Final and Fifth Year of Study!!

Yes, this is the final and fifth year towards completing my BA (hons) in Creative Arts.  One more module - Individual Practice/Self Directed Study.  The time has come to get practically creative again.  It's been a long time out of the studio consequently that first step into the studio is a wee bit daunting.   

No change in that I have had many ideas in relation to this module and it has been challenging to hone in and get my hooks into one concept.

Concepts considered:  Following on from my rather playful dance videos that I often make whilst on holiday to entertain my husband John I could expand this and create dances that respond to different natural environments.

Jane Eaton Drawing and Dancing (Vela Luka, Croatia. The Bell Tower).

Being a practitioner of Tai Chi I thought of using the physical sequences that are so connected to nature, energy etc. - drawing the body gestures on a human scale using line. Here again repetition is a constant in Tai Chi.  This could be approached with support on a vertical or in a horizontal position. I was particularly inspired by Trisha Brown drawings (dance choreographer and visual artist) in relation to both these concepts.



Trisha Brown Drawing/Performance

I am very interested in using this method to create work.

Tony Orricco drawing using his whole body - very interesting approach where whole body is connected to the ground.  A very physical and quite exhausting way of making work - but great way of making marks.

It is very important that the study area reflects my own personal essence and following on from my previous study modules I have developed an interest in making work that connects to the ground. This idea has been generated by my continuing enquiry and research into Japanese culture, in particular to Zen Buddhism/Taoism which has such a strong influence within Japanese and East Asian cultural arts.  I wish to engage with the horizontal approach to making work, using repetition as a discipline generating and emphasising our contact with reality. I also wish to explore presenting work that physically connects to the ground and could be multi-functional both outside and inside. This approach is very different to the Western model of art, where elevation/the vertical/status appear to be so prevalent and dominant.

"The arts of Zen are not intended for utilitarian purposes or for purely aesthetic enjoyment, but are meant to train the mind, indeed, to bring it in contact with ultimate reality".  D. T. SUZUKI

 
Inspired by the natural environment surrounding my village in Wiltshire, a place where I walk with my dog every day I have made a direct connection with the great oaks which are dominant both in their stature and their numbers within the area.  They will provide the subject for research and exploration within this module.

The English oak is indigenous to the UK growing naturally after the ice age and not planted by humans.  'The tree of life' - rooted so firmly to the earth, tall, strong, broad, flexible, encompassing, durable, dense, provider, replenishing, cyclical.  Its components express such a variety of textures, contours and has many metaphorical associations with humans. The oak is also significant as an emblem/symbol associated with British identity.  In addition, many other connections, e.g. myths and legends, paganism etc.  I perceive it to be a great stimulus for creativity.

Working with brush and ink, print and oil on various supports, monochromatic experimental and exploratory images will be developed. 

My aim is to develop individual pieces of work which can be further extended and utilized/transposed onto other materials and included as a component within a practical application.

Book Reference: The Zen Art Book  The Art of Enlightenment by Stephen Addiss & John Daido Loori. (Adapted from The Zen Art Box Shambhala Publications 2007)

Examples of contemporary abstract ink and brush from various internet sources

Creative Project - more images

A few more images from the project.  Some drawn with right hand, some with left hand, each one is quite different, the subject remains the same, but the results and mark making continue to vary with each drawing.  All are created within a prescribed number of parameters. i.e. white cartridge paper 130gsm A3. Carbon pencil 6b.  Line only and within a designated time limit which reduces/increases week by week from 45 minutes down to 1 minute. 

(I must get rid of that irritating yellow date text on each image.  Need to look in the cameral manual to find out how to do it.  I am such a dinosaur when it comes to modern technology). Result, with help from my son Matt is has been done.  Application is date stamp.

Each image has a data sheet which is written up directly after drawing is completed. This has proved to be very time consuming and often very challenging to complete.  Below is a sample of the text that has been written for Image 2.

Date and time of day: 20th November 2013 11.35 - 11.40 a.m.

Subject:  Life size self portrait

Medium:  Carbon pencil 6b

Drawn with right hand/left hand. Line only on white cartridge paper 130gsm. Light from right, seated, looking direct into mirror.

Emotional state of mind:  Bright and positive, light has improved.

Thoughts:  Another creative project drawing session is completed.  Coffee time and then a few hours tackling dissertation.  Time management good today and there have been no unexpected/interruptions.  Aware that I have continuous neck strain.

Critique and Evaluation:  Predominantly continuous line in minimum of sections.  Started with guideline marks, quick glances at reflection and drawing quite rapidly. There is a soft texture on all line, which indicates less pressure.  I like the overall shape and once again I have made the recurrent decision of drawing hair and eye! It is compulsory.

It is 'leafy', organic type of depiction, that's me identifying certain shapes with leaves, cracks and crevices in rocks, etc.

      Image 2

        

     

   

Creative Project

                  

 

Below are a selection of 1 minute drawings taken from Week 5 of the project.  There are 14 drawings in all.  I have a stronger connection to these as I feel the marks mean more, there is less dilution and more space

However, my photography is poor, hence the images are not so good.  I need to get to know my camera better and book in for a photographic tutorial.

 

 

          

      

Creative Project

Yes, I am continuing with the daily self portrait drawings.  It is sometimes exciting, sometimes arduous, sometimes disappointing and sometimes enlightening.  The ego appears to be taking over within the daily data sheets and I am forever questioning myself as to motives, reasons, associations with line and mood.  How I am thinking, feeling has a major impact on my drawing and the first drawing with the right hand has a major influence on the second drawing with the left hand.  The second drawing cannot exist in its form without first completing the first.
It has to be mentioned -   Christmas is great when its kept simple, time to enjoy family and friends, but it never quite turns out like that. Actually, I think I should be kind to myself as I do pretty well, nothing like self congratulation!  What I mean, is that I am thoughtful, not too indulgent in my gift buying and endeavour to keep everything in within a conscious boundary by avoiding too much commercial indulgence, which I despise.  I have rescued a bare Christmas tree from a friends garden and all my decorations will be made of natural or found materials - this is what I really enjoy doing.  I am getting away from the point as CHRISTMAS with a BIG C takes a lot of time and there is not much room for anything else - hence the drawing project has hit an all time low. I am persevering, but the creativity is not flowing very well, it has been a struggle.  Having completed the initial exploratory investigation I find myself in the situation of  'needing' to continue - I want to see what happens and there is apprehension in that stopping would cause regret - it has become somewhat obsessive.

 Drawn with right hand 17th December. 

This is what happened last night.  Drawn with left hand I completed the drawing and then scribbled over it.  The connection I made was negative and I wanted to hide it from sight. It was a particularly difficult drawing session due to time of day, mood and preoccupation with other thoughts. My initial plan to ACT is proving very difficult to implement on a regular basis.

 

Drawing and Dancing

Whilst flicking through some old copies of Art Monthly given to me by a friend I came across an article by Christopher Townsend 'On Drawing' (Art Monthly April, 2012. Page 355).
What particularly resonated with me was a reference to Dorothea Rockburne.

"Where writing and drawing diverge, is that drawing is, in its embodiment, performative: it demands 'presence' rather than effacement.  It demands that the artist is not only witness but also participant.  Indeed, here drawing may be closest to dancing.

Dorothea Rockburne studied both art and dancing whilst at Black Mountain College during the early 1950's.  She says:

"Drawing is as fundamental to my art making as my skeleton is to my body.  Drawing is the bones of my thought".  and
"I am doing the things to the material that when I danced I did to my body".

I immediately made a link with my own practice and instantly an association.  Over many years I have often danced in prominent public spaces, sometimes alone, sometimes with family.  I have danced in Central Park New York, on the Staten Island Ferry, on the famous suspension bridge at Cuenca in Spain, in the mountains of Castilla La Mancha, Spain, on the island of Kolocep, Croatia, in the house/art gallery  of Vlaho Bukovac, the most renowned Croatian artist who lived and worked in Cavtat, Croatia.  The last two (dances) I have recorded in video format which I was planning to upload to this blog.  Unfortunately, my new camera was set on 12:9 aspect ratio when they were recorded and it appears they can only be viewed in horizontal format.  You can see them on Youtube, just search Drawing and Dancing Jane Eaton - you will probably get a crick in your neck.
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I am planning to make drawings of each video which I will upload at a later date.

Dorothea Rockburne's work from her "Drawing Which Makes Itself" exhibition of 1972 is currently being rexamined at MOMA - September 2013 through to January 2014.

Below is an image from this exhibition.

Creative Project 2013/2014

 

As a starting point for my Creative Project (a module on BA (Hons) Creative Arts) which I am currently studying for at Bath Spa University I have created a strategy to engage with the drawing process.  Using repetition and the discipline of drawing every day for a five week period I am engaged in producing a substantial body of work to be used for further investigation. This study is further extending my investigation into repetition equals difference in which I was engaged in last year.

 

The aim is to research what happens.  Does drawing become automatic? Does it remain in the domains of conscious thought?  Does the drawing become mechanical/free/unconscious?  Does one begin to rely on memory to record, is all drawing from observation using memory etc., etc?  These are BIG questions and a thorough critique and evaluation will be undertaken at the end of the study.

 

A record of the drawing process has been kept so there is both a visual and literal interaction with each image produced. Two drawings have been produced each day,  one using the right hand and one using the left hand.  Drawn in line only, using carbon pencil on white cartridge paper 130gsm two life size self portraits have been created each day.  Each week the timing of each drawing is reduced.  Week 1 for 45 minutes, Week 2 for 30 minutes and now, I am a few days away from completing Week 3 of 15 minute drawings.  Below are a selection from each of the weeks.

 

 

 

 

  

14TH JULY  FROME, SOMERSET, MAIN CAR PARK BY CHEESE AND GRAIN.

 10.00 - 4.00 P.M.

 

Culmination of Frome Festival is the fantastic CAR ART BOOT SALE.  This is a great day out with some fabulous creative original work for sale.  Lots of work on paper, some Free, some just make a donation to SIGHTSAVERS CHARITY.
Framed work, mounted work, works on paper and greeting cards.

 

Cascade- Chinese ink on Paper

 

 

Edges - Chinese ink on Paper