video installation work of Michal Rovner, an artist from Israel. Originally a photography and sculpture based artist, Rovner began to move towards film based work during the 1990's. Her videos depicted crowds of anonymous people, animals and birds often in monochrome.  Her most recent films look at silhouetted figures moving across an environment. The video that most inspired my ideas of movement was her piece called 'Current' which focuses on themes of time and energy. (Follow this link to see 'Current' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc3m5sRRnq0) It was this piece that inspired my ideas to develop and focus on the shadows and shapes of the crowds to create movement and depth in turn generating a bustling atmosphere. I think the influence behind my ideas is clear showing positive links between my own ideas and the ideas of my inspiration. 

Evaluating my ideas to my own set brief I believe I have successfully explored the theme of people and crowds capturing them in their environment creating a bustling atmosphere through the use of lines, tone and texture. If I were to continue this project I would focus on how to effectively scale up my ideas whilst still using delicate marks and textures to create movement and depth. 

Self directed - Colour & texture.

To further refine my ideas; after previously looking at my paintings in detail, picking out particular sections, I decided to re-paint the sections I enjoy. To do this I looked at my most successful ideas zooming in on sections and then with the colours and a large pallet knife painting the textures scaling up in the process. I chose a variety of sections focusing on different tones of light and texture to allow me to represent different city locations at different times. With these paintings my aim is to show a city environment through the use of colour and texture whilst continuing to focus on my experiences representing the environment with the colours and textures that I see. Relating back to my inspiration taken from the Post Impressionists ideas of exaggerating things through use of vibrant colour and textures; I also wanted to create these ideas to see if adding structure is always necessary when depicting a city environment.

(Untitled, acrylic & varnish on cardboard, A3)

(Untitled, acrylic & varnish on chip board, approx. A2)

(Untitled, acrylic on MDF, A4)

(Untitled, acrylic & white emulsion on cardboard, A2)

(Untitled, acrylic on cardboard, A2)

When selecting these compositions I wanted to look at areas using high contrasts between dark and light tones to help reflect the time of day and also focusing on a particular colour pallet that is most dominant throughout the particular idea. To create these I applied the paint quickly to allow me to show movement within the textures which continues to reflect on a city environment full with the hustle and bustle of life. Looking at my new paintings I can see that cool tertiary colours contrasted with bright tones are often used. This helps to create an urban atmosphere; the tertiary tones depicting the concrete buildings and stone floors. The textures used are very linear and coarse in appearance which emphasises the environment creating a sense of movement, direction and depth pulling in the attention of the spectator. 

When looking at my ideas in detail, homing in on what is was about the paintings I most enjoyed, I have found that it is my application of texture using a pallet knife that allows me to effectively represent a city environment. The textures used are gestural portraying a great deal of movement which in turn enhances the never ending life of a city. 

Comparing these ideas to my paintings which show the environment realistically using perspective and structure, I gain a lot more satisfaction from painting the idea as a scene as opposed to a series of marks. What I enjoy most about painting the location more photographically is being able to enhance to use of perspective combined with colour and texture. This allows me to emphasis the atmosphere, most importantly allowing the viewer to relate to the composition placing them in that busy city environment. The perspective pulls in the spectators gaze, simulating how a city environment can engulf and overwhelm you. In turn this reflects on my own experiences; how I feel in those locations.