Summer 2010

Over the summer i found that i was suffering with a mental block and was unsure were to start so i decided to go back to my roots with black and white photography. i decided to take photos of object that i had a personal connection with. These photos are of some figurines i was given from my mother. i like these images because of they contrast were they give me hope yet with the dusty metal they show how hopes and dreams can be forgotten with a sense of loneliness.

Stour Valley Arts

For this project i was to create a proposal and to present my ideas to a client from Stour Valley arts. This corporation was in charge of educating people about Kings wood as well as commissioning artist to install site-pecific art relating to there experience of the forest.

Photo 1

In a group walked I walked around this forest during the month of February which meant most of the plants and trees were leaf-less and hibernating, this dark, cold and dull atmosphere gave me a sense of needing to be protected which was highlighted when it started to snow. (Photo 1). But through the whole forest the one thing that stuck out more than any thing was the bright moss that was thriving no matter what the weather. it was clinging to anything that was damp and exposed to the light. it was protected by the tree or rock it had attached it self to as well as protecting in return with a blanket appeal to it. (Photo 2)

hen

Photo 2

Another artist who influenced me was Stephen Turner with his "Tree Rings" which he placed paper underneath the base of certain trees and left them there to collect any thing falling onto it which the end result is beautiful is appearance and concept. (picture Below)

Stephan Turner "Tree Rings"

From when returned to my studio space I then started to draw directly from the forest literary using stripped bark i had felt over from making my maqutte, (Image 1 below) as well as framing nature (Image 2 & 3) like Herman De Vries work "journal la palma" were he frames pieces of nature to try and reintroduce it to the views as he feel that, todays world appears to have forgotten the beauty of the forest. (below)

Image 1

                                       

                                                  Image 2                                Image 3

Herman De Vries "journal la palma"

Referring back to proposal of a piece of work to be installed in the forest, i continued with my research into Moss and how and why it grows. During that time i collected some samples and with the help of the science department i roughly made some videos of moss under the microscope.( below) but i did not have enough time to complete it. I may come back to it one day and develop it into another piece of work.

After this and by looking at different shapes within the forest i decided to create a moss covered wall, (a bit like a cocoon) that could be integrated into it surrounding environment and to give a place to sit within the forest and allow people to sit and reflect on there surroundings. I created an maquette which i then added to a photo to help portray my concept. (image 4 & 5)

Image 4

Image 5

Overall this was a great project for learning how to research and prepare an proposal which has given my more confidence for future references. i early enjoyed making the maquette and drawing with new materials. i.e. the trees. 

The Beginning

This is my first time in the world of blogging so i decided to start at the beginning of my Art work.

My first love was in photography and mostly Black and White and these tends to be my starting point with any project that i work on. from this i develop and create different pieces of work either that be 2D or 3D.

 

I have decided to start with one of my first projects which was an artist book i made based on a project called The Self. When researching for this project i came across a lot of artist. a few that come to mind was our tutor at the time Steve Mcpherson who's work "diaries" (pictured above) was beautiful. The different tones gave these pieces a wonderful, delicate sense of memories trapped in a fragile medium. these books i found fascinating with his use of found objects.

When it came to my work i also wanted to use these tones but with more a personal touch. My fist thought when thinking of myself within this project was the fact i am a avid worrier and i felt i needed to portray this. Also during this project i was reading a book about C.Jung and this theories of people having different personalities depending on there surrounding. this left me thing about another aspect of my life which is how i am perceived to different people depending who there were. i cane to the conclusion i was 5 different people into one and i used this in my work.

I decided to make a box to represent me as a whole with my five different persons inside. the lining was made from stained non silver images from the maps of places i have lived with five different segment representing my sides being. : A Daugthrer, A Friend, A Lover, A Mother and An Artist. (pictures above). I then using colours i felt represented these different sides made little worry dolls made of paper ie Red for lover and Pink for Daughter.

The material i had been given to by my mother from her doll house making days. then wrapped up with each doll was a print of a photo and letter sent to me from people who knew me best as one of these sides. ie my mum sent me a letter for my daughter side, my boyfriend sent me a letter for my lover side. i drew these into monoprints (picture below) and then srunk these and made them into non silver prints.

This project i found very revealing as it showed my what people in my life really thought of me which brought me to tears and if nothing else was a confident boost.