Preparation and testing underway

Lots of experimentation underway with paint techniques - glazing, layering and colour choices to try and reflect the etherial light required for the exhibition. Not sure if I can do it but giving it a jolly good go!

John Hoyland - 1934-2011

Born in Sheffield Hoyland is considered to be one of the most important abstract artists of his generation. In response to the horrors of the two world wars he played a key role in exploring the possibilities of non representational art. Developing large (2-4 x 2 m canvases) Painting in acrylic or oil, his abstract imagery strove to achieve his ambition of creating 'overwhelming' works of art. These were created in a combination of colour and size of canvas. His approach to creating a painting was investigative, he would coax a painting rather than enforce a rigid idea on it, allowing the paint to do the work for him, in contrast to the more controlling techniques of the figurative painter. His early paintings were large-scale acrylic stain works which developed in time to more solid impassive geometric forms with explosive gestural marks. In his latter years his work became looser and dynamic in style.

'Power Stations' a current retrospective exhibition at the Newport Street Gallery, London. Damian Hirst is showing his private collection of Hoylands work (1964-1982). As you enter the stunningly white, vast gallery space, making even Hoylands immense canvases look 'normal' is breathtaking. Visually impactful, huge white walls cleverly lit artificially and enhanced by torrents of sunlight, light coloured wooden flooring. Whats immediately apparent is the simplicity of curation, no fuss or clutter, just the imposing, colourful, bold geometric shapes engulfing your visual senses, we are here to see the paintings, the NSG is the perfect facilitator. 

Gallery 1 (Late 1960's)

Gallery 5 (1971)

Hoylands earlier work leaves you with a feeling of naivety to the childlike geometrical shapes but the work develops by using a broader colour pallet, greater use of the palette knife to build greater texture into his work. As you journey through the two decades and progress through the galleries, for me Hoylands 1980s paintings are his best.Layering of colour, controlled drips, removal of paint and vibrant colour palette makes them magnificently impactful and not just because of the size!

 

I shall be 'stealing with pride' some of Hoylands techniques  and experiment on my next works. His use of multiple different colours as grounding - up until now I have just kept with a single colour, I thought thats what you did, but no!! go for it! By allowing the paint to run gives a directional pull to the painting, controlling the runs adds another dimension so this is something I shall also be playing with - To quote Hoyland " Let the paint work for you, coax it, don't control it"

Gallery 6 (1980's)

Newport Street Gallery, Vauxhall, London

Wow.... blown away by Damien Hirsts newly opened Newport Street Gallery http://www.newportstreetgallery.com.  

Designed by London architecture studio Caruso St John in a row of converted and extended theatre warehouses in Vauxhall. Inside floors have been taken out to open up the spaces, creating high- ceilinged galleries enabling the installation of large sculptures. Whats fabulous is that its FREE! and certainly not cramped - no fighting with the elbows to get a glimpse of the artwork!

Change of plan !

Been pondering over the space Im exhibiting in and now thinking Im going to have a go at painting a large canvas instead of the photographic image. Visited John Hoyland exhibition #johnhoyland @NPSgallery yesterday - Inspired by the large canvas - its got to be done :O) or at least attempted!!! Thinking that a smallish photo image is not going to have the impact Im looking for. Need to make a canvas when back in Uni next week! Now to think about the lighting :O) aaahhh :O)

Developing the ideas .......

Having initially started the ideas for the exhibition with Edisson, light bulbs !!

Quite a few hours standing in a dark room with my new camera,tripod, a blow torches and candles (don't ask) nearly set fire to my camera! This was the fun bit, now came the tricky bit - getting to grips with the technicalities of Photoshop!!! aaaahhhhhhhhh.....
Patience, patience!

'Blue I' 

Objective: To create an etherial like feel to the image. I want it to play with light in a subtle impactful way. 'Blue I'  stands out for me at this stage. Further experimentation required, what photographic paper to get the right 'look and feel' the right finish, what size print. How is the color going to translate onto the different surfaces? So many complexities :O) But thats what this is all about 

Plan at the moment is to have at least one photograph as part of my exhibition, thinking maybe a series. Mind has moved onto creating some sort of light installation to complement the images and create atmosphere. I need to go off and do some research and check in with guru of lighting design N Burridge !!

Let Year 2 unleash itself !!!!!!!

Straight into the hard working environment of the Bristol School of Art!

As an active member of Bristol Post Diverts Art Collective we are hard at work.. https://instagram.com/bristolpostdiverts/ 

Exhibition space booked at the Edwardian Cloakroom, Bristol. November 28th - 2nd Dec 
https://bristolcitycouncilcreativespace.wordpress.com/facilities/edwardian-cloakroom-3/

All neurones blazing, Edwardian, abstract, visually impactful and a touch of 'framing infinity'! Just a few pointers for my next project. Thomas Edison, light bulbs, filaments and playing with light .... this gives you a clue.

Developing drawings which play with light and visual perception. Watch this space .....

   

End of 1st Year Exhibition June 2015

Better late than never, as they say!! Apologies to the avid followers but I had to rush to Glastonbury post exhibition hence the delay in posting!!!

A successful showing of our work, I think we managed to stimulate a few conversations trying to decide what this thing called 'Art' is all about!!