VIS1010

Module 1 Resolved Artworks

The light and shadow in this composition was interesting. The two glass vases were the most difficult aspects, as the reflected the light in unexpected ways due to the shapes and design of the glass. I enjoyed playing with the negative space.

This painting makes me feel happy. I love the strong bold block colours, with the black background for contrast.

I really love how this painting turned out. Each section portrayed in the artwork can be found in the main living area of the house. Viewing different areas from different perspectives and piecing the together in random order. I used a single colour scale to create the image, working on one section at a time as I went.

Module 2 Resolved Artworks

I am really very happy with how this self portrait turned out. This artwork manages to capture not just my visual likeness, but also a a bit of my character and personality in it as well. The humour hidden just behind the eyes and and slight upturn in the corners of the mouth, ready to smile or laugh at the smallest provocation. The blemishes on the skin, and unkemptness of the hair, the slight crookedness of my nose, that demonstrate the realities of my everyday life and the acceptance I have managed to fine over the years in my own body in all of it’s imperfection. I am a human, with flaws and many life experiences.

I found the skills we learned in the drawing module of VIS1010 (gridding and looking at tonal values) were invaluable in creating this piece and getting the image onto the canvas. In addition to this the skills we learned in the painting, with contour lines and block painting, helped me to get a good solid base of colour painted, to which I then went back and added detail.

The shadows cast by the light manages to both highlight and hide different aspects. I used many different values and hues in creating the skin, layering it, sometimes using subtle differences, other times switching to more extreme differences and altering my brushstrokes in different areas to achieve the look I wanted. I had fun painting this picture and I enjoy looking at it. The red background was chosen because it is my favourite colour. It is strong and vibrant, and I think overall works well with my complexion. This painting represents me and how I feel about myself at this point in my life.

This portrait of my husband was very difficult to complete. It become very clear to me whilst creating it, that every person perceives things very differently. Each member of my household held different opinions about this artwork as I worked on it, especially the subject himself. They each saw very different things, and had very different ‘advice’ to give throughout. In the end I decided to go with my gut and ignore everyone else. I am reasonably happy with how it turned out. Rather then blending the tones completely, I made an effort to maintain more of the individual brush strokes. This is somewhat inspired by the linework used by Vincent Van Gogh in his paintings. I think there is still a lot of room for improvement in this portrait, but overall I have managed to capture the light and shadow in the face, and create a likeness and resemblance that can be recognized.

Module 3 Resolved Artworks

I used one of my drawings from our life model drawing session for this painting. I outlined where the body should be in masking tape, and then sealed the edges with masking fluid. and then I painted it in strong bright colours that I love. I kind of reminds me of one of those ‘aura’ photos people can have taken. When I removed the tape, I found that the edges were not perfect, especially at the corners, and where pieces of tape intersected. However, I quite liked this affect, and feel that it adds to the ‘primitive’ rudimentary style of the painting as a whole. I left the edges of this painting raw for the same reason.

For this painting I used a photo of my family from a few years ago when we went camping at Booderee National park. I used the masking tape to create sections of blank canvas on the artwork, that act to highlight specific areas of the painting. I applied masking tape at several different stages in the various areas. I enjoy this painting. It evokes good memories. I like the juxtaposition and mix of different painting styles I have combined here. With the detail in the figures and rocks, and then the more simplistic appearance of the water, sand, trees and sky.

Module 1

Screen Printing

These ‘hexies’ are very representative of me. I have several hand sewn hexi quilts in progress at varying stages, and absolutely love them. I think I could print this screen print hundreds of times in hundreds of colours and never get bored of it. I intend on hanging a copy of it in my sewing room.

Module 2

Linocut Printing

I had a lot of difficulty with the registration for this self portrait. There were also a couple of the initial layer that got destroyed, because they had been moved on top of each other on the drying rack prior to drying and got stuck. I cut the lino away with each new layer, which meant that I was unable to go back and do more of the initial layer. As such I do not have as many ‘good’ copies as I had originally hoped. But I am very happy with the few good copies I do have. (And I have a couple of ‘misprints’ that I enjoy the result of even if they were unintended results).

I love eyes, and feel that they are very much the ‘windows’ to the soul. I was very happy with how this print turned out. The reflection in the eyes has resemblance to the TARDIS from Doctor Who, which is one of my favourite TV shows.

I just love the simplicity of this design, with it’s curves and organic forms.

Etching

I loved how this etching turned out. This was my first time ever doing etching and I was concerned about how well my fine lines would turn out. I am very very pleased with the results. It is amazing to me just how much detail it can catch. I would definitely like to do further etching in the future.

Module 3

My concertina book. This artwork is a mixed medium artwork, making use of screen printing, Inktense pencil, and fabric collage. It tells the story of myself and the things that inspire and interest me in my art. It shows my inclination toward colour, my love of cat, my interest in the great outdoors and the exploration of night and day. And of course my love of quilting, and fabric.

The textures, the colours, the designs, the patterns, the prints. I am a very textile persons, and love to be able to feel my artworks, and encourages others to feel it in their own examinations. The fabrics used in this book all hold very special emotional value to me. Most are not traditional quilting fabrics. And It is very common for me to use very non traditional fabrics in my quilts. Many of them are actually pieces cut from fabric baby carriers / wraps. They tend to be much thicker, and more durable then quilting fabrics, with a range of different natural fibres, and a weft and weave that promotes a specific stretch and support required carrying babies and young children. I have used them to carry my own children when they were babies, and in many of my artworks over the years. Instead of using book cover fabric, the fabric used on the covers was a quilting fabric. I attached it using ‘Heat and Bond’ sewing adhesive, rather then a regular glue, to ensure that no glue went through the fabric.