#independent practice

[your-derbyunifineartjeniferjane]

OCTOBER 2017 - INDEPENDENT EXHIBITION VISIT - IKON GALLERY BIRMINGHAM - KATHE KOLLWITZ

[tessafoxart]

Last experiments of BA2a - 15.02.18

Working with cyanotypes had been a recurrent suggestion throughout this unit and, having researched Jessica Warboys and her cyanotype work, I didn't want to finish this unit without having had a go.

The general process was actually easier than I had thought and I was so pleased with the outcome; this print is nothing of great importance as I simply used outdoors items available to me at the time as this was merely an experiment. But, I am happy and confident in the whole process now and look forward to continuing these more into the next unit.

[tessafoxart]

Sculptural Investigations - 02.02.18

I began this experiment last week but as I am working with latex, it was only until now that I was able to see the full outcome. I am so pleased! Initially my hope had been that the alder cones could be removed from the latex, leaving a negative space; however, it became quickly apparent that this wouldn't happen as the latex had set too much over the alder cone and I wouldn't be able to remove it without damaging the rest of the work.

But, I am so pleased with this outcome instead. I like the way the alder cone plays with the space, appearing both in and out of the latex and the luminosity of the latex's natural colour and slight translucency works so well with the opaque alder cones. Rich in dye, the alder cones have also released some of their colour in the surround latex, giving a shadow like appearance.

I am definitely going to continue experimenting with this.

[tessafoxart]

Researching natural dyes and containing found objects for the studio - 02.02.18

This post is meant to be dated back at the beginning of 2018, if not back in 2017. But I was determined to hold onto this until I had managed to experiment with natural dying; since then though, my practice has begun and change and instead I am now exploring setting naturally found objects in latex having been inspired by Rachel Whiteread and wanting to move on from previous work toward sculpture.

Interestingly, since then, then found objects I had collected with the intention of using for the natural dye process (alder cones, acorns, silver birch bark and willow leaves) are now being used in my sculptural processes.

[tessafoxart]

‘Gone to ground’, 2018

Initial process for my interim exhibition piece, ‘Gone to ground’.

This piece, following in the processes similar to that of my previous studio practice pieces, explore nature and interaction. ‘Gone to ground’ however is far bigger than any of my previous pieces or experiments; due to its size, I felt as though this process needed more time and dedication to it and so that working for the piece would be spread over a duration of days as opposed to just working under one day.

My initial process saw me ‘colouring’ the canvas as an initial ground as it were, that will then later be worked upon. I took the canvas into the natural area I had intended to work in and then began using soluble wax crayon to create frottage from tree bark onto the surface. One I felt I covered the amount of area I wanted, I then proceeded to place the canvas in a shallow, fast flowing stream. Knowing the wax crayon was soluble, my intention (or more so, hope) was that the pigment from the crayon would begin to run through the canvas whilst also hopefully still leaving behind some of the mark makings from the frottage. Whilst this was happening I then also began dropping soil onto the canvas and working this in with my hands to further stain the surface.

Once happy, the canvas was removed from the stream and left to dry for more than 24 hours. My next step in the process was to create further frottage from graphite over the initial work just as I had done with previous pieces.

I enjoy the lengthy process these pieces are starting to take; it makes me think and focus and also enables me to spend even more time interacting with the natural space. I feel as though once this interim exhibition is over, I will continue working on this larger scale as I really enjoyed the challenge and tactile nature of having to work with such a large surface.

[tessafoxart]

Studio practice - 21.11.17

The final image in this triptych is, I think, my most liked. I like the way in which the material as an inanimate object takes a semi-human like form, resting on the memorial bench in the cemetery.

[tessafoxart]

Documenting my work in the landscape - 12.11.17

Annoyingly, the focus started out on the canvas and then focused on the leaf in the foreground. I quite like the ambiguity of my figure moving around in the background however as the viewer may not know exactly what I am doing.

In the mid-unit review it was discussed about how when visiting an outdoor area we are surrounded and presented with a complete override of our senses; we see the scene, we smell it, we hear it and we can feel the earth. However, when this is attempted at being captured through one type of media, we can lose this. This being said, I am now considering working across several media platforms in order to help get this feeling of complete use of sense across.

Video edited on Premier Pro 

[tessafoxart]

Studio work - 11/12.11.17

Home, work and focus. 

I’d been feeling a little out of sorts recently and it left my studio work lacking, especially after I had been experiencing illness with a recent virus. I decided it was best to go home, not only to rest but also because I knew it would be far easier for me to surround myself with landscape and space when at my parents house. 

Something I really enjoyed whilst on a walk was that I was able to capture seemingly rural areas that were in actual fact next door to domesticated built up housing. The idea that there are hidden spaces like this, and that some inhabitants don’t even know this is their local space, is something I really enjoy and revel in. 

I also brought a large off-cut of canvas with me with the distinct intent on creating some rubbings on it. I took the canvas out into our woodland nearby and rubbed the canvas on tress, took rubbings from bark, laid the canvas in a stream, rubbed it in the earth and just immersed the canvas in the landscape. I was so happy with the outcome of this piece and really liked the capturing of the piece in the space; I also captured the piece drying out in our kitchen and it reminded me of Alida Sayer’s work exhibited in Felbrigg Hall (I am always currently part of the Markers workshop).

I am considering adding automatic writings to this piece and contemplating whether to leave the canvas in a natural state of to stretch in to a frame.