Making this blog is almost like the theoretical equivalent of laying out work for a catalogue or exhibition. In terms of allowing me to gather, assess and take stock of where my work is. Stepping back helps me to see the overall direction my work is taking, much like in the process of painting or any other artform.
Being middle aged does not allow me the clarity of thought I enjoyed in my youth, so methodically recoring ideas is a useful way of regaining a level of order to my thought processes.
I have so much to think about lately. Living in a new part of the country is proving such a lot to come to terms with. There is such a lot to take in, it’s a whole new culture, almost like living in a new country. So much new history, local knowledge and traditions to be learned.
Today I have been looking at my Recycling video with a view to painting a recreation of the scene.
The footage was shot through the car windscreen during an extremely heavy downpour. Consequently the images are very distorted. The accompanying sound of the splashing raindrops served to give me a ready made rhythm with which to engage as I applied the paint.
I worked outside from memory and quickly became absorbed by the way the objects almost apeared to melt into one another. I found it quite challenging and may look at the video again with a view to refining the painting with a few areas of greater detail. I feel the real test, as many artists find, will be in knowing when to finish the painting.
I love to travel to new countries. Seeing the everyday through fresh eyes is so inspiring. Going out with my camera and sketch book is great for getting new ideas. I tend to get carried away and become totally spontaneous in new surroundings. I think this combination helps me to produce some of my best work.
For me, my work is a mirror of my life. That is certainly true of a lot of artists, in particular Tracey Emin whose work relates events from her life.
I find it fascinating the way her contemporary Gillian Wearing-a naturally shy personality-has found her creative outlet by being a voice for other people.
It seems most artists subject matter reflects their own personalities, however both Emin and Wearing’s approaches reflect and record the times in which they live.
More and more it is apparent to me that it’s the collective whole that produces the bigger picture when one looks at the emerging art scene, as is so evident when looking back at what has gone before and seeing past works in their own context.
Some of the themes my work looks at include tension, anxiety, adversity, the therapeutic qualities to be found in art, the confessional, use of text in painting, and also contains a strong autobiographical element.
I looked at Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry and Gillian Wearing for my dissertation as I feel these artists identify very strongly with these themes in their work.
In putting together my 2012 catalogue during my 2nd year at UCS I found it really helpful in looking at my work as an entire body. Previously I tended to focus on my current work, seeing it in isolation. The catalogue experience helped demonstrate that each work represents a small part of an emerging larger picture and dermonstrates my growing confidence as an artist.
I read recently that Mondrian chose not to frame his work as he did not feel it should be cordoned off from the world, but form part of it. I think that is a very interesting point. The idea makes the work seem so much more relevent.
Another point on this subject that I have picked up is one made by Robin – that my paintings work best when grouped together. A kind of dialogue seems to open up between the various works. Which for me was an unexpected and interesting point to emerge.
