26.09.11 This is where i'm at...

I have finally managed to upload sketchbook work!
Illustrated on this page of my sketchbook is where I am currently at with the developmental work of the project. The initial idea here is to illustrate the concept of, born as one thing, adopted into another and grow into someone else. What you are able to see form the photographs above are my thoughts as to how i could get this across visually. The sketches you can see ( a very lazy but quick and effective approach to getting across the idea) represent that of a person being born and then growing and changing.

However, through one-on-one tutorial sessions with lecturers it has came to my attention that although clear in illustrating my initial thoughts, it does not entirely answer all the questions from the initial theme of the project: "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?"

                                              mono printing 1
  

                                                                          mono-printing 2

                                                    painting experimentation on paper

                                                             painting eperimentation:  oil bar & acrylic on canvas

The development for this idea consisted of experimentation with mono-printing and painting (acrylic on canvas). The photograph above was taking my initial idea and breaking it down further. In response to the brief i do not feel that my concept fully reaches the requirements. What I mean by this is although he responed to the where and the what, they do not responed to the where. This is an area of development that I am currently working on.

That's all for now folks, i'm all blogged out.

21.9.11 Getting there....

Today was quite a sucessfull day in terms of my Contemporary Art project...thankfully!! To be honest, i've found the development of ideas difficult to get my head around and have found myself hitting a brick wall. My initial concern was, "How am I going to visually illustrate the idea that no-one really knows where they come from." ?

You know by now that my approach was adoption and how those children that are adopted don't usually find out where they come from. In a way this takes away their identity ( a concept that I am very much interested in developing throughout my artwork).

Trying to create an artwork that successfully shows this visually proved to be somewhat diffiult, but BINGO!!! I've finally nailed it :) During research i was intrigued by the catarpillar to butterful change and wondered if this could be symoblic of humans? Seemingly it is, well in my head. This led me onto:
                         Born as one, adopted into another, grow into someone else
I'll let you try and figure out what you think it means....leave a comment with your thoughts if you like :)

Anyway, the idea that I am planning to take into development for a final piece is that of human body prints (is that what you'd call it?) What i basically plan to do is wear a suit, paint different sections of it and press it onto another material, therefore resulting in what should hopefully be an outline of my body. Different positions will be represented and therefore highlighting the growth and change of a person.

Still, having trouble uploading picture from my sketchbook.

21.9.11 Pathways and Context...Artist Statement: What i try to achieve...

The themes of my work concentrate upon the issues that we as a society associate with in everyday life and how we chose deal with them. Through my work I tend to focus on issues such as social and political that we as a society often chose to ignore. Within this i look into the concept of identity, but more specifically loss of identity. The way in which we as a society can be stripped of our identity within seconds or how it can effect just one single person.

The main aim of my work is to encourage the viewer to realise that these issues cannot be ignored and must be acknowledged. It invites the viewer to consider why we chose not to accept them and how we can learn to change our perception.

My primary concern is portraying a concept through the use of painting and printmaking in a way which allows the viewer to relate to and understand the message I am trying to convey. In achieving this successfully I try to take a symbolic or metaphorical approach rather than looking at the literal meaning behind the concept.

In order to achieve this I undertake extensive research into the concept, through photo documentation, media experimentation and personal life experiences. I aim to create an aesthetically pleasing artwork but one which also works conceptually.

16.9.11 Back We Go....

In light of the past 2 weeks of the current brief I am working on, I have found the theme "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" difficult to get my head around. My initial approach was to look into the concept of adoption and how not everyone knows where they came from, i.e who their parents are, characteristics they have (coming under what are we). During the research into this theme, i began to look into a metaphorical approach rather than a literal; such as caterpillar to butterfly, child to adult and how they are similar to one another in respect to not knowing where they come from in some cases.

Think, i'm beginning to ramble so i'l get to the point.

Doing what i do best, i began to go off at a tangent, looking into other possibilities of concept development but unfortunately this led me to more confusion and panic. The idea of not having a fully development concept, resulting in no final artwork....deep breathe....

After talking to lecturers about this predicament, re-writing my PLP (personal learening plan), talking lecturers again, I have no arrived back at my original idea of adoption and not knowing where you come from. After suffering a mental block and what can only be described as a breakdown, i'm back to square one. The concept of looking at adoption is such a broad topic that narrowing it down to a focal point has been somewhat difficult.

Despite going off at a tangent, the work produced in my sketchbook to date does show signs of progression from the initial idea. It demonstrates a variety of different approaches and possible outcomes in repsonse to the theme.

Sketchbook work will  be documented on an up-and-coming post, illustrating the different approachs i have taken into consideration.

10.09.11 Here's Hoping....

Well, submitted the first draft of my PLP on Thursday. After not really knowing what i was doing for this project in terms of having a concept I finally managed to get to grips with it. Spoke to my lectures about my PLP and was told it read well...that gave me a confidence boost.

After not knowing what direction i wanted to this project i decided to take the approach "Does anyone know the answer" This led me on to look at adoption and how these children grow-up not knowing where they come from. This proved to be a very broad topic and therefore needed to be looked at in more depth. As a results this led me on to consider looking at identity, however this is a topic that i have covered in previous projects. Progressing from this i began to look at methaphors/imagery/symbolism. Taking this into consideration i began to look at butterflies and how they can have connotations with not knowing where you come from.

These are just a couple of the concepts that I have in response to the brief. At the current moment these concepts are needing futher development.

Next step is....artist research.....

Will be posting more next week once more development of the concepts has been undertaken.

Monday 5th September 2011....First attempt at my PLP

Well, just completed the first draft for my PLP (Personal Learning Plan) The purpose of this is to outline to lecturers your intention for your project: what your concept(s) are, materials, mathods and process you may use and what your intended outcome for a final artwork will be.

It sounds easy but it really isnt't.

Trying to state what you want to do when you don't have a fully developed concept is tough stuff. This is probably the single most daunting aspect of a brief when starting a new project....until you know what you're doing that is. Fingers crossed it's up to standard and gets the lecturers approval. May need to report back with updates on draft number 2.

Still needing to further develop my concept and make sure  it is cohesive enough to be taken for further development.

Below is the 1st draft of my PLP, just a rough idea of what I intend to do:

Statement of Intent: In response to the theme of the brief my approach is Do any of us really know the answer? The concept behind this is, through society not everyone knows where they come from, what they are of where they are going. This has led me to look into the idea of adoption and family trees.

Methods, Materials and Processes: 

Methods and materials that would prove to be most effective in representing the theme are painting, printmaking and photography. All of which will look at portraits of people, how they can be broken down and changed.

Proposed Research: 

Research carried out will have to be relevant to the theme and concept of the project. My intention is to look into the work of contemporary artists whose work consists is primarily painting, photography and printmaking. It would also be beneficial to look into the work of contemporary artists whose work touch on social issues such as identity.

Expected Outcomes:

The intended outcome for this project is to create an artwork which reflects the concept of identity, not knowing who you are, where you’re from and where you’re going. The intended final outcome for the artwork is to create an artwork which is aesthetically pleasing and clearly demonstrates the concept.


Still trying to figure out how to upload sketchbook work and other artwork.

Entry 2: attempting to write a PLP

Writing on this is harder than you'd think.

The first brief issued this week to kick start 2nd year degree was for Creative Practice, a class which consistes of tutorials, workshops and studio activity: sounds like it wouldn't be too hard....we'll see. I decided to go down the Contemporary Pathway route as it is a subject area in which i have studied for 2 years and am very passionate about: it seemed only right.

First order of business was to come up with a concept in response to "Were do we come from?What are We? Where are we going?" My initional idea was to focus in on just one aspect however, after speaking to lecturers and realising that they come together in the end i re-evaluated this. My approach to this theme is, "Does anyone really know the answer?" One appraoch to this is the realisation of this just before death, someone having an epiphany - correct me if i'm wrong - They are finally able to answer this question. My second concept is adoption; a child/adult not knowing/never knowing where they come from.

I reckon i'll suffer from more than just "artist" block this year, it'll be writters block as well.

Second order of business: writing a PLP, short for Personal Learning Plan, it's basically just a statement of intent. All of the above is a rough indictation of what i inted to include, fingers crossed it'll make sense.

Let the creative thoughts flow.....

1.09.11 To Be Continued......

Well, yesterday was asked to write a blog for the next 2 years, something that i've never done before....daunting stuff!!

I have just started the 2nd year of my degree after completely a 2 year HND in Contemporary Art Practice. It's a bit of a jump but i'm ready for it. Decided for the first brief that we've been issued-due to be completed by October, OH MY GOD- to go down the Contemporary Pathway route: "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?"

Conceptual thinking....it's what we do best.

Over the next 5/6 weeks i'll be trying to answer these questions.

Do any of us really know the answer?

That'll probablly do for my very first blog entry....it's going to be a good year i think.