Compositional Aesthetics

For this project, Compositional Aesthetics we had to experiment with creating a visual handbook of ten images per book- however, each book was based on three different subjects- observational, mark making and drawings inspired by research themes. This project was quite challenging in many ways, mainly as we had to think spontaneously and come up with quick ideas and drawings- which is usually quite hard for me as i like to take my time to research and plan what I'm doing.

Observational drawings 

Here are my observational drawings in response to the Compositional Aesthetics project. As the title for this part of project was 'observational'- I decided to draw these at life drawing, as I was observing other people. It was actually quite enjoyable too, as they used different kinds of animal masks whilst posing- creating these rather unusual, quirky images- of half animal, half person. 

Prior to drawing these images, I was researching some of Egon Schiele's drawings, in which he has used white pencil to outline the figures in his drawings- for these compositions here, I wanted to experiment with using this technique. I think the outcome of this was actually quite successful as it really outlines, and accentuates the figures in some of these drawings. 

Mark Making

Inspired by Research Themes/ Archives

Prior to creating these compositions, I had been researching artists such as Marlene Dumas, Antony Gormley- trying to incorporate their sense of tranquility. 

Visiting the Picasso Exhibition

Another greatly inspiring exhibition that I visited whilst I was in Paris , was one of Picasso's called 'Picasso and Maya- Father and Daughter'. The exhibition features over one hundred intimate paintings, drawings and sculptures of his daughter, Maya Ruiz-Picasso during the 1930s to the 1950s. This collection of works and archival documents retraces the childhood and youth of Maya, spanning her birth to her coming of age. 

During the first ten years of her life she was a constant subject in her father’s drawings and paintings, who observed with fascination and tenderness her physical and mental development. 

Drawing Upon Inspiration

• Consider what drawing means to you? We are here to question, celebrate, explore and challenge concepts of what drawing is. You are to be provided with a photographic image as your starting point. This image will provide a reference point/trigger and inspiration for when you conduct your drawing investigations. You may respond to themes suggested by the photograph, e.g. sense of time, place, history, relationships etc. but you are not limited by this and so can develop and explore/expand upon your own interests and how these relate to your given photo. 

For the start of the project, we were each individually given an old photograph, which we then had to work from. The photograph that I was given, depicted a young woman- smiling, and with her hand on her hip. Depicted behind the women, were beach huts, with other men and woman standing around, also wearing swimming costumes.

Originally, when starting the project I did want to create a some kind of animation/ story book from the photograph we were given; however, we did have very little time to complete this project, and knowing myself, I didn't want to over complicate every tiny detail. In some ways I'm glad that I didn't end up doing an animation/ story for this project- as I'm still taking my time to figure out my own style of drawing, and I don't want to rush into a big project like that, with not enough preparation. However, animation is such a fascinating medium and I would love to try it out in the future.

This decision to discontinue with the story book left me quite confused however, after visiting the V&A gallery in London; I was slightly less confused with my project. The gallery itself holds some of the most profound figurative ancient sculptures; so mesmerising and delicate in their shape. As this projects title was called 'Drawing Upon Inspiration' knew that I wanted to begin my project with what I had previously seen at the exhibition. 

For these particular drawings, I wanted to incorporate these statues sense of elegance and grace of their posture into my drawings, which I feel I have done quite successfully. However, in terms of my personal style, I wanted to incorporate a sense of quirkiness into these drawings- by slightly manipulating their faces- transforming these beautiful women into per say 'beautiful' aliens

Overall, I am pleased with the outcome of these drawings. Essentially my aim for these drawings was trying to discover my own type of style of drawing - which is very important to me. I wanted to primarily focus on drawing only women, as I find there is a real sense of elegance, and beauty in a woman's figure. However,  I wanted to experiment further with making these drawings of women's figures slightly different- different in less idealised, perfected way.

I noticed that in my previous drawings, all the women had been depicted with perfect hour-glass bodies, which led me to focus on different body shapes, but also finding peace with your body. I've had trouble at times coming to tersm with my figure, which made this project wuite sepcial for me- as I wnated to project this idea of finding peace with your figure, and loving your body- no matter what shape or size you are.

For these two red compositions, I was experimenting with backgrounds in my images. I think that some of my drawings can be quite plain, which is why it was interesting to experiment with this. The image below, is quite comical- as i wanted to accentuate this woman's figure as much as I possibly could. It sort of reminded me of some of these women I see on Instagram with extremely large breasts, and abnormally big lip fillers. 

For these two images here, I was experimenting a little further with accentuating these drawings with more lines, making them slightly bolder, and more striking in their composition. For the image below, I added used watercolour to fill in this drawings body. 

Making Sculptures

 Although I had drawn all of these images, I knew that I wanted to experiment further with another medium. My boyfriend who does sculpture, suggested that I should try making some sculptures of these women. I've never really experimented with this medium so it was very interesting and enjoyable to do so.

 *****ADD SCULPTURES *****

As I had done so previously I wanted to experiment with creating different shaped bodies- making some ridiculously curvy, some very slim and some very large. I think these bodies as a series works very successfully.

 Conclusion 

From the beginning of the project, I was given an photograph of a woman- in which I enlarged this image, and drew out the outline of her figure- following this drawing, I experimented with drawing other very precise, particularly 'idealised' drawings of women, with very neatly  drawn bodies, but rather unusual facial features. Following this, I began to start making my drawings slightly more deformed, making some of their bodies slightly larger than others or more misshaped,  but also retaining these weird, unusual faces. Once I had played around with drawing different bodies, in different styles, making some more bold than others- I knew that I wanted to take my project a little further, which is when I began to use sculpture as a medium for my project. Creating around six different small sculptures of women, I experimented with making their bodies different sizes. 

Drawing Upon Inspiration: One Day Intervention

As part of the drawing upon inspiration project, that was given to us prior this week- we were given another studio day to not only work on this project, but possibly come up with some more, new techniques to collaborate with this project.

We were told that we had to enlarge the small, old fashioned image to an a4 size, and then work from it. When I arrived in class, we were each given an A3 sheet of paper, and told to just start making different patterns, or shapes from our original old fashioned image- this was quite overwhelming for me at the beginning, as I usually take my time to perfect my work however, this exercise allowed us all to think quick, and to just work from our instincts.

I began my composition by firstly drawing a woman onto the page, which I then copied twice more. Following this, I experimented using this gold paper, which you stick onto the page, and then tear off creating this unusual, faint effect. 

I then began to draw in different images into my composition, such as these unusual eyes, which I accentuated using pencil and black pen- to make them stand out slightly more. 

The composition as a whole still looked a bit plain, so I decided to draw in another figure into my drawing, and another face- but I also kept adding some more of this gold paper onto the image. 

Lastly, I used some black chalk to really define the figures at the top of the image; as it looked quite plain before doing so. 

In some ways todays session was very successful, as I experimented with different materials. I also think it was successful as I didn't really take too much of my time caring about making the image perfect, which is something that I always try to do in my work. However, I do think that I could have maybe experimented with collaborating some different materials a little more onto the composition. 

Ice Breaker Project

For the 'ice breaker' project, we were all put into groups of around ten people, in which we then had to somehow find a way to create a presentation on how we 'broke the ice' between all of us. It was slightly uncomfortable at first, as we had to practically force ourselves to make friends with people we'd never met before.

We initially all did some brainstorming together as a group, figuring out each others interests, likes and dislikes; but also planning what we were going to do as a group. This was some of the planning that we did in preparation.

 Getting to know each others interests... 

Eventually in our group we all decided that we would go to the pub, and draw each other. When I arrived there, we just drew each other for a couple of hours, having a drink and chatting, which was very nice. I was initially quite nervous before I went to the pub to meet them all, but because we were practically forced to talk to our group, it made me actually quite relaxed in the end and everyone was lovely.

For our presentation on how we 'broke the ice', we just hung up our work all together, and spoke about what we did. From the images below, it's very interesting to see everyones different styles of drawing and techniques so early on in the year.