Wednesday 22 December 2010

Snow days


I've been doing my visual culture this week, thinks it's nearly done. Also been doing various research on artists and thinking about an idea for a painting. I'd like to do a piece where the hand is reaching in to a background and another hand is reaching forwards (like when you touch a mirror). This is on the idea of touch and aesthetics. Of how we cannot touch this art work yet that is what it is about.

Monday 13 December 2010

Monday Monday




Well hello there!

I have wanted to do work about the student protests and the whole political situation for the last couple of weeks but wasn't sure how to get my ideas out conceptually about it. I was listening to some Metallica and the song "Nothing Else Matters" and it just clicked. I wanted to show how the government are undermining arts and the education by putting collages of them on the text, like they are shards of glass (which was one of the aesthetics of the protest). I was using masking tape as it has a lovely fragility yet strength to it.
The other sculpture I have been working on is expanding the use of gum strip, exploring the idea of touch, but in a confined way by using the hula hoop as a barrier.

Sunday 12 December 2010

Jingle bells

It's that time of year again and I'm usually organised with presents but have left it to the last minute : S My boyfriends bought me a new camera so hopefully my documentation will improve : D

In the studio, I have been working on an idea for an interactive piece using acetate and clingfilm to trap layers of paint and allow the audience to interact with it by either stepping on it of using their fingers to mould the painting without actually touching it. It's a conceptual piece, playing on the idea of blindness that you can't see, there's this layer or barrier preventing you to see, yet you can feel.

Been reading Blindess by Jose Saramago. It's a good book, pretty gruesome in areas, but it presents an alternative reality where everyone is blind. It presents a vulnerability and various ideas are brought up about society's bonds.

Been looking at a great artist that has inspired me: Franziska Furter.
She works with simple materials, using dreams and imagery to construct organic structures or mini explosions. I think what I like about her work is that it has an energy which seduces you. Her work seems to speak for itself, instead of having to make something up. It draws upon the emotions.

Saturday 4 December 2010

Ice Ice Baby




Spent the last few days like a hedge hog hibernating. Done a lot of reading though- derrida, haraway, history of sculpture, blindnesss. Also did some snow sculpture, made a "Numb bum" chair - which promises to leave your bum numb for up to 1 hour afterwards (tried and tested)- influenced by Earth art's way of integrating art in to the environment through experiencing nature. Had work today, took 40 minutes to walk to the village at half 6 in the morning on an ice rink, swearing while trying not to wake anyone up in the nearby surroundings... bloody hell. Looking forward to doing more stuff in the studio, found this time reading helpful in re-evaluating my ideas.

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Snow is falling...

I did experiments yesterday in the studio.... tried out the dried glue idea on a larger scale, as I thought this worked well. Hopefully it's worked, fingers crossed!











I've also found a mega super cool artist designer bloke... Dominic Wilcox. He did a project where he created something new for 30 days, which included a football smoothie maker, a bath fountain which was funny and lots of other witty stuff which I think is great. Take a look at his site (his name .com)

Sunday 28 November 2010

Roll up roll up!

This week, I have set myself a task to set up a sculpture tombola! This is because I'm fed up with the art market and the fact that normal everyday people can't afford the shit that goes in the galleries. Let's face it, alot of it is crap and it makes me wonder why people pay so much for it. I've come to the conclusion that it's all in the name and the hype of it being in a posh environment that gives it that value and it's got nothing to do with the actual work. I wanted to make art that everyday people can buy and I wanted the money to got to a good cause. So, I'm charging 50p a ticket, you get a 50/50 chance of winning and the money is going to a charity that helps the visually impaired. I'm hoping it will all run to plan, fingers crossed!


Thursday 18 November 2010

A random rant I probably will regret writing and no one will ever read

I seem to have put all my efforts to waste, well that's what it feels like at the moment. It seems you have to be arrogant to get noticed around here. Well screw you arrogance! I don't need you. I've been spending a lot of this week organising a Christmas Fayre for charity and I'm hoping it's going to pay off on Saturday. I might feel a bit better then...

Monday 15 November 2010

Films




Here are some other short films. They are experimental pieces which I think have the potential to be developed.

Sunday 14 November 2010

polystyrene balls



Above is a short experimental film of polystyrene balls moving about due to people running through them. I like the movement created, it's natural and reminds me of waves.

Thursday 11 November 2010

Rain rain go away

I felt I have been developing my work rapidly recently. From hanging to a piece on the floor, I have incorporated polystyrene balls back in to my work and formed a sensory piece. This has come about due to an exhibition opportunity and me changing my work slightly in order for it to fit in to the context and be ready for exhibition. I have also experimented using lighting and film which give different edges to the work.





Saturday 30 October 2010

Implosion




The large balloon was burst and the cotton wool still stuck to the balloon. This has created interesting effects. It looks like a flower blossoming. I have filmed this and am going to be developing this piece by producing lots and allowing people to burst the balloons. I have also hung my pieces up to see how they hang. They seem lifefless some of them, so may apply colour.

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Studio happenings

Here are some more photos showing the development of my work. The first two are smaller experiments that didn't turn out the way I wanted to, but they were "happy accidents". The other photos are showing stages of my larger balloon piece which (fingers crossed) will work out the way I want it to or it may be another "happy accident"...





Saturday 23 October 2010

Winter chill








It's getting colder already. Nights are drawing in, time to get out the old blankets and hibernate...

Here are some photos of my work (above) as it's progressing. I am happy with what I am producing and with the photos. I think it's important as a portfolio of sculpture to keep photos and present them in the right way.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Further experimentation and development








I have carried on experimenting today in the studio. The papier-mache pieces worked well and are stronger than the cling film pieces. I have played around with assembling the net pieces and it seems to work just joining them in one or two places to allow the pieces to fall naturally. One of the photos is of a small sculpture I created using beansprout-like cotton wool pieces joined together like a nest. I like this technique because I allowed the work to form itself organically according to the weight of each piece and I didn't know where this would end up...

Monday 11 October 2010

In the studio...







Here are my experiments in situ. They include the cotton-wool net pieces and the polystyrene balls which have stuck together. I am pleased with the results as they are strong and manage to hold themselves as pieces. I wish to experiment with the lighting to create a variety of interesting shadows and also try out different assemblages by sewing them together. Turning the fragile in to solid forms.

Monday 27 September 2010

Hi ho silver lining...

I have done another experiment with cotton wool and glue and am liking the result....



I glued down the cotton wool to clingfilm and peeled it off to form a net. I can see myself developing this piece on a larger scale- is linked to the stained glass window piece perhaps?

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Blackberry picking



I love blackberry picking. Went with my mum yesterday, got loads : D

Been doing some more cotton-felt making but on a slightly larger scale this time. I'm hoping to develop this further on an even larger scale and just build the dimensions up and see what comes about from it.

Saturday 18 September 2010

Fyfe Dangerfield : )



Bought Fyfe Dangerfield's album "Fly yellow moon"... bliss : )

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Third installment for the Italy series of paintings- The Belvedere Torso



The above painting is based on the tradition of drawing from The Belvedere Torso, a piece of a statue, from the 15th century onwards. Instead of painting from the original, I have used models out of magazines to paint from, the idea being that these are our guides and these are what we use to draw from and copy today - not using a pencil and paper, but instead changing our diet and fashion. These are our classical sculptures that we look up to and admire.

Overall, I have created three paintings for my Italy project. I wanted to draw upon Italy's historical richness and yet allow the pieces to have contemporary relevance.

Friday 10 September 2010

Posh windows and conservatories, the finer things in life...




Note to self: Don't put turpentine in a plastic cup. Live and learn i guess. But, on the other hand, it could be considered as a "happy accident" and a piece of contemporary sculpture and I could do loads of them and say it's a comment on the effects of alcohol to young people that we're all melting or something like that... nah, i'll leave out the comment about it.



The above piece is an idea that popped in to my head, literally. It's of Elvis and Neptune and thought that they would go well together as they are doing similar kind of poses. I wanted to make it stand out, with complementary colours and show contrast and yet similarity with the symmetry. I've decided to include this in a small project about my experiences in Italy, which will also include the oil painting in the last post. Although I have chosen to paint these in different ways, I hope to incorperate them all with a contemporary feel about them, linking the past to the present. The next painting I wish to do for this, will be based on Beldevere's torso, but using women's torso's from magazines.

Lastly, I watched "Exit through the gift shop" - a bansky film last night and definately recommend it to anyone doing art, and anyone really. Funny times : D

As for the rest of my life, I am working more at Greggs, caaaakkkkessss : D and reading some Philip K Dick. Catching up with friends, and also saw Scott Pilgrim vs. the world which was a good film. Has a style like Kick - ass.

Sunday 5 September 2010

Oil painting ...



Above is an oil painting I have just finished of a piazza in Rome, just a walk away from the spanish steps. I decided to paint this scene, because it was such a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by.

I used to paint more @ GCSE and A level but have grown more to do sculpture as it fits more with my practice. I still love painting with oils though and think it really takes me back to the moment.

Thursday 2 September 2010

London town...



Joana Vasconcelos' work (above)

Hell yeah! The joy of realising your post is saved in drafts and not deleted!!!

Hi there...

Today, I went to London to see some art exhibitions with some fellow friends and students.

We went to see the Surreal house @ The Barbican art gallery which I definately recommend if you like Dali and the classic surrealists. A good mix of contemporary and older stuff but all nice and mind boggling : )

It's about the house and how it plays a role in surrealism- from making a house made of skin and how the window plays a role.

Parts that stood out for me:

Louise Bourgouis' work- her lumpy piece
Rebecca Horn's "Concert for Anarchy" which was delightful and worth watching to see what happens!
The way architecture was explored from decaying buildings to Matta-Clark's "Splitting"
Black and white photography- Lee Miller's photos
Rachel Kneebone's "At the edge of dawn and darkness"- just reminded me of playdo

Well worth a visit.

Also saw Joana Vasconcelos' work which was lovely and WI like and village fayre-like some how with all that knitting. Sort of reminded me of Yinka Shonibare's work. They should do a show together...
Polly Morgan's work was just beautiful complimented by the elegant shadows.

My work...

Have been juxtaposing historical and celebrity figures with contemporary ones. Just ideas at the moment, will work on later...

Below is further experimentation with cotton wool and glue on canvas which I like and thinks works well, what do you think?...

Monday 16 August 2010

Photos from end of year work and exhibition...

Thought i'd better put my work up from the end of year exhibition (including preparational and other works..) bit out of place witn the other posts but never mind.. Make of it what you will and feel free to comment...

Clingfilm and olive oil...



On the wall...



...and off the wall...

Saturday 14 August 2010

August rain




Well hello there,


An update:

I've been to Italy babysitting and sightseeing. The highlights: Went to Rome, classical sculpture heaven!! , saw a sculptor work to restore one of Bernini's pieces which was really surreal. And the sistene chapel is mind blowing. Although it was striking seeing all these wonderful and important pieces of art, it's strange seeing beggars outside the vatican and homeless on the streets when there's such money being spent on these works. In Bologna ( where we were based ) went to Mambo, the modern art gallery of Bologna which is now one of my favourite galleries. It housed work by important Italian artists since around the 60s, and it was just so fresh and inspiring. One piece was made of metal and it moved, due to the heat. Another piece; there were belts all intertwined, hanging from the ceiling and one of my favourites had words cut out from wood and leaves on and it was really poetic and enchanting.
I've been doing research in to these artists, and also general research on art. Alongside this, I have started to experiment more with cottonwool and trying to create a net -like sculpture. Plan to go to London soon for more galleries : D

Thursday 1 July 2010

Summer chanananananagans...

Howdy...

Well, I have been keeping myself busy doing art stuff.

Have given myself a break from the cards, have decided to do more over the summer and sell them next year instead. Want to get them looking good.

Have put a "drawing" into the jerwood drawing prize. It's a piece made from tracing around olive oil stains, a development of my work in the studio from the last semester. We have to hand it in all framed, so I decided to give it a go myself, which failed...haha!

I have been thinking about the direction of my work, doing some reflecting and producing some work...some watercolours and experimentation with cotton wool...



Went to John Hansard gallery in Southampton,Yolande Harris' work is interesting, she uses sound and presents it visually.
Gonna go to London soon for exhibitions. RA summer exhibition, the surreal house, saatchi is on the list.. Should be good : )

Wednesday 16 June 2010

Summer time


Well, summer has come round quick!

I think this year went well. The exhibition was great and i'm now evaluating which area I want to develop of my work. There are various elements which I think have worked well - like the experimentation of materials e.g. cling film.
Over the summer, I am going to set myself various projects. The first one I am doing is making cards from watercolours I have made. There are 13 done so far. I then intend to sell them.

See you later!