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.

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.