This year studying for my BTEC Diploma in Foundation Studies Art and Design has been all about experiment for me, I have felt the confidence to progress from canvas into bolder three dimensional pieces and have expanded on my knowledge of art theory, seeking reference not only from fine artists but from other forms of media. I have taken to applying a handmade craft like appearance to my work, using objects and materials readily available such as wool, wire, paper, fabric and cardboard, exploring the potential of each materials aesthetic property.
Previously I have always fixed myself to canvas painting, over the years I have developed a unique painting style. I most take pleasure in the intimate setting of figurative study and portraiture, translating mood and personality into my painting in an energetic and individual way. I strive to communicate the most apparent features of my subjects’ character, preferring to work loosely on a large scale when working from a life model.
I have always endeavoured to stretch ideas as far as I can take them, concentrating on theme as well as context, translating my imaginative thoughts into visual pieces of art. I put a lot of myself into my work and feel that my art expresses my personality and creative passion. I feel my work is recognisable as I have worked hard to develop my own individual style; I enjoy working on subjects that are personal to me, such as animal rights as I have been a vegetarian since the age of ten and a vegan for the past year caring for animals and the environment is a huge part of my lifestyle, I regularly transform old objects and clothes into art both at college and at home.
Artists that have most inspired me are Francis bacon for his loose painting technique along with his twisted and often morbid perspective of the human form, I find his work very emotive, and for me his work displays the ambiguity between man and animal, as form is often lost in a suffusion of flesh and blood.
I admire the work of potter Grayson Perry in the way in which he juxtaposes childlike imagery with scenes of child abuse and cross dressing males and displays the work on pots, it is for displaying a shocking subject in an innocent way why I am interested in Grayson Perry, and have attempted to recreate this idea in my own art, making the gruesome pieces out of innocent material to make them look cute.
I have always been passionate about art and I am certain I always will be.
