A note on notes. I have to remind myself of this periodically, partly because the practice of note-taking at speed and often in cramped conditions ruined my handwriting forever, but also because, in the context of sketch books, I found it hard to see the point. Also, I didn’t want to make a mess of something I liked and might use later as a print or postcard. But this article makes it clear (again) that taking/making notes is a way of organising information and this makes it more memorable. I do think there’s a significant difference though, between taking live … Continue reading What Do Today’s Students Get Right And Wrong In How They Take Lecture Notes?

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Paula Rego

07/04/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I was pointed at Rego’s work by my Drawing tutor who seemed to know intuitively the kind of image I’d find interesting. I’d never heard of her but her Dancing Ostriches will stay with me for a long time. [As if it weren’t obvious, the drawing on the left is my attempt at a copy] From a 2016 BBC article accessed 07/04/19 These dancers are as far from Degas’ delicates as it’s possible to get, and although I have always liked his representations of ballet, they seem wispy and idealised next to Rego’s chunky, muscular, powerhouses of women. Not … Continue reading Paula Rego

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection1 Comment

Paula Rego

07/04/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I was pointed at Rego’s work by my Drawing tutor who seemed to know intuitively the kind of image I’d find interesting. I’d never heard of her but her Dancing Ostriches will stay with me for a long time. [As if it weren’t obvious, the drawing on the left is my attempt at a copy] These dancers are as far from Degas’ delicates as it’s possible to get, and although I have always liked his representations of ballet, they seem wispy and idealised next to Rego’s chunky, muscular, powerhouses of women. Not that Rego’s women are likely to turn up … Continue reading Paula Rego

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection3 Comments

Art and artists: building a vocabulary

06/04/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I have no background in art history and, despite an A level and a Foundation year under my belt, no useful knowledge of artists or how to discuss their work. This makes looking at art and commenting on it a dismally unrewarding activity at the best of times, but in an academic context I have nothing but parrot phrases which is no good at all. I’m in art rehab. My tutor is feeding me artists to look at and, critically, a reason to look; the way the edges blend, the spaces between things, the textures and volumes. My job is … Continue reading Art and artists: building a vocabulary

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection1 Comment

Art and artists: building a vocabulary

06/04/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

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Sketch book: Schiele, Degas, and Celmins

14/03/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

After watching Bryan Eccleston’s description of his (not a)sketch book, I felt freed up to start adding a few more cut-and-paste pieces in mine. These are photos from a couple of my books and some screen clips from a Research Point recommendation, Vija Celmins: Degas because of the contrast with Paula Rego (whose work I prefer, at least in terms of her style if not always the content); Schiele because of his lines which are so spare and still so descriptive (again, style but not content), and Celmins because of her obsessive approach to detailing in these photorealistic pieces. It’s … Continue reading Sketch book: Schiele, Degas, and Celmins

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Bryan Eccleshall

14/03/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Interesting ideas about art v work, what ‘finished’ means, and ‘audience’, and the predominance of process over outcome. I like the idea that work is generative – each iteration building on the last, and reflecting juxtapositions of past and present concerns. Also Bryan’s sketch books are marvellous and I’m going to shamelessly pinch some ideas – especially the one about being less precious. I’ve already started down that road but I hadn’t quite got onto the notion of including things cut out of other things because they’re interesting and might trigger something later or on just by sitting there. And … Continue reading Bryan Eccleshall

Research & Reflection1 Comment

Paula Rego

12/03/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I’ve been looking at different ways of drawing and trying to get a feel for the intended audience and Rego certainly has something to say about dancers. Maybe her audience is the people who idealise the delicate images made by Degas; a reaction to that sense of prettiness. Her Dancing Ostriches are robust women with muscles, which maybe makes a statement about the image of dance being unrecognised for its athleticism and here she’s maybe over-emphasising the musculature of her dancers to make the point. Ballet is not an Olympic event but ice dance is, and the floor work of … Continue reading Paula Rego

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