Evolution of Art Evaluation (FMP)
For my Final Major Project, I had two very different ideas and spent a while deciding on which to take forward. Therefore, I initially wrote two Statements of Intent and completed pre-research for both. One project I called ‘Contradictions, Opposition, Conflict' and the other ‘Evolution of Art'. After discussion with my tutors and fellow students I decided that the ‘Evolution of Art' project had the most potential to be carried forward. However, I hope to delve into the other project at some point in the future. When I have more time to fully cover all the possibilities it could have.
Inspired by my childhood artwork that covers my home, I wanted to consider how people develop their artistic style through their lifetime. I also considered how art had advanced throughout history. For the duration of my project, I have noticed how the work of professional artists can be heavily linked to the art of young children. I was also influenced by my A-Level Psychology work where I was taught about how different types of personality traits can be learnt through the environment or passed on genetically Nature Vs Nurture) I wanted to learn more about how creativity levels in a person can be effected by someone’s DNA. Therefore, I designed a questionnaire to explore deeper into this. I also researched the artists Wendy Tsao and Telmo Pieper who both concentrate their work specifically around developing childhood art. Working in Textiles, Tsao makes toys from characters that children have drawn. Pieper recreates his own childhood characters into graphic drawings.
Through the whole of my project I took part in group critiques and tutor feedbacks that have aided me in the direction my work was taking. I have also used a daily journal throughout my project to help translate ideas, keep up to date with what I should do next and remind me of the order my work was taking. I often discussed how my ideas could be shown visually and how this would later translate into a final exhibition piece. Even in the very early stages of my project, I knew I wanted to include children’s art in my exhibition. Consequently, I started using pieces at the actual structure of my new art. First creating collages of my own childhood work. I was inspired by the artists Matisse and Picasso who both, in later life created work that could be described as childlike.
I have always been fascinated by colour, and how colour can affect how a person views something like a piece of art (linking with colour theory). Children often use colour very freely and don’t necessarily make informed choices of how colours look together. In my project, I wanted to use colour to this effect. However, I did need to be more careful on deciding which colours I put together in my exhibition. I didn’t want them to clash too much and become garish.
I also made a sub section of my project on self-portraiture. I had found some of my old paintings I had done of myself when a child. I also have some from my GCSE Art work. I thought it would be interesting to make a new self-portrait to create a sort of timeline of my progression. I used oil paints as a felt that I could show a bigger development by using these. It did take me a long time to finish but as it was my first real portrait I thought it turned out quite well.
For a lot of my ‘Evolution of Art’ project I laid a focus on layering. Moving back to Exploratory, I wanted to use a range of materials that captured colour and light to new possibilities. Therefore, I often used materials that would easily pass light through such as PVA glue, acetate and netting.
In most of my experiments I was using lots of different materials. To keep track of them I started to keep a sample book where I kept scraps of papers, threads, fabrics, paints and other bits of materials. This allowed me to remember what I was using for each piece of work. This is good practice as in the future. I may have to keep something like this not only for university but also in a job.
During the project I visited a group of different galleries and museums. They include; The Hepworth Wakefield, The Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Scottish National Gallery, Museum of Childhood and the Fruitmarket Gallery. While in Edinburgh for 3 days, I was inspired by the beauty and vibrancy of the city. From my visit to the Museum of Childhood, my project took another turn. Bolder colours and simpler shapes started to fill my work. The use of collage also started to become more prominent.
When having feedback, I was told to research the artist Richard Smith due to him working as a colour field painter. However, I loved his kite pieces that he started to make as they were so playful. The cross shaped ones inspired me the most and reminded me of my own childhood. I started to create some small sample ones and later made larger ones. After a week I knew I wanted to use kites as the main focus in the exhibition so started to make a range of them using different mediums.
For my exhibition, I used lots of bright and fluorescent colours with a focus on simple shapes. Creating three large scale kites using P.V.A glue, fabric, and collage, as well as smaller ones, allowed my work to look like it was flying in the air. Also adding collage onto the window. All this mimic the way a child may work. Hidden links in the childlike playfulness, to well established artists work leave clues to a deeper meaning. The merging of my own childhood artwork and my new exhibition piece will reflect how my project is personal to me. Through my new experiences and better understanding of the formal elements I wanted to show how children’s artwork can be beautiful. Suggesting that “Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when we grow up.” –Picasso
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