Recently I’ve been thinking about how I can expand my drawings outwards- either out onto the walls or out into the viewer’s space. This week I’ve been experimenting with the idea of relief drawings/collages made with layers of tracing paper and mount board, supported by map pins.
I’ve only made 2 of these, as I’m having problems with materials- the map pins don’t stick in the mount board properly and as you can see from the picture, it fell apart before I could photograph it. I’m going to try to get round this by experimenting with different types of base, as I’ve had good feedback about these from people passing my studio space.
Another way of approaching this has been to stick with layered translucent drawings that are flat, not supported by pins. I’ve been making this kind of thing for a while, but I’m incorporating more elements such as scalpeled tracing paper and smudged marker pens on acetate. I really like the way the acetate allows you to “float” the inky smudges over the preceding layers, and adds a glossy finish- it gives a similar look to my paintings, which always end up shiny with the amount of oil I use!
We’ve also been having Professional Practice lectures on a weekly basis, this week’s focus being on promoting our practice. There was a lot about websites and blogs, as well as promoting projects through Facebook and Twitter. If you’ve read this far down in this post, it would be interesting to know- how do you promote your practice online other than through Degrees Unedited, and what do you think are the most effective sites/tools to use?
I feel a bit guilty for not having posted in a while… it’s been 2 weeks of busy evenings and leaving my camera in uni by mistake!
In my last tutorial I was told to a) step things up another gear, and b) be more playful. The second is easier than the first, but I’m hoping one will lead into the other!
I’ve been branching out from traditional drawing methods to explore the idea of “drawing in space”. I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, inspired by artists like Monika Grzymala and Matthew Ritchie. This week I put my ideas into action with electrical tape, map pins and thread, using them to connect paintings and draw out from the wall. I have a lot more ideas of how to develop this theme, so watch this space…
I also went to Penzance for a day of observational drawing/photography last week. It just happened I probably picked the coldest and windiest day of the year! I got a couple of drawings done, at least until I stopped being able to feel my fingers, and lots of photographs I think will come in useful with work over the next few weeks.
Back in the studio, I’m experimenting with different paint handling techniques on my new set of paintings. This has involved lots of masking fluid (which I’m experiencing a love/hate relationship with), palette knives, and spray paint. I’m happy with where this is going so far, but time will tell as to whether this playing around will really step up the energy levels in my work.
Dissertation… finished! Just have to get it printed, bound and handed in, which, knowing my luck, will not go entirely smoothly.
It’s nice to have it out of the way, but the fact that dissertation time is coming to an end seems to have highlighted how little time is left. Everyone on our course seems to be panicking, from everything to their word count to what they plan to do with the rest of their lives.
I wouldn’t say I’m panicking, but I can definitely feel the pressure creeping in. This has been compounded by quite a major change in my way of thinking- I always planned to do a secondary school art and design PGCE when I finished my degree, but a few months ago I decided against it, for a year or two at least. Not having a plan for what comes next is a strange feeling to me, simultaneously exciting and nerve-wracking. It’s stranger because my sister Lucy (who also has a blog here but hasn’t updated it for a while… Lucy! Post something!) is going ahead with her PGCE plans, and had her interview yesterday. Being twins who have so far followed the same path in life, this will be the first time we’ve really gone our separate ways, and it will be interesting to see what happens.
The only way to really counteract the end-of-degree nerves is to try to regain perspective. I keep reminding myself that I’m not just going to stop learning when the degree show is over. Life after full-time education still seems like an alien world sometimes though!
Well, I didn’t get as much done over Christmas as I’d planned, but I did manage a few drawings. I’m intending to show some drawings in my degree show alongside my paintings, as I think they have an intricate and more immediate quality that is sometimes lost when they are transferred to paintings.
It was strange at first to think of them as pieces in their own right, as I’m more used to treating drawings as preparatory material for paintings. Some of them are drawn directly, others are built up in layers of tracing paper.
I’m quite pleased with how these are going, and it’s refreshing to be making work that’s quick and flexible. However, I am starting to consider how some of them could lead into paintings. I think it will be quite interesting to present these alongside each other in the degree show to see how they interact.
Today’s tutorial couldn’t have gone any better! Since my last tutorial two weeks ago with Lisa, I’ve been making lots more drawings and collages, and also started some new paintings. She encouraged me to be more open to new influences and source material, and I’ve been feeling a lot more positive about where my work is going. I was quite nervous this morning though, worried that she wouldn’t be as enthusiastic about the new work as I was.
However, when she came in she was really pleasantly surprised by my new big painting. It’s twice the size of my previous largest painting, and also a lot more colourful. She said it gave her goosebumps, which I was very pleased about! My dissertation tutor was also very happy with my first draft and said she thought nothing else needed doing to it. I’m so glad I’ve finished the term on a positive note.
Over Christmas I’m planning to get some more drawings and collages done, but ones that are a bit more considered/worked on than my current ones. I think the drawings have a nice quality to them that’s sometimes lost when they’re transferred to painting. I’d like to start thinking of them as finished pieces in their own right as well as a preparation for paintings.
