In relation to my dissertation topic delving into the works and artistic profiles of Hamish Fulton and Richard Long, my process is something that I am questioning and looking into. Hamish Fulton and Richard Long are very process driven and their work is produced in a very physical way, this is because of the involvement they have with the landscape.
Thinking deeply into process and ways of working I recently set out on a walk to Holly-wells, the local park. I took my camera to record a memory of what I was experiencing in the flesh. This was a personal journey and taking a picture when I chose to was my physical involvement with the landscape. (Similar to my inspiration).
My photos from the park seemed to have a varied theme. I have photos displaying both close up textured detail as well as finding myself stepping back and looking at the landscape as a whole. I am going to take the images into my studio and play around to see what approach is going to work well for me. I am also going to make repetitive trips to the park and different times at day to focus strongly on the light and effect the day time appears to have on the landscape.
These images are some current experimental works formed from the laying up of paints. They are all inspired by the natural environment in one way or another; however don’t all take the same theme. This is something that i am going to look into to create a series of work all which represent aspect of the natural world.
The layering of different paints in different ways is what currently keeps my practice fresh and exciting. I am always learning which paints work well together and the effective diverse outcomes they have.
The first image on the right, ‘Harwich Sunset’ was a piece inspired by a walk along the beach one tea time in my hometown. The colours in the sky were amazing and the image stuck with me. I had an urge to show it through paint. I took a photo to remind me of the sublime experience later in the studio.
The first layer on this piece of work was using a brown acrylic which represented the landscape. To apply this I used a roller which created the rough effect you can see at the bottom of the image. When this was dry I used the two predominant colours which stuck in my head from the moment I saw the sunset, these were pink and purple. I wanted to keep it simple and applied with a brush the two colours I had mixed. I then left this as I was happy and I thought it was a personal representation of my experience. Its textured simple appearance is what I think makes the work effective.
Lesson learned- sometimes less is more.
The second image represents a beach scene. To begin this process I photographed some images of the beach in Harwich and blurred out detail to really concentrate on colour and the land. I then used acrylic paint to begin to create the essence this beach scene gave off. This is a piece of work which I continually keep looking back at and adding to, which I think has taken away the positive effect it first had. I have now started to add corrugated cardboard on the piece and varnish over this to create a glossy outcome.
I am still wondering whether this is yet to be completed with further layers of paint.
My work is still in an experimentation mode, currently trying to find how I myself articulate the natural environment.
My studio space currently shows experiments with paint and mixed media pieces of work.
My space also shows a range of contextualisation all which have strong links to my practice in separate ways.
My contemporary contextualisations include artists such as:
Gerhard Richter
Adrian Berg
Theresa Oulton
Mark Rothko
Peter Diog
Anslam Keifer
These artists are where my practice have begun and branched from and my contextualisation will widen with further research.
My other artists aiding the context of my dissertation:
Hamish Fulton
Richard Long
These artsist relate to my subject matter of the natural environment.
In my studio at the moment my series of work is inspired by the woodland area where I spent a week in early January.
I was continually surrounded by the beautiful scenery and peacefulness that the environment exuded.
Even when the weather was dull and gloomy I still felt inspired by the settings that I was in.
I have been experimenting with different mediums and layering of paint to create texture and detail.
My inspirations come often from capturing the moment and I am continually questioning my work.
Am I interested in the natural environment or is the world that we are surrounded by every day. Not always from a natural point of view?
My next steps and current work include expressing the identity of the natural environment bringing both the natural world together with my interests in identity.
I am trying to show character and definition of ‘place’ within my paintings, however steering away from the realistic approach giving my work an element of abstraction and mystery.
Some of my small experimentations (images) show ideas and examples of my works progression.
