This development piece depicts a crouched figure, arms crossed over the face hiding the person’s identity. The figure could be deep in thought or praying and there is a second figure with its head on the lap of the crouching figure; this figure is in red with a white outline around it. These could represent other identities, multiple identities or simply be a second figure seeking solice. Continue reading Development work for exhibition: Emerging identity
Development work for exhibition: Emerging identity
Working within the Artists’ Studio
We were invited to wander around the studio looking for inspiration and interesting areas to draw. I found Jill’s studio and spent some time trying to capture the atmosphere within the room, the interesting clutter, the depth to the building, a maze of rooms leading along dark corridors. Again we were encouraged to work with various materials and scale and change the length of time spent on a study from perhaps 1 minute to 5. These are all studies which could be further developed into other works such as a painting, collage or print. I used these works to prepare a printing plate which I will print soon.
Arthur’s Seat
Enjoying a family day out at Arthur’s Seat, my purpose of course to get some good photographs to draw or paint from. I love the changing colour, texture, shadows and form of the landscape; what inspiration. The boys were just glad to get to the top without being blown over!
Life into the Figure 2
At the start of the session we discussed the work of Matisse and Henri Moore which led into discussion on line and the different qualities of line. Looking for contrasts in line from straight to curved, dark to light and thick to thin. Continue reading Life into the Figure 2
Life into the Figure 1
Encouraged to experiment with various materials this workshop focused on drawing the figure in various poses. The first two images are A2 and show an ink study where the ink was applied using a stick at arms length. Difficult to control, the stick allows for various qualities of line, usually quite delicate, thin line although depending on the weight of application, line can become stronger. The methodology used in the next set of images was varied. Initially I started a drawing in charcoal, only establishing the drawing for a few minutes. Continue reading Life into the Figure 1
Lino prints
Inspired by a portrait life drawing I produced a lino cut of a section of the face. The lino cut was stylised and had additional lines and texture added to create interest. I used water based printing ink but have also experiemnted with oil based ink which can be worked into for some time. I may try this print again to compare results. I love how a print looks quite different depending on what colour of paper it is printed onto.
Collage
These collage artworks were completed in response to drawings, sketches, sketchbook work completed in previous workshops which I was encouraged to further develop. Surrounded by all of this work was inspirational and I felt like I was in my own mini studio within a studio, Wasps Artists’ studio, Dalry. Again I photographed the artworks in sections as each piece could become a small artwork in its own right and be further developed into a larger piece. I tried to focus on a limited palette of colours with accent colour and some musical scores,( in the style of the Cubists), to break up the image. Texture is important in the collage work and makes it very tactile and almost relief in places. Line and shape lead the viewer, breaking up the surface into different levels and planes. Various qualities of paper were used to describe different objects.
Oil paint and egg tempura
Morandi Still Life
Morandi deliberately selected everyday objects, limiting these to boxes, bottles, jars, which had labels removed if they had any, in order to depersonalise the objects, painting them with a flat matt color to eliminate any lettering or reflections. He arranged and re-arranged these objects and studied their form and shape,using earthy, neutral colour to depict these almost abstract objects. Each object within the painting is observed for a long period of time in order to capture its essence. Colour and tone are balanced to create a peaceful mood. Light plays an important part in Morandi’s work and can either be subtle and subdued or bright depending on what time of day it was painted or in whatever lighting conditions. Paint has been applied in flat, even strokes within the background and foreground yet with detail to describe individual objects. Continue reading Oil paint and egg tempura
Glasswork
On 18th October, 2015 I attended a fused glass workshop with Carol Robinson in Kinghorn. I produced a small fused glass work taken from a landscape painting I completed some time ago. I then used a piece from my experimental textiles workshop and captured this between two pieces of float glass then soldered this around the edges to create either a window decoration or small hanging. I named this second piece ‘Three Little Birds’.
Encaustic Painting
I attended an encaustic painting workshop at Wasps Artists’ Studio on 26th October, 2015. This was a very tactile technique with the layering and scrapping back of hot wax on the surface of the work. Pigment was added to wax to produce wonderful colour, over-lapping to increase opacity. The wax dried very quickly and was enjoyable to work with. The scrapping technique offered fantastic surface texture either adding detail or revealing other layers or colour below the surface. The smell in the studio was amazing!