Increasing the Scale

Over the past week I have been working on a new project, painting in response to feedback I received from my peers and tutor. I try to take the insights of those around me into consideration regarding my artwork (particularly of those I share a studio with) as I wish to communicate through my work and learn if my ideas have been received the way I intended.

Two very important - or what I considered to be important - points made in my critical evaluation regarded depth within my paintings and their size. It was clear that I was unsuccessful in creating the desired depth within my work, which was something I began to tackle immediately in my Prussian Blue mini series on wood. After believing that this was successful, I challenged myself to up the scale of my work and paint on a much larger surface.

It is at this second point that I am currently working. The piece is one hundred centimetres square, almost four times the size the majority of my previous paintings on canvas. I decided to continue with my choice of colour from the Prussian blue mini series, adding hints of yellow ochre, burnt umber and the tiniest amount of silk purple to keep the piece interesting. I feel that this colour pallet is suitable for what I had envisioned painting and that the earthy tones create a nice contrast amongst the blue. In addition to this, I've been using heavier brush strokes to that of my last pieces, which have helped in creating texture and thick layers of acrylic.

So far I am nine hours into working on this painting; I'm enjoying the process however challenging and feel that I am learning more about my project through painting this particular piece than I have any of my past work. I'm especially enjoying the colour pallet and have ideas about creating a series involving these tones.

Above are two images I took close-up of the piece I am currently working on, demonstrating my use of brush strokes and colour pallet.

Summer Skies

Below is a selection of photographs I took earlier this year of the sky in different states. I was fascinated as to how different factors (time, weather, etc.) can have an impact on the skies colour and shape of clouds. These photos present some interesting colour pallets that I may consider using in my upcoming work.

Back to Blue

Continuing with my practices on wood, I created another piece - about the same size as those in my "Earthy Tones" post - but this time in blue shades. I made the decision to continue working on wood as I find the surface easy to paint on. This was something I discovered whilst working on my last two paintings, seen in my previous post. For the colour however, I chose to use Prussian Blue purely out of my love for blue tones and mixed it only with Titanium White to achieve the different shades. In my mind, this brought me back to my first few experimental paintings I created before the start of term.

With this painting I chose to leave some areas of the wood visible, much like I had experimented with previously and felt worked well. Furthermore, I tried using a combination of controlled brush strokes and spontaneous pallet knife applications, which resulted in a mixture of blended colours and textured layers.

I enjoyed blending the blue shades into eachother and overlaying them with heavy paint. I felt this had an interesting effect, as well as creating a suitable amount of depth within the piece.

After completing this piece, I decided to create another using the same techniques I have described above. Once finished and placed together, I felt that these two paintings looked interesting as a series.

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.

Lacock Abbey

Last week I was fortunate enough to visit Lacock Abbey in Lacock, Wiltshire. It's set in the tiniest little village where there are almost no traffic signs or street lights as it is quite often used in filming, particularly for films and television programmes set in earlier centuries. As it turns out, parts of the Harry Potter series were filmed in both the abbey and the village, along with the BBC television series Pride & Prejudice.

Above: photographs from outside the abbey.

Below: from inside.

Unfortunately, I was unable to take many clear photographs inside the abbey due to the lack of natural light and rule against flash photography - which I assume was in place to preserve the paintings and old furniture on display in the rooms. However, I did succeed in capturing the corridors surrounding the courtyard, which some may recognise from the Harry Potter films. (It did feel a lot like Hogwarts on the inside!)

After exploring the abbey I had a wander around the gardens where - much to my amusement - I found these stunning electric blue thistles that were the size of my hand. (Pictured below.)

Lacock village itself has a lot of character: the cottages are old and sunken with wonky tiles and tiny little windows, draped in ivy and other green climbing plants. They all look as if they have been completely untouched since their build, which I believe is what makes them so attractive.

Starting Over

And so it would appear that I am a terrible blogger. So terrible in fact, it's almost an art form. But after a year long hiatus I'm prepared to start documenting my work again, though this time I plan on sharing more of my ideas, personal likes and photographs in order to keep an open mind when I do come around to creating artwork.

I've been to quite a few exhibitions, museums and galleries recently, where I took a lot of photographs and managed to squeeze a few sketches in. (Posts to follow.)

Though places such as these with great collections of artwork can be inspirational to my own ideas as a fine art student, I've recently become quite interested in finding inspiration in other avenues, including books, film, wildlife, architecture, ceramics and many more. In addition to this, I've been experimenting with different kinds of crafts, such as sewing, which I hope will help me keep an open mind when drawing inspirations from different places. In doing this, I'm beginning to discover what it is that captures my attention in different art forms, which I'm thinking is something I would like to explore in my upcoming art projects when I start university in September.