Assignment One : Natural Forms

Initially, I looked at the idea of doing a composition of Pine cones as my piece for the Natural Forms Assignment, this evolved to the idea of doing chunky bark from a tree, but I decided that I wanted more colour in the final piece so I opted for a selection of vegetables. I bought Broccoli, peppers, parsnip, green beans and radishes to start with  and set about arranging them on a ceramic white plate.

I very much see this project as telling a Mystery Story, each sketch made a clue to the next resulting in the draft composition. The shine from the peppers was not what I had hoped when coming to setting up the display unless I used artificial light, which I did not want to use. The black glossy plate was definitely the most important decision I had made as it lead to the idea of the aubergine. In terms of light direction, I ended up turning the whole display 90 degrees to best compliment the reflections produced.

First Draft

Overall, I am very happy with my Final Piece, I tried my best not to overwork things and  particularly like the shadow on the parsnip, the reflection of the yellow pepper on the aubergine and the reflection of the parsnip on the aubergine.

Assignment One : Man Made

Having a 6th month old daughter, I knew quite early on that my Man Made Project would involve her toys, the colours, shapes and textures would be an opportunity not to be missed and following the success of the Natural Forms Assignment, I felt really confident in putting together a good piece for this Assignment. Initially I chose a stuffed toy, spinning top and blocks on a wood surface but through deduction, I switched things around and ended up with a longer furred teddy together with a smaller plush one, with the blocks and teething rattle.

Changing the donkey to the teddy was probably the hardest decision I had to make but I thought that the texture in fur would make the assignment that bit more interesting, even though I knew it would probably mean more work to create. Unlike with Natural Form Assignment, this was much easier to arrange and the objects seem to fall into place.

This draft was very useful in highlighting a couple of concerns I had, namely, I did not like the empty space behind the  toys and I was not happy with the smaller teddy`s face being obscured by the larger teddy`s foot, so when it came to doing the main piece, I was able to change these minor worries.

I have mixed feelings about the final piece, in all honesty I do not like my use of  using Tip Ex . I was trying to capture the synthetic shine from the tips of the fur but the Tip Ex pen proved too thick. I am probably most impressed with the shadows both on the large teddy and on the blue towel, and I found it useful to use a putty rubber to create light creases etc. Overall, there is a child-like quality to the picture that I like, but feel this project resembles an illustration as opposed to a Still Life ( if that is possible)

Photo taken as a reminder of the angle of the shadows (on a day when the sun was  out then in etc)

Enlarging An Image

This is the first time I have tried to enlarge an image in this way, I usually plan a picture using faint basic shapes such as circles, ovals, cylindrical, pyramids etc, but I will admit that this method could be very useful with multiple objects within a Still Life Piece. As I say in my notes, I tried not to look at the bear as a whole as I could see myself reverting back to what I know, so I just focused on each square, at times my lines around the bear, not touching. It would be a method I would consider, especially if I was doing a project that was really large scale.

Using Texture In Pastel

I thought our cat would make the ideal subject in this Texture exercise, from his intricate markings to the fluffiness of his fur and whiskers. Again, I saw this exercise as a chance to use Pastel and Charcoal to gain experience before starting the assignments and I feel I am getting to know how Pastel blends and when not to over-work things. I believe I have captured his expression well and am particularly happy with the white fluffy fur on the chest. 

Learning from my first attempt using Pastel, I chose paper to compliment the subject, in this case, with Garfield being ginger, an orange/yellow paper seemed appropriate. Having got the foundation already, concentrating on the ginger markings was easy to blend, the paper helped fill any gaps. I like my use of white Pastel and found myself using it in a similar way to a Patrick Caulfield Piece, white being the negative space and not the paper. 

Original Photo

Using Texture

This exercise really got me thinking, and I found myself wondering around the flat looking for different textures I could try to recreate. First I would try sketching different textures with an Ink Pen and then move on to Frottage. 

Overall, I would say I have learnt  that using a pen to create texture probably gives you more control over how the design comes out whereas, I found with the Charcoal Frottage below, there was a more natural way of creating texture and happy accidents.

I really enjoyed doing this exercise, in a way it is very much the opposite of me, I like to be in control and to take my time with art and to be honest, the less mess the better, so to play about with charcoal was a different experience which I did not really know the outcome of. As noted on my piece, the sand paper produced a great tarmac effect whereas the string bag ( like a fishing net ) did not produce the outcome I thought, instead of a netting effect, the charcoal only picked up the small knots giving a spotty effect. I had picked up two leaves from outside, debating which to use so I picked both but added a few black felt tip marks to one of the leaves.  

I thought I would try a different method of applying texture through digitally modifying the Frottage, here I created a cracked plaster effect over the art piece.

Observing Negative Space and Perspective

I found this exercise challenging and was unable to keep my pen on the paper from start to finish, but to be fair, I am surprised how well it turned out.I have included a photo of my subject from my point of view to reference from.

I think I started off really well, the wine glass and plastic bottle are pretty accurate but as I was  sketching down the side of the Coke Glass,  I came in a bit too sharp.

Following on from the first picture, I tried my best to correct the base of the coke glass but went slightly over the horizon between the coke glass and plastic bottle, I remembered not to make that mistake between the bottle and wine glass and I think I did a good job with the base of the wine glass. 

Subject from my seating position. 

Project Still Life (Page 34)

Early sketches of various baby toys, looking at different shapes and textures before attempting any compositions for the assignments. 

Cute looking Elephant Flannel : I enjoyed working on this piece but felt  I was taking too long to do just one sketch, this probably took me over an hour  (per sketch) so what I wanted to do, was speed up and be a more freer with my sketches.  

Probably not as tidy as the Elephant Flannel but I think I am too much of a perfectionist, treating drafts & sketches as main pieces and it is slowing me down. As stated, I have found one of my weaknesses is sometimes not getting the proportions right when rushed, but then again, I am happy not to have used an eraser, only ink.

My Point Of View of the cone

Initially for my Natural Forms Assignment, I thought of doing a display of shells, but  they proved to small to successfully create a display from and so I switched to fruit.

Interestingly, I think the course is making me observe and take notice more, as I just spotted an interesting shadow, cast over my sunglasses, so I did a reasonably quick sketch.

Basically, above is a couple of Still Life exercises but done at pace, considering that is the thing I am most concerned about. I am pleased that the proportions look correct and I quite like the Head Phones and wires coming from the modem.

Odilon Redon Research

I had not heard about Odilon Redon until doing the OCA course, and I found myself comparing him to my favorite artist, H R. Giger, both from the fantasy Gothic style to the use of light within the paintings. In some pieces of work, the object or figure is generously illuminated from quite a bright source and this is the same for Giger. I think that how the Primary and Secondary light interact is more important in Realistic/Still Life artwork as opposed to Fantasy and Science Fiction (that is not to say light does not play its part in fantasy), it is just that with Fantasy, the light could be artificial, or even from more than one sun whereas you would have to follow the laws of nature with a piece like "Two Trees". 

It is interesting that although I prefer the more surreal artwork from Redon, such as "The Crying Spider" (below), in terms of perfect use of light, I found a Redon painting called "Boat In The Moonlight" whilst researching. The moonlight, which glows from the cloud/fog and hits the rocks looks amazing. 

The Crying Spider 1881

Boat In The Moonlight

Below are examples of H R Giger and the similarities I think he shares with Redon, from a fascination with the use of heads and mutation, to the dreamy feel of both their artwork to the two tone use of colour at times from grey to sepia.

Necronmicon IV - H R Giger 

H R Giger

Shadow and Reflected Light Study In Pastel

To compliment my studies of " Reflected Light " Page 30, I wanted to test myself with reflection on a less reflective surface (than glass or metal) . My Main motive behind this is that having decided to use Pastel for Assignment One, I feel that I need to gain more experience in this medium prior to starting the assignments, and so I have chosen a quite difficult subject in that of my daughter. This exercise has been invaluable in terms of confidence and getting used the medium I plan to use. 

I am very pleased with my first experience in Pastel, if I were to change anything it would be the colour of the paper,  maybe to a blue or pink, as through lacking knowledge of Pastel Opacity, I found it hard to get the right skin tone. I do like the reflection from the initial camera flash in the picture.

Original Picture

Van Gogh Ink Drawing

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890)

Cypresses, 1889

Reed pen, pen, and ink

When thinking of swirly mark-making and Van Gogh at the same time, "Starry Night" is the obvious painting that springs to mind but I thought I would choose the less obvious painting " Cypresses" to discuss.

In the picture, the variations in pattern apply to both the light and darkness of the shade and the curvature of the marks. For example, the hills to the right are distant so a more straighter, paler line is used whereas up close, thick and bold curves can be made out. The Cypress Tree is the focal point and much darker in shade, the darkest point being at the center  which gives the illusion that this part of the tree is closer thus it being cylindrical in nature. The busy small swirls of different shades give a good impression of layered foliage  and I see a lot of movement in this picture, like the wind is swaying the tree, whether that was intended.  

Below is a picture of a Cypress Tree for comparison, and I can not help but feel that there is a chaotic loose feel to this painting upon comparing them. It is said that Van Gogh painted this picture on the ground of the Mental Asylum he was staying at, which may suggest this was during a manic stage of his illness. 

Cypress Tree

  

Patrick Caulfield Study

In my study of Patrick Caulfield, I chose the medium of Digital Design using Adobe CS2 as my attempt to create a picture similar in style to Caulfield`s. I have noticed that Patrick uses objects deliberately out of place thus focusing on them more, The Lobster for example in the "Reserved Table". It is also interesting how removing an object from a picture does not impact on the information that is left behind, for example the table cloth from "Reserved Table" or the jug from " White Ware", it is very reminiscent of the famous optical illusion of where there is a Vase or two people facing each other. 

Patrick Caulfield "Arita Flask - Black"- White Ware Prints - 1990

For my subject of Negative Space, I have chosen my Cat, Garfield, I like the angle of his head from the photo below.

Original Photograph

By Posterising and simplifying the detail in the picture, I narrowed down the colors to just grey`s and black,  a characteristic of Caulfield ( Using a minimal Pallet).  I know that my attempt is perhaps a bit more busy than " White Ware " but I am satisfied that I have created something of similar style.

Research into Caulfield inspired me to try a different picture using Adobe CS2. I am interested in the mosaic effect in " All These Confessions" but wanted to try to combine this with "After Lunch"

After Lunch

All These Confessions 

It is as though Caulfield has no boundaries on what exists in reality, transparency of the wine glasses in "All These Confessions" is taken to the extreme and in "After Lunch", there is a reality outside of the window compared to the schematic feel of the room around the viewer.  I hope to have created something similar with the array of apples below.

Caulfield Apples

Shape and Shadow

I found the following exercises useful in showing how a still life should be approached, that you must not only think about the arrangement of your subject but how light can affect the picture in both positive and negative ways, and how shadows are cast against various surfaces.

Boxes & Books     Page 24
I found this exercise much easier when treating all shapes as  see-through,  it enables you to better judge the angles  of what you can not see. As stated on my comments on the page, my placement was a bit off  and I cut the bottom box off, at the time, I thought of erasing it but decided to carry on, mistake intact. 

Jugs & Jars    Page 24
As my notes say, I learnt from the previous picture & started on the object furthest back, once that was framed, the other jars just fitted into place.

Shopping List    Page 25
Combining what was learnt in the previous two exercises, I successfully managed to mix both boxes & jars into a composition that on the whole has a three dimensional perspective.

Objects in Window Sill   Page 27
The late afternoon sunlight quite low coming through the window  produced good shadows on these two objects ( an enamel Eggcup & a bottle of talc) The top sketch, I am sitting, looking up at the sill, there is a shadow cast from the eggcup to the talc and the right side of the eggcup is particularly shaded.

Simply by elevating myself for the second sketch, changes the shade of the shadow to being slightly lighter which can be put down to light bouncing off the sill/my eyes not looking directly into the sky. As my notes state, the shadows at the base of the objects help to ground them as solid objects. 

Examples of different Gradients Using Different Mediums   Page 28