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.
'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)
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.
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.
Self directed - Looking at my paintings in detail.
After painting my large pieces I wanted to look in detail at what I enjoy most about the ideas, picking out sections that would work well as a composition in its self.
(Above and 1 below - sections taken from 'Oxford Circus 2')
Looking at these sections taken from 'Oxford Circus 2', I chose these due to the intense use of colour which creates a busy atmosphere representing the illuminate lights of a city at night. What I also find interesting about these sections is the application of texture and the contrasts between the large and small marks.
(Above and 2 below - sections from 'Oxford Circus 1')
The three sections presented above are from 'Oxford Circus 1'. I chose these again due to their use of texture and application of the marks made to show structure and contrasts between the dark and light tones.
Studying all of the sections I have selected from my large scale paintings, I have found that my use of colour and application of texture using a pallet knife, does reflect on a city environment creating a bustling atmosphere even though there is not set image of a city in terms of perspective to give the viewer a certain context. Looking closely at these sections, if I were to recreate them I would have to use a larger pallet knife or depending on how large I wanted to go I would have to reconsider the tools I use. I also think it is clear that I enjoy studying the colours and textures within a composition to create a particular atmosphere and environment to pull in the attention of the viewer.
As further development for my project I will look at producing ideas that look only at the use of colour and texture to depict a particular location and time of day. To do this I will select sections from previous pieces of work that I find most interesting recreating them using the same colour pallet and direction of marks.
Drawing - Refinement of Ideas.
Looking through my ideas and evaluating the compositions I have used, I think that the arrangements that focus on the shapes and movement of the crowds, rather than the city structures surrounding them are most effective and eye catching to the viewer. These more gestural ideas allow the spectator to make their own assumptions of what is being represented as opposed to me telling the viewer what to see by adding in a city environment to the people which almost takes away the movement, in turn producing a static image. As refinement to my ideas I have been continuing with the idea of stretching the paper, gradually increasing the size to see how effective it is, if it works or not.
With my drawings I have been looking at showing just the movement with subtle hints at people and crowd density. They could be drawings of the sounds or shadows that the people create in a bustling city environment. Also due to finding my use of colour effective, creating a more uplifting atmosphere I have been refining on my application of this. I found that the use of blue was most interesting and complementary to my compositions as it added temperature to my ideas and whilst improving my work I combined the use of blue with the black ink to help produce tone. I have also continued to use charcoal and graphite sticks to the drawings to help define the shapes and tones produced. One other material I have been using is varnish. I used it previously on a couple of ideas and I have found that applying it around the charcoal lines helps to enhance the shapes produced and also adds a contrasting texture to the ideas which helps to attract the attention of the viewer to look in close at the intricate detail. In terms of layout and positioning of my ideas I have been playing around with both portrait and landscape compositions. I find both interesting however the landscape ideas allow me to exaggerate the shapes and depth of my idea enhancing the idea of movement and shadows.
(Untitled, ink, charcoal, graphite and varnish on stretched paper, A4)
(Untitled, watercolour, varnish and charcoal on stretched paper, A2)
(Untitled, mixed media - watercolour,
ink, charcoal, varnish and graphite on stretched paper, A1)
ink, charcoal, varnish and graphite on stretched paper, A1)
Self directed project - 2 paintings.
At this current stage of my self-directed project I have
continued to experiment and develop my ideas in particular my uses of colour
and structure to create pieces of work that express my interpretation of the
scene being depicted. With my ideas I want to generate an urban atmosphere
through my use of exaggerated or soft colours and textures, putting the
viewer in that location creating an environment that is bustling with the never
sleeping life of a city.
Throughout my project I have been generating ideas looking at
different times of the day; morning, late afternoon, night time. I did this to
allow me to apply colours that are either muted by the natural hazy late
afternoon light or illuminated by city traffic, street lamps and shops in the
evening. As well as this I have also been playing around with my use of texture
and incorporation of photography. With my ideas, combining them with my
photography I wanted to create a composition that is both blurred and also in
focus, a moment captured whilst in the location and then my memory of the
environment and how I felt at the time, represented through colour and texture,
my own interpretation.
(Oxford Circus 1, acrylic varnish & photography, A1)
(Oxford Circus 2, acrylic varnish & photography, A1)
During my initial research and development stages of my self-directed
project I found it very interesting and enjoyable to create ideas both set in
the day and also at night to help me produce different colour in relation to
the lighting. I love the contrasts between natural light and artificial light
allowing me to creating soft and fluorescent colours yet both creating a sense
of urban atmosphere.
These two paintings shown above are my latest pieces of work,
two large paintings roughly at A1 size depicting the same location at different
times of the day, one during the afternoon and the other late at night.
To create these I used techniques learnt during the development of my
work that worked well. I have combined my photography with my painting process.
I find that by doing this it helps to emphasis the perspective pulling in the viewers’
attention. It also allows my paint work to seem like a memory showing what I
was experiencing at the time, framing the moment captured in that
location. I used acrylic paint to create the work, applying the paint using a
range of pallet knifes to enable me to make texture and layers of colour
to create depth and a sense of movement. The texture created in these helps to
reflect on the city scenes being shown; the marks being the sound and movement
of the people and traffic.
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