When I was working on POP 2 my project eventually evolved into creating work related to local issues in my local town. Wellington where I live is a transition town and I have used the transition towns foraging map to begin to create a body of work related to areas where the local community can come and have fruits and some vegetables for free. Some of the work was abstract and some more realistic of the site and the fruits. Some work will be around the local allotment next to the foraging sites. I do plan to continue to develop this work further. I plan to hold an online and local exhibition once I have generated sufficient work.
In tandem I am also going to work on another project that I wish to work towards for level 3. This will involve some preliminary sketches. This second theme has evolved from the work I’ve completed on text and our visual language. My social conscience kicked into gear when I heard of two recent child deaths. My second theme is around this topic. It will involve the appropriate research for level three and I already have ideas about how I will fulfil the requirements.
Some of my drawings for the second project which will mainly be charcoal are below.
The text piece I’ve written is uppermost in my mind as I created the drawing. This is the final version of the text and I’ve included it as Assignment 2
As the project will be about the numerous children dying this was the first image that came into my mind after reading some related information. Ghostly images of children who have died. The first is a drawing completed with graphite sticks on heavy duty white sketchbook paper. I textured the page with a vertical flow of line.
I’ve started to make some quick sketches of children and other figures in my sketchbook. I’ve been inspired by the work of Hopper and my tutor reminded me of his preliminary sketchbook work which I’m studying. Other artists I am keen to follow are Kentridge and Barbara Walker for their charcoal work. Another artist is Paula Rego, mainly for her dramatic portrayal of the facial expressions. I shall be exploring use of different mediums and supports. Some of the sketches will be made into paintings in both oil and watercolour.
I included this one under this section as its about relationships and is titled Trust in a helping hand. I included it in the exercise on my visual vocabulary.
Bearing in mind that successful drawings of figures include broken of varied line. I’ve attempted an angry dominant figure overpowering a small child. I covered in gesso a masonite panel 12x12ins. I then gave it a quick colour wash in a yellow ochre. I work quickly with the image as a memory in my head. My text is always present and helps me to focus. I’m using charcoal willow and I make sure I vary the line and its a little broken in places. The child’s head I deliberately leave ill defined but Ithink the vulnerability is there and his shape not too bad.
This next couple of sketches I completed in the Generative Drawing workshop. I was the only person undertaking figures. The first drawing I did was in a black marker pen. As it had a bevelled edge I decided to use this to my advantage turning it to a fine point and using the flat broader edge of it to draw in the negative space. Again I’m not necessarily going for accuracy in facial features and the work is more gestural. The hand and arm however look a bit wooden. This is something I need to improve on.
I completed this sketch below based on a previous drawing I did in a life drawing class.
The quick sketch below is from one or to drawings and notes in my sketchbook on facial expressions.
Drawing 2 Interpreting the environment 