Johnny's Painting

When I was a little younger, studying under the watchful eye of Ann Crofts at MGS i remember that she taught me one very distinct lesson in oil paints. Always build up from the darkest colours get lighter as you go. This has no bearing on the link, although it made me laugh. I think part of the appeal of this sketch is the fact that there are such quaint, countryside painters who lead such sheltered tearoom lives that onset senile dementia is all parr for the course. I live in a part of the country where at one time or another i may have thought about painting hillsides for the locals......Thank God i dont!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRJxafiqHvw&feature=related

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/leonardodrawings/section.asp


Last week, whilst spending some quality time back home i was given the great surprise and honour of being able to see some work by one my most significant influences, Leonardo Da Vinci. What was so surprising about the pieces was that they were actually his lesser-known drawings and sketches.
This meant that the interest was high, although not perhaps as astronomical as it would have been if some of his paintings or dare i say it....the Mona Lisa came to the city art gallery.
It felt like a really keen mix of an audience with those new to his work and keen enthusiasts who have spent much time studying him...like myself. The blurbs seemed to go into a great amount of depth about his working methods, equipment and techniques. This was of paramount intrigue as it felt as though the exhibit had been tailored to those who really were eager to know the inside story.

I managed to assess the value of the exhibit to this module, stunningly, whilst being mesmerised y the sheer genius of the artwrk. All ofrhe drawing were hung in a simplistic format, in similar sized frames, stick in with tape, as though they were ripped straight out of a sketchbook, yet all pristinely mounted. They also decided to display some of the sketches in double sided plinth cases, which gave another dimension to the presentation of the exhibit.

My studio work also gained highly from the experience. When looking at the work i found one of Da Vinci's plans for a Madonna painting (see picture) that he would later complete. This is what i am looking for in my own work......the sigificance of plans and blueprints to the overall produced piece. Sometimes they can feel like works of art in themselves, although many people see them as merley another step in the planning stage of devlopment. For instance, there were some wonderful plays with washes and inks to give multi-layered sketches. Indeed, the very fact that his drawings (plans) were put on show makes it clear that my own plan to bring the same awareness, is possible. The final piece need not necessarily be a sculpture. In fact, i think it is more excitingof the sketches are put infront of you, simply hinting at the possibilities.

Audiences- First Thoughts

I began to think about the many different paths i could explore, concerning the subject of audiences and their impact upon the artist and the creative community, in relation to produced work.
Since it is always a crucial part of my work that i feel requires more attention, I have decided to focus on the presentation of my own pieces and how they are displayed to the spectators. This is especially relevant and significantly- timed, as it is ever more apparent that there is an impending show at the end of this academic year. This, in itself will require a lot of planning and careful consideration, so as to gain as much from the experience as possible.
Whereas in the past much of the work that has been produced has been sculpture or of a 3d nature, I have found myself concentrating on a very two dimensional work frame that is much more true to my person, i feel. As this work is more easy to replicate and play around with (much of it is and will be made in the print rooms) there may be more of a choice to pick from for a final or supporting piece, meaning that the aesthetic quality and presentation i am searching for may be more achievable.

This feels like a considered approach to my work and i look forward to documenting my findings and sharing thoughts and work with a digital communities!!