Conceal/Reveal

We were given a brief with the title 'Conceal/Reveal' to start over the Christmas holidays. This is the first brief in which we chose our 'specialty' - mine being illustration. We were told to do our work on A1 sized sheets.

I started my research by making two lists under the titles Conceal and Reveal

The first idea I thought of was a key and a key hole. The key hole symbolizes something being concealed and secret and the key is the opposite, it reveals what is hidden. I made some observational drawings of keys (as seen  in the photograph below) using different techniques including paper cutting, fineliner, ink using the back of a brush and simple sketches.

Another idea I came up with was the fact that our organs are concealed. I looked at the heart and the brain - it is fascinating what goes on in our body to keep us alive and it is all hidden.

I looked at illustrator Russell Cobb's work for inspiration. His illustrations look similar to scientific diagrams with it's arrows and labeling.
 

The illustrations look like a series of theories but they are mysterious as we have no idea what theories they are or are they just made up?


 My list also included the fact that our thoughts and feelings are all concealed within our minds and are only concealed in acts that show emotion. Some emotions can be false - the truth lies in the mind so we will never know exactly what someone else is thinking.

This led me to the 'Phrenology Theory'  which is a theory developed in 1796 and was popular during the 19th century. It is  primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules.

I made some research on the theory and looked at the diagrams made to describe it.

This is my research sheet:

 This is my next sheet:

 I copied my own silhouette and divided my head into the same shapes made in the phrenology theory diagram. I then, looking at Russel Cobb's work and the idea of a keyhole, did a self portrait, photocopied it and divided my own head into sections. I then cut the top of my head off and had it opening like a jar - like one of Russell Cobb's 'Diagrams'.

On the bottom  right of my page I've made a pattern inspired by different cuttings of keys. I also looked a silhouettes - this is something that it revealed and concealed at the same time. The keyhole in the middle looks simple and effective showing that the mind is concealed.

I then wanted to make my own illustrations within the phrenology head. I made a list of all the different emotions and thought of illustrations that would represent these in a simple way.

I've tried to use a range of different media including college.
Here are some of my illustrations:

 A keyhole representing 'Secretiveness' - Using coloured card.

A ruler representing measure.

An eye representing Cautiousness -using acrylic paint.

I have made some observational drawings of a pocket watch on an A1 sheet that represents 'time' - this is what I have done so far:

 I have tried to use a wide range of techniques and different angles of the watch.

 

A mouth laughing representing 'Wit' (coloured pencils, inc and felt pens)

An apple representing 'Food' - using acrylic paint.

A tube of acrylic paint representing....

By photographing my images, I can transfer them on to  the computer to adjust size and arrange them in ways inspired by phrenology.

Photographs of my house

One of our briefs has the title 'Home'. We made some plaster cast houses a while back, inspired by Rachel Whitread's cast of a Victorian house.

I decorated my house with manuscript and a part of a violin (the tail piece) because of my musical interest. My family are musical so I often associate music with my family home.

Here is a photograph taken of my house on two panes of glass that were by the side of a shed on the College grounds. I love the reflections that have appeared in the glass. It has a similar feel to ice.

Ernesto Caivano

While looking through a drawing book in college today ,I discovered the work of  Ernesto Caivano.
 Although his images are very detailed, they look very clean and simple. I would like to have a similar style to my own drawings when putting ideas into my sketchbook.

Ernesto Caivano  Rope, Blooms, and a False Phallus, 2004 
ink on paper  (c)http://www.richardhellergallery.com

Digits and Pores, Petals and Philapores (c) http://www.anothermag.com

Ernesto Caivano is known for his narrative-based ink drawings. He takes cues from fantasy,science fiction, romantic poetry, classic myth and medieval folklore.  He has been inspired by art nouveau, modernist abstraction, Japanese prints and fractal geometry.

Chroma Block Immunity (Or Slow Union) - (c) http://www.anothermag.com

http://www.ernestocaivano.com/

Breathing Through the Code, 2009 (c) http://www.richardhellergallery.com

I can see similarities between Caivano's work and Aubrey Beardsley's work - both artists use just black and white and the images have the same bold quality. They have both have been inspired by Japanese prints and it is obvious that art nouveau has been a big influence on Caivano's work. I love the attention to detail that his illustrations have - there are so many interesting and beautiful patterns in the feathers in Breathing Through the Code.

Beardsley has also included pattern in his illustrations in 'The Peacock Skirt'

Manchester Trip

Last month, we visited the Manchester Art Gallery. A paper cutting exhibition - 'The First Cut' is on at the moment. The work was Fantastic! And so inspiring. The exhibition will be on until Sunday 27 January 2013.

(c) http://www.manchestergalleries.org

 The exhibition features 31 international artist who use paper in their work.

I loved Su Blackwell's book sculptures. For someone who is interested in Illustration an narrative, the work was very inspirring. 

These were the sculpures featured in the exhibition:

'Roses From Sonnets'

2010, Wuthering Heights. (c) http://www.sublackwell.co.uk

Here is some more of her work taken from her website - http://www.sublackwell.co.uk

2010, Jorinde and Jorindel.

 

2008, The Lake and the Boat

2008, The Wild Swans.

I was also facinated by Sarah Bridgland's work.

(c) http://sarahbridgland.blogspot.co.uk/

Food Diary

 When I was younger, my mother used to get me to illustrate what we were having for tea that day. I did this every day for a while on small bits of paper. Mum kept these in an envelope labelled 'Syniadau Bwyd' ('Food Ideas').

Here are some of my old illustrations:

As part of the theme 'Domestic Bliss', I  decided to re-create what I did back in 2006, this time in a Diary Form.

Front Page of the Diary

I will be illustrating what we have for dinner every evening.

Here are some that I have done so far:

For inspiration, I googled 'Food Illustrators'. Here are some of the images I found on http://www.illustrationweb.com/styles/food-and-drink#:

Mikela Prevost

Jonothan Allardyce

Daria Jabenko

Daria Jabenko

Hannah Davies

Sarah Beetson

A Visit to Ruthin Craft Centre

On Saturday, I went to the Ruthin Craft Centre.

 I Particularly enjoyed looking at the Shadows & Light exhibition
(1st December 2012 – 6th January 2013 in Gallery 1)

Ainsley Hillard was one of the artists work that stood out for me.

Ainsley lives and works in Carmarthenshire. In 2000 she graduated with a First Class Degree in Constructed Textiles from Middlesex University, London. The recipient of the James Pantyfedwen Scholarship in 2001/02 she continued postgraduate studies in Australia where she was awarded a Master of Art with Distinction from Curtin University in 2003.
Exhibiting nationally and internationally her work was most recently awarded first prize in the 3^rd International Competition of Textile Art, Belgium and the International Textiles Biennial of Scythia, Ukraine. Other awards include the Valcellina Artist Award, Italy and the Shell Fremantle Print Award, Australia.
Her work is included in the Lloyd Cotsen Textile Traces Collection U.S.A. and the Fiber Art Collection of the City of Chieri, Italy.

(c)  http://www.artswales.org.uk

This was my favourite work in the exhibition - 'Folds'


'Folds'

The artwork included a series of doilies and linens dipped in porcelain and fired - the firing process has burned off the material leaving a delicate porcelain ghost of their form. These are hung at table height from the original drying rack. I love the Ghostly effects this creates.

The patterns shadowed on the floor is art in it's self

There is a ghost of a table here

Name unknown. Ainsley Hillard



Another artist work I enjoyed looking at was Rhian Haf's work.


Rhian graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a BA (Hons) in Design and Applied Arts, specialising in glass. She set up her own studio in north Wales with the help of a start up grant from the Arts Council of Wales and has exhibited her work widely over the UK.  Her work is mainly kiln based using a variety of techniques; fusing, casting and slumping, creating site-specific installations, sculptural and functional work.
In 2011 she  completed her MA in Glass at Swansea Metropolitan University with Distinction and embarked on an invigilators plus residency at the Venice Biennale funded by the Arts Council of Wales.
Alongside her practice Rhian has worked as a lecturer, Arts Development Officer and co-ordinator for several arts projects; facilitating and delivering many school residencies.

(c)  http://rhianhaf.com/about/

Glass, Light & Space

Exploration of shadow, scale and light captured within cast glass houses, which have been cold worked to achieve different surfaces, highlighting various qualities of the material.

I love the simplicity of the tiny houses and the way she has experimented with light and shadow.

 It is interesting how the sense of scale has been played around with - there is no way of judging the size of these houses in these photographs.

This idea of the cast of houses is very similar to a project we did this term making plaster cast houses inspired by Racheal Whiteread. Rhian Haf's photographs have inspired me - I love how she has used light to create interesting outcomes.

We then wondered around Ruthin which is a very picturesque place. It had a very Christmassy atmosphere.

The Indoor Market

Wool Shop

 Here are some images from the antique shop

I thought this was more suitable for Halloween!

A Homemade Gollywog

Travel Alarm Clock