University Campus Suffolk

Over the past few days I have been working on a collection of smaller paintings depicting the landscape. They are of an abstract nature where I used a roller and acrylic paint to create the background. I then left the backgrounds to dry, selecting some photos to use as the subject. I used watercolour and very thin layers of acrylic and I love the effect they have. Some of them work to show a clear depiction of the pathway and some focus more on the depth of the surrounding areas. Although working from a documentation of the land, my work is strongly influenced by my memory and connection of being in the landscape.

For the displaying of these images they are currently all together in a small black portfolio where they can just be flicked through. For assessment I think I am going to think about framing a few of them because I find them effective and important to my project. I may also display the frames at the private viewing of my degree show.

I am really pleased with the fluidity of these images. They do show aspects of differentiation. I have also tried to use a range of truthful likeness of colour, but also brighter areas to enhance the pieces. The use of white is seen repetitively in my work as it brings out the space and light in the paintings.

Per kirkeby

Danish painter, Poet, filmmaker and sculptor whose paintings I am predominantly fond of.

After a recommendation to look into the works of per kirkeby I found him profoundly interesting especially for his use of colour and shapes in his work. I adore his brushstrokes and proud strokes of colour which define his work. His similar colour pallets also are something that I find interesting as I have lately begun to control the use of colour in my work.

Facts:

Uses a range of different medias

Member of the fluxus group

Influenced by tachism and abstract expressionism

Lyric expressionist

Kirkeby’s paintings tend towards the abstract; bear veiled iconographic reference, largely to the Danish landscape and the female figure.

It is the indirect reference of the landscape that particularly influences me from Kirkeby’s work. I really like the use of bright and almost block colour shapes within his work, often directly onto a darker background colour. Another reference that I am really influenced by is the mark making seen in many of his works. This almost acts a pen detail over the top but instead thickly applied paint has been worked into. The contrasting colours in his work are very effective and these points are all something to think about with my own practice, especially on my smaller scale works.

Today I started work on my large board. I have had the board for a while but I have been waiting for the right picture to start working on it. In my mind this is the piece that will form the basis of my degree show.

I picked an image I had taken from Dedham and I wanted to make sure the painting oozed character so I picked one which had direction to it. It was quite difficult to work on such a large painting in such a confided area because I couldn’t step back far enough and review it. I think that working on board is a much better decision in comparison to the canvas. The style of my painting works much better on the surface.

These images show the first stages of the board. At the moment I feel that it lacks any depth as it has only had one coat of paint, however I love the colours it depicts and deeper shades of the same colours will emphasise the piece even more. I think it is working really well with my trodden path concept and I am excited to see the final outcome of the piece. I plan to work on this gradually because I find that when I work on a painting too much I start to become obsessed with it. With my work sometimes less is more so I need to make sure i control this element.

Realisation

My connection to the landscape although may not have always been present in my art has always been clear in my head .It may seem late in the game so to speak; but I have found where my passions lie within the landscape. Since the in depth research into dissertation artists Hamish Fulton and Richard Long, I have unconsciously been focusing on the ‘Walking element’ within the land. When I say walking element I do not necessarily mean the direct connection to the artists, where I have been walking around particular areas, however, I have found an interest looking at the pathways that form the environment and more interestingly the trodden pathways, formed over a period of time by endless amounts of people.

Not only do I find them fascinating to see but they also tell a story. They come in different shapes, sizes, direction and distance, all scattered over different terrains. They act as guidance within the landscape, especially when unknown to one. When I visited Dedham/ Flatford, everywhere you look is a trail or route you can take. My eyes were drawn to all the different possibilities of which one to take. The paths gave the landscape a character, something that stood out to me. Although the concrete earliest pathways are still of interest to me as they lead you to the outdoors in the first place, it is the unique manmade tracks that have a significance in my work.

So what is it that I find particularly interesting about the hidden pathways?

The beginning of a journey

People follow the pathway even if they don’t know where it’s going to lead them.

The grass has worn away to create that trail.

They all are of a different and unusual appearance.

When you take a shortcut you are embarking on your own individual journey.

Someone else is then to follow you

Which trodden path do you take when you have a choice

Taking the unknown

Did you start the track

Why do you go off the concrete and take often the uneasy route

Are you trying to visit a place of secrecy?

Hamish Fulton and Richard long have been the main influences into this final degree project. Research of their individual process’ and articulations of the natural environment formed a fascinating argument which I thoroughly enjoyed writing about. Since embarking on my own journey of my articulations of the natural environment, I have jumped right into the landscape, walking and taking in all the natural happenings around me. My camera acts as the documentation to my inhale and then is later exuded in the studio. Some of my favourite pathways have been the ones that are dainty and hard to see within the grass. They are freshly made and I am really enjoying experimenting and looking at them.

My degree show will focus on the ‘pathway’, but how….

Dedham Documentation: Painting

Over the past week I have been analysing the Dedham images and having them printed so I can work from them without being on a screen.

This is the first image that I have begun to work from. Even though I am pleased with the likeness of the landscape, the style of the canvas does not ooze the same character as some of my previous images which I have become fond of.

The unfinished image currently lacks the sense of abstraction which is clearly depicted in some of my other works.

This layer currently acts as a base coat to the painting. It exudes the colours and stresses the character of the Dedham landscape, now however, it is time to up the expression and give the painting my style. To do this I would like to add thickly applied acrylic paint and also charcoal and graphite in certain areas to accentuate the painting. I think this will give the painting a better finish overall.

Other things to look at:

The colour green in the painting- does it show good comparisons to the painting?

The paintings texture and finish:

•Thicker paint- application in other ways

•Painting fluid- to give a more vibrant finish

The images on the right show the different stages of the unfinshed painting so far.