#ellenorartstudio

[artstudioelle]

Ellenor Art studio looked at Sakura Spring in Japan and ink work called 'Sumi-e' style of working. The group looked at artist work of Hiroshige and then looked at different ways to use ink and watercolours. They were invited to make a miniature wall hanging painting blossom or sakura of their choice.

Sumi-e paintings were reportedly used in the Tang Dynasty 618-907 however it is very much used in Japan too. •The goal of Sumi-e is not simply to reproduce a subject or what is in front of you but to also think about the essence or soul of the subject, so for example if a tree or bird or flower really moves you or indeed anything in nature, then think about this when you are painting. This is opposed to the Western idea of painting, i.e Impressionism where it was really about representing what was in front of the painter for their captive audience.

Sumi-e is based on the idea of harmony between positive and negative space

Japanese wallhangings

[artstudioelle]

Ellenor Art studio took inspiration from The Olympics in Tokyo that was held in 2021 instead of 2020 due to the global pandemic. The group looked at artists have made works about pools including seminal pieces by David Hockney. Other artists included Michael Andrews, Matisse and the tiles he made, https://news.artnet.com/art-world/top-7-best-artworks-inspired-swimming-pools-580022

Leandro Erlich and his awe inspiring swimming pool installation in 1999. Other artists included Henry Holland, Jeffery Camp and Stephen Abela. The group was asked to recreate a David Hockney painting or paint their own composition of a swimming pool looking at the shapes and light that is cast on the water.

[artstudioelle]

‘Tree of Life’, May 2021

In memory of V.

One of the members of our group sadly passed away early July 2021, and this is the last piece of artwork they made, so wanted to show it again in memory of them and as a tribute to their artwork. They were an integral part of the group, and really found a way to communicate how they were feeling via their artmaking. This was their beautiful ‘Tree of life’.

In memory of V July 2021, from all us in in Ellenor art studio xxx

[artstudioelle]

Ellenor art studio looked at decoupage and the history behind the technique. You can try this easily at home, you don't need fancy materials. You just need a pot or a box, some cut outs of your favourite things, these could be from a magazine or Sunday supplement, or like this member of the group who bought a book from a charity shop and cut out the birds and stuck them to the pot. You can see how effective and simple this is. You can use clear PVA glue like they did or 'Modge podge' which is specially made for decoupage enthusiasts. Some art and craft shops sell a lot of things for decoupage but if you want to do it cheaply, just an old box, pot, PVA glue that is clear and an old paintbrush will do.

If you want to decorate a flower pot, you could use Modge Podge which is specially used for outside to glue on the cut outs.

[artstudioelle]

Ellenor art studio looked at what makes effective poster design. Some history of poster design was also explored such as Toulouse Lautrec lithographic posters & and how posters were implemented in the 19th century as an early form of advertisments. Posters influenced typography too. Take a look at the historic underground posters of the London Underground, there are some great designs! Beauty spots galore. Why not try and design your own poster thinking about the composition and message you are trying to convey, and even the style of your typography. You could paint, print or produce a digital poster. Have fun with it :)

[artstudioelle]

Ellenor art studio looked at Pop art including work by artists such as Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, David Hockney and Wayne Theibaud amongst others. The group were given a choice of which artist they wanted to base their piece of artwork on.

[artstudioelle]

Ellenor Art studio looked at composition in art i.e. where you place subject or object on paper/canvas. The group looked at why it is important where you place things in your artwork, and how it can change the mood of the piece or aesthetics. What is your eye drawn to and why? A good example of balance in a painting is Da Vinci, 'The Last Supper', and then theres the 'rule of thirds' which can really help to understand why you may focus on something in an artwork.

Some elements to take on board are:

•Colour i.e. is the eye drawn to light in the painting or darkness of a shape or person?

•Line, how do the lines divide the painting?

•Shape, using shapes as focal points in your composition, overlap shapes or separate or rotate them.

•Balance i.e is it symmetrical or assymetrical?

•Rule of thirds this can really help with drawing or painting a landscape or taking a photo

•Positive and negative spaceTake The Great Wave of Kanagawa for example by Hokusai. If you google this there are some great clips on youtube here: •https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=num4qcqTqGU

•A good definition of rule of thirds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2OIdcc5Rg8

[artstudioelle]