Semester 1 2019 reflections

As an exercise to come up with our next personal project for the Visual Arts Studio unit we were asked to review our visual journals from semester 1 and evaluate what images/concepts resonate. Then to combine these in perhaps unexpected ways. I really enjoyed this process!

My standout images from my journal - some are artist models obviously

Following are some of the common themes…

Images: 

• Treasure / precious items

• Portraiture

• Monochromatic (or close to)

• Lines

• Repeating icons

• Patterns

• Experimentation

• The unplanned 'mistakes'

• Significant areas of white/negative space

• Creating an environment

• Visual repetition

• Use of art as social commentary

• Connecting with people/other artists on an emotional level

• Revealing what was previously hidden - use of backlight or layering within the artwork

• The art of the everyday

Concepts: 

• Inner significance/essence in portraiture

• Viewer participation / EXPERIENCES create/s memories

• The Reflective Journal - rigorous recording of the PROCESS

• Entangled words and images

• Vision is always ahead of execution

• Only work I can do convincingly is the work that focuses on the things I care about

• The portrait is story-telling

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This resulted in the following combination:

Telling a story through monochromatic experimental portraiture of people with their treasure (that which is most precious to them) combining words within the compositions. 

This is achievable in the time available - key aspects would be to quickly ask permission to draw/paint a person and their treasure and arrange a sitting. 

I envision free, bold line work for the portraits, in ink initially, perhaps moving into paint. The key will to be prolific to keep the works fresh, bold, and experimental. I hope to find a style that I can move into with some excitement.

What’s your current project? Have you tried a review of your past work like this before? (It’s offical name is a Morphological Analysis)