Similarities and Differences: Introduction

My Second Coursework Project revolved around the theme of Similarities and Differences. It sounds confusing, but it's very open. You could compare mediums, textures, styles, designs, subjects, anything really! We had a very broad spectrum of work across our class.

But, we all started with the same still life.

 

 

A Sustained Drawing can make or break an entire grade sometimes. The more, and better quality drawings you have, the more marks you get. Hence why at the beginning of every project, our teacher set up a still life, and we had to draw it (apologies for bad photography).

This one she set up involved lots of contrasting textures, heights, metallic and varying states of organic and synthetic; a collection of weird, wacky and wonderful items to which nearly none of them match. Differences.

 

My favourite part was the bowl of wool (three guesses why...) but mainly because of the challenge it posed. This was solved by drawing in the strands themselves with long, sweeping pencil marks.

 

This drawing I did in half coloured pencils, and half tonal, so that in my annotation, I could compare them. Throughout the entire project, I tried to make everything as blatantly clear as possible. Which, I'm told, is a very good thing.

 

This project is shorter than the other one, as we had less time, and I myself went through a very bad patch, so was unable to work to my fullest potential. However, everything you do contributes to the final mark, so never give up.



Craft Review: Week 37: Sunday 2nd - Saturday 8th September

I went back to school this week.

But, it's a new school, and this time, I'm studying A-Levels - they're a lot of work.

Things are going to get a bit more sparse around here - There's only so much one can cope with when they return from school at 6pm, 11 hours after they left...

 

So, before anyone asks: Physics, Maths, History and Art. So, I'm not being completely hopeless, I do Art every single day.... Every Single Day!!!

The flip side of this is being the only girl in a class of 5 boys in Physics... I'll let you know how that gets on.... It would be better if they even tried to talk to me....

 

Anywho,back to where we were.

 

On Monday, before my return, I completed the other petals for mum's poppy. That's all; I still need to stitch them and create the middle, but I have the petals.

 

Also, on Tuesday, when I got home, I finished knitting a scarf for one of my cousins for either her birthday/Christmas Present.... (Photo unavailable, as mother has squirrelled it away!)

 

And then we have Art, where, at the moment, we are just drawing/painting/recording ANYTHING that we want AT ALL!!!!

It's just so wonderful.

 

 

 

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.

Bark Studies

One of the exercises my teacher made us do was to collect a natural object, then experiment in techniques and media that we wouldn't usually have used.

I picked up a piece of bark from our field.

First, I drew it, but not in my usual, photo-realistic style. I used cross hatching to create detail and texture. Personally, I think it strikes a particular resemblance to a whale, but others said it looked ok.

Then, after tracing the image onto a second piece of paper, I used torn bits of sugar paper to collage the image. I hated it. The colours were too bright, it looked too abstract... Then I slid the tracing paper across it accidentally, and realised it actually made it better. It's translucent nature dimmed the colours,and the lines I had used for tracing gave it definition. I offset it, so the sugar paper is still visible, but it gives it more character.

This is a particularly bad photo of the final technique I used. I applied layers and layers of different shades of brown paint to the paper, before using the tip of a blunt pencil to scratch in the details of the bark pattern. This is called sgraffito, and it worked rather well.

Clustered together, I use these three experiments as a reminder to step out of my comfort zone every once in a while, and try something new.

Craft Review: Week 27: Sunday 24th July- Saturday 30th July

Here we go... Another week gone by... ah, shame. This week though, mother started leaving me jobs and chores to do.... I've put the washing on now so many times, it's unbelievable! But here is what I managed to squeeze in in my spare time...

Lovely little Radar.... You've seen him before....

This Egyptian Eye-Thing Painting for my sister (she's the one who knows too much about the Egyptians, I have absolutely no clue. I just typed something into google and this idea came up)

It's painted with both acrylics and watercolours,and I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

I also painted my mama this lily. Lily's are her favourite  flower, and I can understand why.I had a bit of trouble trying to decide how to outline the petals, but I settled on silver ink pen. It looks ok, doesn't it?
Painting in acrylic and watercolour,with pen as well.

I also knitted a few more rows of my Ravenclaw scarf, took some photographs, and made some lovely cookies from a recipe on DeerLittleFawn's blog. Recipe here. I definitely recommend them, my friends devoured them in seconds. Seal of approval, I'd say!

Toodle Pip!

Corporal Radar O'Reilly

.....Of the 4077th M*A*S*H.

Drawn with B, 3B and 7B pencils.

I got bored yesterday, so I decided to do a pencil drawing. Tonal pencils have an amazing ability to be incredibly versatile. For this they are my favourite media.

This is Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly, Company clerk in the TV Series M*A*S*H. It's an old show, dating from the 70s, but set in the Korean war. Howeever, it relates to society today, still, with the ongoing conflict in the East, showing how hard it is in those situations. My mum introduced it to me in about January, and I have become hooked. Every night between 7 and 8, I watch the next two episodes.

I choose Radar, a) because he's one of the funniest characters there, but also b) because it shows the brutality that the draft took them to. Radar was drafted when he was 19, and is much younger at heart than everyone else in the show. He still sleeps with his teddy bear.

Also, it was an interesting picture.

I love drawing creases in clothes, as I find them very characterful. For example, here, Radar is smaller than everybody else, so his clothes (standard army issue) are too large for him.

Would it surprise you if I said that his corporal stripes were one of the hardest things to draw? That and his smile, the latter of which still hasn't worked.... If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

This was also my first encounter with a scanner... I think it turned out ok...

Now, I will leave you with a very short clip from the TV series. Enjoy!



Slate

Finally! Another Art Coursework post! This one refers to the section I spent studying a selection of slate rocks from by garden path...

Tonal Pencils

Slate

Clay

Above are the collections that I created from the slate: A Tonal pencil drawing, then the slate itself, and finally a collection of clay pieces that I shaped into the rocks.

Slate is interesting and difficult to draw because it is a layered rock. The splitting of these layers is easier than trying to break it up perpendicular to the layers because the molecular forces between the layers is weaker. Random Physics thrown in there.... either way, the effect was hard to replicate, as was the texture, in both the clay and the pencil drawing.

I like the pencil drawing. It was the most detailed one that I'd done up until that point, and it took me several hours. The shapes of the pieces themselves were intriguing, and rather complex, something I hadn't really planned for when choosing to study them.

The clay was more tolerable than usual. I detest clay, as it never does what I ask it to, usually. But, as These were smaller objects that I was trying to work with, I think it was easier - which is probably a fluke.

Painting them was fun as well... Instead of using glazes as we usually do in school, I used acrylics to create the dappled grey effect. This was more realistic, I found.

Overall, I'm very pleased with them. They could have been better, ut isn't that always the case?

What I learnt from this was to be realistic when choosing a subject to draw - the slate was difficult. It also depends on what  drawing style you want to use - photorealistic is harder to create than line or crosshatching. I also learnt to tolerate clay. For now.



Craft Review: Week 24: Sunday 3rd June - Saturday 9th June

This week, I did a lot of revision for my remaining exams. In less than a week and a half, I'll be free of them and school for summer.

But, to break up the time, I did some sewing; a change from my painting. And I am very pleased with the results.

This one's been in the pipelines for a while. I found some beautiful white netting with silver sparkles and knew it had to be used for this. The centre is also one of my favourite colours, so I'm really pleased. This is a ruffled flower brooch, I think originally taken from the book '20 Fabric Flowers'.

Here is another of my Felt Hearts. I love the ribbon on this, I got it around a present and it was a real wrench to use it. And, actually, to give away. This is going to my Art Teacher, it's the sort of quaint little colours and thing that she would like...

I'm actually unsure why i made this one. I don't know anybody who likes that kind of pink, nor anyone I could randomly give it to... I think it was just to use up the fabric because I don't like it.
Ah, dear.... Still. It's pretty, I guess...

Finally, I started some sketching for a Crafty-Ravenclaw Crest. I figured that my blog is just boring and needs a little something to brighten it up...

Toodle pip!

Greek Rock (how descriptive....)

Sorry! I seem to have neglected my coursework Posts for a while... This one is still following the theme of 'Surfaces'.


This was a double page spread, plus an A3 enlargement painting that I created for my project.
The inspiration came from my visit to Rhodes, the Greek Island, in one of the previous summers. I had found this piece of carved rock, perhaps once a pillar top or part of a cable, and it fascinated me. I loved how intricate the carving was, how intricate and delicate it was. And it made me think of how much history it must have seen, made me dream up all sorts of wonderful stories as to how it had fallen, or who had touch it. I love history.

For this page, I started with a pen and ink study of the painting, which I then photocopied, and worked into with Watercolour.
The result was beautiful, one of the best things I think I've done. It captures light and shadow, and the stone wheel in the background is gorgeous. Everything about this painting, I love completely.
I thin did an acrylic painted study, using heightened colour and a small section of the rock for enlargement. I used the paints 'dry' giving it that stony, scratchy look.

I love these, for their history and how successful the mediums were. This was a good way to continue my Surfaces project.

Craft Review: Week 14: Sunday 25th March - Saturday 31st March

This week mainly comprised of Art...... Which I in no way mind, but please notify me if you find it boring/tedious. Likewise, if anybody has a request for a drawing or a painting, please let me know. I would be thrilled to oblige.

Sunday

I Painted my lovely Rugby Players today. I love them, they're gorgeous. In all sense and meanings of the word....

Tehe. I love them.

Monday

I did some knitting for my second Fluffy/Buckbeack Scarf....

Tuesday

I did after school art, but as it is exam work, I am not showing you because I like to keep things secret.

Wednesday

I painted Matthew on Wednesday.... I was just extraordinarily busy and couldn't get to the computer to take a photo of him until Thursday...

I love Matthew also... His references were made from a combination of my favourite Rugby Player (anyone willing to guess?!) and the gorgeous Luke Smith from The Sarah Jane Adventures...

Thursday

Four hours of Art Exam prep work.... Joy.... and I mean that without the slightest hint of sarcasm. I love art, and I don't see it as a strain

Friday

I painted Allan (very late at night) and I nearly fell asleep in the process. Explaining for his arrival on only Saturday.

Allan, I'm not quite as in love with, but it's a nice painting, and he is growing on me...

Saturday

Yesterday, I actually painted Maya, but I forgot to take a picture... But I have now.

Tada!

Craft Review: Weeks 12 and 13: Sunday 11th March- Saturday 24th March

I had visitors last week, hence the lack of posts. We are also nearing exam time, particularly in art, so I'm beginning to panic (4 weeks until art, 7 until everything else).
But, I did keep my resolution, I keep trying to do some sort of craft every day, which is often my relief from all of my revision. thank god for craft. so this is what I've been up to:

Another Buckbeak Scarf

Pretty swirls

I started knitting another Buckbeak Scarf. I had another ball of wool, a hard day at school, and I decided to start another simple knitting project.

I decided I wanted to try and stitch a swirl into a canvas. This was just an impulse, I am now unsure of what I want to do with it or the rest of the canvas.

• I have been doing lots of art. Mainly for my exam, which is looming ever closer, but I still have been annotating my coursework books occasionally.
• I did a few rows of my Ravenclaw scarf.
• I collected a few more squares patterns for my Harry Potter Blanket.



Ben Youngs' Try, Twickenham, 17/3/12

• I'm also beginning to get a drawing urge... I want to draw something rugby related (I love it so much (Ben Youngs' Try last weekend....absolutely brilliant)), but I also want to do something a bit more whimsical... what yet, I'm not sure

I have a French Speaking exam next week, joy of joys, so I'll be freaking out until Thursday about that one... Otherwise, I will continue crafting as much as I can, as frequently as I can, and just look forward to the Easter Holidays.

Craft Review:Week 10:Sunday 26th February - Saturday 3rd March

I am afraid that, this week, I have been absorbed in my Art exam Prep, and finishing off my Coursework for that subject. It is beginning to take over my life. I have millions of ideas swimming around in my head, but I never seem to get round to them, as there is always some more work I can do to get me a better grade in art. It's not a chore for me, I love it, but it does detract from my time to do anything else. By Thursday 26th April, though, I will have finished, which is a daunting prospect... I also managed to get a load of bulk reading done. I haven't read anything huge for a long time, I haven't felt right. But, I am now on page 571 of Inheritance, about to begin the Chapter titled The City of Sorrows. Nobody tell me anything, I want to read it myself.

Sunday

I finished Knitting the sherbet lemon square that I started a week ago. I still need to add a few embroidered details, but its finished, and that's what matters.
Monday

I was rounding up my FIRST art project, finally getting round to write an evaluation for my first Final Piece, For my Surfaces Coursework. I now just need to find a picture and stick it all down.
Tuesday

I spent an hour and a quarter painting my SECOND Final Piece, for the theme 'Similarities and Differences'. It's huge, and it's taking me hours to complete.
Wednesday

I managed to squeeze some time for my other ongoing project... My Ravenclaw Scarf. I managed a couple of rows only though, which was very disappointing.
Thursday

I actually managed to have 5 hours of art today.... I had my two prescribed lessons, then, as we had a supply teacher for our geography lessons, and i had finished all of the work, I continued with my exam work in that lesson. I was doing some 3D work in  the lesson, and in Geography, I was doing a tonal pencil drawing of one of my best friends (my evil twin, Becky). Then after that, I had two hours after school whereby I continued with my second final piece. I astounded myself. All of the intricate pieces are now done. I now only have to block the edges, smooth the lines, and touch up places where things have gone wrong, and I'll be finished. It's beginning to look really good now as well.
Friday

I have limited time on Fridays. I did manage, however, to add some more detailing to the Becky portrait, and that's looking quite good as well.
Saturday

I added some more to Becky's portrait, and did a little bit of annotation for something in my other book. I had a day off on Saturday. I read over 200 pages of my book as well... I was a bit preoccupied.

Richmond Castle : Surfaces

This is another installation for my Art Coursework Archive.

Double page spread

This Coursework Theme was Surfaces, which was very vague and could have led to pretty much anything. I decided to take a walk down the historical route.

My first set of pages focused in Richmond Castle and its ruins, in Yorkshire. I visited there when I was 11, and one of the pictures inspired me.

I completed several studies, in different media, including charcoal, tonal pencil, oil pastel and acrylic paint. My favourite was the charcoal, as it managed to capture fully the rocky nature of the... well, rocks!

This isn't necessarily my proudest drawings or page that I've ever created, but it serves as a grounding to prove to myself just how much I have improved.

Pencil tonal study.

My favourite. A quick Charcoal study, with the addition of the photograph.