Painting Project.... Thinking back and ahead!!

So painting project is done... work handed in and group critic embarrassingly endured!

1. You've learned at least one valuable thing this project. What is it?

I know this sound silly, but I feel like I have learned so much, I am looking at everything differently. It is as though the blinkers have been taking off and I'm seeing for the first time.

Contextual studies is fascinating, by learning how/ why and what has been done before me is making me appreciate Art in such a different way!

As for the painting project, my most valuable lesson was stripping everything right back:

• Dark and light
• Perspective
• Colour mixing
• Contents
• Subject

Over the years you are brainwashed by schools to COPY previous artists work as opposed to being influenced by them to create your own ideas. I love this new freedom I have and the confidence this is giving me to follow my own ideas and instincts! 

I now cant wait to actually start my own work without being afraid to do my own thing. I have learnt that Im not the biggest fan of painting on its own, I love experimenting with texture, colour and abstract shapes!

There are a few artists who I am really interesting in looking at, and I cannot wait to try and bring my sixties inspirations and influences to these methods in the future. I am also interested in trying to use Vermeers concepts from the 1600's with a modern twist. I have so many ideas I don't even know where to start. But like Graham (my tutor) has said the best way to start is just by experimenting, starting over and over again and just seeing where the paint takes you! 

Painting Week 2.....

So it turns out that Art is a lot harder than everyone first thought, and you know what I am glad about this! I am glad I'm doing a degree that is mentally and physically challenging me...

Trying to figure out where your are going to take a still life of a box and plastic cup is one of the hardest things Ive ever had to do.
You may think this sounds easy, but when you try to paint this and paint this ONLY, you start to discover all sorts of challenge that you didn't at first consider.

1. Lighting
2. Thickness of paint
3. Brush or other tools?
4. Perspective
5. Style
6. Compostition

Not forgetting that a box with a cup in it is not everyones usual subject of choice! I have been out of practice for a while, so I took comfort in the fact that even the "straight from schoolers" were struggling.

But somehow leading from the theme of interiors, I have found myself on quite an exciting journey. One of self exploration and exploring the ideas and concepts of others.

Day 1 .... Painting

So I have been given my first painting project for 11years!

Initially I was terrified as you can see from my previous post the still life we were given was not as simple as it first seemed. I wasn't the only one, everybody was the same which made me feel significantly better.

Like riding a bike it came back to me, the layers of paint quickly built up along with my confidence!
Confidence is a huge thing for me... I tend to never like my work despite positive feedback. I know this is something that I desperately need to work on throughout my degree.

I had forgotten how nice it was to transform a blank sheet of paper into an array of colours. Transforming what you see into your own interpretation of its vision.

Graham really seemed to like my take on the task which again shook a huge weight off my shoulders and left me with a spurt of inspiration.

I was also relieved to hear we could could go as far into this "interiors" theme as we liked. As this meant I could try and incorporate my love for the psychedelic sixties.

Day1 has been challenging, in all the right ways. For one I know I have made the right choice to go back to Uni at 28 and leave my job. There is also a huge part of me that has been inspired by today and cannot wait to see where this degree takes me.

Peace and paintbrushes,

Lisa