Getting to know my object

Now, a few weeks in to term and have at last found time to spend in the studio getting creative.  The proposal has been revised and completed. Had a very inspiring tutorial with Angie Cockayne who is just so inspirational and encouraging - its a process in itself! I expressed that I would like to take approach of 'getting to know the object' - the English Oak Quercus Robur, wanting to draw from observation and photographs so as to get to grips with shape and form.  This is an approach I have used before during my Foundation Degree when I developing a project around the silver bracelet my mum had given me.  Angie suggested I reference Colin Crumplin's 'Hommage a Queneau' a small, concise book,  where using pencil only he draws different interpretations of a cup to examine style and meaning.  All are drawn on 12" square paper. This references Raymond Queneau who told the same anecdote in ninety nine different ways and Crumplin's book contains 20 selected images of a cup with an inventory of a 100 drawings which are displayed at the end of the publication. I do not intend to do so many images and will execute all drawings in ink.  This decision has been made so as to align with my proposal of utilizing traditional Eastern media for creating imagery and keep me from wandering into other expressive media - DISCIPLINE and DEFINING my practice

Below are some of the oak leaf images.

Ink drawing using cedar bark brush

Transfer print direct from leaf

Cross hatch drawing

Stippled stencil

Wax resits method

Wet on wet method

Varigated wooden comb

Bark on tree trunk

Wet on wet echoing dimensions of tree

Tree and branch formation using brush and straight edged pen

This is a close up of one of the oak leaf images using combination of ink on wet paper and then a wet wash on left hand side of image. I love the folds on the left.

I was disappointed with my planning when creating images in sketch book, placing four on one page creates confusion.  It would have been better to have isolated each image on a separate piece of paper. Also, placing images back to back on sheets of paper was a mistake should I wish to develop individual images in a different way, i.e. cutting and reassembling.  Lesson learnt.  Having now isolated them in photographic presentation has heightened the different approaches and each now stands in its own space without interference and detraction.  I am looking forward to exploring further components using the same media - just wait for the acorns, the whole tree and perhaps the root system!

First steps back into practical creativity

Where to begin? The Oak Tree, my chosen subject to investigate.  Such a dominant tree in the English landscape and something which I have been very aware of when I am out walking in the fields surrounding the village where I live.

I chose a significant sized oak tree with a circumference of 3.2m.  The tree was located directly in the field directly opposite my house.  Armed with rucksack containing roll of lining paper, graphite stick, drawing pins I battled with a high wind to secure the paper round the circumference of the tree.

I then worked my way around the tree, using a graphite stick making a frottage from the rough surface of the trunk of the tree which also was host to an ivy at one point.  This created a variation in the mark making.

A few days later, using the same tree, the exercise was repeated using a wax candle to make the frottage. This was then taken back to the studio where a wash of ink was brushed over the entire image with the wax then being removed with a heated iron.  

Close up of wax resist frottage presented horizontally

The fun then began with concepts of presenting the images in a studio environment.  There was a great contrast with the light, almost airy marks created using graphite stick and the wax resist which was dark and was a more realistic representation of the oak tree trunk bark.

            

Interesting to perceive how work interpreted in such a different way when mark making presented vertically and then horizontally.  Connecting to the ground firmly when cylindrical rolls placed upright and taking the form of 3d ceramic containers/vases.  Whereas the work when pinned high on the wall cascaded down and gently rolled onto the floor creating a more transient movement.

   

     

Early stages in the project so just feeling my way and using whatever is at hand to get some marks on a surface that relate to the subject. Below are a few experiments using art application on Ipad, generated from my photographs. Two created using layers and the third freehand.

                                   

First attempts at brush and ink referencing photographs, cropped and presented horizontally.

Its has been a long time away from the studio and I am eager to continue with this investigation. Creative time is at present hard to find which can be frustrating when I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head. Trying hard to apply my ACT approach and be mindful.