For this assignment I was expected to pull together the observation and practice I have done in part 2. I was asked to either work on a Still life or an interior scene or to do a combination of these. 

I decided to start the assignment by taking some photographs around my house of interior scene’s with collections of objects. I felt this was a good way of incorporating an interior scene and a still life at the same time. Below are some snap shots I took on my phone to get me started.

From these snap shots the image I felt most excited about was my recycling bin. I love the mixture of both colour and texture shown in this image so I decided to experiment with it further.

I did this by completing a few quick  rough sketches of the bin from different angles and viewpoints. 

Next I completed a drawing of my intended layout for my final piece I did this with biro and pencil. Rather than a finished drawing this was more of a line drawing/sketch so I could work out the best way to present my drawing.

My next step was to experiment with media. I have really enjoyed some of the experiments I have done with both mixed media and paint in part two so thought I should experiment further with these techniques.

My first experiment was white ink on black paper, I used this media in one of my earlier experiments having been inspired by artist/student Carol Smith. However I didn’t think this work of mine was very successful. My drawing looks flat and I haven’t really managed to show texture or tone effectively. I think this is a media I need to work on and develop further, so I decided to not complete my assignment in this media this time. 

For my next media experiment I focussed on the tin of vegetable soup. I used watercolour and biro and worked on top of a book page in order to try to show a bit more depth. 

I am quite happy with the result. I like my technique of the mixture of the book page, the watercolour paint and the biro, however some of my accuracy needs to be developed. My ‘vegetable’ writing for example is wonky and really alters the success of this drawing. 

For my next media experiment I used a mixture of scrap materials (from my recycling bin) paint and biro. I am pleased with this drawing and feel the scrap materials really add to the texture and depth of the drawing. I also think my use of bold bright colours really links back to the earlier Interior work I studied on Van Gogh’s bedroom series and Hockneys Montcalm interiors. 

This is a technique I would like to experiment with further. 

For my next experiment I tried to develop my technique further, by this time working on top of corrugated cardboard and adding layers by applying extra cardboard for higher layers and pulling away cardboard to reveal the corrugated card for lower areas. 

I then applied paint, I used a mixture of oils and acrylic and tried to keep my colour and style more expressive and bold like Hockneys and Van Gogh’s work rather than a more realistic style. 

Whilst I am pleased with this experimentation for my final piece I think it would be more successful if I included a bigger variety of materials rather than just cardboard as I feel my previous experiment was more exciting. 

For my final piece I worked a2 size and began my drawing by lightly marking out the outline. Once I was happy with the accuracy and proportions of my drawing, I then began to add collage. I tried to stick to materials I would usually find in my recycling bin to try to give the piece more meaning. 

Earlier on in the project I looked at some of Picasso’s paper collages. Even though my work is not cubism I feel I have still drawn inspiration from his exciting still life work. 

I decided to work in acrylic paint, one because it dries quickly and two because it doesn’t blend as well as oil paint does I found it was more effective in making more expressive brushstrokes like Van Gogh uses in his bedroom scenes. 

After applying my paint I worked on top of my piece using black biro in order to show more mark making and more texture. 

So far I am pleased with my work, I do feel however that it needs further work. Some areas are quite flat and look quite unfinished. I decided to work into my drawing using charcoal in order to add some more depth and tone to my drawing. Below is my final piece:

I feel I have achieved what I set out to do. I have managed to hopefully demonstrate a growing understanding of colour and yet stay expressive and creative at the same time. 
I am pleased with my observational skills and depiction of form however I am aware that this can still be improved further.

Throughout part two I have studied numerous different artists. I feel I have been greatly influenced by all of the artists and work I studied especially Van Gogh’s, use of colour and expressive brushstrokes, Hockneys use of bold, bright colour and Picasso’s paper collages. 

Reflection on assignment 2:

• Demonstration of technical and visual skills- materials, techniques, observational skills, visual awareness, design and compositional skills. 

Throughout this project I have displayed technical and visual skills which show my visual awareness. 

This is mostly evident in my finished drawings that I spent longer on including my flower bud drawing from earlier on in the project and then my a2 kitchen drawing which I spent a considerable amount of time on. Some of my quicker drawings however,  particularly some of the drawings in my house are lacking some accuracy in these technical and visual areas. 

For my assignment work my final mixed media drawing displays a huge range of materials comprising mostly of found two dimensional scraps that were mostly found in my recycling bin. It is also made up of both paint and biro that is used to highlight both tone and texture. This wide range of materials is also evident in my preliminary drawings leading up to my final piece including using textured cardboard in order to create an almost three dimensional effect and experimentation with tone and colour as well as different background surfaces. 

Compositionally, for my assignment I experimented with drawing my objects from different angles before I decided on my final design. I tried to take into consideration the viewpoint and angle I was drawing from and in my final piece I tried to show light and tone within my work. 

I do feel that the majority of my work manages to show atmosphere and energy and this is particularly true for my final piece. 

Throughout this project I have tried to experiment with different techniques, including mark making and line with different materials such as charcoal, paint, biro, ink and collage materials including cardboard, pages from books, celephane, foil, and scrap fabrics. I have also tried to experiment with different tonal techniques, including using white ink on black paper with chalk, and experimenting with trying to produce tone by mixing materials, such as cardboard with paint and biro with charcoal.

• Quality of outcome- content, application of knowledge, presentation of work in a coherent manner, discernment, conceptualisation of thoughts, communication of ideas. 

Throughout this project and throughout this assignment I have tried to communicate my thoughts and ideas in a coherent manner. 

I started my assignment by taking a series of photographs then from these photographs I completed a series of quick drawings around my recycling bin in order to realise the most effective viewpoints and angles. I then completed some experimental preliminary work which included experimenting with both materials, composition and texture. 

These preliminary experimental drawings gradually led to and informed the development of my final piece. 

• Demonstration of creativity- imagination, experimentation, invention, development of a personal voice.

I really enjoyed being imaginative and creative throughout this project and assignment.  I haven’t really experimented with mixed media or collage before so this work felt really exciting. I found that I worried less about making mistakes and more about being experimental and trying out new things. Looking back and reflecting on my work though I do feel like I could have taken this experimentation further, I could have aimed for my experimentation to be subtler? I could have used a wider range of materials or maybe even tried less collage materials and more line? 

I am happy with the energy in my final piece, I particularly like some of the textural effects including the texture and tone of the water bottle next to my recycling basket. 

Overall I am pleased with my work, I feel I have achieved what I set out to do. I have managed to hopefully demonstrate a growing understanding of colour and yet stay expressive and creative at the same time. 

I am pleased with my observational skills and depiction of form however I am aware that this can still be improved further. Especially in areas like the soup can and some of the smaller areas. 

• Context reflection- research, critical thinking and learning logs.

Throughout part two I have studied numerous different artists. Earlier on in the project I looked at some of Picasso’s paper collages. This work has greatly inspired my final assignment work. Even though my work does not show influence from his cubism works, it was his exciting still life collages that inspired me during my initial thought process. 

I was also inspired by Hockneys use of bold and bright colours and I drew inspiration from Van Goghs brush strokes and colour palette in his bedroom scene. I feel like my brush strokes appear even more pronounced when layered on top of textured collage materials. 

in my learning log I tried to be honest and tried to document both my though process and ideas in a coherent way. I tried to be reflective of my work throughout and to think critically on how to improve and how to develop further.