(1) Outline of my current concerns & (2) practises I intend to develop and experiment with, including new methods/mediums
~ The most preeminent concern that I face in the upcoming module is the management of my time. I want to work towards a method which allows time for composition and flexible hours which I can manage on additional experiments I would like to fulfill, alongside time I can spend socialising etc. In order to combat my anxieties with time management, I have found a model to follow which allows room for organisation on this project, I have also downloaded an app called ‘Focus’ which has time allotments set for each objective to be input, as well as a timer for each task. I hope that by following this model (attached to the blog post) and inputting tasks through the ‘focus’ app that I may gather a better grasp of my time and create a project which is truly accomplished.
I intend to continue to grow as a surrealist and experiment with impairing my sight, be it blindfold or literal beer goggles, I want to experiment with my art through an obscured perspective; by taking away control of my sight I hope to create works which are intriguing in their own right from sheer displacement of imagery and technical approach. By eliminating such an important variable I hope to see some authentic colour blends as I will have colours selected by a peer for me whilst blindfolded so I have no clue on placement of colour and get the most raw, organic result.
I hope by taking away my sight I will conjure a series of experimental images which display aspects of surrealism and abstract expressionism. I want to be in tune with the mediums that I choose to work with, without having a visual relationship. By using my ability to feel I aspire to narrate a visual assemblage of avantgarde images which display a juxtaposed perspective, both harmonious and somewhat discordant. I hope to develop my skills in a multitude of practises, this includes the following;
Printmaking processes -
Lino printing - Practising various cutting methods to provide a clearer print, both seamless and textured prints will be provided. Using different Lino tools and utilising what other objects I could potentially use. Keep all original stamps to provide a textured viewing of the print, despite it being backwards.
Wood block printing - I would like to attempt a new method of printing which entails engraving/ gouging into wood. I have noticed that wood block prints seem to obtain detail easier than Lino prints.
Dry point etching - A favourite printing method of mine that I hope to continue to develop my skills in. Again I may choose to utilise more tools than just the etching pen, perhaps experiment with different forms of mark making using both blunt and sharp tools. I will most probably etch onto clear acrylic and cardboard, I may consider etching into aluminium should I come across the acid etching process.
Monoprinting - Again another favourite of mine that I have continued to develop over the past 4 years, I will be using this method of printing most probably to carry out experiments over different surfaces/ textures; as well as a visual aid as to what an idea may look like should I choose to pursue it over a bigger scale.
Additional skills I hope to develop include impasto based painting, in which I hope to learn new methods of layering, alongside making use of my hands and fingers to be used as a tool in order to literally get in touch with the process. I will of course employ the use of general tools such as palette knives, brushes, sponges etc.
During this years creative industries week I hope to learn the art of pyrography, as I find the craft to be thoroughly intriguing and I would like to create a number of experiments which include it. More mediums and processes are listed in the blog post ART 280 NLP
As mentioned prior I hope to orchestrate a new method of organisation over the course of this project, adapting to time allotments and management in order to ease off any anxieties that I may have. Of course I am naturally an anxious person over the duration of a project but I hope to really have fun with this. I want this project to have an impact on society; ironically the exhibition being that it is ailed for the blind may draw attention to the disability, but I want the blind society to feel included, without any means of navigation.
(3) What do you need to do, to help achieve your personal project?
~ Areas of which I will need to conduct research on are the various diagnosis of blindness, the limitations brought from that and the effects it may have on ones character. I will be interviewing a few people from the blind society who have different diagnosis’ allowing each voice to be heard and projected into my work; with the information I obtain from the interviews, I can then select what mediums and methods would be best for the audience. In regards to expanding my knowledge of the context of this project, as mentioned above I hope by initiating primary research by interviewing people considered legally blind and visually impaired will allow room for a personal insight to being blind. I want to hear the stories of others and “mimic” the distortion of being visually impaired or completely blind in my project. Key points include;
Interviews - develop case studies, will limit interviews to 2-4 people
Blindfolding & deliberately restricting my sight
Colour restriction/ peer selection
Some of the artists I have found to be quite innovative and intriguing are;
John Bramblitt
Rachel Gadsden
Antony Micallef
Kavan The Kid
Joseba Eskubi
Note that all artisans listed have a visual impairment or are blind. I will be keeping a log of any galleries that I visit or find relevant in regards to medium or processes exhibited during this project.
(4) Personal development goals
~ Listed below are some personal developments I would like to make over the course of this project;
Setting up an impasto painting or sculpturing workshop for the visually impaired, where we get in touch with the medium rather than the aesthetics of the final product.
I really hope to participate in creative industries week this year, in the hopes that I may employ new skills or methods of application toward mediums etc.
Time management and organisation, noted earlier this is something I am working towards.
Practise public/group speaking in order to establish some display of confidence to follow, this is something that may take some time but I hope I can continue to develop considering the occupation I am working toward. (Fine Arts Lecturer, aspiration is to move up to being a Fine Arts Professor)
Lastly I hope that the exhibition of this project is received well and I have fulfilled my objective in providing a space for the audience to feel included and heard.
Updated NLP
Having completed the module, I am happy to report that I have conquered (for the most part) my issues with time management. By creating check lists and sticking to schedules, alongside doing rotations of work, I have been able to create a sufficient body of work. I will continue to employ this organisation throughout my projects in order to allow more time for images of which are still within an editorial process. Further concerns or rather areas of improvement is increasing the scale of my works and designs, I want to show that I am able to work on a variety of platforms regardless of the size. Lastly I hope to increase my consistency within my work, enabling me to be quicker in my pace in regards to relief print making processes.
There are a multitude of materials I had not been able to experiment with given the covid guidelines and restrictions implemented, however over the continuation of my project in Art 280, I will be narrating pyrography based illustrations and hopefully I will embark upon working on different surfaces. Should the department reopen I may be able to work with permaset puff paste, allowing my screen prints to be embossed over fabric. Unfortunately given the time constraints I was unable to finish my wood block relief print, but I hope I may continue the process in art 280 to further elaborate on new formats of printmaking.
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