Earthy Tones

After working mostly with bright colours, I decided to create a couple of small pieces in darker, more earthy tones. I found that in doing so I was able to create more depth within my work. I also discovered how well pastel colours contrast with the reddish-brown tones, such as the pink in these paintings.

In addition to experimenting with different colours, I tried working on a different surface: wood as opposed to canvas. I wanted to try this as I thought the earthy tones might go well with the colour of the wood surface, which may be interesting to leave spaces in the paint for the surface to show through. I felt that my predictions were correct and that these pieces worked well, but I also found that the wood had a smooth surface that was enjoyable to paint on.

Pallet Knife Practice

Alongside my paintings I have been practising creating shapes and textures with pallet knives, exploring the different ways I can create interesting effects with paint.

Sketching Start Points

Though I haven't practised my drawing skills in a while, I've been thinking that in order to collect ideas and refresh my mind I should be drawing more whilst I am out and about. 

I drew this quick little sketch of some thorns I saw whilst out walking a few weeks ago and was surprised to see how many different shapes I could use in my future paintings.

Abstract Paintings

Since my last paintings a few weeks ago I have continued to practice working in this abstract style, experimenting with brush strokes, use of pallet knives, colour combinations and the effect that canvas size can have on my work.

22 x 18" acrylic on canvas.

Although the shapes I created were mostly spontaneous, the majority of my colour choices were inspired by my visit to London Aquarium this summer.

30 x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Brushtrokes and Pallet Knives

Continuing with my experimental abstract-style painting, I decided that for my next few paintings I should focus on the different ways I can apply paint to canvas. In my next two paintings I experimented with rough, "choppy" brush strokes and pallet knives, which proved to be rather entertaining. 

Working in this way allowed me to have fun with the paint, applying it spontaneously to the canvas without fear of going too far, like trying to draw inside the lines of a colouring book as a child. Experimenting with different language within art has always been something I have enjoyed, however, I feel that working in an abstract style has changed my approach to painting and released any fears I had about the media previously.

22 x 18" acrylic on canvas.

This painting - shown above - I found harder to work with even though I felt I applied the same brush strokes and techniques involving the pallet knife. However, I managed to get around what I felt was a creative block by turning the canvas 90 degrees every time I began to find it difficult. In some respect, it also created a challenge as it cause me to look at the compositions I was creating from a different a angle, which ultimately enabled me to create lots of different dimensions within the piece.

Close up image.

Though I haven't deployed this tactic with my other recent paintings, on reflection it seems to be something I would like to explore further.

Finger Painting

After collecting lots of ideas over the summer for my upcoming projects, I thought a lot about the ways in which I'd like to execute them, but mostly considering the media I would use. In previous projects I have worked on a small scale; throughout my foundation degree I confined myself to working with collage and drawing in pencil, only allowing myself to incorporate other two-dimensional media occasionally. However, with the start of my BA fine art studies fast approaching, I decided it would be a good idea to break my previous habits and allow myself to create art more freely, without the need to think too much about what it is I am creating.

That was when I considered working in an abstract style - a risky move as I have never particularly practised working in such a way. (I'm assuming that a brief project at A-Level does not quite count.) But to my surprise I was able to completely throw myself into the piece. Without thinking too much about what I was painting, I was able to free my previously tightly controlled ways of working to play with the paint. I say play as I painted the entire piece with my fingers.

It was a complete experiment - I had no intention of liking what I had painted once it was finished, yet I did. But most of all I actually enjoyed the process, which hasn't always been the case when I've previously worked in acrylics. Furthermore, after I had finished this piece I had an urge to carry on, to experiment with different ways of applying paint (which ended up involving pallet knives and experimental brush strokes).

Above: the final outcome. Roughly A3 sized.

London Aquarium

It may not seem like much, but this is one of my favourite photos I took at London Aquarium this summer (pictured above). I’d wanted to visit the aquarium after I had explored the Sensational Butterflies tent a few weeks before and was fascinated with all the intricate patterns and intense colours on the butterflies’ wings. Moreover, I was fascinated by how a living creature could produce such vibrancy so effortlessly natural. Needless to say I was inspired - I have been thinking about exploring colour in my upcoming art projects and now I may have found a starting point.

I visited the aquarium with hope of being inspired by the natural forms, patterns of colour of tropical fish and other sea creatures much like I had with the butterflies. It was a success, and I was stunned. But I wasn't expecting to see such an incredible display of coral and underwater plants. Half of these species I had never seen before; there were the most bizarre and beautiful shapes and colours to be seen in plants. It reminded me of how fascinating the ocean is, but also how important these plants must be to restoring balance within the ocean and producing a healthy environment for the creatures that live there. I wonder how many visitors are so distracted by the turtles and the ‘fish that look like Nemo’ that they completely overlook how attractive the environment they live in is.

Pictured above: No frame/filter. My favourite photo from my London Aquarium collection. This is actually a photo of spherical tank full of pink and purple sea plants/coral. One of the prettiest things I have ever seen.

Sensational Butterflies

This summer the Sensational Butterflies tent outside the Natural History museum in South Kensington opened and I was fortunate enough to visit before it closed last month. 

I chose to visit purely out of my interest in nature, but recently found that the photographs I took of the butterflies could potentially influential to my artwork as I begin to focus on abstract forms involving shape, colour and texture.

Above and below are a selection of photographs I took inside the tent of butterflies I found particularly interesting. In the upcoming weeks I'm hoping to create some abstract paintings in response to what I saw on my visit.