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.

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.

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.

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?...

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...

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

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 : )