Wirral metropolitan College, Liverpool John Moores University

Behind the Mask

I came up with the title, as it reflects everyday life. Everyone wears a mask to some degree, whether it is in a professional capacity at work for example when dealing with people. Or in your personal life in how you interact with different people – spouse, family, friends etc.

I was interested in this, as it was something that Michelle Rowley said when we were doing or presentations of core work in FA22 module and it stuck. There was a painting I had done of myself wearing a green coat with fur hood and woolly hat and silly grin, Michelle thought the expression was some kind of mask, as she had not really seen me act like this. In fact at the time of that presentation I was suffering from depression and was off sick from work. So I was not my normal self at all, which the picture did in fact capture my normal self, as it was taken from a photo some time ago.

So then I began to think about the various masks, disguises people wear and how people can hide behind them and try to capture that in my studies, looking from a different angle trying to underpin what I actually mean by the phrase behind the mask.

The definition of “the meaning of a mask” details as follows:

1. A covering worn on the face to conceal one’s identity, as:

· a. A covering, as of cloth, that has openings for the eyes, entirely or partly conceals the face, and is worn especially at a masquerade ball.

· b. A grotesque or comical representation of a face, worn especially to frighten or amuse, as at Halloween.

· c. A facial covering worn for ritual.

· d. A figure of a head worn by actors in Greek and Roman drama to identify a character or trait and to amplify the voice.

2.

· a. A protective covering for the face or head.

· b. A gas mask.

· c. A usually rubber frame forming a watertight seal around the eyes and nose and containing a transparent covering for use in seeing underwater.

· d. A covering for the nose and mouth that is used for inhaling oxygen or an anesthetic.

· e. A covering worn over the nose and mouth, as by a surgeon or dentist, to prevent infection.

3.

· a. A mold of a person’s face, often made after death.

· b. An often grotesque representation of a head and face, used for ornamentation.

4. The face or facial markings of certain animals, such as foxes or dogs.

5. A face having a blank, fixed, or enigmatic expression.

6. Something, often a trait, that disguises or conceals: “If ever I saw misery under a mask, it was on her face” (Erskine Childers).

7. A natural or artificial feature of terrain that conceals and protects military forces or installations.

8.

· a. An opaque border or pattern placed between a source of light and a photosensitive surface to prevent exposure of specified portions of the surface.

· b. The translucent border framing a television picture tube and screen.

9. Computer Science. A pattern of characters, bits, or bytes used to control the elimination or retention of another pattern of characters, bits, or bytes.

10. A cosmetic preparation that is applied to the face and allowed to dry before being removed, used especially for cleansing and tightening the skin.

11. Variant of masque.

12. A person wearing a mask.

http://www.answers.com/topic/mask

accessed on 25^th May 2010.

My first painting bearing this title is a mixed media collage. It is heavily textured and using acrylics I have tried to capture when everything is melted away or stripped away all that is left is skin and bone, the skull reflects what is underneath and the humanity.

Behind the Mask 2

This painting is taken from a section of my poly skull I created. It is a close up of an eye. What I wanted to capture was the sinking depth of the eye with the blackness and the rhinestones surrounding the eye was a representation of the beautiful things in life. I wanted the viewer to feel they could lose themselves in the picture. This is a trial version for a much larger rendering of the painting I want to pursue later.

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4^th May 2010

Well since my last blog entry, I have had a lot to contend with! I have realised that I cannot have two passions at the same time! One being work (Nursing) and one being my Art. My art has slowly overtaken my life these last two years and it now feels that I am now on the right path; having given up a very high flying responsible job in nursing, dropping three grades back to a staff nurse, this now gives me the time and opportunity to concentrate on my art. I feel that I have made a right decision and this has renewed my passion for art.

I have time to think on the direction my art will take, and after a lot of thinking and experimentation I feel that although I enjoyed painting the portraits, I feel my direction leans to a more loosely expressive style, with a mix of 3 d and 2 d work. I am still interested in the human head, and have decided to do a series of 3d and 2d work based around this. I have so far carved out a skull from a polystyrene block, I then covered it in silver paint and used plaster bandage to make a half turban wrapped mummy type thingy! Also there is some rhinestones glued on to give it a bit of a Damien Hurst type bling! Very cheap version though!!!

I have also begun to explore different materials and shaping them into head shapes and masks. The idea behind this is the underlying impression I have that everyone including myself wears a mask of some description, whether it is to hide behind, or for protection. The mask can be your facial features; made up of skin and bone, on that face, people wear makeup, or actual masks.

The skull represents me and the peeling back of my mask, revealing my inner beauty, which is represented by the bling!

I have also begun to explore my drawing in a looser manner, using music to help me, or through meditation. I like just sitting with a small sketch book and just take the pen for a walk so to speak, I just relax and don’t try and control my pen marks, and so far I have had some interesting drawings, these drawings reflect on the sounds I am aware of whilst sitting with my sketch book.

What’s next! Well in the summer, I have booked to go on a 2 day course called mindscape, which through meditation helps unlock more of the creativity inside of me, also it will help me relax more and distress. So come my final year of my degree, I should have an idea of the direction I want to go as I will have had a lot of time to reflect.

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14^th March 2010.

Well I have had a couple of days to reflect on Fridays Seminar, and criticisms, thanks to Carolyn and Carol for your comments. I think on reflection that the criticism given was a good thing, even the negative criticism. When someone criticises your work you feel protective towards, even if you don’t necessarily like it yourself or that you can see faults. You don’t like other people pointing out these things too! I take on board the criticism given and understand the reason for it. It helps push you further, developing your techniques. I said earlier that I don’t know whether to change and do something else other than portraiture, however, i think that would be a bad move, as I have made a good progress and have really developed this year and it would be a waste to change now. There was a comment made about the hair on the Fiona painting, that it wasn’t right, it wasn’t exactly like Fiona’s, I think that that statement was very picky, If you look at the painting without the knowledge of what Fiona’s hair looks like then does it matter? I did have real trouble with the hair, and do take on board that I could have took more time on this and not rushed it. On the whole I think the criticism given was a good thing if you want to develop and challenge yourself further. I want to learn and the only way to do that is to take the criticism and utilise it well. So watch this space!!

Seminar today at Gallery – Art History (12^th March 2010)

Today we worked in groups of 4 and critiqued each other’s work. We also had input from Vinnie and Steve our tutors. I think we were kind to each other (students that is) with both positive and negative criticism.

The criticisms’ my fellow students gave me on my work, were that I had captured the character and personality of my subjects. There is definite evidence of improvement in my work and that they liked the texture and style of my work. The tutor’s comments where what stuck in my head the most and it’s funny I can’t remember all the exact details, but I feel quite deflated after the session. I acknowledge that I had trouble doing the hair on Fiona, and should have taken more time. Also a criticism is that the images looked a bit flat and unfinished. I take on board those comments and do acknowledge them.

I have enjoyed the learning process so far. Earlier Steve made the comment on how he was reading a blog of one of the students and they described that they were getting conflicting advice from the tutors, and that it was portrayed in negative way on the blog, instead of using it in appositive light. I think that maybe that was me, but not sure, I will have to read my earlier blogs. I do feel conflicted at present and I don’t know which direction to take. Do I concentrate on the difficult subject of portraiture, or do I change and study something else, before I go into my third year. I enjoy painting, but I also enjoy making things and maybe would like to explore the 3d aspect. So at the minute I am in a dilemma.

Gallery Exhibition practice – Personal perspective

Sharon Ross

Installation day – Big day had arrived and a full turn out of students which was great. Three Tutors also in attendance. It was interesting to watch how the tutors worked through the paintings, looking for themes, matches, etc. What I didn’t realise was how painters there was in our group compared to last year’s gallery practice group. The paintings were put alongside the walls of the room. At first we had a go ourselves to see if we could come up with a workable theme. We had arranged it so all the portraits were on one wall, and all the landscapes were on another, with the abstract works on two other walls. It is not easy. It is about finding the right balance and volume in the works.

The themes that emerged were obviously – figurative – portrait work, fragmented body parts, urban and country landscape, abstract. The abstract was based upon urban city environment of Liverpool one. Also emerging was how different works could be matched by colours in the works.

The order of the works was finally decided, there was three installation works also which only two of them required to be placed in the centre of the room.

Placement of my work

My work was placed along the left hand wall as you come into the room. You can see the portrait of Fiona as you walk up the corridor to the gallery room. The portrait of Alan is next to my other work of Fiona.

Advantages of placement:

1. Prominent position. You can see it as you enter the room.

2. Good lighting over the canvases.

3. No obstructions, such as Installations.

4. Good space between different artists works.

5. No crowding of works.

Disadvantages of placement:

1. The portrait of Fiona covers a door in the wall (possible fire hose reel)

2. The line of the door might detract from the work displayed.

3. Personal note – feel my work is overshadowed by works either side, that is, I think the works either side of mine are much better.

4. Because of the prominent position, may feel inadequate, lack of confidence in ability, and of the work displayed in such a place (by the way I do!).

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