RachelArt

Rachel Grosová Art&Design Foundation student @Edinburgh college

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Yesterday morning Neil was so kind to expand my space. Since my display is all paper, the sterling board not being wide enough was very inconvenient. By putting two more cutouts around it, a wider space was created. We considered a couple of ways to do that, I thought we might just put two boards on the centre level to widen the surface I will actually use, but Neil was happy to cut out the holes for the speakers etc. so it doesn’t look like an emergency expansion. After he did that, I used several layers of white paint and only needed to wait. 

After considering different heights (a big thanks to my assistants/models), we agreed that the best option is to put the painting on an eye level. 

The hanging itself was mostly changing because I only have two hands, but I did get enough help to not screw it up. Just when I hung up all of the parts I realised that the bright paper kind of stands out from the wall behind, and the more I looked at it the more irritating it was, because the overall shape looked incomplete. 

I consulted some people and came up with a simple solution: to fill the gap underneath the painting by another piece of bright white paper and complete the framing. 

So I did that! And I think it looks so much better. To give it a proper finish, I also added a strip of off-white paper just in between the white one and the painting, to connect to the ‘casting’ I used for all of the mounted images. 

I have been living in this project for so long that I feel I could never be perfectly happy with my work, but I assume that’s a good thing. All things considered, I am satisfied with my display and hope others will be too. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Final outcome & Hanging space

So last week I was lucky enough (and hella productive) to be able to say I AM DONE with my final piece. I spent quite long figuring out the right composition for my fake stained glass window (as posted on my blog before) and after I created a miniature mounted version of my final outcome, I was then finally ready to do it in large scale. It took hours and hours to get things done properly (I know, right?), but it was worth it. 

Today I walked around the studios, checking out some spaces that could work for me. I don’t really have any special requirements, I only wanted my piece to be quite centred, as being this symmetrical, it wouldn’t look good pushed aside. 

Excuse my digital brush motor skills. Some of these spaces could have worked nice, although the lighting is not quite perfect in the hallways and there would be some other issues, like fitting it in the format. 

In the end I got assigned a really nice spot, but after a couple of hours of fixing and painting the walls I found out my piece is too wide for the board connected to the wall. 

We did have a look at some other spaces, but I wasn’t quite happy with any of them. In the end, Neil came up with the solution of making precise cutouts of the boards in the picture and nailing them around the board that’s already there, therefore the whole surface will be on the same level. Thanks to Neil’s goodwill I will be able to paint over it tomorrow and then prepare my display. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

We were asked to write a poem for CCS, so I decided to go back through my project development and use it as a theme. This poem is about the difference between us and the women portrayed in traditional artworks. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

During the last week and a half I have been facing some challenges in terms of presenting my work. With the decision to display my development body painting images along with my painting I aim to support my initial idea of combining traditional and modern, by combining digitally modified pictures of painted models with a painting that was done by watercolour only. The digital images were the pick up point for the whole stained glass concept and show my journey through the patterns and body art. By placing the painting and the stained glass print in the middle, they become the focus point and are supported by the images that led to them. 

As I wanted to achieve an authentic framing, it took me a while to figure out what materials to use for the display. The first idea was to have my images printed on canvas, but as well as buying proper glass frames that would be not only financially difficult, but neither would allow me to play with the arched shape without looking amateur. I also considered putting acetate sheets over the images to at least create a glass effect, but I would then have to do the same with the painting to match, but I did not like the cheap look of it. 

So I decided to go for the good old window mounting. As I mentioned in my last post, I had to consider different colours in order for my prints to match with the painting, where I simulated a wooden frame. Therefore I stretched large papers using a combination of black, brown and ochre acrylic and I’m happy to say that it matches quite well. 

Before I proceeded to mounting, I look at some pictures I realised that in real the frame doesn’t connect straight to the white wall, but there is a wall casing in between, casting a shadow around it. 

Therefore I decided to use a ‘triple’ mounting technique (which I possibly just made up)  - mounting the images in the ‘wooden’ paper first, then into an off-white paper to create a subtle shadow and mounting it in a white cartridge paper in the end (which during the exhibition will blend with a white wall). 

Due to this decision the whole mounting process took SO much more time than I expected, but I am happy with the outcome. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Presentation

I have decided to display my watercolour painting along with my body painting images. And to embrace the stained glass effect, I figured I will mount and display my pictures in a shape of a stained glass window. 

Soo, I spent the last two days moving pictures around, trying different combinations and compositions I could use. Here are some of my attempts. 

In the end I chose a frame shape with my painting in the middle and three images arched above. At the same time, I liked the idea of expanding the composition by adding two images on the two sides of my painting, but was a bit afraid it would be too much. However, after I talked to my classmates and asked about their opinion, I decided to mix those two versions and create a framed set of windows by mounting them into an arched shape. 

Here is a mounted miniature of what my final display will look like. Right now I’m on the fence between leaving the two pictures round, or making the arch pointy, which might match better. 

After choosing the composition I was trying to figure out what paper colour should I use for the framing. I thought black at first, but the black paper I have is not that dark. Brown paper could match the wooden frame in my painting better, but that is too light. So I thought I would stretch a white cartridge paper, but instead of using a white primer I would use a combination of black, brown and ochre to achieve a wooden effect.

And here we go! Now I just need to wait for if to dry and I can frame away. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Here are some of my attempts on motivational posters. I quite like it, but I’m not sure if I want to use it for my final presentation, as I don’t feel good about the quotes taking over. I am a bit afraid it would take the attention away from my initial goal, which was quite simple compared to the topic of female empowerment. But I haven’t given up on it yet.

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Today’s life drawing. Neil showed me the work of Edith Simon, who uses paper cut outs to create very intricate pictures and that inspired me to try and use some paper cut outs myself, obviously in a very simplified way. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

So last week I finally finished my painting, and now I’m trying to decide what do next. This will be one of the pieces I will display along with some of my body painting images, however, I also had an idea of a poster. That got kind of stuck in my head during my research, when I talked to my peers about my theme and one of the things that came up was the fact that female power and sexuality is used as an advertisement for things not even related to it. Therefore I looked up some examples of stained glass posters to see how others work with it.

These 80′s movie posters were created by Van Orton Design and inspired me to try and modify some of my pictures and create a poster, a demonstration of female sanity and power. 

Although this was not my theme from the beginning, it definitely made it’s way in during the last, what, eight weeks?

My aim from the beginning was to find a combination between traditional and modern, in terms of style, composition and theme. By that I started off a very wide and intriguing project that could go on for months. However, this is what crossed my way and I decided to stick with it for my final presentation and the theme of female power within the history and now just came along with it. 

That brings me back to my first body painting session with my models. The atmosphere that took over the room in that moment was quite remarkable. As if once the girl is painted from the head to toe she becomes a queen, admiring her own curves and seeing herself as a masterpiece. The girl that was complaining about her flaws only about an hour before. This experience was just beautiful and enlightening. And even though I actually wanted to avoid the topic of female empowerment, thinking it wasn't very original, I realised it is a part of our everyday lives and most importantly, it has always been. Centuries and generations before we came. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Some reference pictures I collected to look at while working on my watercolour painting. Yesterday I drew the whole composition and hopefully will be able to start colouring in today.

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

The Barnstone Method

GOLDEN RATIO SYSTEM

My plan for today is a video class The Barnstone Method, lesson 7, where the lecturer describes golden ratio systems used by artists for more than centuries. This will be very educational and beneficial for my final piece, as I would like to find this ratio within my canvas and work around it. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

I’m very excited, because in the last couple of days I managed to choose a shape of frame I intend to use for my final piece and even to make up a pattern I can use in the background for the stimulation of stained glass (The frame drawing is just a rough sketch).

I created a pattern that can be repeated and consists of three symbols that are related to the three female figures I will base my characters on. All of the symbols are rapidly simplified to work as a repetitive design. 

First symbol (blue in the first picture) is a simplified Jug, one of the symbols of Mary Magdalene. - In Biblical lore Mary Magdalene anoints Jesus in an emotionally charged scene. The famous pint jar of ‘nard’ (or spikenard) was one of the most expensive luxury items of its day, suggesting that Mary may have been more affluent and more important than written legend would suggest. (https://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/symbols-of-mary-magdalene.html)

The second symbol (pink) is French lily, one of the elements used in the crest of Joan of Arc. For me personally this is a symbol of faith, bravery, and femininity. 

The last (green) symbol is an arrowhead - Native American symbols are geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena, everyday objects and animal designs. The meaning of the Arrowhead symbol was to signify alertness. An Arrowhead is a sharpened tip which is added to an arrow. Native American arrowheads were made of stone and were made in a vast range of styles and sizes as the picture below indicates. (https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/arrowhead-symbol.htm)

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Last night I decided to modify one more photo from my recent photoshoot. I collaged a photo of my model with a stained glass window and the outcome brought me to a new idea for my final piece. 

Until now I have intended to create a traditional group portrait composition, that would contain certain details - clues on who are the characters based on and the story behind. I wanted to achieve that by simply composing them into the main content (for example Mary Magdalene character holding a skull or a jug, which are her characteristic portrait items). However, after I created this collage, I realised I could use these ‘clues’ to form the background (as in flowers being the background in this photo). Since I decided to create my final piece in stained glass style, I could use these items collaged together in the background and then place the figures in a simpler composition, with the focus on them. 

For that purpose I collected several sister portrait paintings as a reference for the position I will go for. Therefore, my next steps will be sketching different figure compositions and deciding which one to use, and collaging my background which I will design in a stained glass style after. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Stained Glass Photoshoot

Thanks to my consultation with Neil I came to the idea of projecting designs onto people. That nicely fit with my development so far, therefore I decided to try and project different stained glass designs onto my model.

I’m definitely not a pro, and this whole thing was improvised, but I can imagine spending more time on the development could lead to a very nice outcome. Being a fan of Art Nouveau I would love to do this with a dancer, who would be able to develop unusual poses and follow the pattern.

Only half way though painting my model, I realized I should’ve gone much bigger with the individual ‘stones’ to achieve the right effect using the whole body. Soon I am planning to do this one more time, using only the upper body and making sure the stained glass effect is apparent. 

This brings me back to the body of my project. After my body painting experiments I came to the realization, that using this technique for the final outcome would bring many problems. As the number of models increases, the process takes incredible amount of time, and to actually achieve a good final outcome, I would still have to arrange quite a few sessions. And since my models are volunteers with their own lives, the chances of me doing that are getting rapidly smaller.

At the same time, after evaluating my work so far I came to the decision, that using this technique wouldn’t enable me to achieve my FMP goals in such a short time. Since I decided to base the characters of my work on important female figures, I feel like I should pay attention to the details within the final composition. Although I enjoyed experimenting with the projection, I am facing the same problem when it comes to the final outcome. From the start I have intended to create a ‘neo-traditional’ composition, but I feel that this technique would overtake and divert the attention from what I actually wanted to achieve. 

However, these sessions have still been very beneficial. While working on this part of the development, I was intensively thinking about how could I translate this onto paper, and create an effective combination with my theme. I have started thinking about the final piece and I decided to use the stained glass effect, but on flat canvas. My plan is to collect reference photos for the final composition, create some sketches and then a detailed drawing for the final piece, and using those as samples for Photoshop, collages and similar. I will be using my Body painting photos as references for postures, but also the modification I used for them. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Some stained glass images I collected as a reference for my second life painting session tomorrow. One of the artists I find very inspiring is Mark Roberts, who works with nude figures and beautifully portrays the curves and shapes within them. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

The Chameleon People – Body Light Projection – Sean Adair

Before you look for the brush strokes, these illuminated images are not body paintings. These images are produced solely with optical technique (light projection)

A beautiful project I found after a consultation with Neil. I would like to try this technique in combination with stained glass motifs. 

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

Stained Glass

Here are some stained glass Pins I collected. I have decided I would like the final outcome of my project to have a stained glass effect. I admire the ‘simplicity’ and elegance of this style and hope I will be able to create a tasteful composition that will fit.

[rachelgrosovafad-blog]

So I have finally done it! I feel that this body painting session with my amazing models was extremely fun and also beneficial. The design I decided to paint is inspired by some of early work of Piet Mondrian. 

We played with portrait composition and it felt nice and natural, even while being staged. All of the photos are modified in Affinity designer and I am a big fan of the outcome. 

EVALUATION:

This experiment was very helpful in terms of composition and style development of my project. Even though I really like the outcome I figured this is not exactly the way to go with the final one, because I feel that in this case I need to go wild to be happy with the looks of it, but it doesn’t leave me the space for details I need. 

Even so, I have decided to pick up from here, use these (and the 145 more) photos as a reference and develop a similar design that will allow me to make it a little more realistic and detailed. Thanks to this I got back to the idea of stained glass effect, therefore my next step will be getting references of stained glass art and making couple of samples. If I feel confident, I will soon be able to start putting the final work together.