Swatch book drawing day

The lesson is to draw lines and circles through different media and different strokes. We enlarged and reduced these pictures through the printer at noon. Then combine these pictures together through collage or weave methods to create different feeling pictures. I like this induction course to expand our creative thinking. Although this course is just paper manipulation, the creative ideas are all the same, which is also a help for the future development of fabrics.

Visit Tate Britain and find two paintings

The object is a figurine. They are represented in the same way : they were displayed on the table.

Jonathan Richardson 1667-1745
Portrait of the Artist’s Son, Jonathan Richardson the Younger, in his Study c.1734

In the first painting, this figurine and a few scattered books were placed on the table. It is at the edge of the painting and the lights are dim. This painting depicts the painter’s son, who shared many of his father’s cultural interests but was raised a gentleman, not a professional artist. He is shown in his study reading Greek philosophy, an antique bust of Homer placed nearby. So the protagonist of this painting is the sitter. The books, figurine and other objects around the sitter are supporting roles for the status of the protagonist. This object does not appear in other works of this artist. It is simply part of the material world the artist is depicting. So even without the existence of this figurine does not affect the meaning of this painting.

Robert Brough 1872-1905
Fantaisie en Folie 1897

Although the figurine is not in the center of the second painting, the light is still shining on it. The title means “fantasy in madness” and refers to the reflective mood of the subject. The sitter holds out the pendant of her necklace towards a ceramic buddha, as if to compare East and West. So the meaning of the figurine occupies half of the painting. This object does not appear in his other works. In this painting it has a particular symbolism for the sake of comparison. Without the existence of this figurine, this painting may become an elegant lady showing her jewellery and it has lost its profound significance.

Self-evaluation

During the first month, I learned some new skills through various workshops: different drawing techniques, recognizing a variety of yarns, dyeing fabrics, operating a sewing machine, making my own colour palette. What excites me the most is the first attempt to dye Cloth, as well as free embroidery with a sewing machine instead of simply taking a straight line. My biggest achievement this month is to try and find out what I really like deeply in my heart. Because the current course rhythm is slower than the foundation stage, I have enough time to visit the museum recommended by tutors to learn more about the world and see how others make and display their artworks. The tutor also took us out of the classroom to guide us how to connect our ideas with the outside world. I used to rush to complete a project before the deadline, and I was not very satisfied with the final outcome. I went to the library and browsed all the books of artists recommended in the brief. I could explore which artists’ styles I liked and which ones I didn’t appreciate in the process. How the artists I like develop their ideas to make their own artworks. I can learn their methodology and apply these techniques in future. Besides, I went to different flea markets to collect items and find inspiration. In fact, I didn’t have a specific idea at the very beginning. I wanted to see what I could find in my exploration. All of these processes are a new attempt. I hope that I can arrange my time more reasonably next month.

11-10-2019【THEORY: Independent Study Visit-Pitt Rivers Museum】

There are many fossils of marine animals and plants in the Pitt River Museum. The beauty of the urchin shell makes me question that it is a craft instead of a natural one. The regular lines and textures make me sigh the wonders of nature and I am very fascinated. The exhibits in the exhibition area of human history are developed in accordance with the primitive human social life style to the modern times  and from the era of cold weapon to hot weapons. Moving up from the lower ground. I gradually witness the progress of human society. This is something I can’t immediately clear in many large natural history museums. In the large museum, it is easy to concentrate on the exquisiteness of the exhibits but forget the timeline. These objects come from different countries and different nationalities, and most of them show the daily necessities of the people in that area. For example, in ancient times, there were no mass production. Humans used their own wisdom to combine the plants with animal skins to make clothes. Because of the objective conditions that were limited by that period, many items were made by hand, such as musical instruments, handmade bags, and baskets. They are all placed in a glass showcase and cannot be touched, but can be viewed at close range. These collections represent the lifestyles of the local people in that historical period. I drew a hat from Africa. I like this hat very much because the characters above are a bit cute. It comes from the Yoruba region of western Africa and is a crown made of many beads. This beaded crown, worn by the royal family at the time of the ceremony. It may also be from the early 20th century. The crown incarnates the intuition of royal ancestral force, the revelation of great moral insight in the person of the king, and the glitter of aesthetic experience. Because it is a representative object of this country, so it was worth to preserve and display in the museum.