Sunday 9 February 2014

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It feels natural to express my personality, feelings and experiences in my work. I particularly like experimenting and exploring new techniques. I always aim to be creative, unique and innovative.
Through studying art at G.C.S.E and A- Level I believe I have grown and developed. I have learnt new methods and gained a deeper understanding about different aspects of art such as the balance, substance and texture. This has given me opportunity to view the beauty of my environment in a creative way. I have also developed the ability to be aware of space and proportion to create strong and confident pieces with great significance behind them. I have learnt a lot about the emotional side that the art.
My studies to date have required me to research many artists. Following a trip to Southern Spain, I became particularly interested in the works of Picasso, Gaudi and the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. I found their contrasting styles to be very thought provoking, all are considered modernist but very different from one another. Picasso challenges the way that all things are viewed and represented and Gaudi’s organic creations can be stunning and almost unbelievable, in contrast to Van Der Rohe’s very structural pavilion which can physically influence the way you feel. As my research developed, Gaudi progressively became one of my favourite architects because of his organic and memorising forms of detailed architecture. 
I understand the fundamental concepts of function and form but would relish the opportunity to explore them more thoroughly and challenge myself to conceive my own functional designs.
During a trip to Monaco, in France, I visited the famous, stark white stoned building of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, which was built in 1875. From the interior design, you can admire the beautiful altarpiece by the Niçois painter Louis Bréa dating from 1500 as well as the high alter and the Episcopal throne of Carrara white marble.
I would greatly enjoy travelling to Barcelona as there are many fascinating forms of architecture situated there including The Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi and The Barcelona Pavilion by Van Der Rohe. I feel that combining my mathematical problem solving skills with my Artistic side is leading me to a career in Architectural Design.  Everything manmade starts with a design and good design has to be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. I believe that good architectural design should improve the quality of life for everyone.
I also wish to learn more about sustainable architecture and the use of materials from renewable sources, as I believe this to be essential for us all in the future. I have researched and read about historical architecture but would really love to study and learn about modern thinking and developments in architecture.
 
Displayed in an A3 work book, I sketched and painted Chinese features inspired by the artist Zhou Shao Feng, following the theme 'Family Gatherings'.




















A3 sized. Map artist Jerry Gretzinger inspired me to recreate his work as I followed my research in the theme 'Journey'. I love his use of colour and intricate patterns to create almost mosaic-like characteristic maps.

A3 sized. During my research, following the theme 'Journey' I collected many secondary images of Spanish tiles and used them to create sketches and paintings.

Displayed in an A3 work book. To begin the theme 'Journey' I completed a research page influenced by the artist Anna Simmons where I sketched and painted images to represent different countries.

My Unit 2 Final piece, sized 100x70cm. Carrying on with the Chinese culture I created a large painted dragon wrapped around a jigsaw shaped like the Country China. This represented the Family Gatherings theme, as each part of the jigsaw fits together like a family. This was then filled with cultural Chinese patterns.

100x70cm Inspiration from my primary research photographing Chinese culture on a city visit (China Town). I have sketched, printed and painted Chinese features during my investigation of 'Family Gatherings'.

During a primary visit to Southern Spain, I collected research that represent the Spanish culture to create my own A3 sized pictorial map inspired by the Welsh artist Anna Simmons.

A3 size. Photography of Spanish tiles on a visit to Southern Spain which I recreated with sketches, collage, paintings and digital manipulation.

A3 sized. Paintings and secondary images inspired by the famous Spanish artist Picasso. Following on with my Spanish Art research.

During my Unit 1 themed 'Home' I produced and antique style trinket box, which is sized 20.5x20.5cm and 7.5cm in depth. It is a 3D model containing compartments filled with miniature items, that I constructed from recycled items that I collected after researching my family tree.

This is my final piece for my Unit 1 topic, on a canvas sized 135x105cm .I chose several motifs and used a variety of skills and techniques to create a large painting, where I was greatly inspired by the artist Fiona Rae.

A3 sized. Completed research page on the artist Gaudi where I loved recreating his mosaic patterns and fascinating buildings. During my art education Gaudi has been one of my all time favourite artists. I am intrigued by his use of colour and intricate patterning that he uses to achieve great works. I have studied him in great detail.