Final week part 3

Evaluation of my Final Major Project

“A work of art is a world in itself

 reflecting senses and emotions of the artist's world…”

 Hans Hofmann BrainyQuote. (2019)

Introduction

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We all know one of the most popular signs in the fine art industry is ''DON'T TOUCH''. (Yatzer, 2019). Over my lifetime I have been warned and restricted at nearly every museum and gallery which I happened to visit, satisfying only my sense of sight -whilst leaving a sense of touch or anything else far behind. I believe many can relate to that feeling. With my final piece, I wanted to break this concept and to engage my viewer in numerous other ways.

For the past two years, I have been creating more than just paintings – I been working on tactile experience for me and the future observer. Texture and feel of the painting are my obsessions, I encourage that my paintings being touched – it’s like I am setting invisible threads to connecting directly with each viewer.

For my final art project, I decided to push some boundaries based on my passion with texture and produce artwork in a more sensual way that I ever did before.

‘Sensory Faculty’ comes as the engagement of human senses through the use of carefully selected materials and surfaces. It is a piece of artwork you can not only see, you can feel it, sense it, but above it all - hear it if you wish.

Thankfully in our contemporary world, everything is possible, everything gets accepted. Not long before pleasant and appealing were essential components of the art world - providing meaning as well as pleasure. Nowadays the artist’s goal is to create more experience for the viewer. And that was exactly on my mind while creating my work – to let the observer explore my art piece through the use of four senses.

“Art can take us away and help us experience new places”.

(Art Class Curator, 2019)

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My journey of ideas begun last year. It’s all started as a thought of creating a painting for blind people, where colour would not really matter, but texture and possibility of adding Braille would play a major role.  I wanted to somehow connect and make my art more accessible for people who are less fortunate - to make my painting not just something visually nice but make my artwork into something much more.

Visual art for visually impaired is not a very common thing. There are no many artists whose work can be viewed more than just from afar. But art does not have to be only a visual thing – this was the main message I wanted to deliver with my work.

“Art is a universal medium of expression, bridging gaps across language, time and culture” (Dupere, 2019), this sentence opens an article about ways how art is becoming more accessible to the blind community, one of so many I read in order to find out that there are only a  few artists practising in similar field.

I believe that tactile art is a very positive way to share a message and communicate better with various audiences, not just visually impaired. It’s become increasingly important also for young children have sensory tactile exploring opportunities. So as adults - getting to touch and feel the artwork, allows to see more and appreciate art in a very distinct way. So as scent and sound, if added to artwork, can create completely different perspective a whole experience of the subject.

While doing my research I come across many interesting ideas. I went through a lot of changes. My initial thought became more like an impression of sensation on canvas. By the end, it became more about a painting that would engage most of the human senses at once, not just Braille. Vision, touch, sound and smell was making an impressive composition in my head.

Life is the platform where at every step it leaves a scope of innovation, new ideas, new thoughts, new experiments, whilst we are all Fine Art students, we each have different approaches and interests which has enabled me to focus on my own particular aspect and perspective. My fellow students are driven by portraiture - I am more interested in people's relationship to objects, so I think this is the main reason why a lot of my work is more than just a picture. It is an abstract experience which I hope to develop further in years to come. 

Since the beginning of my studies, I worked on several contrasting modules, trying to be different and find my style. Over the past two years, I used wide range materials such as watercolours, ink, pencil, acrylic etc. It all paid off giving me the right confidence to experiment on my final piece.

Not having a set theme for my Final Major Project gave me freedom. Usually dictated themes set the tone of whole projects from the start and then you have to go for it even if it's against everything you want to do. For my very final work, I was able to play with my ideas and skills developed in the past. As an abstract artist, I made my theme an abstract subject - open to any interpretation. I wanted to fill it with a wide range of topics and ideas and to connect them all with the audience.

COMPOSITION

I made a few visual studies of different compositions before I even started on my main canvas. From making small atmospheric watercolour washes, to even finishing a larger piece. All created a perfect visual diary for me and helped to decide on my final piece. I chose to make an abstraction of a seascape. 

I studied many coastal photographs taken by drones, keeping in mind awareness of copyright issues. As I was only using photos of others for inspiration - only as slim guidance, I was certain, I will not cross image ownership rules.

The coast is such an inspiring subject. I love how lines and distinctive tones of blues arranged themselves in many unusual ways, giving me a distinct direction for my own work. 

 COLOUR

As many times before I stayed loyal to the white and blue – two of my favourite colour tones.

Usually to gain balance in artwork artists often use a complementary colour combination as based on many colour theories it works at its best, but white is not considered a colour – it mainly represents the absence of it. Just like black, or grey are only shades and theoretically, there can’t be a “complement” to something which isn’t there, to begin with.

Deep blue and navy paired with natural shades of white were working well with my initial intention. This eternally classic combination brought a fresh feel into my work creating a harmony, which I was after. With that in mind, I believe my painting would appeal to a wide range of audiences.  As I combined the pallet of blue sea and white sand within this seaside inspired work, I was intended to bring coast home for the viewer.

Upon this project, I used some new mediums - water-based and mineral DIY furniture paints. It was more like a trial - to keep my work environmentally friendly if that’s even possible. Of course, I had to also use acrylics, but this is something I could possibly improve for future projects - working on ways how to move away from the plastic.

MEDIUM AND MATERIALS

I used many additional materials besides paint; reindeer moss, sea glass, Cornish sand, modelling pastes etc. This process helped me to decide on which materials worked the best and which were not compatible. 

As I was creating a sensual art experience, there was a lot of involvement required from different sources. I spent nearly two months just building up information experimenting with various materials. With decisions made on colours, I had to work my way to desired texture. It included tissue paper, for textured bedground, sand which I applied on the top, different kind of modelling pastes. To hold a scent, I applied some reindeer moss. It was the easiest option, as it very well absorbed the scented liquid I used. Additionally, I used some sea glass which worked well to simulate a rock formation along my painted seashore.

The most challenging was to find the right way to apply the Braille onto my canvas. I had a few studio sessions at college in order to find the best way. Till the very end, I wasn’t sure if its ever going to work. 

Despite our digital world of audio, cell phones and pads, Braille continues to be the most accepted method for people who are visually impaired (Blindchildrensfund.org. 2019). With Braille, they don’t listen to the words, people touch them, sense them, read them with their own hands - adding their own feeling to the words they read.

As celebrating Blind culture was my original idea and main inspiration it became my biggest priority. I knew had to make it happen. I read and watched so many materials, but I couldn’t find the easy solution. After experimenting with different methods and different mediums, I made myself a stencil with text consisting of dots. I used glue to build up my text, layer by layer. I found this method the best solution from all my multiple experiments. I chose “Wish you were here” - a classic postcard message written on a sandy beach- a message of greeting – well wishes from holiday. It worked well considering my overall composition.

⠺⠊⠎⠓⠀⠽⠕⠥⠀⠺⠑⠗⠑⠀⠓⠑⠗⠑

(wish you were here)

Sometimes you have that certain idea in your head, but no matter what you try it’s just don’t work. Braille text was the most important part of my project and I really wanted to make it real. Working to timescale was putting a lot of pressure on my creative progress, but experiences and outcome of this practical activity, was worth all the efforts.

SOUND

It was the easiest solution, but also the most expensive. As soon as I decided that my painting would be with audio abilities, I searched up various methods. Not having time for any DIY projects, so as lacking experience in such sector I invested in already made sound canvas.

My mixed media artwork is painted on 16” x 20” canvas which hides behind a built-in Bluetooth speaker. It cost me £150.00 but could be a lot more as the original retail price on my chosen small canvas was £399.00.

Quite a tool with amazing sound quality. Developed in the USA   by Onsia® whose mission is to; “Blending visual art with cutting-edge sound technology”. (ONSIA® SOUND ART™, 2019)

Onsia® transcend traditional ideas of art and sound and revolutionize the way people enjoy music. They developed Sound Art by using flat panel speakers rather than traditional “cone” speakers - combining art and sound by concealing speakers behind any type of work of art. (ONSIA® SOUND ART™, 2019)

The sound quality of this product is truly amazing and with the right music makes my work complete and unique

SHOWCASE

Initially, I wanted to put my work towards competition, but many I could apply ended earlier this year. Perhaps in a good way, it will give me time to consider my options for next year’s applications and perhaps make a series of similar works.

Currently, my final work is on display at the local gallery. I put forward it as a part of a different module – group project, where we had to identify and target audience. It worked well together. The exhibition is open for a week during the gallery’s working hours and I personally invited as many people as I could to go across and see my work. It is just the first stage as my mission is to engage large audiences. 

Alongside this venue, I organised a 3D exhibition to be made for me and my group students. Curated by V21- Artspace – specialising in making virtual spaces my work will last forever and could be viewed again and again via the link. As we live in the digital era it was really necessary to have an online presence alongside the physical display.

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"... Develop your senses; especially learn how to see.

Realize that everything connects to everything else.”

Leonardo da Vinci (Goodreeds.com,2019)

Renaissance master made this exhortation more than five hundred years ago and he was so right – everything is connected. The sound of music, the scent of fresh air, the brush marks of artist inspired by its surroundings, everything connects in invisible ways. 

The emotion of the lines and the atmosphere connects in my painting with a sound setting a calming mood, very much representing myself.

At the beginning of my project, I knew that it is essential for me to get as much visual inspiration as possible. It involved collecting art materials, doing appropriate research, getting to know other artists involved in similar work. There was inspiration everywhere for me. I tried a whole range of different style options, narrowed them down. Collected feedback from various sources, such as my friends and tutors. I weighed out as many options as possible, to be able to have a backup plan. Thankfully I didn’t need one.

All project took me about two months to plan and about three weeks went on the practical side. I learned a lot during this time. Get to know different applications of materials, use of different mediums. Everything I did was detailed and analysed via sketchbook and discussed with tutors. 

Although work itself was slightly off from the original idea - create a tactile piece for visually impaired - the end result is quite pleasing and I’m not regretting of changing the course of the whole process. I also glad that I stick to my favourite theme and colours, as pushing every boundary could easily lead to disaster.

For the future, I am willing to develop my style more and take on another medium like clay. It could work well alongside my texture paintings. I have the ambition to organise my personal solo exhibition. There are so many projects I could potentially apply with the possibility of sponsorship, like getting help from the Arts Council which is designed to support independent creative practitioners. According to (Artscouncil.org.uk, 2019) they receive nearly a thousand applications each year, supporting as many as they can exciting and ambitious proposals.

One day it could be me.

·       AcademicHelp.net. (2019). How to Write an Evaluation Essay | AcademicHelp.net. [online] Available at: https://academichelp.net/academic-assignments/essay/write-evaluation-essay.html [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

·       Art Class Curator. (2019). Exploring Works of Art with the Five Senses. [online] Available at: https://artclasscurator.com/art-senses/ [Accessed 6 May 2019].

·       ARTINSURANCENOW.COM. (2019). How to evaluate your own work as an artist. [online] Available at: https://www.artinsurancenow.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-your-own-work-as-an-artist/ [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

·       Artscouncil.org.uk. (2019). Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants | Arts Council England. [online] Available at: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/projectgrants [Accessed 5 May 2019].

·       BBC Bitesize. (2019). Analysing and evaluating - Revision 5 - GCSE Art and Design - BBC Bitesize. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zymtv9q/revision/5 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

·       Blindchildrensfund.org. (2019). Braille: Connecting the Dots. [online] Available at: http://blindchildrensfund.org/for-families/tips-for-parents/braille-connecting-the-dots/ [Accessed 6 March 2019].

·       BrainyQuote. (2019). Hans Hofmann Quotes. [online] Available at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/hans_hofmann_334804?src=t_art [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

·       Dupere, K. (2019). 5 innovative ways art is becoming more accessible to the blind community. [online] Mashable. Available at: https://mashable.com/2016/12/29/art-accessibility-blind-low-vision/?europe=true [Accessed 1 May 2019].

·       Essay Tigers. (2019). Essay Tigers. [online] Available at: https://www.essaytigers.com/how-write-evaluation-essay [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

·       Metmuseum.org. (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2018/everything-is-connected-art-and-conspiracy [Accessed 6 May 2019].

·       ONSIA® SOUND ART™. (2019). About Us - ONSIA® SOUND ART™. [online] Available at: https://onsia.com/about-us/ [Accessed 2 May 2019].

·       Tate. (2019). Complementary colours – Art Term | Tate. [online] Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/c/complementary-colours [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

·       Thesaurus.com. (2019). Thesaurus.com - The world's favourite online thesaurus!. [online] Available at: https://www.thesaurus.com [Accessed 29 Apr. 2019].

·       Yatzer. (2019). Visual Art for the Visually Impaired by Roy Nachum | Yatzer. [online] Available at: https://www.yatzer.com/visual-art-visually-impaired-roy-nachum [Accessed 25 Mar. 2019].

Final week part 2

Conclusion on the group project

“Taking turns and working with friends may improve grades” (Eckart, 2019) – This statement could be very accurate if only all group participants would realise that.

Well, what can I say -depending on the assignment and the structure of the groups, a project can turn out to be a source of great frustration. In this case, where I need to summarise all my experience working on this particular project, I have to say I feel a slight disappointment.

Group projects are supposed to teach us how to work in groups effectively (as if ☹).

In my experience, they really don’t. The only thing this group projects teach me is how  I don’t like to be involved in the group project in the first place, bet better do tasks on my own.

Please take a look at our website, it is all finished now,http://creativeap.co.uk/ but as I said it could always be better. We had our exhibition at Why Not Gallery in Burton, where we organised a 3D virtual tour to be made of it.

Curators - V2-Artspace made an amazing job - so technically our virtual 3D exhibition - evidence of our work, as a link will last forever. Big thanks to https://v21artspace.com/.

The total cost of it was £240.00 – I asked rest of my group to contribute £50.00 towards it with me paying £90 as my work for this exhibition was also my Final Major project – I asked V21 to add more digital information for my work, so as music.

SO, what did I learn from the experience? 

That I rather work alone and fallow my own initiative, ideas and create something interesting without others. Then at least if something goes wrong or not completed, I can blame only myself. Now it’s not really completed up to my standards, but I never was born to lead and age difference in our group also didn’t help, so it is what it is, but there could be so much more.

What went well? 

Well to be honest – the end result is quite pleasing as module states we had to work as a team to plan an activity or event that would express our achievements in ways that are accessible to a wider audience. Our joined website is a perfect example of that. We also where asked to work as a group, designating roles and responsibilities. Well, it sort of work. At the end of the day, we have a website – we come up with a venue. Organised an exhibition, alongside with virtual tour which can be viewed long after the exhibition will end that way definitely expressing our work to a much wider audience by making a significant online presence.

What went not so well?

Work as a team to develop this into a fully functioning activity demanded some more input from other team members. As a result, the project outcome is not as strong as it could be.

What I have done differently, given the opportunity? 

More time and resources would allow for me to create a proper launch party in Why Not Gallery. So, I would make my own invitations. We had our promotional material only on Facebook. Flyers could be nice, but it would certainly up to the costs. 

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Final week part 1

Well, this is it - I half true of submitting my assignments as we speak. I have been neglecting this blog for a while and just hope it not affect most of my grades.

So far I have been working very hard on my latest modules, trying to submit everything in time, I am not having any extensions, as in my opinion, it is just prolonging the pain of submission hell.

So the first tick is on my Personal development file, which I think I spend an equally large amount as my Major Project. It was checked, checked - rewritten and proofread so many times that I lost the count. Big thanks to Jenny, our course assistant, who was truly helping me with the five-year project and hopefully all my dreams and aspirations which I stated eventually materialise.

 To check out the whole project just follow the link below:
https://kristinemprofessionaldevelopment.blogspot.com/

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Nearly the end...

I have been neglecting this blog for months, with so many other things going on so as another blog alongside it is no surprise really. I’m not a dairy girl – I mentioned that right from the start.

“Learning through reflection: the critical role of reflection in work-based learning “– that’s all hear from everywhere.

Reflection is like “looking back” and examining the past in order to learn from what happened and perhaps not repeat mistakes and so on…

I know it is part of my degree program - enable me to process and make meaning of all of the great (and not so great) learning and working experiences I’m having, but not everyone stands to gain from engaging in some type of reflection. 

My reflection is more with myself then expressed in here – it is my feelings my thoughts my worries. I spoke to some other students from my course and all like one are struggling with this particular assignment. I did try to keep track, but I’m very behind now … and sorry…

Recalling what have I done!!

Well, today is 22^ndof April – two and a half months after my last entry. So far, I nearly finished my Personal development blog – consisting of deep self-analysis, my skill survey and five-year plan. I still need it to send it to proofread, but so far, its only a few improvements so I considering that’s to be done.

The group project also is nearly over as next week our pieces going up in joined exhibition – all its left to do is a matter of evaluation.

I also today actually finished my painting, which turned out quite well – so it’s really pleasing, there is always can be b better outcome, but I don’t want to be very critical about it as I tried my best past few weeks. The million-dollar question is: if my course mentors will like it.

My final steps are to evaluate and finalise my sketchbook, as I been practising and developing different methods and techniques and it is heaps and stacks of material which needs to go in.

 How did it go??

Honestly – it’s been a struggle, not because of the amount of work, but because of a number of other things going on besides my studies. 

I found lack of time very unsettling. I pleased with my painting overall, but now its writing part whats left and thus 2000 words don't come easy for me in the perfect sentence.

I did a lot as in previous projects, followed my checklist - every week with edited with new tasks - its sort of kept me on track. I feel I am still on time for handing everything in two weeks time as long as I do my part of writing each day from now.

I would like to give my evaluation to proofread before the final hand in, but time is limited on this one.


A deeper analysis of my work I will leave to evaluation - so far its been experimenting with different materials, media and colour which I will return in last entry of my blog.


Overall two weeks are left of my studies, the three-year-old journey is taking a break and I so looking forward it.

Half term – exploring Ireland

After quite busy weeks of researching, gathering ideas about my final and so as other study related tasks I took the time off to visit my best friend in Ireland. 

Such a beautiful country, with amazing scenery. You would think the culture would be the highest level. In my surprise, it’s not as I hoped. My friend come to Ireland as an interior designer, she can do fashion as well, but Irish seems to be very simple in their choices. 600 years under English developed a fear of new and simplicity in style. She has never been able to find work in her specialty as no one needs that.

A country with amazing heritage has not developed a need for Fine art or its related matters. There are only a few galleries and auction houses. Mostly high end and government supported. 

When I thought England’s arts and crafts market is struggling – Ireland seems to be worse. I can’t say for sure there isn’t local small craft business trying to make a living, my google search did find some, but what I understand from my friend, who’s been there for 12 years and whose daughter finished art school – just to do social work – struggle is real. 

Economically country approaching a better level, according to my friend, but it's not the case of visual arts. The younger generation visual culture is now predominantly screen and internet-based, so there is not yet an emergent art-buying generation in Ireland, leaving the art market under pressure.

Performing arts - song and dance of the region and the other artforms that relate to these disciplines, such as story-telling -seems to have better response and it gets also more support from government.

Such contrast with Sweden, which I visited just a few months ago. Where culture, handmade crafts and art ware very valuable and popular - especially in the young generation.

I loved Ireland and will go back, but perhaps mainly for breath-taking landscape and amazing history. Hope in years to come there will be more interest in Fine Art as this is the only thing that was really missing

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I’m not OK, but it’s OK…

How strange, that few days can change everything. How I feel, what I think about the upcoming future and whole my life generally.

I know I’m a very pessimistic person, but it is a reflection from my childhood and there is no much I can do about it. I would say I’m an oversensitive pessimist.

I got some of my results back. They are not bad, but not good either. A subject I thought I will have lover mark I got a distinction. A module which I was enjoying I got only pass. Today's one to one session with a tutor (had to admit – fist in two years) showed that my perspectives are not great. My work is not big enough, my attendance is low, my participation in class is equal to 0. 

After years in the same college I feel so low that if I could, I would never go back. I know I’m overreacting and it’s all not that bad, but there is part of me know now – I’m not right for this course, I never have been. Three years ago, when I came back – all I wanted was to take ceramics short courses, but I was talked into taking foundation diploma fallowing foundation degree and here I am not strong enough to really be a higher education student.

I haven’t applied yet for next year and I doubt I will – there is no point. My gallery, other jobs, and family need as much time uni work and there are not enough hours in the day. 

If I never had a gallery, I would go for Birmingham Fine art course, but the convenience of traveling a short distance and familiar college seemed back then like a safe zone. And here I am killing my creativity over describing, analysing, researching, writing – doing everything, but not much of an art and doing it wrong anyway.

So know I don’t know what to do….I always had this plan, take a top-up year – finish the course etc. Now everything seems different, seems impossible to do that and try to jiggle my other life commitments. Next year lease on gallery premises runs out and maybe I will need to take a break till then – and try to find top up year somewhere else…