Detail [ink and chalk on paper]
I created a quick preliminary drawing of the mugshot. Then I added washes of ink to build up the image. With each loose brush stroke I tried to capture the essence of this woman. I wanted to portray her sorrow, her fear, her dark secrets and the uncertainty of her future, with every mark I made on the paper. I am telling part of the story but I want the viewer to also become the storyteller. I want to allow them to make up their own minds about who this woman is. After becoming totally absorbed in the ink drawing, I lost track of time and I have no idea how long the portrait took to complete.
[Ink and chalk on paper]
Sarah Bale. (2015) Homesick [digital layered images]
Sarah Bale. (2015) Homesick [digital layered images]
When Jane my tutor saw my Homesick images she said it reminded her of Susan Hillier’s video installation Psy Girls. I can’t believe I haven’t seen Psy Girls before. I saw Hillier’s work Channels in an exhibition at Matt’s Gallery in London and I remember being transfixed to sights and sounds on the screens. For Psy Girls, Hillier has used clips from films about girls with telekinetic powers. By adding intense colours and a loud soundtrack all of which adds to the tension of the film Hillier has created a powerful piece.
Inspired by Hiller, using iMovie I have made my own film called Homesick. It took over two hours to make 8 seconds of film, which I have looped to make 16 seconds. I have intercut my Dorothy mind images with clips from the film The Wizard of Oz. Trying to make stronger colours on the film clips was difficult as I couldn’t find many colour options. However, the more I play with iMovie the more I will learn. I added the soundtrack of the tornado from the film and then cut the sound of the witch laughing and added echo to make it blend in to the noise of the tornado . I am pleased with Homesick for a first attempt as it is how I imagined it in my head, but I think I will call this the first cut as I plan to make more versions of the film.
The last couple of days in the studio have been very productive. I have had tutorials with my three tutors which has got me thinking about how to develop my work. Also I have progressed with my nurse painting.
Drawing on the canvas ready to paint
Beginning to add colour [oil on canvas]
Working in the studio
Applying thick impasto to the canvas has been very satisfying.
I’ve also been drawing into the wet oils with soft oil pastel. This has allowed me to take control of the image when it begins to become lost under layers of paint. At the moment I am happy with the painting. This is a first as I’ve never felt that past paintings have looked how I envisaged them in my head. However, I know that at any moment when I add a layer of paint or a new colour everything can change. I’ve still got a long way to go as I need to add more tone and detail.
I’m going to leave the painting for a few days as the paint is very wet and it could become a big mess if I continue working on it. Also I need to think about the significance of the objects on the tables in the room. Should they blend into the background or are they of importance? At the moment I am thinking the two photographs are symbolic and should be painted in red. The shoes the nurse is wearing are also going to be red. This will be a metaphor to what is going on in her mind. Red shoes are a link to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. I keep coming back to that film! Is the nurse Dorothy?
Drawing for mugshot
Process of drawing and painting
Another mugshot completed but I’m getting slower. The drawing took 20 minutes with the overall completed image taking an hour. I messed up her chin by making the lines too hard. I’ve tried to soften the hard line with more ink washes and chalk. I haven’t put in a background yet as I’ve left all my large brushes in uni and I’m making the mugshots in my studio at home.
Detail of Jean [ink and chalk on paper]
Jean [ink and chalk on paper]
Back to uni tomorrow to continue painting my nurse.
