19th January. The task for this exercise seems to be taking photos of a piece of work reflected in a mirror, the coherence of the reflected copy being variable, depending on the quality of the mirror. The next part of … Continue reading Option 1, project 4, mirroring and multiple images
I’m coming to this at a moment when a mirror made on earth is about to reach its orbital insertion point one and a half million kilometres away. Its job will be to look back through time, as they put it, examining wavelengths originating close to the beginning of the universe. Just now, it’s twiddling its individual mirrors and looking, from the graphic, as if it just invented Space Invaders, but in a few days it will arrive at Lagrange Point 2 and begin orienting, focusing, and settling into place. Astro physicists have all sorts of expectations about the meaning … Continue reading Project 4: mirroring and the multiple
I was delighted to see some down-to-earth advice about this from Artquest, and some wonderful examples from The Art League: Good statements: keep it short grab the reader’s interest with the first sentence introduce the author’s personality and enthusiasm give a hint about the why of the artwork use the first person (I, me, mine — this is not a strict rule, but it does seem to help the author write a more straightforward, readable statement) What they don’t do: summarize the resume found elsewhere on the website give a physical description of artwork photographed elsewhere on the website sound generic use “art speak” Artquest, … Continue reading Artist statement – (part 5, project 4, ex 4)
In the course of thinking about the narrative project and coming up with very little, I began (16th June), putting some mirror foil to the test to see how it performs with veiling (a white watercolour wash) which we discussed … Continue reading Part 3, project 3, constructing narratives, and project 4, reflective surfaces
Studio reflections ex 1.3 This is about my relationship to/with my studio, and as I’m very lucky to have one I have no trouble seeing it as vital. It was rebuilt during the pandemic, having sprung a leak, and for … Continue reading Part 2, Project 4 – reflective exercise
Things perform for you. This builds on the pendulum/piping bag/bat and ball methodology of the previous exercise. The ones I supplanted by squeezed tea bags, grains of soft pastel, and a plant spray. Again, I’m going to move this along … Continue reading Part 1, Project 4, exercise 1:3 Things perform for you
There is only one exercise requirement for project 4 and as things stand, it’s impossible to achieve. Working with photographs is the next project but, as with many instances during this course, I’ll need to do that here. I’m going … Continue reading Part 4, project 4 – painting a landscape outside
Project 4 is about interiors and this task requires an investigation into the way the Dutch genre painters, as they were called, achieved their sense of realism, space, and the occupants in the room. Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) was one of these and happens to be one of my favourite artists because of the warmth he brings out in his portrait models. His interiors, though, impress as well; their domesticity and mundane but beautifully intimate and gentle compositions where so often the key character is shown in light from a high window. This one, The Milkmaid c 1658-60 (left), for me … Continue reading Part 2, project 4, research point 4 – Dutch realist genre painters
This task is essentially one of demonstrating a grasp of linear perspective which is where two parallel lines converge on a distant vanishing point, like railway tracks disappearing into the distance. Obviously, in a house the vanishing point is likely … Continue reading Part 2, project 4, exercise 2 – simple interior perspective.
This calls for standing and holding an A4 sketchbook while making quick sketches in four different directions from a central point. It was always going to be difficult, my cluttered surroundings being the least of the problems. For various reasons, … Continue reading Project 4, part 2, exercise 1 – quick sketches around the house
Strayfish Arts 