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Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter has produced numerous abstract oil paints and the collection of 6 named after composer John Cage, where created using a range of techniques such as the use of a squeegee, layering, erasing and scraping away paint. The reason for naming the paintings after the composer John Cage was simply the fact that he was listening to him at the time and had always been interested in his ideas on life. I also feel that the name "Cage" could refer to a metal cage and I do feel that these paintings remind me of metal as there is a great range of grey tones and the texture is very rustic.

"Cage (1 - 6)" (2006)

(3000mm x 3000mm)

This work was also displayed at Tate Modern on the "Transformed Visions" level and was situated in his own room. Richter's style and how he applies his paint is something that has really influenced me and my style of painting, as I have just recently started to use palette knives and they are now my favourite way of a applying paint, but I have also experimented with numerous other ways of apply and manipulating paint such as, squeegees and rollers…

Abandoned 1

(21mm x 30mm)

This is a section fron one of my paintings which shows my use of palette knives by using them to layer paints on or scatching paint away reaveling colours underneath.

Blurred

(61mm x 76mm)

This is another one of my paintings where i experimented with a squeegee on canvas. These two paintings and my other paitning can be found on the "Studio Work" page, where I go indepeth about creating it.

Joan Mithchell

Joan Mitchell mainly works with oil paints on canvas, creating abstract and almost unrecognisable forms focusing on colours and textures more than anything else.  Although her paintings have a strong build up of colours  they always appear to have a smooth delicate shimmering surface across the whole of the canvas. The inspiration for Mitchell’s  expressive paintings often come from memories of the natural landscape, colours show that link with nature as the palette is often very earthy in tones.

"Number 12" (1951 - 1952)

(2019mm x 1867mm)

This piece "Number 12" was displayed in Tate Modern on level 3 "Transformed Visions" and was in a room called "Elegies". Her paint are often on unprimed canvases, which create a real sense of unfinishedness and her colours also have a strong contrast in cold and warm shades.

Life Drawing

Without Looking

In our first life drawing session we experimented with drawing the model without looking at the paper, this is the one i did with my right hand which is my drawing hand and feel that it as come out awful. Everything is just so out of proportion and do not believed it helped when i took my charcoal over the page as i lost track of where i was several times.

Not Looking (Right Hand)

(84mm x 59mm)

My left handed one is surprisingly better than the right and I feel that perhaps this could be to do with being less in control, my marks are a lot more soft and sketchy which could be related to being unsure of how to approach this.

Not Looking (Left Hand)

(84mm x 59mm)

I found this next one extremely funny as we had to drawing with both hands at the same time and the whole thing was just so hard to process I found myself focusing on just one hand at a time. This whole process of not knowing the outcome was a very strange yet exciting experience and the idea of this actually working in some cases amazes me.

Not Looking Faced Down (Both Hands)

(84mm x 59mm)

After looking back at all three I feel that there are some strong connections to cubism in the sense they are very shapely and you can't always figure out what is going on in the drawing. I also thing that the left handed one was the most successful as it appears very free and loose, I would consider trying this again in the future as it would a fun way of drawing because you truly could get frustrated if things go wrong.

Using My Feet

This was done with using my right foot to draw with charcoal in between my toes, again another weird experience. I only really managed to get a simple outline as the charcoal kept slipping out and feel that a thicker charcoal would of been better as i could get a good grip.

Drawing With Foot (Right Foot)

(84mm x 59mm)

This one I believe was a little more successful and I really think the hair has worked out rather well, it worked out better as i took a different approach to drawing with my foot. Instead of having the charcoal between my toes I broke the charcoal up and smudged the powder on the paper using my big toe. Also all in all i feel that having a combination of the two techniques works best as the first is good for outlines and dark shadows and the other is good for creating soft mid tones.

Drawing With Foot (Left Foot)

(84mm x 59mm)

For this task we were firstly asked to draw the model and after a few minutes we had to memorise the pose and try to draw from memory, not only that but we then had to switch drawings with another student and correct any mistakes they had made. We continued to do this a couple more times then were finally allowed to return to are own and make a few more adjustments.

Group Proportion Task

Group Drawing

(84mm x 59mm)

I found this task very useful in seeing where i could improve and where i was going wrong, as often you tend to draw what you think it should look like instead of what it actually looked like as i could not quite remember the whole pose.

Mark Making

For this task we had to use different marks to describe the texture of things and not to focus on adding detail, we just had to create a mark to describe a shape. I used smudged charcoal for the much sorter textures and rough pencil marks for more complex texture such as hair and scares in the wood.

Marks For Texture

(59mm x 84mm)

I believe that the floor and mattress worked out best but feel that i rushed the rest little and believe that it do not really show the true texture of thing in the background.

Tonal Work

For this we experimented with drawing with a rubber, rubbing out any highlights we could see on the model, this was all about being able to split various tones and shades into simple black and white images. We also did the reverse of this and just used charcoal on a white background, this time deciding on where all the solid colour should go to describe shadows.

Two Tones

(84mm x 59mm)

We then did a similar thing on larger scale but were also allowed to use black ink so that the charcoal now became mid tones. I enjoyed this technique of using a rubber to draw with and would very much liketo experiment with is idea more.

Tones 

(59mm x 84mm)

Accurate Marks

In this life drawing session we spent about an hour focusing on the model and trying to measure with our eyes the correct scale, proportions and perspective of everything. By drawing simple pencil marks we were able to change our minds easier until we were happy with the result. We tried a rate of technique such as, measuring with a pencil and our thumb to get scale and proportions, tilting the pencils on its side to get perspective and drawing shapes such as a triangle to get the nipples and navel in the correct place.

Right Proportions (Pencil)

(84mm x 59mm)

This task was truly a challenge especially when i am so new to life drawing as I only really started this year. Trying to do something like this can be extremely stressful and you easier become frustrated with yourself for not getting it 100% accurate.

Skeleton & Structure (Sketches)

After the accurate marks drawing we looked at drawing only the structure of the body with straight lines and were asked to image the inside of the human form, the skeleton. We moved on to the skeleton continuing to draw in charcoal an had to draw a couple of poses without taking the charcoal off the paper.

Skeleton & Structure Of The Body (Charcoal)

(59mm x 84mm)

I do not think I particularly enjoyed this as the whole thing seemed very science like to me and also a little sculpture like, which are two things I have never really been interested in.

5 Minutes - 2 Second (Sketches)

I found this whole process very exhilarating, we began by drawing 5 minute poses then slowly going down to 3 minutes, 1 minute and this continued till we were down to 2 seconds. In this time you had to look at the model and describe what you see, so when it came to 2 seconds you had to describe the body using less marks as there just was no time for detail. I think I ended up using just 3 - 5 mark as the model was changing poses so quickly, was finding it hard to keep up and my drawing became more and more expressive and abstract.

Minutes - Seconds 1 (Charcoal)

(59mm x 84mm)

Minutes - Seconds 2 (Charcoal)

(59mm x 84mm)

Minutes - Seconds 3 (Charcoal)

(59mm x 84mm)

Minutes - Seconds 4 (Charcoal)

(59mm x 84mm)

Minutes - Seconds 5 (Charcoal)

(59mm x 84mm)

Actually looking back at my drawings I like some of the quicker ones much more than the detailed ones, I think they are roughly about the 15 second drawings and they remind me of historic art such as cave paintings of people hunting or dancing.

My Outline (Mark Making)

In this session the class was split up into two groups so we could work at a must larger scale, the first thing my group did was quite a strange experience as we took turns laying down on paper as two people drew around us. We were then asked to fill in our outlines using numerous marks describing where we felt pain, had scars, any bones we had ever broken. In my drawing the black Ink refers to some sort of pain such as eczema, headaches...

My Outline (Pencil, Charcoal & Ink)

(84mm x 59mm)

At first I really did not think I would like this experiment as the whole idea of having people you hardly know draw around your body seemed a rather strange one. In the end its was not bad at all, the whole experience was quite funny and we could not believe we were actually doing this.

Bamboo Drawing (Charcoal & Ink)

This was so much fun to do, we were each given a bamboo stick and had to tape a piece of charcoal to the end. Drawing the life model by only holding the very end of the stick made the drawing a lot more loose and free. The lines you would end up with were completely unpredictable. I feel that this drawing was not very successful as I just could not seem to get the angles right and kept missing up.

Bamboo Life Drawing (Charcoal)

(59mm x 84mm)

The second one we did was taping a cotton bud to the bamboo and dipping it in ink which was very relaxing and turned out better than the charcoal drawing did. I also felt the whole process of drawing with ink like this reminds me of Chinese ink art, which is something to consider looking into in the future.

Bamboo Life Drawing (Ink) 

(59mm x 84mm)

I would love to do the bamboo and ink method again and would also like to work on this ink drawing more if possible, by adding shading and a little extra detail.

What Is A Studio?

Andreas Gursky

Andreas Gursky is a fine art photographer who's work can be seen all over the world from America - Norway, Italy - Germany. In his earlier years as a photographer Gursky was quite traditional, as like many others from hes generation he started out creating small black and white print focusing on documentary. Later in his life he shifted to a more contemporary style and produced large scale coloured images, where the subject matter was often landscapes or architecture.

Gursky has achieved some truly stunning images, with a combination of multiple photos merged together or through digital manipulation and you would never guess that some of his work is anything but a simple photograph. In merging and manipulating photos his work can both heighten a place's appearance or in some cases he can create entirely made up views, which are non-existent.

"The Rhine II" (1999)

(1564mm x 3083mm)

I pacifically looked at this piece as I felt it was ideal for my lens based project on "emulate or parodies a fine art photographer's work" as I really liked the idea of taking a series of photographs and merging them together to heighten a places natural beauty. To create "The Rhine II" Gursky took a series of photographs of the river Rhine and edited them on a computer, were he digitally removed buildings. This manipulation enhanced the river's beauty and also avoided the image being a photograph of a specific place, giving a real abstract painterly feel to it with numerous blocks of horizontal colours of a contemporary landscape.This print is also the most expensive photo ever sold at going for £2.7 million.

This is my piece inspired by Gursky that you can find on my lens based and digital media project label, which also explains how I created it and why Gursky influenced me so much.

Lens & Digital Media Projects

Project 1: Fine Art Photographer

For our first project we were asked to look into a fine art photographer which we had not previously heard of. I choose the work of Andreas Gursky and in particular the image "The Rhine II" (1999), a simple long landscape image of a river, which was created using a series of photographs took from different perspectives. The image is simple yet stunning and shows great depth of field with in it.

So moving on to how this image influenced and inspired me to come up with my own stunning view. The idea of merged and manipulating images really fascinates me and I felt that finding Gursky's work would be the perfect opportunity to explore and experiment with creating my own image on Photoshop.

To create my image "Improved View" i took four different photographs and combined their best aspects into one image to get an almost surreal view. Although this is an actual place I felt in the original photo the sky was too plain and due which you can see lower down the page.

Improved View (4 In 1)

The Photographs I Used

I Used The Sky

I Used The Hills

I Used The Grass

I Used The Grass

If I was to ever do this again I would definitely consider my options in merging completely random things together creating totally surreal, bizarre, weird and strange worlds. I also wish I had experimented with a larger range of images for this project.

Project 2: Photography & Time (Interior & Exterior)

For the second project we had to create two series of images showing time an interior and an exterior and each series should include at least 20 images. My "Interior Series" is an collection of photographs i took in an abandoned needle factory, I have plenty more images of the factory and found it difficult to narrow the lot down, as there was just so many interesting things going on. I believe that this factory shows the passing of time as you can see how things are often forgotten about and left behind, they then begin to rust and crumble by both the environment and by others coming and going, such as myself. 

Interior Series (Unedited)

My "Exterior Series" focuses on a woods opposite my house in the winter  and looks at my journey through it. I believe this series is showing a passing of time as not only does it represent a change in season, which is a change of time in itself. But it also shows the change in time of day as the journey goes on, the sky slowly starts to darken depending on which direction I am facing and if you look close enough you will also be able to notice the snow melting.

Exterior Series (Unedited)

After looking at these series of images i would love to start editing a few in the future and develop the idea more of looking at seasons. Perhaps I could take more photographs of the same place in the spring and compare and merge them together. I feel that I could do with shortening these series and become more choosy with my work.

Project 3: Stills & Movement

For the third project we were asked to create a moving imagine piece linking a sequence of photographs together and could chose any focus point. I have decided to be a little creative on this one and have Incorporated painting into my video. The painting is a very simple one but I feel the way in which I have chosen to present it is an interesting way.

So to create this video I began by taking a photograph of a white painted board, than i painted a little bit of the background on, took a picture, painted a bit more, took a picture... You get the general idea of where I am going with this, having completed the painting I then took all my photos and cropped them on Photoshop, so that my studio space was not in any of the view and it was purely the painting. Having do this I added them to imovie, changed the time to my liking and here is the final result.

The City 

Changes I would like to do if I could do this project again would be painting from an image, which also has some relevance e.g using an image from my other two lens projects.

Project 4: Sound

Project four was to produce an image through sound, I chosen the woods has it has been relevant in the past and wanted to continue this theme as i enjoy it. I also had this idea in my head as soon as we were informed of the project, a felt I should follow it.

My sound clip also as the image from the place i took the recordings  so you can compare the two and see if you feel that they match up, which in my case i believe they do. To create such strong, clear sounds I focused on one sound at a time and recorded it with my phone. After doing this I then downloaded this free sound editing software and had a little play around with overlapping and duplicating sounds to create a realistic yet more interesting sound of the woods.

The Woods  

I really enjoyed this project but I not sure if people would find the sound a little boring and perhaps I could focus on a busier place next time like the city or a takeaway place.



Project 5: Portrait & Self Portrait

The first task we were given for this project was to take a photo of ourselves, which now as an official term known as the "selfie" and it was recently added to the dictionary. A selfie is were someone takes a phone of themselves with a phone or camera with their arm extended out, it is often also very popular to take a selfie in the mirror and actually taking a picture of your reflection instead. I believe that this form of selfie is very popular as people what to see how they will look in the photo and by using a mirror you can achieve a desirable pose to your liking. 

A selfie do not just have to be of yourself but should at least include you in it, its also common to take selfies with a group of friends, celebrities and animals. Another thing i have noticed in selfies is that it is often young girls. I believe that its more popular among girls as they enjoy taking picture after they have had their hair done or if they have just done their make-up due to the fact they are going out somewhere nice and feel the need to show their beauty.

Red Perfume (Selfie)

For our selfies we were asked to be creative and artistic and i decided that i wanted to experiment with lights, not just having multiple lights around me but experimenting with colours and lighting. At first I experimented with a small disco ball trying to get the little mirrors to reflect shapes of light but in the end there was just not way of doing want i wanted to do with out having someone to hold thing up so I could take a picture. 

So I then played with the idea of finding colourful transparent object  to project light through using the light on my phone. I found that perfume bottles worked very well and that also the larger the bottle the better the light of colour would spread around the room. This is why i decided upon the red perfume as it was the largest and allowed to take up the whole space in the photo.

I actually feel that this technique was rather successful and would like to develop this in the future, possibly also projecting shadows of objects by using the same method.

After doing this we then had to take a portrait of an object, I thought what better way to link the two together by taking a portrait of the perfume bottle itself. I believe that this image can be classed as a portrait as the perfume is the only subject present and shows it in its full beauty and stillness, capturing every curve and shadow. I also thought it would be good if i light the bottle up with my light and hide the phone with black material so it blended into the back ground, creating a strong and impacting image with beautiful contrasted of black and red.

Bottle (Portrait Of Object)