Work Experience

So I have decided that I would like to try and get some experience teaching Foundation, why Foundation??? Well these are students who have chosen to take this subject so will be keen and hopefully eager to learn, experiment and further their art practice. I love the concept of being able to help guide and possibly inspire a new generation. To me Art isn’t just the ability to be able to paint a beautifully formed picture, sculpture or installation. Art is about expressing yourself, who you are, how you perceive things and being free to do so. Art in all forms has been such an important part of my life so far, and this is something I want to share. I have spoke to my tutors who have been extremely supportive in the possibility of providing some support on our own Foundation programme at the University. I cannot wait to do this as I know it will give me a valuable insight into the role and whether this could be a suitable route for me.

The Art Society: "Untitled"

One of the first things I noticed when I started at Coventry University was the non existent Society for anything related to the creative industries. Well not a generic one at least, everything was specific to one medium: photography for example. What I wanted to do was create a forum where students from ALL areas could meet, network and work together! And so came the Art Society "Untitled" So far it has been a huge success with the society being able to hold events which have previously been non existent, for example I have set up life drawing classes, workshops, Artists talks and group critics. For me this is such a motivation for what I'd like to do in the future, I love that the art society is bringing people together from all backgrounds, including students who aren't even studying "Art" or any related subject. I also feel inspired that the Art Society is able to support the Art and Design faculty in areas which perhaps only students can through a Union ran Society, for example: networking, liaising with different faculties to hold events, special workshops etc. I'm not how I will incorporate what I am doing into what I do in the future but I have definitely found a way that my practice can work efficiently and effectively along side my background in recruitment and sales.

Trials and Tribulations

So far this year I have thoroughly enjoyed my practice as it has been more hands on allowing me to be more creative and less restricted.

However by making my practice more hands on I leave myself subject to new challenges which I have not experienced before that I now need to overcome and perfect.

My first challenge has been that of the casts:

Latex: uneven layer and not allowing latex to dry between layers creates a very poor mould. However I have found that by using a cold room the latex drys as you apply meaning you have more control over application! 

Alginate: now I am trying to use the alginate to create a finished piece as opposed to using it for just a mould means I now have to perfect the mix! As I have found it extremely hard to create a smooth mix with no lumps. Lumps for me mean that when my cast drys the lumps start to show!! Again I have foun my mixing it little bit at a time I have more control over the lumps. Also creating a watery mix means I can slowly add more alginate an mix as I go along.

Dodecahedrons: blimey beautiful shape, impossible to get right! The smallest error in creating these shapes results in 12 pieces of pointless materials! Lazer cutting has helped significantly as it allows me to create a perfect shape. Perfect if I get the data import correct, which I have now found rhino to be helpful! 

On a personal level my biggest challenge, has been to stop thinking about a "final peice" as a student you're always pushed to a finished product, exam or project! Learning to loosen myself up and to not think in this way has been hard but my tutorials with Craig have been invaluable! 

Ged Quinn: Raw notes from exhibition

GED Quinn: 1. cakes painted as sculptures, change context of cake a a food but more of a sculptural form.  

Bunker archaeology, 17 years later, indifferent and far from home. 

2. Looks initially as a contemporary still life then you notice the hidden abstract pattern in left hand corner and random flower like object in the middle! Dark but beautiful looks like illustration has escaped from the book!

What's so funny about peace love and understanding. 

I like to know what I'm being shown!! Stunning, almost like a conventional painting if flowers then you are struck my photo like image in the middle, plays on title as you don't know why you are being shown! Modern vs abstract vs traditional painting methods! Faces ghostlike like a memory forgotten! Haunting the painting.

Felix culpa: again abstract vs traditional portrait! Old vs new, history vs present! 

To burn the fleece of a grazing cloud:  at first struck by size, then by the sheer talent almost looks like a constable painting! Then you are drawn to all the beautiful abstract elements and details. Like a Dali you don't know if your in the artists dreams or visions!? Symbols you can't quite explain but feel like you understand! Religious imagery striking and playful. 

What the lark said (death and the maiden) plays with perspective and layout: aspects of composition not possible (illusions)! Bird "hoho" humour: making a joke of death?! 

On making the heart of the forest: beautiful! God: female: creator: artist! 

The book of two ways : see photos 

Ouranophobia! 

Mind to matter

Doll long my interest if the mind and looking at myself I have decided to do a cast of my own face... Not only does this create an exact replicer of me, the process also encaptulates the sensations I feel when suffering with depression:

Trapped, suffocated, blind, voiceless, cold, I felt underwater but able to breathe: drowning but still alive, hidden from reality, strangely calm amongst the chaos, frustrated at not being able to communicate with outside world. 

Discovering my mind: In more ways than one

Looking at phenology, the study where people mapped the skull to try and find some way of discovering and understanding peoples personalities.

In doing so not only have I unveiled a new way to try and unveil secrets of the mind but also discovered a few of my own! 

I have realised that I am fascinated in the mind, how it works and peoples interpretations of this. I being so interested I bring an enthusiasm to my work which enables me to explore, play and experiment with my work!

This enables me to to discover not only my mind but new avenues in my practice. Like anything I guess, when you enjoy something it is no longer work but more of a game! 

I need to now try to focus this energy as mentioned in my tutorial with Vanda, rather than throwing bits of energy in lots of directions I need to now try to put this enthused energy into one area enabling not only me but my work to become focused.

Photography Quote

Saw a beautiful quote which capture how I feel about photography

"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know."

Diane Arbus

This is why I love my camera as I can show the viewer as much or as little as I want... The more my photos reveal the less you really know about it! 

I can instantly capture how I feel, what I see without it always making sense to anyone else! I not only capture moments but the moments within a moment! The process, the journey that as a single cell makes no sense but is as beautiful as what could beckon the final piece!!!