Drawing Statement for Journey Project:

I started the journey project looking at my everyday journey, I thought I could draw everyday objects that we all normally ignore. I was inspired to do this after reading two quotes of Andy Warhol’s

“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.”

“A picture means I know where I was every minute. That’s why I take pictures, it’s a visual diary”

I think that looking at Nettie Wakefield’s pencil work for my CPS presentation inspired to use the journey project to improve my drawing skills. I found it amazing how she uses the pencil to create the shapes and lines where the light hits. So I decided to use the materials that I had gotten use to in the life drawing sessions – pencil, ink, white acrylic paint and graphite.

I also looked a Jeanette Barnes for my talking about drawing presentation and thought that the process she uses to make her final piece was something I could use – Barnes does many smaller drawings before combining them into a bigger final piece.

I drew from photographs mainly as I found that I could see everything better in that frozen moment than I could observationally. I wanted to show the audience how I see these ‘boring’ objects, so I focused on the reflection on the objects the way they shine and the contrast of light and dark.

I was looking at Kandinsky’s paintings for my printmaking work, then it dawned on me that I could draw all the objects on a bigger piece of paper and compose them so that there centred towards the middle of the page – like an explosion. I wanted the focus to be completely on the objects and what they hold, so I removed the backgrounds. After my drawing critique, I thought about adding photographs and maybe some liner drawings on acetate, to create a bit of diversity on mediums – it felt that the piece was too grey. 

Journey Project Final Piece

Journey, A1, January 2014, Pencil, acrylic paint, drawing ink, photographs, graphite and permanent marker on paper and acetate.

Statement:

I started the journey project looking at my everyday journey, I thought I could draw everyday objects that we all normally ignore. I was inspired to do this after reading two quotes of Andy Warhol’s

“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.”

“A picture means I know where I was every minute. That’s why I take pictures, it’s a visual diary”

I think that looking at Nettie Wakefield’s pencil work for my CPS presentation inspired to use the journey project to improve my drawing skills. I found it amazing how she uses the pencil to create the shapes and lines where the light hits. So I decided to use the materials that I had gotten use to in the life drawing sessions – pencil, ink, white acrylic paint and graphite.

I also looked a Jeanette Barnes for my talking about drawing presentation and thought that the process she uses to make her final piece was something I could use – Barnes does many smaller drawings before combining them into a bigger final piece.

I drew from photographs mainly as I found that I could see everything better in that frozen moment than I could observationally. I wanted to show the audience how I see these ‘boring’ objects, so I focused on the reflection on the objects the way they shine and the contrast of light and dark.

I was looking at Kandinsky’s paintings for my printmaking work, then it dawned on me that I could draw all the objects on a bigger piece of paper and compose them so that there centred towards the middle of the page – like an explosion. I wanted the focus to be completely on the objects and what they hold, so I removed the backgrounds. After my drawing critique, I thought about adding photographs and maybe some liner drawings on acetate, to create a bit of diversity on mediums – it felt that the piece was too grey. 

Printmaking Statement for term 1:

My work started off in the print work shop – sticking to traditional techniques using presses and rollers. But I felt using these processes held me back from what I really wanted to do – even though I wasn’t completely sure on what that was. I just knew that I wanted to work on bigger paper – break away from the little squares I was work on in the workshop.

So I started working on much bigger pieces, about 149x90cm. I was a lot happier with these pieces. I got a bit lost along the way with this– then one day when I was wondering what to print with – I was sorting out my equipment box and I found a load of materials that I don’t/can’t use for their primary purpose – so I decided to print with them.

I was looking at Kandinsky and everyday objects in my drawing project and thought that was a theme I could cross over to my print work. I got into this way/style of working – it took over my mind for several days – I really enjoyed it. Experimenting with a variety of objects to see what marks they would make, seeing the effect a different coloured background would create on the marks. I wanted to know what would and wouldn't work. I feel that the orange, pink and blue backgrounds work best. I'm interested in the layers of paint that you can see - sometimes when the marks over-lap you can see the colour from the mark underneath.

I accumulated many objects and used them to create marks - rubbers, chop sticks, old tins and jars. I really like the outcome of these pieces, some background colours work better than others - I find the best in on the blue background. The depth on each piece is what I believe makes them strong. It looks like it could go on forever, like a frozen explosion. 

Experiments with colour

A1

A1

A1

A2

A1

A1

I experimented with different coloured backgrounds, I wanted to know what would and wouldn't work. I feel that the orange, pink and blue backgrounds work best.

I'm interested in the layers of paint that you can see - sometimes when the marks over-lap you can see the colour from the mark underneath.

Experiments with shape

untitled, 117x83cm acrylic paint on paper, Dec 2013

untitled, 83x59cm acrylic paint on paper, Dec 2013

untitled, 83x59cm acrylic paint on paper, Dec 2013

untitled, 83x59cm acrylic paint on paper, Dec 2013

untitled, 83x59cm acrylic paint on paper, Dec 2013

untitled, 83x59cm acrylic paint on, Dec 2013

Printing experiments

A6 - ink and acrylic paint on card

A5 - ink and acrylic paint on card

                                                    A5 - ink and acrylic paint on card

Portraits

Portrait that the model was expecting.

Portrait that the model wasn't expecting - caught off guard. 

Photo of an object taken like it was a portrait.

I thought about doing a 'traditional' portrait, like the one you do in school, eyes on the camera, feet to the side, hands on your lap. But then I started over-thinking it and decided to carry my camera around all day and wait for an opportunity. That way I could get an expected and un-expected portrait of the same person.