#contextualfolder

Michael Mentler 

A fine art artist who works in pastel and painting

He works on distorting the figure to detract away from traditional forms by producing unique compositions and expressive mark making. Works mainly in neutral colours. However, generates a creative stance with the body form using geometric shapes and bright colours.

He enhances the element of line by mark making in a thick black line. Also, works on creating the negative space around the body to enhance the lighter areas found in the form.

This artist worked with the intricacy of material. The first image shows a sculpture using cigarettes and the second image shows how he carved out tape into little shapes to make a city.

It was fascinating seeing how he could make art so detailed and small with materials that you wouldn't think would be strong enough to hold a sculpture. 

Exhibition 

Here is an exhibition I visited near Manchester. 

What I liked was seeing the set of images on the wall which documented workshops made by children and their families. It helped me look at processes for workshops and how I could portray the result of what the children make. 

It reminded me of the exhibition I had at Manchester Art Gallery and the way we displayed the art the children had made in the workshops. 

Tate Liverpool

At the start of the semester, I visited Tate Liverpool to gain inspiration. This helped me view the professionalism behind scale and methods of exhibiting. I was really inspired by the way the artists filled the space they were given with material and shape. 

https://www.baat.org/

https://www.baat.org/Courses-Conferences

http://www.theartscollege.com/courses/arts-psychology/adult/adult-arts-psychology-workshops/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/arts-and-health/201807/art-therapy-it-s-not-art-class

https://www.ndnu.edu/education-and-psychology/graduate/art-therapy/workshops/

As I am wanting to make my degree show interactive, I have been looking at different workshop ideas for inspiration. I am looking mostly at the psychology behind a worshop and how it can develop into communication and reflection.

I will be coming up with my own worshop, but I have been inspired by the way workshops can make you think and feel. They are helping me understand the process and what explanation I need to do beforehand. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7005855

This is something I learned about on my art therapy foundation course. It helped me show the importance of non verbal communication and how art can act as a new language. This has been something that has inspired my art and the mark making progress.

Taking part in this workshop inspired me to want to do one myself. I want people to connect to my art the same way I connect to my art.

Inspired by these images

Here are some images I have collected which I have been inspired by. I was interested in the way the faces have been altered in order to shape the identity of the person. This is something I have been trialling with at the start of the semester in my sketchbooks and layering materials.