Statement in Depth 2018

I never found the visiting artist’s work that appealing this semester but I did find their practise to be very influential over my work. Their practise was all connected in some way or another. This inspired me in what I wanted to do next.

I wanted to create an initial piece of work that would cause a reaction or an interpretation. With my response to the first piece I would create another piece of work. However, I wouldn’t let the audience know they were a part of this active process. Them viewing it in itself was a process important to my practise.

I tested and research many bits of work (which can be seen on my blog) but the most successful proved to be the ones that were abstract as they were more open for interpretation.

Painting in this style was out of my comfort zone but after a few attempts I became increasingly comfortable and started to have more appreciation over Abstract Art in general.

This semester I was presented with an amazing opportunity to display my work in the Walker Art Gallery. Since this opportunity, my practise has changed a lot. I used to be confined to painting realistic or impressionable paintings and never really experimented beyond that! Typically, I use oil paints, which I loved doing so but I avoided them this time.

For “Concluded Interpretations” I used modelling paste, cardboard, clay and acrylics. I found this to be a very successful piece as I thoroughly enjoyed using all these mediums and at the exhibition I was given many responses (as I hoped).  If I was to redo this piece I wouldn’t have used as much clay as I had done as I believe it was too heavy on one side. I also wish to expand my practise and introduce new mediums to see how effective they would be.

Artists that stood out and had a positive influence on me this semester were Amy Stephens and Kevin Hunt.

Stephens seemed to have a similar mind set to my own. Her statement saying “a successful piece is one you remember” really jumped out to me and I couldn’t agree more with her. For me a thrill of being an artist is getting reactions from my work and having the power to put my opinion or beliefs out there to an audience in such a creative way. Ultimately if your work has an impact it is indeed going to be memorable.

I loved Hunt for his innovative work. He took unwanted junk that no one wanted and turned it into a piece of work. A lot can be said about a person that has the skill set to take something of the ordinary and turn it into a beautiful artwork. I plan on producing work over the summer and I want to try something similar out. I never really understood ready-made art but with the more talks I received at John Moore’s and the more artists I research I become more appreciative of their work.

Outside of the Wednesday lectures, artists that have been inspiring me are those of the Abstract Expressionism movement. Jackson Pollock and Barnett Newman in particular. I love how Pollock expresses himself using the paint rather than illustrating it. Then there is Newman who creates these large scaled paintings that leave you transcending into his work.

I believe you can see the effect these artists have had on me through my work I have been producing.