The blog has been a way of expressing myself, my thoughts and my learning process; both good and bad. It has allowed me to record both visually and verbally how I produced my work, and talk about its successes and my less successful attempts.
I have most definitely enjoyed the process of making my reflective diary in this manner.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Project Evaluation
My theme for my final project was conflict I began researching into three different areas of conflict and how they impacted on society. These were economic, war and government policy, in the process of my research I discovered that these themes were interlinked by the economic ups and downs.
I intended to select the most successful theme and produce a final painting which sums up man’s continues struggle to overcome many difficulties that society produces.
In the course of my research I investigated The Bosnian War. The second part of my research I looked at the economic crisis of the past and present and how they generate conflict between government and the people within society. Then my final part of my research looked at conflict resulting from government policy as it attempts to implement austerity measures related to the economic crisis.
Photographs were taken of soldiers, the homeless, College strikes against pension cuts, also a visit to a working museum in the potteries. This gave me valuable insight into the daily lives of people engaged in conflicts of various form. These were all highly relevant and gave me excellent inspiration and visual reference. All the above has been placed in my sketchbook and reflected upon in my reflective blog diary.
As part of my secondary research I looked at Peter Howson because of the graphic nature and honest approach of recording the nature and conflicts of the Bosnian War from the recent past. Which still reverberates today as can be seen with the arrest of the former Bosnian Serb General and his transferred to The Hague War Crime Tribunal, he will stand trail on the charge of genocide.
I also looked at Goya whose prints showed the graphic nature of war and he could be considered as the first true chronicler of realistic Napoleonic war in Spain and Portugal, images which held no religious connotations. I then looked at a range of war artist covering the 1st and 2nd World War as well as a photo journalist, Don Mac Cullman, who covers the Vietnam conflict and whose photographs have won many awards for his portrayal of the nature of war and its impact on the people.
The artists that I research influence me on many different levels from their subject matter and their portrayal of events, their backgrounds and links with historical events.
I then looked at the artists work and attempted to make an honest interruption whilst taking into account how they had constructed their paintings and drawings using the formal elements, shape colour, line etc. During this process I began to place my own thoughts and images into the works giving them an individual interruption. An example of which can be seen in the painting by Picasso from the Korea War where I added two ghosts like figures which represented the ghost from the past.
My intention was to work with a whole variety of medias to gain experience and also to fulfill my ideas which I had placed in my brief. I feel I have achieved this by working with the following media: pencil, charcoal, graphite, soft pastel, acrylics, oil paints, inks, mixed media, collage and a variety of paper, canvas, card, board on different scales. I continuously have annotated and evaluated all of this work has helped me to decided how and which media I wished to portray in my final piece which was oil painting on board on a large scale.
The media and techniques I chose were oil because it has a forgiving quality with a creamy finish. The colours have a richness which no other medium can truly imitate. The drying time is a lot longer which gives you time to revaluate your original concept. I took to this media like a duck to water although while I enjoyed this experience my technical abilities are still limited.
Firstly I made my own 4’ by 3’ frame in which I place a plywood board for my painting this was challenging but vital to create the impact that my subject matter lent itself and to produce a professional outcome.
The oils themselves I mixed myself and I found this went fairly well the main thing I learnt was to
- A. Mix enough of the colours you intend to use
- B. When mixing add a little pigment at a time until the desired colour is achieved.
- C. I used a variety of brushes, fingers and rags in some incidences I applied the paint to the board and blended to the desired effect.
Also it has been important to me to stay ahead of the game with my time management and this has paid off as it has allowed me plenty of time to experiment with this new media.
A range of things went well when developing my ideas I was particularly pleased with my line drawings as I do believe they have improved on a technical level. The acrylic paintings went well because I found I was now able to work at the right pace and been able to blend the colours and mix colours. Overall the project has gelled I felt my ideas flowed and I was able to overcome any difficulties in a cohesive fashion. I had natural progression to conclude with a large bold and expressive oil painting, which dealt with my subject matter both in metaphysical and cohesive fashion.
I produced a range of samples in different media which followed the theme and was influenced by artists and my own creative thoughts, which were placed into practice in a number of works I produced. There were a range of strengths and weakness’ which have been annotated in both my sketch book and my blog reflective diary. Some examples are: I particular liked the graphite work because I was able to create textures of different depths and levels. I was disappointed with the composition of the painting called ‘Ghost from the Past’, based on the Picasso Korean War, I included far too much background, which I rectified cropping on the colour photocopier.
My final outcome is made up of oil, paint and silk screen print on a large scale format. The image is a graphic style with figurative silhouettes climbing over a barrier which can be described as both physical and metaphorical and I feel its style is symbolic. I chose this style as it has a ‘no nonsense’ approach and cuts to the chase. I feel the silhouettes could be anyone so the viewer receives the message directly, which was my intension all along. I wanted to use my art to raise the level of consciousness of the viewer to what faces our society today and in the near future of economic crisis.
I felt this was the right time for me to write my own brief and to place into practice all the skills that I have obtained in the course of my studies and marry this together with my own interests in both historical and political economics. I have successfully managed the project to its conclusion. I feel pleasantly surprised at the outcome of my final piece as this is something I could not have produced previously. While it leaves a lot to be desired, never the less there are lessons that I am only to willing to learn from and put into practice to enhance my work. For instance I would like to pursue screen printing further. I am pleased that I have made progress within all areas of this final project.
I hope to learn that the viewer takes something away from my message that is being display. I hope it will engage the youth as well older viewer. This has been a useful experience, the pressure of reaching an exhibition deadline. Displaying the work in a professional manner and coping with the deadlines in place. Overall this was an enjoyable experience.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Final week - Screen printing
The screen printing element of my final piece has not been as successful as I had hoped because of the choice of colour. I chose black, but I think white would have stood out better against the back ground. The darker colour however, may make people come in closer and look in more detail which could be a good thing. Over all I am pleased with the outcome.
To produce the print I first chose the slogans I typed them using Microsoft word and sized them to the desired scale. Then I photocopied them onto assotate which was then transferred onto a silk screen. Once the scrren was ready I had to prepare it by taping up the desired area and blanking out areas which were not to be inked. We then flooded the screen with ink before placing the screen onto the desired position on the flags and printed. As there were three flags in the painting the process had to be repeated. It took approximately half an hour to do the printing.
The screen was printed with acrylic inks. The message is not as clear as I hoped it would be. The wording is fine but the black of the text does not stand out well against the red over which it is layered. Never the less, it has been an exciting project and I feel I have captured what I wanted to say and the slogans of jobs, the future and a living wage are being taken up right across Europe, North Africa and is now beginning to affect us here in the UK.
The printing was apt for the work, and If I had painted the slogans onto the background I think it would have been less effective. It was important to add the slogans, which were picked very carefully, to chime with the concerns of a growing number of people. I am very pleased with the slogans and am sure they will resonante with the viewers of my work.
To produce the print I first chose the slogans I typed them using Microsoft word and sized them to the desired scale. Then I photocopied them onto assotate which was then transferred onto a silk screen. Once the scrren was ready I had to prepare it by taping up the desired area and blanking out areas which were not to be inked. We then flooded the screen with ink before placing the screen onto the desired position on the flags and printed. As there were three flags in the painting the process had to be repeated. It took approximately half an hour to do the printing.
The screen was printed with acrylic inks. The message is not as clear as I hoped it would be. The wording is fine but the black of the text does not stand out well against the red over which it is layered. Never the less, it has been an exciting project and I feel I have captured what I wanted to say and the slogans of jobs, the future and a living wage are being taken up right across Europe, North Africa and is now beginning to affect us here in the UK.
The printing was apt for the work, and If I had painted the slogans onto the background I think it would have been less effective. It was important to add the slogans, which were picked very carefully, to chime with the concerns of a growing number of people. I am very pleased with the slogans and am sure they will resonante with the viewers of my work.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
More secondary research
http://www.last.fm/music/Bob+Marley/+videos/+1-Vyqpsnx1F7M
This video is part of my secondary research, it refers to hard times. It speaks in terms of the social realities of life and has a poignancy and people can clearly identify with the content of the song. It is a record which made the top ten, people know it but may not know its content. They do understand the passion and the poignancy and identify with the beat. Like my flicker it has a lighter side to draw people in but delivers a strong message.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/8577829/Anti-austerity-protests-in-Greece-erupt-into-violence.html
This video shows the frustration of ordinary people whose pensions, wages and services are being cut which is raising tensions which are erupting into serious violence and has had revolutionary overtones. It must be noted that here in Briton announcements have been made by officials the over half a million people will be going on strike on the 30th of this month to show their opposition against government policy as the government intends to cut pensions for most public workers ans civil servants.
These are the issues that my project is discussiong. The final piece reflects this growing anger, which could quite well spill over and take on another dimension and fits perfectly with what I have been saying through out this project. We are seeing a growing band of people thrown into struggles of the banks making therefore causing mass crisis. The tensions being created have far bigger ramifications than people really realise at this stage. We are in a revolutionary situation and my work speaks about these matters.
This video is part of my secondary research, it refers to hard times. It speaks in terms of the social realities of life and has a poignancy and people can clearly identify with the content of the song. It is a record which made the top ten, people know it but may not know its content. They do understand the passion and the poignancy and identify with the beat. Like my flicker it has a lighter side to draw people in but delivers a strong message.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/8577829/Anti-austerity-protests-in-Greece-erupt-into-violence.html
This video shows the frustration of ordinary people whose pensions, wages and services are being cut which is raising tensions which are erupting into serious violence and has had revolutionary overtones. It must be noted that here in Briton announcements have been made by officials the over half a million people will be going on strike on the 30th of this month to show their opposition against government policy as the government intends to cut pensions for most public workers ans civil servants.
These are the issues that my project is discussiong. The final piece reflects this growing anger, which could quite well spill over and take on another dimension and fits perfectly with what I have been saying through out this project. We are seeing a growing band of people thrown into struggles of the banks making therefore causing mass crisis. The tensions being created have far bigger ramifications than people really realise at this stage. We are in a revolutionary situation and my work speaks about these matters.
Final week
My plan for this week was to finish things off but as I decided to add another layer to my painting which will take the form of a screen print, I have not quite finished yet. I wanted my work to be clearer and crisper and more professional. I hope it will make it stand out more. The screen print will add the text to the image. It has a home-made and in precise feel which is important because it will question the viewer to stop and think about the meaning of the words and my work; the home made feel to the words shows spontaneity and anger or frustration. I thought very carefully about the words to select those that would represent this.
So far the screens have been prepared although it hasn't yet been printed onto the canvas. This has been frustrating as I have been waiting for about 2 weeks to be able to do this. I will not be able to hang them until they are done. I am not overly concerned as I know I am capable of getting the job done.
Whilst I have been waiting I have finished one of my flickers. The flickers are something that people can identify with clearly as a childhood game. I decided to change the game to have a more poignant meaning and make a link to my intended audience. They know the game and how to play it, but the difference is that my version has a meaning and references current events. Most people avoid facing what is going on and I am trying to challenge the rose tinted view. They contain images and comments that are pointedly quite barbed and poignant to make people face up to what is going on today. People have said they are quite fun and want to interact with them which I think is good. I hope this will encourage interaction. One is more fun, whilst the other has a more poignant message. The text is extremely important because it attempts to drive home what actually confronts people.
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So far the screens have been prepared although it hasn't yet been printed onto the canvas. This has been frustrating as I have been waiting for about 2 weeks to be able to do this. I will not be able to hang them until they are done. I am not overly concerned as I know I am capable of getting the job done.
Whilst I have been waiting I have finished one of my flickers. The flickers are something that people can identify with clearly as a childhood game. I decided to change the game to have a more poignant meaning and make a link to my intended audience. They know the game and how to play it, but the difference is that my version has a meaning and references current events. Most people avoid facing what is going on and I am trying to challenge the rose tinted view. They contain images and comments that are pointedly quite barbed and poignant to make people face up to what is going on today. People have said they are quite fun and want to interact with them which I think is good. I hope this will encourage interaction. One is more fun, whilst the other has a more poignant message. The text is extremely important because it attempts to drive home what actually confronts people.
 |
| Making the flickers |
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Week 10
http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/are-we-entering-the-second-great-depression
This article, published 6.6.11 confirms many of my ideas of how the crisis is unfolding. See statements made week 9 discussing Vince Cable.
This article, published 6.6.11 confirms many of my ideas of how the crisis is unfolding. See statements made week 9 discussing Vince Cable.
Week 9-10
Unfortunately I do not think I will be able to display my support work as I had desired due to time restirctions. I had planned to mount the images as a collage, raising certain elements to different heights, bringing some bits forward and allowing others to receed. Instead I will be displaying them on a flat board and the work will represent the evolution of my ideas towards my final pieces.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Week 9
Telegraph images: student strikes
Click on this link to see images of student strikes. This shows some of the outcomes of the current economic crisis and as such shows that one driver of crisis is definitely the economy.
Click on this link to see images of student strikes. This shows some of the outcomes of the current economic crisis and as such shows that one driver of crisis is definitely the economy.
Week 9
Economic crash headline 26.05.11
Follow this link to the Telegraph to read today's headline about another eeconomic crash
Never before has so much money been printed and put into the economy, but this has not resulted in a pick up. On the contrary it is deepening and getting worse.
As such, this article is integral to my current practise and highlights the importance of people taking notice of what is occurring, and artists bringing this information to the forefront of discussion.
Follow this link to the Telegraph to read today's headline about another eeconomic crash
'Vince Cable: Britain faces another economic crash'
Looking through history at the unfolding of past incidents of economic crisis, such as the Wall street crash we can see mirrors of what is occurring today. The second part of the Wall street crash happened several years after initial events and at this point people realised that things were getting worse and people started to react and the full impact and of the extent of the crisis became clear. Now, as Vince Cable makes today's headlines, we mirror the events of the wall street crash, as understanding and impact starts to become clear three years after initial events take place. Looking at what Vince cable is saying, it would suggest that the British public have not fully understood how deep the current economic crisis is and how big the impact will be. We currently have strikes and riots affecting most of Europe, and in a period of the last 12 months we have witnessed, not banks going bankrupt, but nations going bankrupt. The people being asked to pay are the working people of these separate nations. I think the next stage of the crisis is literally just about to unfold and will be worse than the Wall Street crash of the 1930's; this only effected part of the world, but this time it has a global impact.Never before has so much money been printed and put into the economy, but this has not resulted in a pick up. On the contrary it is deepening and getting worse.
As such, this article is integral to my current practise and highlights the importance of people taking notice of what is occurring, and artists bringing this information to the forefront of discussion.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Monday, 16 May 2011
Week 7
Proposal plan for this week was:
Design sheets/ samples.
Experiment toward final ideas
Mixed media samples
One-to-one tutorial
Reflective diary and peer assessment
I have pretty much stuck to my plan this week. Starting by producing a painting mixing acrylics with PVA glue and sand to add texture. The colours are very vibrant: blood red sky to suggest waring and danger. The other contrasting colours were used because I felt it was important to bring out a jarring effect. I used a green in the base of the painting, which initially had been a different colour but it didn't give sufficient clarity.
The painting contains a large figure, huddled up and foetal like. I tried to express anxiety by using textural brush marks. Other figures include skeletons for barbarism and a priest, as well as coffins for foreboding..
It is A1 sized and the brush marks and tones are quite good and I am pleased with the composition. Overall it is very symbolic and expressive. It speaks very much of the nature of crisis, which was my aim.
The second work is mixed media using collage and paint. Again it is symbolic, a merry-go-round of soldiers, coffins and medals which all end up in the same place! It has a blood red sky, bright and vibrant, and links to Shakespeare verse IV, 2 form King John which speaks about war and blood red skies. It is only by clearing contradictions that a clear image is revealed. I feel that Shakespeare understood human nature better than most.
As planned I also started working on my final piece. It is an oil painting and I am working on the sky for the background. Although it is time consuming I find it enjoyable and satisfying. You can move the paint round a lot, it is a lovely media and slow drying so you can remove mistakes.
My painting is based on a sample that I produced last week and focuses on independent actions of the people, in terms of the storming of barricades and the desire to find something better on the other side. The underlying message is that we cannot go on the way we are. People can no longer live the way they did, they have to find another way and challenge the system. In my work I am trying to point out that we must recognise that people will not put up with the lack of future prospects. I want to speak about the issues that face society and raise the level of social consciousness.
I might alter the original composition, so that the final piece contains a wall rather than a fence so it can display graffiti with slogans of discontent, revolution and maybe questions. I plan to experiment with this next week so may original plan might change radically.
I have also started to experiment with mixed media mixing pastel, paint and collage and want to experiment with these further particularly looking at the graffiti element of the final piece.
This week I feel that I have been thrown by the day off college and felt a bit lost. Despite this, I have enjoyed experimenting with collage and plan to continue to work in this way whilst also continuing to work on my oil painting next week. I also intend to work on a montage plan that was suggested by my tutor as a way of displaying several of my samples as a finished piece arranged in a tile like fashion for the exhibition. Initially I was skeptical about this plan but after some thought I think it is a very good idea as it shows how different types of conflict interlink through a number of studies in different media combined to produce another final piece. I have developed this idea on my own to select images and display them so that some will be raised from the surface of the page at different heights. I plan to experiment and see how this evolves.
Design sheets/ samples.
Experiment toward final ideas
Mixed media samples
One-to-one tutorial
Reflective diary and peer assessment
I have pretty much stuck to my plan this week. Starting by producing a painting mixing acrylics with PVA glue and sand to add texture. The colours are very vibrant: blood red sky to suggest waring and danger. The other contrasting colours were used because I felt it was important to bring out a jarring effect. I used a green in the base of the painting, which initially had been a different colour but it didn't give sufficient clarity.
The painting contains a large figure, huddled up and foetal like. I tried to express anxiety by using textural brush marks. Other figures include skeletons for barbarism and a priest, as well as coffins for foreboding..
It is A1 sized and the brush marks and tones are quite good and I am pleased with the composition. Overall it is very symbolic and expressive. It speaks very much of the nature of crisis, which was my aim.
The second work is mixed media using collage and paint. Again it is symbolic, a merry-go-round of soldiers, coffins and medals which all end up in the same place! It has a blood red sky, bright and vibrant, and links to Shakespeare verse IV, 2 form King John which speaks about war and blood red skies. It is only by clearing contradictions that a clear image is revealed. I feel that Shakespeare understood human nature better than most.
As planned I also started working on my final piece. It is an oil painting and I am working on the sky for the background. Although it is time consuming I find it enjoyable and satisfying. You can move the paint round a lot, it is a lovely media and slow drying so you can remove mistakes.
My painting is based on a sample that I produced last week and focuses on independent actions of the people, in terms of the storming of barricades and the desire to find something better on the other side. The underlying message is that we cannot go on the way we are. People can no longer live the way they did, they have to find another way and challenge the system. In my work I am trying to point out that we must recognise that people will not put up with the lack of future prospects. I want to speak about the issues that face society and raise the level of social consciousness.
I might alter the original composition, so that the final piece contains a wall rather than a fence so it can display graffiti with slogans of discontent, revolution and maybe questions. I plan to experiment with this next week so may original plan might change radically.
 |
| Sample that my final piece is based on. |
I have also started to experiment with mixed media mixing pastel, paint and collage and want to experiment with these further particularly looking at the graffiti element of the final piece.
This week I feel that I have been thrown by the day off college and felt a bit lost. Despite this, I have enjoyed experimenting with collage and plan to continue to work in this way whilst also continuing to work on my oil painting next week. I also intend to work on a montage plan that was suggested by my tutor as a way of displaying several of my samples as a finished piece arranged in a tile like fashion for the exhibition. Initially I was skeptical about this plan but after some thought I think it is a very good idea as it shows how different types of conflict interlink through a number of studies in different media combined to produce another final piece. I have developed this idea on my own to select images and display them so that some will be raised from the surface of the page at different heights. I plan to experiment and see how this evolves.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Thursday, 12 May 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/11/greece-doomed-generation
This is an important article and I would urge everyone to read it and recognise that what is happening in Greece is likely to occur in this country in the near future. Please don't shoot the messenger!
I think this strengthens my work because it shows the importance of tackling my subject matter, which a lot of people fail to explore or recognise before it is too late. A lot of people could recognise what is happening and it will become a contemporary narrative recorded for history.
This is an important article and I would urge everyone to read it and recognise that what is happening in Greece is likely to occur in this country in the near future. Please don't shoot the messenger!
I think this strengthens my work because it shows the importance of tackling my subject matter, which a lot of people fail to explore or recognise before it is too late. A lot of people could recognise what is happening and it will become a contemporary narrative recorded for history.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Week 6
Below are links to videos and newspaper articles that have been significant to my project. The are important because they give meaning to the work I am attempting to produce and gives it some validity.
The work is quite graphic and gritty; rape, decay etc as direct results of conflict and human struggle. I feel that I am making progress in my line drawing and that my technical abilities are improving and this is giving me confidence to explore the work and topics raised within these articles.
I am working to meet my time plan effectively and have been working to develop and experiment with ideas in a variety of media. My line drawings have been particularly success this week, but I am finding it very difficult to mix colours to get the right tonal values. I hope this will improve given time and patience, and feel that this project may help me to acheive this; it has provided a challenege but because I am feeling more confident in other areas, I have more time to look at new areas or issues that are emerging.
The work is quite graphic and gritty; rape, decay etc as direct results of conflict and human struggle. I feel that I am making progress in my line drawing and that my technical abilities are improving and this is giving me confidence to explore the work and topics raised within these articles.
I am working to meet my time plan effectively and have been working to develop and experiment with ideas in a variety of media. My line drawings have been particularly success this week, but I am finding it very difficult to mix colours to get the right tonal values. I hope this will improve given time and patience, and feel that this project may help me to acheive this; it has provided a challenege but because I am feeling more confident in other areas, I have more time to look at new areas or issues that are emerging.
6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw9zbTsKNAA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
feel that songs have played a part in many conflicts: for examplr 'The White Cliffs of Dover" which I think ia very patriotic and discusses the longing to come home from war and the desire for peace. Also the blue birds refer to our conutry summers.
"Falling in love again" by Deitrich played a stong part in the second world war addressing moral. Strong songs seem to emererge from conlict, whether pining for home, or stirring and patriotic war marches.
This video on you tube uses the Labi Siffre song which was an anti aparthide song which says 'the higher you build your walls'. Here this song has been successfully attached to the miners struggle. I think it is very effective and powerful. The words and the pictures combined create a very powerful picture. It is very emotive because it captures what we would describe as a recent historical event in which the conforntation between the state and the miners is clearly defined. The life and blood of mining communities were the mines, and when you close down a mine you kill the community. The video and the music shows the struggle of the miners to stop the destruction of the industry and their communities. To understand my work you can't look at one thing in isolation from another, you have to look at the whole thing, as a whole as it communicates and investigates many interlinking and complicated stuggles to show the nature of conflict.
feel that songs have played a part in many conflicts: for examplr 'The White Cliffs of Dover" which I think ia very patriotic and discusses the longing to come home from war and the desire for peace. Also the blue birds refer to our conutry summers.
"Falling in love again" by Deitrich played a stong part in the second world war addressing moral. Strong songs seem to emererge from conlict, whether pining for home, or stirring and patriotic war marches.
This video on you tube uses the Labi Siffre song which was an anti aparthide song which says 'the higher you build your walls'. Here this song has been successfully attached to the miners struggle. I think it is very effective and powerful. The words and the pictures combined create a very powerful picture. It is very emotive because it captures what we would describe as a recent historical event in which the conforntation between the state and the miners is clearly defined. The life and blood of mining communities were the mines, and when you close down a mine you kill the community. The video and the music shows the struggle of the miners to stop the destruction of the industry and their communities. To understand my work you can't look at one thing in isolation from another, you have to look at the whole thing, as a whole as it communicates and investigates many interlinking and complicated stuggles to show the nature of conflict.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Week five
click on title above to access article and video
This article reflects the growing economic crisis within the euro zone which is gathering momentum despite the best efforts of the international monetary fund to stabalise and halt the prospects of Portugal having to declare itself bankrupt.
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Week three
Time plan
Experimental samples in specialist areas
Continue research into conflict
Visit galleries and exhibitions
I have not yet had an opportunity to visit the galleries because a trip from college was cancelled. However, I intend to go with a small group at some point in the near future.
I started to produce samples. The first one was based on a photograph of a plug sockett, which I turned in to an abstract representation of the human form. I also did a college based on a Muslim soldier who was on drugs. I deliberately displayed it in a disjointed form to convey the mental break up of the subject, but also the break up of Yugoslavia. I wanted to make people think.
I have expressed ideas of man as machine, with buttons to stop and go; GO and was starts. STOP and it ends. I also looked at the break down of a country resulting in the mental breakdown of its population. Although I feel my painting skills are limited, I think the validity and relevance of contents is honest, simple to understand and makes the point. It takes me to where I am going, with regards to the brief.
Whilst conducting research this week I looked at a number of cartoons, portraying and mocking war based conflicts.
This video of Charlie Chaplin made 2 years before the second world war, brings home the message that pursuit of profit is tied up with domination and war.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=charlie+chaplin+pictures+the+great+dictator&docid=526817953223&mid=4195848822186A5FFD884195848822186A5FFD88&FORM=VIRE1&adlt=strict#
This article from the telegraph which was released February this year states that economic tensions may lead to civil, or even world wars. Again this would suggest that it is economic conflict that drives, or leads to war.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/globalbusiness/8296987/IMF-raises-spectre-of-civil-wars-as-global-inequalities-worsen.html
My main conclusion for this week is that war and economic conflict are highly interlinked. This led to the production of a painting entitled 'tears, screams and profits.' This will help me to experiement with the portrayal the link between the economic crisis, ordinary citizens and war.
Experimental samples in specialist areas
Continue research into conflict
Visit galleries and exhibitions
I have not yet had an opportunity to visit the galleries because a trip from college was cancelled. However, I intend to go with a small group at some point in the near future.
I started to produce samples. The first one was based on a photograph of a plug sockett, which I turned in to an abstract representation of the human form. I also did a college based on a Muslim soldier who was on drugs. I deliberately displayed it in a disjointed form to convey the mental break up of the subject, but also the break up of Yugoslavia. I wanted to make people think.
I have expressed ideas of man as machine, with buttons to stop and go; GO and was starts. STOP and it ends. I also looked at the break down of a country resulting in the mental breakdown of its population. Although I feel my painting skills are limited, I think the validity and relevance of contents is honest, simple to understand and makes the point. It takes me to where I am going, with regards to the brief.
Whilst conducting research this week I looked at a number of cartoons, portraying and mocking war based conflicts.
This video of Charlie Chaplin made 2 years before the second world war, brings home the message that pursuit of profit is tied up with domination and war.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=charlie+chaplin+pictures+the+great+dictator&docid=526817953223&mid=4195848822186A5FFD884195848822186A5FFD88&FORM=VIRE1&adlt=strict#
This article from the telegraph which was released February this year states that economic tensions may lead to civil, or even world wars. Again this would suggest that it is economic conflict that drives, or leads to war.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/globalbusiness/8296987/IMF-raises-spectre-of-civil-wars-as-global-inequalities-worsen.html
My main conclusion for this week is that war and economic conflict are highly interlinked. This led to the production of a painting entitled 'tears, screams and profits.' This will help me to experiement with the portrayal the link between the economic crisis, ordinary citizens and war.
Right-wing radio duck hits the net - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
Right-wing radio duck hits the net - Opinion - Al Jazeera English Economic crisis cartoon
I feel that this cartoon illustrates the currectn economic crisis by taking an iconic american character to tell the story of the effects of the economic crisis on individuals, and how blame is placed on them. I feel that the cartoon is quite relevant to our current situation: blame placing and loss of housing etc.
I feel that this cartoon illustrates the currectn economic crisis by taking an iconic american character to tell the story of the effects of the economic crisis on individuals, and how blame is placed on them. I feel that the cartoon is quite relevant to our current situation: blame placing and loss of housing etc.
Week two
Time plan:
Complete project proposal
Continue research into conflicts
Begin to produce experimental samples in sketch book
Tutorials
Work on reflective diary.
I did complete my project proposal toward the end of this week. I was happy with the outcome of my brief, I feel it explains where I want to go effectively.
I started more thorough research into conflicts mainly focusing on war, looking at artists such as Goya and Peter Howson and by researching into the Bonsian conflict. The main thing that was portrayed in the media and the work of the Howson (who was comissioned by the Imperial War museum) were ethnic cleansing, which reminded me of the German consentration camps. This lead me back to Goya who, in the midst of the Nepolionic war, produced a series of prints that expressed the horrors and beastilaity of war, which were also present in the work of Howson.
Looking at these artists, as well as the Chapman b-rothers and Picasso's Gurnica, I decided that I wanted to stay away from these themes which has been looked at many times. I wanted to draw a conclusion about what war really meant. Blackness, horror and tears, but underlying this expansion and pursuit of profit.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disasters_of_War
Having looked at a number of painters, and old broadcasts and newspapers, as well as informeation on the internet I drew the conclusion that, basically war is Black and destructive.
I spent most of my time conducting this research, but did start to produce some samples focusing on reproducing work by the artists I have named above. This was an exercise in attempting to develop my technical painting skills. I felt the images portrayed something powerful and I wanted to capture this. I think I was partly successful in this endeavor. The images I produced clearly capture the original and their emoitional content.
I kept focusing back on the brief to make sure I stayed on topic and did not become overwhelmed by the potential vastness of my subject.
I started to collect information for this reflective diary.
Complete project proposal
Continue research into conflicts
Begin to produce experimental samples in sketch book
Tutorials
Work on reflective diary.
I did complete my project proposal toward the end of this week. I was happy with the outcome of my brief, I feel it explains where I want to go effectively.
I started more thorough research into conflicts mainly focusing on war, looking at artists such as Goya and Peter Howson and by researching into the Bonsian conflict. The main thing that was portrayed in the media and the work of the Howson (who was comissioned by the Imperial War museum) were ethnic cleansing, which reminded me of the German consentration camps. This lead me back to Goya who, in the midst of the Nepolionic war, produced a series of prints that expressed the horrors and beastilaity of war, which were also present in the work of Howson.
Looking at these artists, as well as the Chapman b-rothers and Picasso's Gurnica, I decided that I wanted to stay away from these themes which has been looked at many times. I wanted to draw a conclusion about what war really meant. Blackness, horror and tears, but underlying this expansion and pursuit of profit.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disasters_of_War
Having looked at a number of painters, and old broadcasts and newspapers, as well as informeation on the internet I drew the conclusion that, basically war is Black and destructive.
I spent most of my time conducting this research, but did start to produce some samples focusing on reproducing work by the artists I have named above. This was an exercise in attempting to develop my technical painting skills. I felt the images portrayed something powerful and I wanted to capture this. I think I was partly successful in this endeavor. The images I produced clearly capture the original and their emoitional content.
 |
| Reproduction of painting by Peter Howson |
 |
| Reproduction of Muslim Fighter on Drugs by Peter Howson |
I kept focusing back on the brief to make sure I stayed on topic and did not become overwhelmed by the potential vastness of my subject.
I started to collect information for this reflective diary.
Week One
Time Plan:
Write project proposal and word process.
Begin primary and secondary research into project theme, take photos, and begin sketchbook and journal.
Undertake tutorials.
Reflection
A start was made on my project proposal. I had to think in terms of what subject matter I was going to attempt to deal with and how I would present it. I started to generate ideas and settled on the theme of conflict. I started to look at a range of conflicts and make a decision as to which ones were relevant to today, but also link to the past. I wanted to link the past, the present and arising future conflicts, so I chose to look at war, industrial conflict and economic conflict as my main areas of influence.
The depth of my initial idea was vast, and tutors suggested that I narrow it down but I felt that I wanted to give an overview and am now clear of the direction in which I want to go. I aim to give a brief overview of conflicts of war, industry and economics, and bring these subjects their basic elements.
My brief took longer to write than I expected because my tutors did not fully grasp what I wanted to say, and although they gave me some good advice there was a subsequent delay. After having tutorials with several different tutors I managed to communicate my ideas effectively and began to construct my project proposal.
Write project proposal and word process.
Begin primary and secondary research into project theme, take photos, and begin sketchbook and journal.
Undertake tutorials.
Reflection
A start was made on my project proposal. I had to think in terms of what subject matter I was going to attempt to deal with and how I would present it. I started to generate ideas and settled on the theme of conflict. I started to look at a range of conflicts and make a decision as to which ones were relevant to today, but also link to the past. I wanted to link the past, the present and arising future conflicts, so I chose to look at war, industrial conflict and economic conflict as my main areas of influence.
The depth of my initial idea was vast, and tutors suggested that I narrow it down but I felt that I wanted to give an overview and am now clear of the direction in which I want to go. I aim to give a brief overview of conflicts of war, industry and economics, and bring these subjects their basic elements.
My brief took longer to write than I expected because my tutors did not fully grasp what I wanted to say, and although they gave me some good advice there was a subsequent delay. After having tutorials with several different tutors I managed to communicate my ideas effectively and began to construct my project proposal.
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