MASTERS PROJECT PROPOSAL
MP proposal and changes.
It was beneficial to look again at MP proposal and remind myself a few things. I decided that I won't make a new file and rather just put my thoughts here.
When I was writing my masters proposal I hold back because current uncertainty. I guess it's just saving myself from disappointment of not being able to complete my tasks because of circumstances that I don't have power over. For example, physical exhibition which I really wanted to happen.
I also, was keen to find meeting points between folk art and stories with my creative work but I think my research took me to a wider point. I was still looking into artists who does repetitive work, depicting similar characters. Furthermore, I looked at illustration books and looked for similar artists and or connection points with my creative work.
SKETCHES
The beginning of inspiration search.
While reading feedback from previous work my attention was caught by word malevolent . It had a meaningful weight for starting sketching new ideas and continue my creative path and depict pancake faces in grotesque way.
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MASK=UNIT
From a mask to a unit of something...
I call them masks but that's just their previous purpose. The moment I glued paper pieces over their eyes they became units with a purpose to form something in the ned of this journey. They are not meant to be worn or treated as an accessory in some ritual, they form a unique creature and it's up to me, as an artist, what is it going to be. In the start of the path I imaged a relief artwork as a bird and in the end it became a 3D egg.
So maybe it was egg first and then chicken?
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LINO CUTTING
A little lino cutting and printing kit.
I was always interested in printing, however, never had time or opportunity to try it. I thought I will be able to it at NUA. First term seemed quite busy and then Covid happened. I was excited as I thought coming back September will definitely let us use facilities as before. To the great disappointment virus has mind on its own. I thought even though I won't be able to learn screen printing or etching which requires space and equipment, at least I can purchase a small lino cutting kit and touch the surface of learning printing. I must say I really enjoyed it and I will try do more similar work in the future.
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AUDIENCE
A mini exhibition with ArtSteps.
From the comfort of your comfy doughnut (just like the cat on the left) you can visit many exhibitions online. A positive outcome of something negative that made us readjust in the blink of the eye.
It was my first time doing exhibition online using such platform as Artsteps.com
I think as for a fine art student and someone who prefers in person experience just because most of the senses are part of the experience I find it a little flat. However, it is wonderful to see artworks in scale and helps to imagine the event.
I created a small space. Very much on purpose. As getting a wall space in real world could be pricey and often a struggle. And in a different setting of events I would have been looking for a similar size space to show my work. So instead being very dreamy I wanted to see how it might have looked in a small space.
Unfortunately, I couldn't create a 3D picture of the egg for the Artsteps exhibition and marked its location by placing a unit in the middle so it could be looked at from every angle.
An exhibition at Greyfriars Art Space, King's Lynn.
I think I sent them my first enquire email in the end of the Summer. I was hoping to book a space closer to home where I could show most of my MA work. I didn't hear from them. I tried again and still no answer. So one day when I was in King's Lynn I decided to investigate. To the deepest disappointment I came to a building site and I was thinking I would rather be just ignored than seeing it closed.
I just hope that there is still hope for smaller cities to find their strength and keep their artist somewhat alive and inspired.
VAO - Visual Art Open Chester.
I was part of the competition since last term. During the time off I found out that I was accepted for the second round of judging. Unfortunately, I didn't win. However, I was noticed and then received email from one Visual Artists Association asking about my current work and future plans, inviting me to become a member and speak with art advisor Ian McDonald.
Due to watching my finances and getting into much financial commitments I decided to hold onto the invitation and revisit it in the future.
Banditto Residency in Tuscany.
I was talking via email with Banditto gallery's founder Roy Ockers. He invited me to be part of the competition for the residency. Even though it's hard to plan anything these days I decided to enter as dates of the residency was my choice. However, I didn't win.
While working on this assignment I, of course, had to Google the gallery. What I didn't see before that it came up with search results as 'Banditto art gallery scam' and similar. I read a few artist's blogs and other artists comments. And left me bitter as I don't know what to believe and I think this is a great lesson not to be all joy when receiving an invitation email. On the other hand, their website seems impeccable and it could be someone else's internet shaming or similar.
After this experience, I think University should talk to students of any level not just about endless possibilities but also about challenges and people who might want to take advantage and mistreat artists.
Future plans.
For the start, I always wanted to become a member at Curator Space. Even though being part of Tokyo or Venice exhibitions is an amazing experience, so is local, UK based events. As well as showing my artworks in Lithuania.
Also, during Covid it would be a good practise to work more with Artsteps and create more exhibitions online.
Mask Art.
Since I work in small shop and serve a lot of masked people all day I started to notice that mask design is changing and people choosing something more than regular.
And recently looked at few companies offering a service of personalised mask design. I believe that art on the mask is one - exhibition without walls and secondly it adds value to this accessory and maybe, just maybe, it won't end up on the streets and then oceans.
On one of the masks I used my work from previous term 'Dead Body'. As it evolved during first peak of the pandemic, it gave a different emotion to the created character.
I ordered one of the designs and looking forward to see how it turns out.
Also, I would like to note that this was a first time of making a GIF file. I taught it myself from one of the YouTube tutorials.
Pecha Kucha.
I decided to add Pecha Kucha along side exhibitions, as it was mentioned, it's all about audiences and who do we reach during presentation.
It was my first time doing Pecha Kucha and we had a different than before setting of presenting it online on Teams to our tutor and peers.
Even though I made 16 slides I believe I did alright and stayed in 20 second frame very well. In my presentation I talked more widely about my work than just about MP. I felt like it was necessary to start from the beginning as I haven't done a previous Pecha Kucha. I imagined that we will have a wider range of peers so I wanted to represent my work in general than just focus on current work.
In ideal world it would beneficial to exercise talking in similar time frame about work and practice to make sure I am able to define my work and I clearly know my path.
Press to open Powerpoint file.
INSPIRATIONAL RESEARCH
EDGAR ALLAN POE
When I was suddenly inspired by one single word 'malevolent', I turned for darkness to Edgar Allan Poe.
Mostly I was listening to the stories on YouTube.
If to be honest, I didn't expect such darkness. I believe we just have a different shade of darkness that comes to expressing ourselves. However, I am intrigued and would like to read more and let it grow on me/ inspire.
Beatrix Potter
A name that could be used in a definition of illustration.
We might not have meeting point but I wanted to get to foundation of illustration. Why and how a certain passion can take you to different places.
And I doubt there are a lot of people who have never seen or read the tale of the cutest little rabbit - Peter Rabbit.
ödön von Horvath
Edmund Josef von Horváth was a German-writing Austro-Hungarian-born playwright and novelist.
While researching found something else to add up to human - bird relation.
'So she went into the forest and asked the trees, but the trees only murmured: the elves have long since left the meadows, the dwarfs have abandoned the caves, the witches the ravines. And she asked the birds, but they said: "Human beings fly faster than we do-tweet, tweet, there are no more human beings!'
Zipes, Jack, and Jack Zipes. Breaking the Magic Spell : Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales, University Press of Kentucky, 2002.
Mark Hearld
I find this artist close to my heart as when this book got to my hands I saw a different world of illustration. Pages were filled with love for British landscape, animals and what first caught my eye - birds. Actually, exactly this book and this artist inspired me to get lino cutting and printing kit and try something different myself.
Mr. Simon Martin Mark Hearld's Workbook 2012
A picture taken by me from the book.
Lisel Ashlock
Similar situation as with Paul Davis, when I couldn't find the artworks I liked online. As it seems her illustrative work changed more towards animals, plants and nature in general. No sign of this semi - surreal style.
I was drawn by these pictures as it had birds in it. In particular artwork on the right as bird is being held like a gun. Very curious symbolism.
Portrait of Patty Hearst, 2005
STIK
British graffiti artist based in London, he has been painting all his life but only began getting recognition when he started painting his recognizable stick/Stik figures (without permission) on the street over a decade ago. He was either squatting or homeless for a good proportion of the time he has been a graffiti artist, and was at a St Mungo’s hostel in Hackney up until 2011. His murals started out in Hackney Wick in London and spread to Shoreditch and west towards to the rest of London. These days you will be hard pressed to walk around Shoreditch without catching a glimpse of one of Stik’s large murals – usually on shop shutters and walls.
This gives me hope that one character which quite simplified can reach the right audience and don't run out of ways to be depicted. If a stick man can make it, maybe pancake face has a future as well, even if it's not on the street walls.
Stik Stik 2015 London
STIK 'Dancer'
Digital pigment print in black and red on stiff wove paper approx. 46 x 21,2cm
2011
Eugene Shadko
Contemporary painter, lives and works between Minsk and Budapest.
I found him on Instagram. The first thing I was drawn by face distortion.
In the process of MA I'm moving between illustration and very grotesque paintings with very free brush strokes. I think it's building an inspiration for something in between in the future.
Untitled
2019
Robert Ingpen
Another illustration grand.
Simply wanted to explore foundation and let curiosity walk me through famous, widely known artists.
It's nice to put sweetest characters that raised me and my imagination and put it along side face of the artist.
For the picture below decided to find something less pop. And learnt a story of the Scottish witch Isobel Gowdie.
Isobel Gowdie
No date
Brian Grimwood
Just fascinated...
A grand of illustration and I was wondering how all this slipped through my attention.
So many illustrations seen somewhere, everywhere. But mostly surprising was the whiskey label which I've seen in my dad's home bar as kid. You'll never know when and how art is going to appear and suddenly it will make sense.
Maybe I can't compare artistic style but to know such name is a great plus.
Screenprint
1970
Anna Madia
A Italian artist based in France.
Full of mystery paintings, usually depicting young girls and guys who most of the time covering their face or painted with turned back.
I really enjoy the mood and colour pallet.
Queen II
Oil on canvas 2015
Lit Reactor
Authorial Artists: 5 Painters Who Also Wrote
A column written by Christopher Shultz.
It was beneficial to get to know that one of the most popular artists also used to write to express their creativity. Their importance and weight gives courage to try something new without fear of failing.
https://litreactor.com/columns/authorial-artists-5-painters-who-also-wrote
Brad Holland
American artist, illustrator.
I was so surprised I have never came around him before. I think there are a lot of meeting points in comparing my and his creative work. The dreaminess of paintings are very inspiring, quite dark, grotesque.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find name for this painting. I chose it because of quite obvious reason - red cheeks and roundness.
https://www.bradholland.net
Paul Davis
OK. I found him in a book by Julius Wiedemann 'Illustration Now Vol.2' There was just very basic information, an artist quote and a few pictures of his work. Which I found quite relatable a he was depicting King Lear and Janus with a yellow hat but I couldn't find anything like that online, not to mention no existence of his website.
https://www.heartagency.com/artists/paul-davis/
'The Book of Flow'
Artwork from the monograph ‘The Book of Flow’
Michael Ayrton
Ayrton was an English artist and writer who worked as a painter, printmaker, sculptor and designer, and also as a critic and broadcaster.
He was also a stage and costume designer.
I found him through other artists. Some paintings caught my eye of vivid colours. I chose this particular one 'Portrait with Pears' as it reminds me of my own theme.
http://www.artnet.com/artists/michael-ayrton/28
'Portrait with Pears'
Oil on board, 1944
Silvia Idili
My attention was caught by this particular painting as the shape on the face reminded me of the bird.
By looking more into this artist, I found she depicts similar characters with some distortion on their faces - eyes or mouths.
Dark and mysterious vintage type of portraits with mysterious touches.
Visionaria 38
Oil on wood, 2018
20 × 20 cm
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Slipknot
During the All Hope Is Gone era Slipknot introduced their "Purgatory masks", these masks were large Mardi Gras versions of their death masks. The masks were made out of a material which is believed to be similar to papier-mâché and are full headed masks which are disproportionately larger than the band member's bodies. The masks were used in promotional photos taken at the farm/studio were they wrote and recorded All Hope Is Gone. The photos were used as teasers prior to the release of All Hope Is Gone as well as in the booklet of the album. The Purgatory masks were ceremonially burnt in the music video for "Psychosocial" (which was also shot at the farm/studio were they wrote and recorded All Hope Is Gone) because the masks represented their egos and they were destroying all which they meant.
From: https://slipknot.fandom.com/wiki/Purgatory_Masks
While listening to music I noticed these masks and I thought it's so similar Frank Sidebottom and then my inspired plaster of paris pancake head. All quite connected by folklore traditions.
Julia Silvester
I looked this artist up simply because of birds being big part of the creative work. But I think her paintings offer so much more meaning and ideas about simplified interiors, just being, existing. I think during the pandemic these paintings would have even deeper meanings. A survival of staying at home sane but safe.
Also, interesting way to look at it through my chosen theme perspective - Human walking Bird. How is it differently depicted and what could be learned and applied.
Nesting
Oil on aluminium, 2020
John Minton
English painter, illustrator, stage designer and teacher. After studying in France, he became a teacher in London, and at the same time maintained a consistently large output of works. In addition to landscapes, portraits and other paintings, some of them on an unusually large scale, he built up a reputation as an illustrator of books.
Figure in a deserted landscape
Pen and Ink and Gouache, 1942–1942
Marisol Escobar
Simply known as Marisol, was a French sculptor of Venezuelan heritage who worked in New York City.
Marisol cropped, enlarged, reframed, and replicated her subject matter from contemporary life in order to focus on their discontinuities. Paying attention to specific aspects of an image and/or the ideas outside of their original context, allowed for a thorough understanding of messages meant to be transparent.
Women and Dog
Wood, plaster, synthetic polymer, and taxidermized dog head, 1963–64
Edward Gorey
American writer and illustrator known for his cheerful yet dark illustrations.
Wonderful piece in New Yorker which by the way is audio too.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/10/edward-goreys-enigmatic-world
Never Get on an Elevator Alone with a Foreign Woman,
T.V. Guide cartoon, 1988
Marlene Dumas
Marlene Dumas is a contemporary South African artist and painter currently based in the Netherlands.
A wonderful example of grotesque and distortion.
It would be tempting to try a similar style on pancake faces, less colours - more horror.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Oil on canvas 100 × 90 cm, 2008
Peter Sis
A wonderful finding in one of the books. I was fascinated by the detail and mass of the landscape.
While looking for more information online, found that he illustrated twelfth century Persian poet Farid Ud-Din Attar's epic poem The Conference of the Birds.
In the link you'll find a wonderful interview with the artist.
https://www.npr.org/2011/11/16/142396491/in-birds-sis-makes-a-dream-world-for-grown-ups?t=1606490270462
A Feathered Gathering
Pedro Avella
Columbian artist who lives and works in Germany.
I found him in one of the illustration books. I like his rounded characters and simplicity.
When I was trying to find more information about him, kind of hit a wall as couln't find anymore information or decent pictures. The one I'm using here I took with my phone from the book.
Auszogne, German cookbook 2008, personal work
Marina Kharkover
I found her while going through illustration books. I think my attention was caught by intense colours and quite evil looking characters.
It adds up nicely to my research not even what she does but even what she says.
To the question 'What's your biggest temptation?', she said 'Freedom'.
Benaroya, Ana Illustration next: contemporary collaboration/Ana Benaroya 2016 London
http://marinakharkover.blogspot.com/
Digital Collage 'Masquerade'
Elisabeth Frink
English sculptor and printmaker. Her Times obituary noted the three essential themes in her work as "the nature of Man; the 'horseness' of horses; and the divine in human form".
I think it would have been more beneficial to find her when I was doing my bronze pieces and have some more inspiration, maybe different approach to some ideas.
Daisy Collingrindge
A textile artist from London. The creator of Squishy. She layers amorphous blobs of fabric and textiles to form wearable pastel-coloured body suits. With names like Burt, Clive, and Lippy.
They seem like pancake faces skinless cousins.
That's one strong sentence to describe how I feel about finding this artist and Squishies.
A portrait of Clive
Mask, jersey and wadding, 2017
