Experimenting On Found Canvases.

I stumbled upon an old canvas that I had previously used for a self portrait and then began experimenting with different materials that I had collected such as vibrantly coloured plastics, tin foil and grease proof paper. I thought this was a fair collection of materials, however I wish I had created more of a contrast when it came to the type of materials. For example, juxtaposing a very raw material such as sand or tree bark next to the very plastic manufactured feel of the materials I had collected because I feel this would have given the piece another element of contrast and debate.

Once I had started layering the materials onto the canvas I began to experiment with layering different types of paint. I started with a light wash by using water colours. This worked well as it gave me something to work on quite quickly. Then using the acrylic, I began to spread the paint quite thickly on the canvas. I thought what worked quite well in how the subtlety of the watercolours became very overshadowed by the bold striking acrylic.

Afterwards, I wrapped clingfilm around the wet acrylic to give the sense that the cling film was containing the visual strength that the acrylic held. I then alternated layers between acrylic and clingfilm. Overall This created an dynamic effect and worked well with the entire composition.
 

Expressing Emotion Through Mark Making

A conversation is built up of several elements. One is that conversations, unless scripted, are always improvised and can change direction at any moment in time depending on the emotion that is within the conversation.

Before trying to show the contrast and conflicting opinions in conversations through the use of materials and qualities of line, I tried to grasp creating a sense of emotion using a variety of mark making and colours. I thought that if I could successfully achieve the feel of emotion using mark making and basic colours, I could apply this more effectively in my later work.

I thought this exercise was incredibly helpful as it made me break down emotions and I found a simple yet effective way to display them. Although this is only one element of conversation that I have explored so to progress from here I would like to combine what I have learned in my previous works of layering and my use of found materials to then find the best solution  to fit them together, in one composition.

A Visual Converstion

My aim in the final major project is to create work that can sustain ‘A Visual Conversation’ with it's audience. There are a lot of components within a conversation and no single conversation is the same. In a conversation there are different voices, accents, points of view, different emotions and every conversation is completely improvised. This consolidates and develops my pathway work which has become progressively more improvised; my most recent pieces have consisted of different shapes, materials, qualities of line and texture and have been developed in a spontaneous and unplanned process. One way that I am looking at progressing further would be to begin working in three dimensions, and using the history found objects bring to a piece, to make the work more visually stimulating.

I am interested in artists such as Danny Rolph and Joanne Greenbaum. Their pieces may be seen to embody the idea of ‘A Visual Conversation’. For example, in Rolph’s work, through the way that different shapes, colours and qualities of line seem to interlock, clash and collide. Greenbaum’s work is similar in the way that different painting styles within a piece create a sense of contrast and confrontation. Both these artist work through improvisation and are playful with formal composition. Another artist who shares an interest in vibrant colour but also in making more three dimensional work, is Jessica Stockholder. What interests me about Sotckholder’s work is how she combines a variety of found materials with a very expressive painting style.  What intrigues me about Stockholder’s work is the transition her work takes from a normal painting to painting in three dimensions. This interpretation and technique is something I would like to explore further in the FMP.

In my FMP I intend on portraying conversations within my work. I am going to use a variety of found materials and colours to represent different voices and contrasting opinions. Using found materials will hopefully add a sense of history to the pieces. Also, the contrast between raw, organic materials and manmade shiny plastic materials is something that would create the sense of an argument or disagreement.   In Danny Roplh’s triple wall series it is interesting to see how the different layers in his work relate to one another, I aim to explore the process of layering not just by layering different materials but also layering different types of paint on top of substances such as wax and varnish. I plan to gather these materials from allotments and scrap shops. 

Using the first few weeks to explore and experiment with ideas, techniques and materials I am hoping to be able to focus my attention to the way I work best, by creating interesting techniques that allow on ongoing flow throughout my FMP to become apparent.