Sweet, Sweet productivity!

Hey guys!

Well well well… aren’t you all in for a treat? Two posts in the space of two days, what a lark!

Anyway, this posthas been made, essentially, to start putting up an digitally displaying some of my current work… I know the pictures aren’t up to scratch just yet, as they have only been taken on my camera phone, but they will haveto do for now, I guess!

First up, I thought I would display some of my Life Drawings –

Before enrolling at Hull College, I had never done any form of life drawing whatsoever! Sure, I had attempted something of the sort with my girlfriend Heather, in a kind of “Draw me like one of your French girls” Titanic way, but I must admit, I made a rather shoddy job of it, and refused to show her my measly efforts! However, since joining the course I have had quite a few oppertunities to emmerse myself in this most ancient drawing excercises, and I love it! We have two models that we frequently use, a bloke called Tony, and a girl called Lousie, both very friendly by the looks of things, though I have never spoke to them… funny isn’t it? That youve seen two people arse naked yet never even said a word! Anyway, they are both two very visually interesting people, and I love drawing and painting them! Tony probably more than Louise, as I just LOVE his face! Even though he is I would say at least in his forties, he has a boyish look about him which translates well into paintings and drawings, in almost every drawing or painting I’ve ever seen of him he looks about thirty! As well as this, he has a very strong countenance, with a square jaw, cheekbones and a jutting brow, but even with these very masculine features, he still manages to look boyish! Anyway, enough about Tony and his Face, here are the two paintings I did today –

For the first piece, we only had thirteen minutes to play with (Andi was very specific), so it is more of a sketch in oils than a painting. Rather than pushing around thick layers of paint ( a technique that I seem to have subconciously adopted in my sojourn into oil paints), I decided to use very thin washes, almost in a watercolour like fashion, using the white paper itself for highlights rather than futiley slapping on tons of white. I think it really works as a piece, and I’m happy with it!

For the second painting, we had a bit longer, about an hour and a half, roughly, so I thought I would revert back to my normal style… but I didn’t. For some reason, the Art Donkey ( see previous post ) that was so stubbourn in previous weeks and months (and years?) has, for some reason known only the the pesky ungulate, decided to, if only temporarily, moved to new pastures…

For the past week I have been idly looking at the works of the two Welsh artists Augustus and Gwen John, both extremely talented and respected artists that worked in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, after being informed of them by my tutor Andi Dakin.  I must say that I loved the style of both of the siblings, the arrogant, flamboyant and confident works of the brother, Augustus juxtaposed perfectly with the modest, delicate works of the sister, Gwen. Even though I didn’t notice this ’til the painting was finished, but in my painting I found a lot of similarities to Gwen’s style, the soft, muted colours, the serene expression, and the loose brush-strokes was appealingly different to my normal way of working, and I loved it!

The Convalescent – Gwen John (1923)

What prompted Andi to suggest Gwen John as a possible artist to look into was this painting I did last week, using Louise as a model. This isn’t an exact likeness of her, as I only used her for reference to creature this image. We only have her for another week or two, seeing as she is 8 and a half months pregnant, so thankfully we have a class with her tomorrow, happy days!

As well as these, I finished my Final Piece portrait… the photo I took of it is utter codswallop, so you will haveto do with a ‘sneak peak’ –

Hopefully I can figure out how to get a better picture soon!

Anyway, enough of that, I’m watching Star Gazing Live and I’ve missed most of it, so I’m going to leave this post here for now, to be continued!

Peace out,

– Alex

Well, might as well get on with it!

Howdy ‘dere!

Ok ok… it’s been almost what, five days since I first made this blog, and nothing has been posted, other than the drivel at the start… I promise I have an excuse, promise!

My girlfriend has, after a month being at home, gone back to uni today, so the last few days has been comprised of spending as much time as possible together… Gawwwwwh, its enough to make you sick, innit?

Anyway, there is no excuse whatsoever for my tardiness, none at all, so I might as well get on with it!

Right…erm…

Ok ok, a little writers block, to be expected, yes, to be expected…

Um.

Ok ok I’m being silly now, slap out of it, man!

For my latest piece in my Fine Art experience, I have been looking at the work of Late 19th to Early 20th Century portrait artists, to try and “get” the feel and composition of this most popular subject, the subject of oneself.

Now, not trying to sound like a pretentious snob, I really haven’t taken much “inspiration” from the works that I looked at, well, I have in one sense, but their style and technique hasnt persuaded me to try new ways of slapping down the ol’ paint. The thing is, dear reader, I find it VERY difficult to change my “style” of working, especially when i consciously try to! It’s as if I have a very stubborn, paint smeared donkey for an artistic mindset, whenever I try to introduce it to something new it just hee-hawhs a bit and digs it’s metaphorical hooves in, very frustrating indeed! In a sense, this is why I have chosen to do this art course – it will give me the opportunity to change my mindset on art, to slowly calm the art-donkey with kind word and the odd carrot, and to slowly lead it to new pastures.

One of the painting which inspired me the most out of the lots was this one, a painting by Gerald Brockhurst, titled “By the Hills” (1939) which I encountered at the Ferrens Gallery in Hull –

First of all, this photograph does not in any way do the original any justice (do they ever?), for this is a STUNNING painting. There really is a reason why it has been voted one of Yorkshire’s favourites! The technical skill and choice of pallet is astounding, and it is a hope of mine that, one day, my meagre skills will be anywhere NEAR that of Brockhurst. Ok, enough arsekissing for now! Even though this isnt a self portrait at all (Heaven forbid, who would have thought of naming a girl Gerald?), I just loved the pose, background and pallet of this piece. The girl who has been depicted is dressed in the clothes of the time of painting, very 1930’s Hollywood, and looks assured and confident, as well as having the slightly haunted look which is characteristic of most of Brockhurt’s portraits of women. Other than the figure itself, another thing that caught my eye was the background, partly because I think it was meant not to. Even though the piece is titled “By The Hills”, the emphasis is entirely on the figure, the hills being added almost as an afterthought, in washed out colours that look like a quick watercolour sketch compared the the striking and exquisitely worked figure, and I think it works extremely well! SO well infact, I decided to emulate this particular aspect in my own portrait, so stay tuned for pictures!

Another painting which caught my eye, yet again in the Ferrens Gallery, was a painting by Walter Greaves, titled Whistler on the Thames (1874)

Yet againthere is a scene in the background… a much more visually intrusive scene, but a scene all the less! This is a theme I found quite common in the portraits of the time, so, as I stated earlier, I would include one in mine.

Because I was looking at the painting style of the time, I wanted to, if not emulate it in style ( the Art Donkey wouldn’t budge), I would emulate it in composition and content, so I decided to paint myself dressed in the clothing that a budding young British artist might wear around that era, that is, not the bobble hat and hoodie one might find the Lesser Spotted Art Student (Homo drawanddrinkalldayiccus) bedecked in today. Theres no point really describing it now, as I will probably in the not so distant future be uploading pics and sketches anyway!

So thats about all of the artistic inspiration I can squeeze out of myself tonight, of course there have been other artists I have looked at, but I will look at them in other posts… One needs to fill out one’s blog you know!

Other than art of the more traditional kind at school, I have been getting on with my own, personal projects, as in, working on models for my Wargaming Miniatures webstore! (shameless plug coming right up)

I have been involved in Warploque Miniatures for just over a year now, and ever since it began in the winter of 2010 I have been steadily building up a range of Fantasy Orientated miniatures for the wargaming market, either to use in the games or just to paint and collect! It’s a nerdy passion, ok! Well haveto have one… *ahem*

Anyway, the realease of my lastest figure, that of a Giant (Fee Fi Fo Fum and all that Jazz) has been greeted with great praise, and, seeing as I DID as if I was allowed to put out-of-college works on here, I thought I may as well post pictures!

Here is a link to my website anyway, not that you’ll use it, but I suppose it’s like handing out a virtual business card, so what the hell! 😛

www.warploqueminiatures.co.uk

Anyway, I’m tired now, and a chicken and mushroom is waiting for me, so play safe kids, and don’t talk to strangers!

Cheers,

– Alex