Similarities and Differences: The Houses of Parliament

 

A year and a half ago, I visited London to view an art exhibition in the Tate Britain with my family. We had lunch by the river, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Being the arty person I was, I sketched it in the about 30 minutes - ish. This photograph is terrible.

 

 

 So, when I had decided to study buildings for this project, I reverted to that sketch.I 'm not proud of these two pages particularly - they really could've been done as one page with lots of flaps and swinging things.
I tried a variety of different studies for media, neither of which I really liked, so I said that in my annotation. It proves selective thinking and an ability to form opinions and reasons.

 

I then did a page with reference to the Strasbourg seat of the EU Building,which, is very different. Much as I am iffy about modern art, so am I about modern buildings,and I said so. This particular building appears to be unfinished, for example! I also did a page of artist research on Monet's Parliament paintings.

 

I love Monet - his technique and the overall feeling of his paintings. I did a study of the painting in oil pastels (below), and I felt rather proud. This led me on to look at more old buildings, and at their features, as,although it is a brilliant painting, this one is only a silhouette. The real magic is in the sky and the river.

 

Bad photos again, sorry.



Similarities and Differences : Sport Now and Then

 

My first page in my new sketch book was an artist study Here I chose to study the Architect Zaha Hadid, and her design for the London 2012 Aquatics centre.

 

I did a Watercolour study and a pen study of two of the pieces of concept art. My favourite is the watercolour, as it gives a nice smooth texture,one of the reasons I like working in that media.

I also then compared the effects of each design,and the use of each media,crossing off of the list one part of the similarities and differences brief for one subject.

 

I then compared this with an ancient Roman amphitheatre, the third most complete one in the world, in Tunisia, in a town called El Jem. I used tonal pencils and photography to document this one, and then used these to compare with the previous studies. Then, I wrote a huge, A3 Page on this, and the comparison of the two structures. It was from this that I got the reputation of writing too much.

 

 

I did this a long time ago- last year, October-ish. I didn't know then that I would be visiting the Olympic park. But,now, in hindsight, I can add a photo of what the aquatics centre actually looks like.

 

 

It's pretty amazing.



Vase Studies

After exploring the world of Greek Pottery, my teacher urged me to take a look at modern versions, at flower vases and jars, also so that I could experiment in shaping the ellipses and curved surfaces suitably.

Here is the still life drawing I did. The varying differences in height, size and shape make for an interesting composition. As I had previously looked at the warm, earthy tones of the Greek's pottery, I chose to use colder, icier colours such as white, greys and blues for this study. I used oil pastel as my media, as I find they are easier to blend and give a smoother surface.

This picture is of the page in my sketchbook, including an additional study, picking out the highlights in blue across one of the vases. This one grew on me over time.

I also had to look at a modern day clay pot artist, so I was given Grayson Perry to contrast and do some research on

Now.I have this thing about modern art.I hate it.

It's disturbing, it's weird, and it practically never makes any sense and is often quite disgusting.Which is pretty much what I said in my annotation. That, and that my study was thankfully done in charcoal so that I could stop drawing it quicker.

So yes. That is my exploration into modern pottery.

Artist Research: Ancient Greeks

Following on from my earlier studies on a Greek rock, I decided to take a closer look at the various forms of art the Ancient Greeks had, particularly focusing on the pottery....

This is my information page. I compare the different techniques used for making the decorations, either red figure (left),or red figure (right). All the difference is made depending on what sort of clay is used, and in what order it is applied.

I also did a quick artist study  to replicate the technique and image. I, though, instead of using clay, used a pen and a piece of paper. Which, for a sketchbook, is probably the most preferable of the options.

I then took a look at the Greek Alphabet. I chose the letter sigma ∑, as it is also used in maths. I have this strange ability to like Maths and art. It's a toss up between which I like more. Those and physics.... but anyway. Cardboard printing makes a very interesting pattern, and an effective print. However, I get frustrated over its simplicity. Beyond the excitement of cutting out the image with a craft knife,printing is relatively boring.

This is a second information page, this time specifically focusing on the pots, their shapes, and forms of decorations, looking at colour combinations and average proportions.

This would later directly influence my final piece.

Craft Review: Week 11: Sunday 4th March - Saturday 10th March

Sunday

I started knitting another owl today! It's for a friend who is coming to visit next week... I tried to guess the colours I would want/need for her and chose a lovely blue, orange and yellow. Very bright, quite neon, and I think very her (her birthday card was neon orange and green, and she loved it...)

Monday

I finished off the little owl by stitching him together. Isn't he/she cute?

Tuesday

After school art, as always. So close to finishing, I can almost feel the elation.

Wednesday

Using this wonderful pattern fromSimply Notable, I began knitting for my mother for Mothers Day. It's a 'Teabag Cosie' as far as I can tell, which tickles me somewhat, and as my mother drinks truckloads of tea, I figured it appropriate.

Thursday

Art lessons, and art after school. I finished! Finally... Now I can fully focus on my exam work. I will get round to, at some point, finishing up my coursework posts. I don't have a picture yet, because I forgot my camera.

Friday

Today, I made a Red Heart, much the same as I did for my mother's birthday. This will be for my friend's mother, who is also coming for the weekend. The only thing that I changed was that instead of putting a bead there, I knotted it anyway (mainly because I've run out of beads).

Saturday

I was doing a fair bit of homework today, including a sprinkling of art. This sprinkling included some Artist Research from Van Gogh, Michael Craig-Martin and  MCS Escher...

Craft Review: Week 9: Sunday 19th February- Saturday 25th February

I hate going back too school after having a week off.
I feel so tired, and not rested at all. So, I end up starting crafts, but not really finishing them, grabbing time wherever I can... Which isn't much.

Sunday

I didn't do much... I had coursework prep and last minute bits of homework to finish, and then I fell asleep really early..... I managed one row of my Ravenclaw Scarf.

Monday

I added a few rows to my sherbet lemon square, before I got distracted. I was then too tired to do anything afterwards. I hate when that happens.

Tuesday

I spent an hour after school working on my coursework final piece. After 5 hours of controlled assessments in both French and History, I think it was warranted o do nothing else but curl up and cry when I got home.

Wednesday

I did a Historical Art study on Venetian masks for my Art work this week, being very conscious that my lessons were the next day, and I hadn't done much work to my art book over the holidays. I did a few other pieces, tidying up a few loose ends, and all sorts as well. My book is beginning to bulk out, which is very good indeed.

Thursday

I had my Art lessons today, so I count them. I did an awful lot of painting, both for my exam prep and for my course work's final piece. I have no pictures a) because the coursework piece is not finished yet and b) everything else is exam work, and I'm extremely protective over it.

Friday

At the end of the week, I really was ready for the weekend. Having, in that day only, been smacked in the face with a rounders post, a tennis ball and a friends elbow, I went home glad to resting ( I have no bruises, thank goodness). I got home, and I got out my watercolours. I painted four, quite small, very quick roses and added detail with a blue fine liner. I was then faced with the problem as of what to do with them, but at 10 o'clock at night, I couldn't be bothered.

Saturday

I made the four little free-hand rose paintings into a set of four note cards. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet, but I like the way they turned out, so this may be a new branch for me to experiment in. I'm also going to start looking at whether there is anywhere or anyone who I could sell my paintings to. I think it would give me more of an incentive in this rough time, to do art and take a break, if I got payed for it. Otherwise, every week would turn out like this one, working hard everyday, and and continuing that late into the night.

Henry Moore: Artist Study

Artist Studies are one of the key elements in GCSE Art. The first one we looked at was Henry Moore.
Most people looked at his sculptures, but I was intrigued by his paintings.

To the right is the double page spread that I produced. I loved the mystery within the receding depths, the concentric circles which darken and lead who knows where.

For a good artist study, you need the name of the artist and the piece, at least one good quality picture, a description, an analysis of the work, and a study.

The technique I used for my study is called 'oil resist' I drew in shapes and tone with oil pastels, and then painted in watercolours the other varying tones, mainly adding in the blue hues. I used the same technique to decorate the information page

My study looks a bit different to the original. It's lighter, for one thing. And to me, that section holds an intrigue to it... It looks like it could be a tunnel leading somewhere, the inside of a black hole, the underneath of a crested wave, a time vortex, who knows?! It's intricacies look so difficult, yet it was easy to make. I love it.

Craft Review: Week 2: Sunday 1st January 2012 - Saturday 7th January 2012

Sunday

Today, being New Year's Day, I didn't get much crafting done, except for a few rows of my simple Fluffy scarf.

Monday

I did work today, in one of my last free days before school restarted.

I did an artist research of the Japanese Print Maker, Hiroshige, for my art project. I picked out a building in one of his prints for my study.

Tuesday

I was running all over the place helping my Grandma today, so I only managed a few rows of my Ravenclaw scarf today. (I also started Reading Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, the last in the Eragon series. It's so good!!!)

Wednesday

I went back to school today. Oh dear. But, I did find this notebook at the bottom of my bag. It's my ideas book, my mood book, my inspiration. It was a pretty expensive notebook as well... £10 from WHSmith... But it is beautiful. If I find anything interesting in a magazine or in leaflets, I cut it out and stick it in here. As you may be able to tell by the various loose pieces of paper which protrude from its side, I haven't stuck much down for a while...

This is one of the pages I started working on today. Soft delicate pinks hinted with femininity. It's a beautifulcombination and conjures up for me the smell of soft roses lillies and irises...

Thursday

I had art today. All in all, I think I calculated 5 hours of it. Most of it was drawing circles.... I will not show you now, but in my myriad of coursework posts. Because I really do love my art.

Friday

I had mild concussion after being hit in the head with someone's elbow. I think I'll let myself off.

Saturday

I had to record myself speaking french for my french teacher -.- unimpressed. But, I did manage to do a little drawing.

She is different to what I would usually draw, and most certainly how I would usually draw. I'm used to drawing photorealistically, but this soft childish cartoon, has something quite charming to it.

I named her innocence, because that is the air I get from her. She is simple, and young, and she seems so shielded and happy.

I may start drawing like this more often.