Kevin McCourt

This, that and t'other.

[k00242821]

Further Developments

Here are a few photos of a set of paintings I worked on and developed based on some photography I had done of urban decay. I was focused on use of colour, texture, layering and trying to create a sense of depth.

[k00242821]

IMMA Exhibition

A real stunner of an exhibition running at IMMA at the moment that highlights so many varied approaches to professional practice with so much difference but still a feeling of continuity to the curation. Tis good for the soul.

[k00242821]

Further Developments

Here are a few images of how things have been developing along this week, so far. Continuing to look at the environment where the natural meets the urban I used a variety of materials and mediums. Bin liner, card, various scraps of wood, foliage etc. Plaster, spray paint and acrylic and pastels were also used.

[k00242821]

Artist Research - Richard Tuttle 

Richard Tuttle:   Light and Color,   2011 acrylic, mahogany luan, nails, graphite line installed   dimensions:   23 x 203 x  0.5   cm   /   91/8 x 79 7/8 x 13/4   ins

The evolution of Tuttle’s work embraces a radical and progressive spirit in the  pursuit of problems and solutions within the languages of art. Using everyday   and non-traditional art-making materials, Tuttle’s works are often not quite categorisable as drawing, painting or sculpture, but touch lightly on the fundamental basis of each. In the form and expression of his work, Tuttle   devotes his attention to the fragile condition of  art and the everyday, attending to the concrete and emotive potential of line, space, colour and shape.

Source:   https://artmap.com/modernartinc/exhibition/richard-tuttle-2011

[k00242821]

Artist Research - Antoni Tapies

Artist: Antoni Tàpies (Spanish, 1923–2012)

Title: Homenatge a la matèria

Medium: Paintings, Mixed media and collage on canvas

Size: 195 x 130 cm. (76.8 x 51.2 in.)

His first painterly explorations, produced in the late-1940s and early-1950s and still marked by Surrealism, provided him with a base for research into physical nature of objects and their materiality. Very soon, though, his work began to focus on the search for new expressive parameters in which texture played a key role. He quickly began to produce works with relief, fragments torn off, lacerations, rips, etc., alluding to the horrors of the Civil War and linking him to informalism and to American abstract expressionism. He later began to incorporate doors, windows and the human body, and to use collage and assemblage in highly personal work that won him international recognition.

Source: https://www.tonitapies.com/en/antoni-tapies-main/#.XYzkH0ZKjIU

[k00242821]

Visual Research

I was out and about taking some photographs of the environment where the urban environment meets the natural environment for visual research. It has provoked some thought and ideas so mission accomplished. I also learned from my trip about the word yurt being Limerick slang...I had wondered.

[k00242821]

Continued explorations

The explorations of assemblage and combined materials has been continuing. Here I took elements I had constructed in my assemblage and tried to refine and expand on what I had been doing. Contrast seems to be the strongest element as well as breaking the picture plane...if it could be described as a picture plane.

[k00242821]

Constructing an Assemblage

I didn’t want to hang about as I felt that time was short to get something constructed. I chose a theme to work with which was an advantage to begin with and then a bit of a hindrance to proceed with. I was looking at where the urban environment meets the environment of nature. I foraged and scavenged found materials and objects with which to begin.

At the mid point of my construction I gave myself a pass to break with theme and move more towards trying to create a more dynamic construction.

[k00242821]

Assemblage

This week the task was set to create an assemblage with which to work over the coming weeks. I may have initially got too caught up on the word assemblage but it introduced me to some interesting artists. 

This short video was my starting point.

[k00242821]

SECOND YEAR - PAINTING BEGINS

[k00242821]

Painting Discipline

I have continued to experiment with the materiality of acrylic, particularly black and white. Having been inspired by Kazuo Shiraga of the Gutai art movement, I did this painting with my bare hands.

[k00242821]

Movement - Gutai Artists

Before I had looked at Gerhard Richter's Atlas catalogue I had become aware of the Gutai art movement. They were extremely avant-garde. One aspect that caught my attention was to use the body to paint with. I think that's what drew me to Gerhard Richter's finger paintings. The fact I was using black and white and Richter has a grey series of work also influenced my decisions.

[k00242821]

Painting Discipline

As a development of my previous work contrasting black and white I began combining the two to create contrasting colours. The idea of motion is also a subject matter I used with these. The flow and layering of the paint is inspired by Gerhard Richter's squidgy paintings.

[k00242821]

Painting Discipline

As a development of my previous work contrasting black and white I began combining the two to create contrasting colours. The idea of motion is also a subject matter I used with these. The swirls and curls of the paint are inspired by Gerhard Richter's grey series finger paintings.

[k00242821]

Painting Discipline

I got some more work done on these today. Things are almost arranged for review Thursday I think.

[k00242821]

Painting Discipline

Having looked at white minimalism and texture I decided to explore the same textures in black. Also I varied the scale. When I get a chance to put the black and white together they may compliment each other well.

[k00242821]

Painting Discipline

I hadn't expected things to shape up the way they seem to be shaping up. I have discarded a lot of what I thought a good idea and stripped my current work back to the bare minimal bones. I'm focusing on texture and minimalist contrasts...for now.