Personal influence

An art blog I follow called artists and artlovers is an inspirational page to me as this page posts a range of art diciplines and many different styles that could possibly be explored.
https://plus.google.cojm/u/0/100180908095233216305/posts


An artist that inspired me a lot through my recent exquisite corpse project was an artist called Eugenia Loli, this artist creates very proffessional, clean collage pieces containing imagery that juxtaposes to create a dream like reality with its own subjective narrative. 

I really enjoy her use of colour and sometimes inappropriate combinations of images, however no matter what the context it is always produced professionally and is always done tastefully.













A second artist who's work inspires me is Ben Heine, this artist combine photography and illustration to create a fun and playful reality in a very unique way.

I find this artist an inspiration because he uses the world around him for to gain ideas and then adds to his surroundings, also a technique like this has endless possibilities.





                             Own work:

This is a piece I created in response to Eugenia Loli's work, I made this by collaging vintage photographs of my great grandparents to give an authenticated feel, I then further developed these pieces by touching up any rough marks or cutting errors to create a multi-disciplinary series.

This is another piece of work I created, for this I simply completed an illustration of a Kiwi, my sources used were the internet. I did not have a particular influence for this piece of work however I am pleased with the outcome as I feel it is well drawn and the proportions and tonal ranges have also been completed well, however if I were to add to this piece I would take more time adding texture to the body as to make the image more realistic. 

Presenting Art Pieces

You can present work in many different ways, below are examples of presenting work and what types of work they are suitable for.


Framing a piece

This is suitable for paintings, drawings and usually flat based work can be done with or without a sheet of glass.

However some pieces such as a collage may be framed usually under a sheet of glass.









Flat Mounted 

This is also suitable for flat pieces such as paintings, this is where the canvas is placed over the supports made to keep it in place.

A similar method is foam board mounting where a image such as a photograph is placed onto a foam board which lifts the images as thought it's on a canvas which would then be flat mounted.









Glass cabinet

As seen in many galleries, glass cabinets usually hold something 3D and are designed for looking closely at the the piece but not touching it.

Pieces in these cabinets are usually sculptures or pottery-like pieces.









Hanging a piece of work

Hanging pieces are suauly either 3D objects but you can also hang canvas pieces. These types of pieces are secured with sturdy metal systems that keep them safe from falling.















Large scale pieces

Large scale pieces such as tall sculptures or painting can also be presented in their own room to be viewed or outside in the public.

Art Movements 1890-1966

Art movements are specific styles of art, usually aimed towards a goal that reflected events of the time period. Art movements are important because the work usually tells us something about the history of that time and because they influence the modern artists of today.

Art Nouveau was a movement that swept through the late 19th century and early 20th century. Art Nouveau was a response to the poorly made decorative arts of the time, the movement sought to bring back good workmanship, create modern designs and bring a good status to craft. This movement spread throughout Europe and was aimed to create more appropriately modern designs rather than the designs used by the Victorian era.

Key artists include Louis Comfort Tiffany and Aubrey Vincent Beardsley.

The Art produced usually included lines, straight and curvy, and use of nature such as flowers, leaves, roots and buds. The work was usually very graceful and delicate looking. Art Nouveau was considered to be the first style to stop taking ideas from the past and gain inspiration from the natural world.

Dada began in 1916 in Zurich, Switzerland. From 1916-1923 Dada was considered an anti-war movement in Europe and New York, the message was a protest to traditional ways and pro-war society. Dada involved visual arts that included topics such as politics and culture.
The name for Dada was randomly selected in a dictionary and in French means 'hobbyhorse' , in German means 'there there' and in Russian means 'yes yes'.

Key figures such as Hannah Hoch and Raoul Hausmann created influential pieces of work.

The characteristics of Dada were combinations of fine art, including collage and photo montage. Dada later went on to influence other art movements later such as Surrealism and Pop-art.

Surrealism was influenced by the earlier Dada movement, surrealism began in Europe between WW1 & WW2. Surrealism represented positive expression to a reaction of rationalism. Surrealism art is highly imaginative, the Surrealism movement where inspired by the mind, the art produced from this movement brings reality and non-reality together.

There are many famous pieces of art for Surrealism, one artist for example Salvador Dali

and Rene Magritte

The idea of surrealism was to let your subconscious express itself, the characteristics of this style was painted illogical scenes with high precision to create these dream-like, sometimes unnerving, pieces of art.

Abstract expressionism is a post WW2 art movement that developed in the 1940s.

The movement gave New York international influence and put NY at the centre of the Western art world. Abstract expressionism was influenced by Surrealism, instability in Europe's economy in 1930 brought leading Surrealists to New York. Other abstract expressionist artists that had matured in the 1930s were influenced by the era's leftist politics.

Artists associated with Abstract Expressionism are, for example, William De Kooning and Jackson Pollock. 

Abstract Expressionism is considered to be done in two different styles, for example Jackson Pollock and William De Kooning are considered 'action painters' which is an expressive painting style and is a spontaneous working style. The other is a more passive style of working, focusing more on reflection and mood such a Mark Rothko's work (last).

 

Clay - COSHH

When working with clay there are a lot of health and safety regulations 

Clay can produce silica dust this dust is hazardous and can cause a serious lung disease called silicosis which can cause permanent disability and early death. This dust is so fine that it is invisible under normal lighting, being so fine this dust can get into the deepest part of your lungs. Thing such as drips and spills that dry are a source of the dust.

Areas should always be washed with damp cloths or mops to avoid the dust lifting up into the air and rooms should always be well ventilated. If your clothes get clay and slip on them and then dry out this can also be a source of dust exposure. So too keep the number of dust sources down don't let clay or slip dry out.

Handling used molds can also create dust, avoid hand sweeping dust or cleaning areas with your hands, use damp cloths to wipe into a bin or clean up. When using tools ensure your tools are clean and don't have old dry clay or slip stuck of them. also keep the work area clear of bags and uneeded items that could cause an accident.

 

-Wet clay is soft and easily workable

-Leatherhard is when the clay is half dried, it is still workable but can support itself.

-Greenware is when clay is in its most fragile state, all the water has gone from the clay at this point, the clay is now ready to fire.

- Bisque clay is clay that has been fired in a kiln, but is still porous enough to absorb water however nothing can be added to at this point and the created piece should be basically finished.

- At this stage you would glaze the clay and then it would go in for another firing in the kiln.

Three main types of firing:

• High Fire - This is mainly for functional pottery, like dishes and bowls, and is fired at approximately 2300 degrees to make the glaze harden to a hard glass coating. The entire heating and cooling process of High Fire takes about 3 days.

• Raku - This process is done in a small outdoor kiln, and the pot is heated until it glows red hot (approximately 1800 degrees) and then immediately taken out of the kiln with tongs and either burning horsehair onto it, or placing it into an enclosed area like a garbage can filled with newspaper, pine needles, sawdust, or any other type of combustible material. This process only takes an hour or so, and always comes out different.

• Pit Fire - This process involves digging a hole in the ground, placing your pots in it with wood and sawdust, and lighting it on fire. It takes about 5 or so hours to let the pots get hot enough to turn rock hard. Chemicals can be added to the sawdust to make them turn colors, like Iron Oxide, or Cobalt. These pots always come out different, and sometimes need to be fired a couple of times to achieve the type of coloration you desire.

Procion and disperse dyes

Disperse dyes.

You mix disperse dyes with water then paint them onto paper, then when it is completely dry you transfer to fabric with heat. Disperse dyes can be mixed together and can be diluted if too strong.

 
As you can see the resulting image can be quite different depending
on the strength of the dye.

Health and safety:
Keep area around heat press clear and tidy.
Let others know the heat press is turned on.
Do not leave the heat press on if nobody is in the room.
Take care when adding or removing items from the heat press as it is very hot.
Take care with clothing and hair, do not wear loose hanging clothes and have your hair back,
Make sure when you are using the press nobody is standing in the way of any levers.
Turn off by the wall when finished using.

Procion dyes.

Procion dyes are used to dye natural fabrics, for this technique you mix procion dye in with water and leave your fabric for how ever long you wish, the longer it is left in the solution the darker the fabric will go. For the dye to hold on the fabric and not wash out salt and soda ash must be added to the solution. Once the fabric has been left in the dye for however long you need for the desired outcome you simply wash it under the tap and then you can wait for it the dry or iron your fabric.

Lino printing

Lino Printing

Lino printing is a technique where you cut into a plate, which is used for the relief surface, with a sharp knife, V shaped chisel or gouge. The areas cut out will create the negative space on the print and so the raised areas will print the positive image. The plate of lino is then inked with a roller and impressed onto paper or fabric. The printing can be completed by hand or by press however both have different outcomes.



.  
                        Hand printed                                                                  Machine printed



The hand printed method gives the print an old shabby sort of look, but the machine prints picture is much more full and crisp print.

Health and Safety

• The lino cutting tools are really sharp and easily cut you, remember to cut away from yourself and any other people around you.
• If you do cut yourself make sure you attend to it immediately these tools can sometimes cut a lot deeper than you think, the tools also are most likely dirty and so you must clean the wound.
• Do not leave your area messy and unorganized you could cause yourself or other people injuries.
• If using a press to print your lino then be careful and aware when using it, and don't try and use the press if it is too difficult as you can injure your back and muscles.

Intaglio

Intaglio printing - a printing process that uses an etched or engraved plate; the plate is smeared with ink and wiped clean, then the ink left in the recesses makes the print.

Equipment need:

• Perspex plate
• Etching tool
• Caligo printing inks
• Scrim
• Watercolour paper 
• Printing press

By Using the sharp etching tool you make marks into the perspex plate, by using different pressures, techniques and tools you can control how dark or light the marks are.

You then rub small amounts of caligo ink 

into the lines made and then with scrim, work 

in a circular motion ensured the ink is 

pushed in. 

 

By using the scrim make sure any excess ink is wiped off the plate, if too much ink is left on the plate your image will not show.

Then lay the etched plate on the printing bed 

and on top the plate lay a piece of 

blotted piece of watercolour 

paper. Cover with the felt blanket and roll 

through the printing press. Lift the 

print from the plate and place on a drying rack.

 

Health and safety:

• Keep area tidy
• Keep area ventilated
• Wear protective clothing
• Use a cutting mat