Art and Reproduction Evaluation

This theme allowed me to gain skills in an area I was unfamiliar with, of sculpture and specifically plaster casting. I enjoyed the process of creating plaster casts in the workshop and returned with the idea to create casts of Barbie dolls in relation to the theme of art and reproduction. The use of the Barbie doll was key to the theme, with the iconic doll continuously being reproduced, but also the dolls in plaster have connotations of slaves which linked to the research into Plato’s cave theory with humans like slaves, only seeing reproductions of reality. The process of casting also links to reproduction with the process requiring continuously returning and reproducing the same process of dripping the wax, painting layers of latex to create the mould and then ultimately the process of reproducing the doll with the plaster.

Returning- I returned to this project after the Easter break, taking on board advice from the feedback that the sculptures were not yet complete and could be improved by taking them further. With this in mind I decided to continue with the idea of reproduction in terms of labour, by continuing a process, this time returning to the sculptures and dripping layers of paint over them. For this, I used watered down acrylic in muddy shades to reflect dirt and continue their slave like appearance. The use of colour was also discussed in the group critique, with the white plaster giving the dolls connotations of innocence and purity. I wanted this connection to remain, so I only partially covered the dolls in paint, allowing the brightness of the plaster to shine through.  

Art and Text Evaluation

Through this theme of art and text, I developed my skills as an artist by learning a new technique, which I had not explored before, of screen printing. I enjoyed the entire process of creating the prints, from designing them on paper and editing them on Illustrator to printing using the screens. 

Nonetheless, I did face some challenges throughout this process, which I resolved and improved on when creating a second series of prints. The first challenges I faced were digitally when editing the design on Adobe Illustrator, which was also a skill I was new to, having not used the software before. I also had some issues with my first prints of human error as I misaligned the second layer, or did not push the paint across the screen hard enough resulting in an inconsistent print. After experience though, these issues were resolved and resulted in my second series of prints being completely consistent.

After creating a series of screen prints, I took another look at the theme of Art and Text through the focus of my Studio essay and my interest in the artist Bob and Roberta Smith. In response to this, I created a series of signs from the art manifesto I wrote last term, which summarized what I think is important about making art. From this, I selected key sentences and phrases to use as the text on signs made on paper and made into a book and on scrap pieces of wood. I enjoyed returning to this project from a different perspective and incorporated skills I learnt from the book binding workshop when turning the signs into a collection. 

Proposal Project Evaluation

In evaluation, this proposal project was a great learning curb for me. I found a lot out about my chosen subject of interest into gender and its representation in the urban and natural world, as well as its reception. I found that the majority of phallic imagery was found in the urban environment, with yonic imagery predominant in the natural environment. It was also clear from an early stage peoples understandings of these words, with phallic being widely known but its female counter part almost unheard of, so I decided to explore this idea by creating an ambitious painting with an ambiguous subject from research into the artist Georgia O’keefe and first hand records of flowers for reference, to create a painting that would raise questions and ultimately awareness of the word yonic. It is also true that some awareness was raised, even if it was only amongst a small group of peers, ultimately the goal of the painting was achieved.

However, I faced many problems with this project and have gained experience that I would use if I was to do it again. Learning was least effective when I focused on creating a final product, rather than a series of work, as I had the ambition to create a large scale painting, which distracted me from creating a body of work and developing my ideas. To improve this, I decided to create another series of photographs to add to my body of work, but on reflection this would have been more useful before I started creating the painting. I also think I should have worked on a smaller scale first, creating a series of paintings to use as references, rather than being focused on creating one larger painting which ultimately became a daunting process that resulted in me ignoring the painting and returning to it at a later date to complete.

I also found one of my least effective study skills in this project was research, relying heavily on online research rather than benefiting from the resources available in Lincoln. To improve, I needed to take advantage of resources in the library and get more involved outside of the studio, with more visits to galleries and exhibitions. However, I did benefit from involvement in the critiques, which were a great opportunity to receive feedback and ideas for how to develop my work.

Statement

1. Situations when learning is least and most effective 
2. Identification of least and most effective study skills 
3. Proposal for studio work in Level 2

This semester I found learning most effective through critiques and workshops. The group and silent critiques were great opportunities to receive feedback and ideas for how to develop my work. The screen printing workshop was also particularly effective for me, as I learnt a new skill which I really enjoyed and returned to independently.

Learning was least effective when I focused on creating a final product, rather than a series of work. As seen in my studio proposal project: I had the ambition to create a large scale painting, which distracted me from creating a body of work and developing my ideas.

My least effective study skills were research, relying heavily on online research rather than benefiting from the resources available in Lincoln. In level 2, I intend to take advantage of resources in the library and get more involved outside of the studio, with more visits to galleries and exhibitions, as well as taking advantage of guest speakers. Over the summer break, I also intend to immerse myself in art in Norwich where I live, and London where I intend to visit.

In level 2 I propose to use research collected over the summer as basis for my studio work. Some ideas for what I would like to explore include sculptural work, which I have briefly explored through art and reproduction this module, as well as video and audio pieces, which is media I have not yet worked with but have an interest in exploring. 

Photographs

Painting Sculptures

Developing Sign Art

Symbols in Fruit and Vegetables (Black and White)

Below shows my series of photgraphs capturing both yonic and phallic imagery found in the natural environment through the form of fruit and vegetables. This images are edited using the skills I had gained from experience of the first series of photographs.

Symbols in Fruit and Vegetables

Following the completion of the large scale painting, I decided to reflect on all I had produced for the proposal project and what could be improved. I found that while the photography was a success and lead to some great references for the painting, I was lacking in a series of work and focused too much on creating this idea of a final piece. Thus, I decided to return to the photography as it was something I enjoyed and to build a stronger body of work for the proposal project. The first series of photography, while aimed at imagery in the natural world, focused solely on yonic imagery and only through flowers, so I decided to explore both yonic and phallic imagery in the natural world as I had previously explored both in the urban environment through the form of sketches.

Book Binding Workshop

Today was a session in the print making room on book binding. As I have already explored making books in my book binding elective I wanted to build on this experience and progress some ideas that developed from this. For example, the idea of creating a book from art, rather than filling a book with art was something discussed in this elective. Therefore, I decided to use this time to build on the new set of work I was exploring of signage, inspired by the chosen artist of my essay Bob and Roberta Smith, and create a series of lino prints of signs to the bind into a book. 

I created a lino print using the phrase from my artist manifest: 'Care about change not about credit'. I wanted to create a lino print to be able to create multiple prints of the message, to emphasize it's importance that it is a message that is worth repeating and a message that is important enough to fill an entire book. I printed on A4 newsprint, one print on each side, so that once folded to create a book there would be a print on each page. I explored the combination of the primary colours with these prints, and like how no one print is identical due to the irregularities that occur from hand printing with lino.

After printing on both sides of 12 A4 sheets of newsprint and allowing them to dry, I used my book binding knowledge to bind the books using a pamphlet stitch. However, unlike the pamphlet we learnt to make in book binding I decided not to create a cover, but simply leave the pages as the entity, to imply that the message inside is the most important part of the book. I found this process very interesting in connection to the first session of art and text where we explored destroying and defacing books, whereas here I was creating a book.

Developed Sign Art

After developing art and text on signs, I chose the best designs and worked on found wood using the same techniques as the artist Bob and Roberta Smith.

Proposal Project Revisited

I found the task of facing such a large painting daunting, after I had painted so much I reached a block and did not know how to finish the painting. The Easter break gave me a great opportunity to return to the painting with a fresh outlook.

Following the completion of the large scale painting, I decided to reflect on all I had produced for the proposal project and what could be improved. I found that while the photography was a success and lead to some great references for the painting, I was lacking in a series of work and focused too much on creating this idea of a final piece. Thus, I decided to return to the photography as it was something I enjoyed and to build a stronger body of work for the proposal project. The first series of photography, while aimed at imagery in the natural world, focused solely on yonic imagery and only through flowers, so I decided to explore both yonic and phallic imagery in the natural world as I had previously explored both in the urban environment through the form of sketches.

Alec Shepley Lecture and Seminar

Exploring Signage

I decided to start by exploring traditional methods of signage and, like the artist Bob and Roberta Smith, work on found materials and paint the lettering free hand. I found scraps of newsprint as the base for these experiments, and mixed shades of the primary colours blue, red and yellow for the lettering and background colour. These colours are often found in Smith's work, probably due to the nature of the colours being bold and standing out, reflecting the purpose of the sign. 

Final Painting

Coming back from Easter was the break I needed to revisit the painting with fresh eyes and new motivation.

Art and Text Revisited Proposal

Following the focus of my Studio essay and my interest in the artist Bob and Roberta Smith, I have decided to return to the theme of Art and Text but with the influence of this artists work on my own practice. Bob and Roberta Smith is the alter ego of artist, writer, author and musician Patrick Brill, born 1963. This name comes from the combination of his sister’s name ‘Roberta’ with the common names ‘bob’ and ‘smith’ to create a purposefully ordinary male and female alter ego. Smith plays on the immediacy and power of words in his art, creating signs to communicate political issues.

Smith appropriates sign writing, adopting the materials and style of signage for his paintings, using found materials, such as wood bases, and lettering freehand with single layers of paint, drawing on the traditions of folk art and craft, rather than ‘high’ art. This gives his work a more authentic feel, as the imperfections help emphasize the representation of the ordinary, the masses.

For my own work in response to this, I will create a series of signs from the art manifesto I wrote last term, which summarizes what I think is important about making art and can be seen below. From this, I will select key sentences and phrases which will be used as the text on these signs. 

Art and Reproduction Revisited

Following the completion of work for 'Art and Text', I have decided to revisit the work I produced for the theme 'Art and Reproduction'. Although I was pleased with the work produced in this theme, I still felt that the idea could be developed further.

In order to develop the work, I will experiment covering the plaster sculptures in paint, by dripping and pouring the paint over the sculptures, as well as dipping the sculptures in the paint to see what effects can be achieved. Adding colour to the sculptures will give another layer of depth to the dolls, and the methods I use to cover them will replicate and enhance the dripping pattern of the wax used to cast them. This also builds on the idea of layer and texture already explored in the project, as I continue to add layers, through the medium of paint, to the sculptures.