For the last project of A2, the main theme was set to be about the SE1 area of London. This meant we could look at artists, architecture, writers or anyone who was based within or was influenced by London. To help me start up with the project, I conducted a mind map which to me I find very helpful as it helps me to  organise my work and help me find direction within my work. Initially I intended to go on a trip to London to find a nice area where I could discover buildings or museums or people which could give me my initial inspiration. I focused on trying to come up with a brief but I felt by coming up with one so early that it would trap me and not let me find what I actually want to do. So in this case, I did some artist research and second hand research which then helped me come up with a brief and direction.
Throughout the project, I compared all the other past projects I have ever done, I actually managed to get my time management correct. I planned myself well and constantly worked on my book and artwork which let me build a strong idea and portfolio for it. To me, the most difficult part of the project and where I struggled most with time management was at the start, where I didn’t know what direction to take or what I wanted to focus on. This meant I couldn’t do much work and plan my time well as I was confused. After this stage though and I had discovered what I wanted to do, which meant I could run with the project and constantly have ideas which made it easy to construct a timetable of work to do and get my time management correct. Overall, I think this project went very well and I am very proud of the work I have produced. If I did have more time, I would have focused on actually creating more experimental work based on my findings from artists and locations.
After going to London, I focused and looked at the London Borough region. Here is where I discovered my first initial inspiration which would drive me to look and get my outcome. This was Southwark Cathedral. Straight away the detailed architecture interested me. From this I gained first hand research by taking photos of the area and doing some drawings to understand the shapes used within the architecture. From this I decided to look into and research other buildings of similar interest within London. From this I then looked at St Pauls Cathedral which was designed by Christopher Wren. Once again, I made various studies, looked into floor plans and also the smaller details of the building. Â I then finally knew my brief and where to look next.
The next step was second hand research for me. I looked at four main artists in total who gave me inspiration to gain skills and techniques to paint how I wished. I looked at John Piper, John Virtue, Paul Kenton and Valery Koshilyakov. They all had very different but similar styles of work which of course links when you look at it, but was very interesting to look at as you saw something new each time. In my opinion, I think I conducted my research well, making in depth research. With every artist I looked lightly into who they were and what they do then looked at their art work so that I could pick it down into techniques and composition. From this I made experiments. This research helped me a load.
My sources, I got my research from, were mostly first hand where I went to the actual site or second hand from the internet. I found all of my research very useful and helpful and as I managed to gain a bulk of it, I never ran out. As the project didn’t contain a lot of time, I didn’t have enough time to look into other artists. I feel I did enough artist research but I also had a few very good artists I could of looked at and would of enjoyed to.
My development was mostly done based upon my artists and their techniques. From what I had found from each artist I made experiments which helped me try out painting techniques to find out what I liked. Also from looking at my first hand research I conducted experiments looking into composition to find out what I was actually going to paint in the final piece. I think I could have done more initial development and combinations of all the artists techniques as I feel this lacks a bit in my book.
Drawing is the basis within my book and is the most important thing. It helps out a lot as it helps you gain an understanding and knowledge of what you are studying. Drawing compositions, images and constructions of the buildings helped me gain understanding of the shapes to which I would find easier to use later on in my paintings. I feel my experiments went very well throughout my book as after them I managed to come up with three prototypes to which then spread onto my final outcome. I feel as development went very well as it gave me knowledge and a clear understanding of what I was trying to discover and find out. My main influences within my development and paintings were Valery Koshilayov and John Piper.
I am very proud of my final outcome and I feel that I pushed hard and managed to capture the feeling and mood I wanted to perceive within it. My most important qualities of the work was movement. I wanted to capture this as all the artists I worked with worked in fast past scenes where they would paint in front of the buildings. I also didn’t want to add much colour to my piece, so I made it monochrome as I wanted to focus on just the shapes and composition solely. My final piece communicates the building of St Pauls which is a very famous building within London, I think I have communicated this well and managed to pull a twist on the piece. I used nice and warm colours which would complement my brief.
Overall within this topic, I have learned so much. I have learned a lot about time management, independence, movirtiation, research, painting styles and techniques. Before as a person, I wasn’t very keen on painting and would avoid it as much as possible but I think this project has given me the confidence to constantly try something new and note that experience is key to getting where you want. Overall, I feel this project went so well and I am very proud, the only thing I feel I could of worked better on was to not panic and just keep on working.
