Throughout the last month that I have been working on my idea relating to make people more aware about the process of an epileptic seizure and how I feel towards it. I have been able to do a range of experiments to display my feelings towards my condition. This has involved the use of spray paint, paint, charcoal, pens and pencils. By making these decisions on the types of materials I want to use within my work it has allowed me to see in what ways it helps my work to develop and encountering any problems along the way. Furthermore by combining and experimenting with these different materials it has allowed me to see how much of a risk taker I want to be when developing my work. This involved me ripping certain pieces of paper and see in what way they would create a story towards the audience and how they would respond to it. Here are some examples of that.
Furthermore before creating these ideas I had to gain an understanding of the studio space and how I could adapt to it. In my view it allowed me to see how certain ideas could develop and what I would do to change it. This could involve working in the wood workshops and see how I could create hands out of wood and see in what ways I could make them. I know that I love painting because I have been painting for quite a long time and attend workshops at the National Portrait Gallery and the WhiteChapel Gallery. In my view I would like to expand my artistic skills and techniques. This could involve exploring the use of ceramics, wood work machinery and other elements within the artistic society.
Doing an introduction week at Chelsea really helped me to see in what ways I could use the studio and raising questions. These questions involved, what problems would I encounter?, how would my ideas adapt to the environment that I am going to be working in? Within the first week of term I had a very good description of how to work and adapt to the studio space. By getting introduced into how the studio space works and what to gain from it whilst developing ideas. This allowed me to develop my ideas due to the fact of communicating with other students within the group and seeing how or why I am creating that specific idea (s). In addition by gaining knowledge of the studio space it had allowed me to see and engage my mind into what styles I want to produce to not only the space and students around me but to the whole environment.
By creating these studio spaces it allowed all art studio to respond to other students needs and requests within the studio space. Furthermore by working as a collaborative environment. it allowed us as students to become more social and artistic towards one another. In addition by creating the studio space it helped me as a developing artist to see what ideas I can create and allowing me to formulate more around the collaborative environments and also around quiet and busy environments.
In my view by going to art talks on Tuesdays it really helps me to see where my ideas could go next , seeing what works and what does work, how I feel about my work, what I have learnt about the materials and processes and discovering processes I may what to explore again and why. I really enjoyed the talk by Louisa Fairclough because it allowed me to connect my problem of epilepsy towards her work. This is due to the way she connected herself towards her sister’s illness within her work. This involved words from her sister’s sketchbook which involved, lines of tension, lines of emotions, self conscious, highs and lows, grief and tension and the remarkable language to describe them. Louisa used “relaxed, awkward, relaxed, awkward, relaxed, awkward, relaxed, awkward, relaxed, awkward” at different time periods. This would represent as to how her sister was feeling at the time and the way it was spoken either very loudly or quietly.
https://www.bath.ac.uk/icia/events/static-inc-exhib.php?id=10454
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/fairclough/
Furthermore by looking at the different linear qualities and words her sister wrote with her sketchbook it allowed me to connect instantly with the medical condition she had which was epilepsy. It also allowed me to let out thoughts and feelings out such as uncomfortable, pain, regret, grief, isolation, entrapment, loneliness and no sense of moving forward. Also by looking more into Louisa’s work it allowed me to formulate my condition around projection, the use of overlapping within the use of tape and double sided tape. This would help me to project my feelings towards the medical condition that I have and let people can a sense of the struggles I face which I believe is a very personal matter towards me which makes me feel quite upset at times. Here are some examples of how I work with paints to show my emotions about my condition.
Sometimes I create works when I instantly put on paper relating towards the idea of the actions of epilepsy because I have so many feelings stored up all at once that it can feel very heart-breaking. In a way by doing this idea it works because it allows me to become more open-minded about things and not feel nervous or anxious about how I feel when facing seizures. Sometimes I do encounter problems for example I may have worked into something too much and find it hard to find a solution towards it. What I tend to do is step back away from the painting and see how could I develop it or in what way if I started it again from scratch which way should I go. These are some examples of how I tend to work when revealing my emotions towards how I may be feeling on a particular day. This involves the use of oil paint.
It been great having one to one tutorials with my tutor Amanda Walker because it helped me to both engage and inform my tutor what my work is about. and how I should develop it. Furthermore by talking to my tutor it has now helped me to become more chaotic, expressive and imaginative with my work. Here are some examples.
This has allowed me to take more risks within my work. I have decided to focus more on my epileptic condition and allow it to communicate to the human figure. It can be within the idea of ripping paper, tearing materials and transform it into the human mind. My main aim is to communicate and engage the audience with my epileptic condition with the human figure. This could involve how the human figure reacts to epileptic seizures, the electrical nerves being under pressure and the chaotic reactions that happens both within the human body and outside the human body. This involves the ideas of entrapment, isolation, communication, chaotic, expressive, danger and not responding. These are some of examples of how I decided to become more expressive and chaotic with my work with the use of paint, charcoal pencil, spray paint, pens. I decided to let myself out more rather than leaving myself feeling enclosed and being scared of trying something new.
Furthermore by going to seminars such as “Around Painting” it allowed me to gain a further understanding as to how painting can be seen, how it can represent, how it connects to formalism, minimalism and dematerialisation (lectures that I have previously had). By going to these seminars it has allowed me to see how I connect my ideas to painting and how I can correspond certain aspects of painting within my work. These are some more examples of my work, the idea of manipulation and the way that I decided to explore and play around with the shapes that I chose to use.
These involved the idea that Katrine explained that Hubert Damisch said, “it is not enough. In order for their to be painting, that the painter take up his brushes again”. This demonstrates that people still paint, painting is still brought, it is self evident and it is also a relevant medium. Also she explained how different artists express there idea of painting within different ways no matter in what form it is in, it is still a painting. Some examples of this are, Angela De La Cruz- the reference of painting is no-longer relevant/ necessary. Jessica Stockholder- abstract paintings- colourful room, Katharina Grosse- paints onto walls- abstract expressionist. Natasha Kidd- painting machine evacuate, through painting we impart something. No intention, the beautiful lines just happen (white paper)- things attached to colour.
Having looked at into what painting is and how it can be seen as. By going to the Art seminars based on around painting it has helped me to look into a variety of themes which could represent my work. These themes could involve the idea of frame, mirror, event, time, portraiture, representation, symbolic elements, landscape, human form, historical and traditional, declaration, intention and vulnerable emotion. By looking into these other elements of painting it helps us as a group within the seminar to question is painting enough? is it valid?
In my view by going to these art seminars with Katrine it has been very helpful and useful. This is because it helps to have a discussion and evaluate how we talk about painting. It also allows us to look at artists within frame such as, Jacques Derrida, Katharina Groose, Alexis Harding. We also looked at artists with the themes of event such as the Wallace collection, Yves Klein, Bernhard Frieze. In addition we looked into themes such as, time- Gerhard Richter (September 11th Twin Towers), Anselm Kiefer and Barren Landscape. By looking at these different themes it has allowed me to look further into the different ideas behind painting and see how I can blend and combine them with my current project I am working on. This contextual research has helped me to develop my ideas and see in what ways I would like to share these ideas towards the public. In my view by going to the ICA exhibition beware paint it allowed me to see how a range of different artists explained their ideas towards the public. This involved using the idea of painting but expressing it in different ways using a range of materials such as, spray paint, burnt images, cartoon (manga characters) etc. Here are some examples.
Having developed my idea further by demonstrating the emotions and processes of the epileptic seizures. This has allowed me to develop how I feel towards having epileptic seizures such as the idea of isolation, entrapment, chaotic etc. By experimenting materials such as, charcoal, spray paint, pens etc. It allows me to release all of the emotions that I feel before and after having a seizure. I’m going to carry on using this theme of torn, isolated and entrapped emotions. Themes I can look into are interactions, culture conflict that obstructs the treatment, mistrust, misunderstanding and miscommunications, imprisoned. I can also look into, transforming and transferring into something worse, awareness, capture, independence, precautions, controlled, trigger for seizures and challenges. Here are some examples.
Furthermore by looking more into these themes it allowed me to look at famous quotes which relate to the idea of epileptic conditions. “paintbrush is a powerful communication tool for experiences that are hard to explain in word” (www.epilespysociety.org.uk). “Art is a way of making sense of the huge impact that recurring seizures can have on your life. Art can help a person develop greater self awareness and come to terms with the uncertainties of epilepsy” (Quentin Bruckland, art therapist, epilepsy society). “It has often been said that Van Gogh’s use of yellow was a result of his suffering from xanthopsia, a condition that causes the person to see everything as though a yellow filter. Xanthopsia was a side effect of digtalis, often used to treat epilepsy.
By going to exhibitions such as, the Marine exhibtion (Mall Galleries). This involved artists such as, David Curtis, Trevor Chamberlain, Richard Stimson, Gabrielle Moove, Edman O’Aivazian and many more fantastic artists. Also visiting the William Morris (Anarchy & beauty) which demonstrated how the artist, socialist, carpenter focused on many different aspects that were happening in the society he was living in and how it changed/ impacted on him. It has allowed me to look at a range of aspects towards the making of art and how it can be developed further especially during the subject matter of epilepsy. This is due to the use of vibrant colours, the way things are placed, how natural and original you can be towards the idea (s) that you are producing. To me art is like a developing world expanding to the way history responds to you as a person. These are some examples of the work that I saw at both the Mall Galleries and the National Portrait Gallery.
Furthermore whilst developing my work I received some very encouraging words from a very close friend who is like a sister towards me. This is because she understands how I feel when facing the condition I currently have and the emotions that strike me all at once. This has allowed me work to develop because by receiving words of encouragement and motivation it has allowed me to push my work forward and try out new opportunities for example, having a closer connection with the work I produce. This has allowed me to make decisions towards my work because it has allowed me to question, how should I express my use of paint, how far should I extend the scale and in what other ways should I communicate my idea. What I have learnt from the words Olga Van de Veen is not to give up on becoming better, keep on moving forward and keep on showing how I feel towards the public so, that I can have a better communication with people around me. Here are some examples of the words I received.
“You can reach the things you want christina, I’m sure and you can do it your way, a way that suits you and the epilepsy. I know it’s hard sometimes to find a way in living with a condition as you are affected by it. But there’s still a way to make things possible and reach what you want. You’re someone who knows a side of life many other’s don’t especially people of your age. That makes you special and even a sample. You’re showing people a different way of seeing for instance, with the art works about epilepsy. That’s such a strength”. (Olga Van de Veen).
“All those things you’re doing Christina are very powerful. The way you look at yourself and try to make things work for you are more than amazing” (Olga Van de Veen)
“That’s so important in life Christina….so many people are rushing so much that they forget to look at themselves and their lives. Or they feel they don’t need to. It’s such a strength when you allow yourself to be the purest version of you. You’re doing that.” (Olga Van de Veen)
“Its how many people live I suppose. Unfortunately a kind of fake life, within in they often runaway from difficulties. Many people seem to feel any hard emotions (is understandable) or be around that makes them more vulnerable, also things they don’t know how to react on” (Olga Van de Veen).
“If there’s something you really would like to reach, you have the ability to do so”. (Olga Van de Veen).
“It is hard working to live a realistic life and be the true you but it is also the best way of living with the purest happiness as possible. It touches me to talk about this and see how much it means to you to live this way. it has been quite hard to me here in Holland you know. It’s a long story as I have gone through a lot during my childhood. in my environment here I have never been accepted and allowed to be my true self. Except by my mum talking about this empowers me to do, live from my heart and be my pure self” (Olga Van de Veen).
By starting the weeks with experimental and expressive colours to represent my emotions and feelings towards epilepsy. By experimenting with different materials such as spray paint, pens, cardboard and oil paint. It has allowed me to broaden my idea of epilepsy further. This is due to the idea of expressing different emotions I have towards it through vibrant and dark colours. This will allow the viewer to have a better communication in how epilepsy has a big change on my life and how I can show the idea through different pieces of art I create and the style I do in it. By focusing on epilepsy it can allow me convey the idea through the colours of paints I choose to use. Also it can help me to use different techniques such as pulling the paint, tissue and charcoal across the canvas. These are some of examples of the different processes I choose to use.
Also I decided to become more expressive with my work due to the fact that I wanted to let myself go more and become more open-minded towards things that I experience whilst having this condition. I feel that my idea has developed because I have decided to work more intensely and passionately within the paintings I have produced. This is to communicate the pain and horror I face when facing the horrific seizures which can make me become very exhausted and hurt. This tends to make me hide away in the class and not feeling like communicating with other members in the class. This is because if they see this type of seizure I often feel that it’s going to freak them out and they might feel scared to communicate with me because it may happen at any second within the day. These are some examples of how I decided to become more emotional with my work.
Furthermore by getting inspired by the wood machinery workshop it inspired me to create drawings of hands that I would create out of either wood, ceramics or plaster. By doing this it would allow me to try a new technique and see how explorative and playful I can be when displaying my idea of my condition through using these methods. What I have learnt about these materials is the way of how playful, dramatic, symbolic and creative you can be when you manipulate and abstract these certain materials. I got so inspired to do this because it would take me in a new direction and see in what ways I could develop my idea even further through using these processes. These are some ideas of hands I would like to twist and manipulate using wood, ceramics, metal. I have learnt to become more playful and explorative with materials such as these and see in what ways I could connect it to my condition.
Also by doing these drawings of various types of hands it has also inspired me to look into more artists such as, Henry Moore. Looking through the detail and the expressive qualities of the artist’s drawings is truly fascinating. Love the way he uses different positions of the hands as I have just demonstrated and see how intense and harsh he can be when drawing hands. This has allowed my idea to develop because now I can play around with how intense or how lightly I would like to draw hands. This has also demonstrated to me how I can use and look more into different hand positions to show the problems I feel when facing my conditions which can be shown by my hand movements. This has been successful for me like my other ideas because now I can move away from painting and focus more on developing drawing techniques and practicing with other materials. By doing so it will allow me to broaden my idea towards the audience. Here are some examples of Henry Moore’s work.
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/moore-the-artists-hand-v-p02911
http://www.pinterest.com/explore/henry-moore/
http://www.accessart.org.uk/drawings-with-mass-potatoes-playmobil-and-henry-moore/
Also by looking into artist’s at Chelsea College of Arts such as Daniel Goodchild (MA student). By talking to this lovely student I was so inspired by the different landscapes he painted, the elegantly of the paint used within the canvas. Furthermore the way you instantly get engaged with the use of the vibrant and organic colours the painter uses within his landscapes is perfect, excellent, has the wow factor and is beautiful. In my view when looking further into his landscapes it allows you to see how different sections of the painter connects well as you look through each section of the painting. When looking through the foreground, background and middle-ground you instantly get engaged with his work and feel like your part of the painting. In my view by looking at the artist’s work it makes me become more excited into how the world of painting is evolving well and changes every second. By this idea happening it allows more artist’s to become more interested and inspired to try new things. By using this contextual research it has allowed me to engage more within the paintings I do and watch and examine the elegantly and flow of the paint used. In addition it has allowed me to absorb a new experience and start to encounters other features within painting. www.danielgoodchild.com
By watching Intersteller it really inspired me with my work because of looking through the idea of space and time and getting an idea of what loves means. The main mission of Interstellar is to find a new planet where people can live because earth is dying this was called the Lazarus project. The main pilot’s idea (main character of the film) is to save earth and go back to his family. The represents the idea that people live through there family because they have better connections with there family rather than the other 6 billion people living on earth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc4i7-9-4e8
Also by looking into the concept of gravity and seeing how we respond to it as human beings and what lies beyond gravity. Furthermore by watching the film it allowed me to understand the physics behind gravity and looking through the idea of the Lazarus project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yxaUi8LIzE
It allowed people on earth to find out if there were other planets were people could live on because the earth was dying and there needed to be another planet were people could live on. Also by using 4 scientists to find out if there were other planets where people could live on. Here are some videos based on Intersellar and the explanations of some of the theories behind it.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/interstellar_2014/trailers/#
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/interstellar_2014/trailers/11205383
The main character (the pilot- Matthew Mcconaughey) went out to see if there were other ways on the opposite side of the world where other people could live on because the earth is dying. There is the sense of sacrifice due to the fact that Matthew Mcconaughey main character didn’t tell his daughter that the earth is stuffed. Nevertheless the daughter (Merth) works out the equation of how to save earth. When he returns he is 124 whilst his daughter is dying at the age of 90. When you look at the whole story there’s all these theories towards the idea of how time goes faster between the earth and the future. For instance they would travel to one of the planets that would take them an hour to get to where as one the other hand it would be 7 years later on earth. In my view by looking at the whole story within the film Interstellar it makes you look at different concepts relating to the different aspects of space, continuum, dimensions and time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSWdZVtXT7E
It also makes you think how the earth suddenly becomes messed up and their needs to be a solution into how to save the earth before destruction comes and the earth becomes destroyed. Furthermore by looking into the wormhole where they travel through explains how space and time is distorted. It is where time travels faster. In contrast on earth we all travel at the same time and it takes us 365 days to accomplish certain things we want to achieve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4AXlfwT9oM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyHPLoHkS1I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6rreT4U8yE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHngnr_39ss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXkbP10SPE4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4qa08bKUE0
In a way it makes us look at how different dimensions work and how to accept certain things for example, within the 3rd and 5th dimensions beyond our own planet. By looking into this it allowed me to see how my medical condition can be seen within different dimensions and in what way it could be solved. This could be through physics, maths and theories and comparing and contrasting theories between each one and how to come to the final theory to solve the medical condition that I am facing.
This for instance could involve the black hole, the horizon, planets lying beyond our galaxy. Having looking at the way that the father had two leave his two kids behind to go and save the world. Looking at each aspect as to what gravity, space and time means towards human beings and how to solve certain equations and theories behind it. Furthermore by watching the film it also showed me the way of ageing and the way of how the future and the past changes and becomes more fascinating and exciting. By seeing this film it has allowed me to see the concept of ageing and the difference between space and time. This has allowed me to look further into how time of how my condition could be solved is like an equation which has so many methods to try and fix it until it finds the right procedure. Also by looking at the physics and theories behind how to solve the dying earth. It has allowed me to have a connection towards how to solve my medical condition and it what ways would be best.
Travelling to Borough Market over the weekend with one of my friend’s, his name is Mario (Italian) . It was a lovely experience going down there because it was great venturing different aspects of borough market and china town and seeing how a variety of traditions from Italians, French, Chinese were blending will together. This trip has allowed me to develop my idea further towards my condition because it allows me to see how I can circulate the idea around different traditions and see how they would react towards it. Also by visiting the areas of London such as Chinatown, National Portrait Gallery exhibitions such as, William Morris (Anarchy and beauty, Grayson perry etc, visiting leicester square, trafalgar square and travelling through the jubilee line. Here are some photos of our travel.
This helped me to see in what ways I could engage my idea more towards the public. This could be doing a documentary of my develops and struggles through epilepsy and see what people’s comments would be towards it. Going on these explorative walks has helped me to develop and inform my project. This is because by travelling along with someone who is up for venturing different areas of London it has allowed me to extend/ go beyond of the borders and become more of a risk taker. Also by listening to songs such as Sam Smith Restart and Stay With Me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rC8RRXcfeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGzHgo7n4jM
By engaging closely with that song it has allowed me to make more decisions into how I would like to engage my condition more with the audience. This can involve asking people how they feel when they see an epileptic seizure taking place. From that experience I can connect these emotions within different forms of artwork to represent anger, nervous, anxious and speechless. This could depend on how harshly I use paint and in what way I want it to become more emotional towards the audience because of this. For example this piece which becomes very powerful because of the way I have thrown and worked so intensely into the paper.
Also it has allowed me to think about more combining of different materials such as wood, ceramics, paint and charcoal and see how they would work together. By doing more sketches of hands it has allowed me to have more of an understanding with hands and the meaning into why people put their hands in different positions.
Having explored the Green Lanes farmers market it gave me such a pleasing experience due to the way that everyone was collaborating with each other. By walking through the famers market it allowed me to venture different aspects of food from a variety of countries such as England, France, Italy and Spain etc. In my view by doing this it has allowed me to make some more decisions towards my artwork. This involves making my work more collaborative towards the audience. In that sense it allows me to see in a range of ways how people respond to my interpretation of epilepsy and want to represent it towards people. This could involve a number of techniques and processes such as representation, abstraction, surrealism, illusion, scale, figure and context, translation and transcription. These are some images I took from the market I ventured on a lovely Autumn day.
Furthermore i’m currently developing the movement of hands within my work. By using the idea of hands it helps because it is allowing me to see my reaction when I have an epileptic condition. With the use of different colours such as reds, yellows, whites and oranges and deciding to blend them together. It has allowed me to transform my personality and more about myself within the paintings that I am currently producing. Also by working on the movements and flexibility of hands it allows me to see how I can develop the communication and response the hands have towards the public. This allows the public to question things like:-
- How does the hands respond to you as a person facing this condition?
- In what ways does the hands show a meaning?
- How does the connection of meaningfulness respond to your condition with the use of the hands?
- What emotions come out of the hands?
By going to the artist talk by David Cotterrell it was very interesting listening to his talk because of the way he would use certain aspects of society like war, train developments and the transforming world. It was very inspiring into seeing how he would create a range of different structures in China for example, the smaller structures of shanghai and then create a series of them which would then reflect different areas of the city. In my view, by going to this talk it helped me to have a think about, in what ways would I like to reflect and transform how I see my condition within my artwork. His talk made me question myself into saying things for example:
- How could I show the act of movement of hands within a painting to represent the epileptic seizure?
- What types of movement show I use to represent my condition?
- How could I represent the idea of sadness, depression, anxiety, nervous, not controlled within the structure of the hands?
- What materials should I use to present this idea towards the audience?
Within listening to David Cotterrell’s art talk it inspired me to take new changes within my work for example, creating a range of different movements within my work. This involved the use of doing a range of paintings which represented my emotions towards my condition with the involvement of hands. Furthermore by using a range of different paints it allowed me to express the idea of anger, depression, happiness, sadness, pain etc. It also allowed me to question my work and demonstrate why I wanted to use these specific materials within my work. Also it helped me to demonstrate what I should focus more on for example, what helps the work to stand out more and in what ways could I make it more engaging towards the audience. I came up with questions such as,
- In what areas does the paint within the work demonstrate my feelings and emotions towards the audience?
- How has my work made the audience more informed with the way my condition treats me as an individual?
- In what ways could I expand more on the condition of epilepsy?
Here are some examples of my work that I am currently developing
The theory lectures and seminars have really helped me to develop my work further. This is because by going to the theory lectures such as, formalism, Black Arts Movement, dematerialisation and minimalism. They have made me understand art more due to the ideas of objects creating different forms and shapes, taking objects and making things organic and not lost. Also by going to the “Around Painting seminars, it has allowed me to look further into painting, analysing the richness and purity of painting. In the addition the seminars has made me look more into things such as, frame, time, skin, text, screen, form and pixel of painting. By doing this it has allowed me to question myself on aspects such as,
- Does my artwork fit around any of the themes such as, frame, time, skin, text, screen, form and pixel of painting?
- If so in what way or style does it do this?
- From any of the lectures based on formalism, dematerialisation, minimalism and Black Arts Movement. Does your style of painting fall into any of these categories?
- In what way would you transfer any of these themes within your work?
Also by going to group tutorials and discussing what we are currently working on and what ways we would like to display our ideas towards the audience. It has allowed me to have a further think into my work this is because by hearing people’s views on their work. For example, Helen talking about being interested in landscape and nature, liking images that come out wrong and talking about anonymous connections- has a meaning towards someone else. Ruby interested into the practicality, bringing objects together, pushing things together and looking into the physicality of objects. This has allowed me to push my idea of making people more aware of condition by looking into the physically and practicality of how my condition affects my everyday lifestyle.
Here are some examples of drawings I have done representing the movement, the physically of how my hands respond when a epileptic condition is taking place.
Furthermore by going to talks at the Tate Britain and the William Morris Gallery. It allowed me to have a further inspired into abstraction both with a political way and a British Pop Art way. The lecture by Eric de Chassey at the Tate Britain gallery inspired me. This is due to the fact that he was talking about Pop Artists such as Richard Smith, Robyn Denny, Sam Francis, Barnett Newman etc. This allowed me to have more of an acknowledgement about the artists and see how they allowed emerged decisively. Also have a taste of the different periods of Pop Art abstraction from figurative pop art to abstraction. Furthermore understanding the artistic freedom the artists all had, the relationship (the source of their ideas), the reprocesses and re-communications this period of artists had towards one another.
One the other hand, by going to the William Morris Gallery and going to the talk based on “Is Fashion to die for”. It was a totally different concept and response towards art. This is due to the fact of focusing on the way that Alke Schmidt represented her work through politics and wanted to show what is happening to women working in sweatshops and not gaining the justice that they deserve.
One could argue by looking at both talks abstraction gives the sense of freedom because of the way artist’s allow themselves to express there ideas widely which makes the viewer become more of a discover within the paintings. In contrast within Alke Schmidt’s work the audience gains a sense of emotion and anger qualities within the paintings because the women are not being treated fairly, they are not getting the wages they deserve. One could also argue that everyone is looking to everyone from different angles for responsibility which initially shows that the communication and social stands is very poor towards women working in sweat shops.
Here are some examples of Alke schmidt’s work:
I’m really inspired by at MA artist currently studying at Chelsea College of Arts. I’ve recently watched a video on his work of mark-making. I’m really intrigued by the use of the way he has become open-minded with the use of mark-making. He has done this in a very interesting and organic way. By blindfolding himself he has allowed his hands to become the movement of art. This is shown by the way he moves his hands across the wood and demonstrates his movement of the hands quite freely across the wood. In a way he has cleverly demonstrated the flexibility of free approaches towards art when using a range of materials within his work. I have learnt from the materials he has used such as, charcoal, ink and oil pastel to become more free minded with the artistic processes I use. The video has encouraged me to blend a range of different materials together such as, wood and canvas and see in what way they interact with each other.
Here is the example of his video that he has recently produced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkrLmZNBQbg
By visiting the Gerhard Richter exhibition at the Marian Goodman Gallery. I really enjoyed the use of colours that he uses within his paintings, the sense of movement you see within the foreground, background and middle-ground. Furthermore by going to this exhibition it has allowed me to look into a new process within my work. This can revolve around the idea of using deeper layers of colours and allowing myself to become one with the paintings I decide to produce.
I feel that my idea has developed because by looking at the concepts of Gerhard Richter’s work, it has allowed me to focus and become more open-minded towards the way I approach my work. This can involve the use of looking into different textures of paint and seeing the connections it has towards another colour I may use. I have made this decision because I want the audience to see how open and free-minded I can be about my condition and how I would like to represent it through the style of my work.
The contextual research has helped me to develop my ideas further because I like taking new approaches towards things that I am currently developing. By focusing on the style that Gerhard richter uses it has allowed me to open up my feelings more and evolve the public more into the pain and anger that I am feeling about my epileptic condition.
http://www.mariangoodman.com/exhibitions/2014-10-14_gerhard-richter/
These are some examples of sketches I did whilst observing Gerhard Richter’s work
Furthermore by going to the National Gallery to visit the Pedar Balke exhibition, I was really fascinated by the way he painted many different types of landscapes that were based on different situations around his time. By looking into the thickness of the pain he used, I really enjoyed the thickness, richness and textural aspects of his artwork. The contextual research has helped me to develop my work because it has allowed me to expand my epileptic condition into different aspects of societies for example, displaying it within a landscape and creating a narrative behind it. What I have learnt about the materials and processes he has used, is the way he has used delicate and harsh use of paint to create a variety of emotions within his artwork. This has allowed me show this within my work and see in what ways I can use harsh and delicate uses of paint within my work to display the idea of tension, pain, anger, frustration etc. These are some examples of his work.
Also by visiting the Jonas Burgert exhibition that was really interesting the use of colour, tone, focal and textural elements he used within his paintings instantly grabbed my attention. It immediately responded to the way I could represent my epileptic condition within my artwork. By using this contextual research it has allowed me to show more of my emotions within my artwork and not be afraid of what the public may think. The style that Jonas Burgert uses fascinates me into adding a dramatic effect within my work. This could involve the use of adding darker colours within my work to show the acts of tension, frustration, not controlled and depression that my epileptic condition puts on me. Here are some examples of his work.
http://www.blainsouthern.com/artists/jonas-burgert
I’ve also looked into artists such as Crystal Wagner and her use of overlapping and creating different collages using paper and cut outs from different objects. In my view by looking into artists such as, Crystal Wagner, Pedar Balke, Jonas Burgert it has allowed me to expand more on my thoughts and feelings and see how I can that these ideas through my artwork. What I have learnt about the materials used in these processes are the way that you don’t have to be illustrative about one particular idea or subject. You can expand and create a variety of ideas that you are currently feeling and see where it takes you. In my view be as experimentive and expressive as you want to be, its you , your the artist and to me I would like the viewer to feel as connected and engaged with the current artworks that I am producing. Here are some example’s of Crystal Wagner’s work.
http://artistaday.com/?p=19704
By following the styles of these artists such as Crystal Wagner, Pedar Balke, Gerhard Richter and Jonas Burgert which I have recently looked into. It has allowed me to become more expansive and creative with the work that I have been producing. In my view by following in the styles of these artists it has allowed my work to develop further. When I look back on previous work that I have done, I can see how it has developed in a way that now it is open-minded, free , showing a way of possibilities that could be used, showing the emotions that I feel daily. In addition when making decisions about my work at one point it did give me kind of a art block but then when listening to music by artists such as Sam Smith. Here are some songs by the sensational artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-5XG-DbAA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA4FtHUKVPE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=182TRJq9Zt8
By listening to these songs it allowed me to become more free about my thoughts and feelings. When having feedback from my tutor that really helped because I felt that I had a connection with my tutor because it was really good to have conversations with Amanda and express my feelings in many different ways. In a way I found it quite relaxing because I went for how I was feeling and thinking, didn’t plan it too much and didn’t follow a specific structure, just went with the flow. Furthermore by having a conversation with my tutor it allowed me to see that I don’t have to be illustrative about my condition, I can go for what I am feeling and seeing at the time. Also I can let the audience become more engaged with my work and see what my responses are to the the pieces that I have created. In a way by looking through the processes and materials I have used to create these pieces of works, it has allowed me to see that I have changed a direction and could say I have taken a leap. By doing this it has allowed me to take as many directions within fine art, keep on keep and keep, never stop and see where your artwork takes you.
These are some examples of my current work
Within developing these ideas it has allowed me to become more free minded into the way I would like to express my ideas towards the public. I would like the public to be engaged and express what they are feeling at the time towards my work and see what meanings or ideas they get from the pieces of work that I decide to produce has a final piece (s). To me the things that stand out most in this project are, the use of space I have used within certain parts of the piece (s) i’ve created. Also the colour red tends to stand out a lot because it can represent the idea of pain but at the same time it can also represent ideas such as, new change, confusion, freedom etc.
Furthermore by going to the talk by Andrea Francke it grabbed my attention instantly because I enjoyed the way she worked on getting certain nurseries to stay open, fought for what she thought was right and getting the public involved. This relates to my work in a way due to the idea that I am trying to make my artworks interact with the public and see how they can relate to it in their own way whether it’s personally, emotionally, politically etc. Here are some example of Andrea Francke’s work: http://www.andreafrancke.me.uk/index.php?/works/invisible-spaces-of-parenthood/
in addition by working collaboratively with other students within the UAL universities it has allowed me to become both collaborative and independent at the same time. By working with one of the students from LCF Iwa Christianna on her project which is based on an editorial which is based on childhood and incorporating art doodles into the final editorial images. I was really happy when she involved me in her project because this allowed me to become more open-minded and gain credit about what I could create in response to her idea. These are some example of what I created.
Also by relating to previous projects that I have taken part in with other young people at the William Morris Gallery. It has helped me to build up my confidence when talking to people in public. Having the group tutorials where we can express our thoughts and feelings within the sub-conscious and conscious mind. It has allowed me as a young artist to keep on going, keep on pushing myself forward into the development of our ideas. In addition by having the group tutorials, one to one tutorials and the visiting tutorials. It has helped and encouraged me to allow the experimentation of my ideas to take its own course, see how ideas change and become fresh time over time and see in what way both myself and the public adapt to them. This is an example of the exhibition where one of my paintings will be exhibited in the William Morris Gallery. The Young Curators decided to use my painting for the poster and the posters will be marketed all around Waltham forest.
Furthermore by developing my work further by looking at other artist’s work such as, J.M.W. Turner and the way he uses a variety of layers of paint and blurs and textures a variety of areas within his work. It has allowed me to follow in this style/ technique and see how it can connect more towards my thoughts and feelings and the next level (pathway) that the work will follow in. What I have learnt from the materials is the way to explore and discover the materiality behind the materials I have used and see in what way they connect with one another. Also I have enjoyed using these techniques that J.M.W Turner (late works- in the Tate) has used because it has allowed me to engage more into my thoughts and feelings and find out the similarities and differences between them. Here are some example of his work:- http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/ey-exhibition-late-turner-painting-set-free
In my view it has helped my work to develop because it has allowed me as a developing artist to see how I can express my emotions more and feel free to express them in what ever way possible. Here are some examples of my work.
Furthrermore by developing my work even further it got me looking more into J.M.W Turner’s late work and how I could develop my work using that style. What I have learnt from the materials that I have used such as oil paints are, the way that oil paint moves across paper and in what way you can explore and play around with the material. I have also learnt how to be free with the thickness and richness of the oil paints. When applying the oil paints to the paper it allowed me to see what connections I could create to revolve around the idea of thoughts and emotions. I would definitely continue using the style of Turner because I like how the artist is very free and open-minded towards his work and how he interacts with his own styles to engage to the public into what he would like to portray. 
In my view by working with the style that J.M.W Turner works in it has allowed me to become more free and open-minded towards the way that I portray my thoughts towards the viewer. By working with a range of primary, secondary and tertiary colours it has allowed me to become more explorative into the way that I use the colours. Also by responding to J.M.W Turner’s work it has allowed me to experience new styles and techniques to expand and broaden my knowledge of the art world. In my opinion I would definitely like to continue these styles and techniques to allow me to see in what way or form it may turn into. This could be changed into a sculpture, a 3D dimensional object, installation etc. I’m very happy with the way that my final piece came out because it allowed me to reveal my inner emotions and thoughts. It helped me to reveal my true original self and not be afraid of what other people may think.
