Assignment (Series)

As I sat home following the news and instructions by the police to stay in, updating myself on the  bizarre happenings around Boston, I find myself lost in trying to work on my assignment. I initially planned to work on something with related to Pop Art and then skewed a little to Piet Mondrian's style. Wanting to relate it back to my homeland, Singapore, I chose 3 consumable items that I grew up with and are still popular with Singaporeans today.
I used pages from a Boston magazine to determine the boxed spaces to paint ala Piet Mondrian's style and pasted it on watercolour paper. However, the glue stick I used did not do a good job at making the magazine page stick onto the watercolour paper. Note to self, no more using glue sticks for Artworks! The colours used focussed on belonging to a specific colour scheme, greens, reds and blues. I used gouache to achieve that bright, bold colours for the background. The popular item is painted in black similar to Warhol's style. Similar but not the same.
At some point of time, I intend to re-create this artwork using better glue and perhaps acrylic paint to achieve a slightly better outcome.
Here are my works:

 Yeo's Chrysanthemum Tea in a can...

Milo Energy Drink in a tin...

Maggi Instant Noodles in Curry Flavour....

Discussion (Series)

I had some artists in mind when thinking of series of works. Of course Andy Warhol would the first on my list. But here are some other artists I like as well:

1) Salvador Dali
http://www.art.com/gallery/id--a126/salvador-dali-posters.htm?RFID=054402&domain=com&KWID=866130873&gclid=CJr-mNC807YCFUyY4AodGFQAYg&CTID=1814778450

I am looking at Dali's work of the elephant on stilts and he particularly used the elephants in a number of his works. I find these elephants with tall, skinny legs rather interesting and like the way he incorporated it into his artworks. Although I am not a fan of the colour used in his paintings, The Elephants c1948, is my favourite. The use of warm colours make the artwork appealing like the hot dessert sun setting behind the sand. Plus, the elephant on stilts done as a 3D sculpture is sooo exciting.

2) Piet Mondrian
https://www.google.com/search?q=Piet+mondrian+series&client=firefox-a&hs=Qp3&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=l4lvUcfCArPC4AO_7IHIBQ&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=479

Piet Mondrian is easily one of my favourites for his use of primary colours and geometric shapes and lines in his works. He has created several series, each exciting in its own way and his works have been incoporated on other products as well like Nike shoes, bags, clothes and even as a logo in a mall in Singapore.\

3) Roy Lichtenstein
http://www.susansheehangallery.com/recentacquisitionsdetail.php?id=11168

Roy Lichtenstein is known for his cartoon-like works using primary colours in halftone dots. One might say his artwork style can be found mostly in the comic section of newspapers or Archie comics. His works normally feature a blonde lady expressing emotion in either a thought or speech bubble. I found the Bull Profile series rather interesting. The deconstruction of the bull into simple basic shapes and primary colours show how an organic shape can easily change into geometric shapes with just a few simple tweaks.

Assignment (Colour)

This week the research that I had to do focused on using colour and identifying specific artists whose artworks attract and inspire me. I must say I am a colour freak...I once had a lecturer comment that I need to work alot more on my colour. However, the assignment for this week did not cut it for me. To be honest, I did not enjoy working on it and found the theme too broad, overwhelmingly with the use of a variety of mediums. I guess I am one of those that would rather have a topic that I can focus on with a direction to it. Or maybe I still have yet to discover myself. In the end, I tried testing out a few and decided on one that I feel I can relate to.

I played with some greens, browns and yellows to give that slightly warm feeling but cold at the same time. Being here in Boston, away from family often leaves me feeling melancholic and the colours of choice expressed just that for me. I loved how tissue paper is so absorbent and sticks immediately to paper when it is wet with paint. The tissue papers were weaved and laid to show interlocking moments of our lives, like a tapestry weaved together. The words or phrase that I drew inspiration from have been painted on the surface. The branches speak for itself. I used part of a picture of a leaf and its branch, pasted it down and then expanded the picture by painting the rest of the branches. If you look closely, you would see the picture I pasted.

Below are two more pieces that I toyed around with but still I felt like it was not enough. I feel like a writer with writer's block except I should call it more to the sound of "artist's block". Bleargh...this wasn't a good week...

Lastly, here is the phrase that I used:
Familiy
like branches on a tree,
we all grow in different directions
yet our roots remain as one...

Discussion (Colour)

When I think of colour, I think of bright coloured hues and playing with basics like Primary and Secondary colours. I love how Cyan and Magenta go so well together. In the list below, the artists works that I like totally reflects the graphic persona that I am... I love bright, solid colours and minimal colours just don't work for me.

Here are the artists:

1) Leonid Afremov
http:// www.afremov.com

Oh his works are simply awesome! He uses primary and secondary colours and paints using palette knives and oil to create scenery and landscapes in a modern impressionistic style. I am absolutely attracted to the use of colour and how he manages to blend the colour. He engages the viewer and draws one's attention into the artwork with the use of depth and perspective very successfully.

2) Piet Mondrian
http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=4057

I was sold with the way Mondrian uses geometric lines in his artworks and most importantly, how he is known for his artworks using the three basic primary colours.  Apart from drawing inspiration from the Cubist movement, I liked that he used monochromatic tones of 'yellow' albeit a slightly more funky one for his works.

3) Georgia O'keefe
https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+georgia+o%27keeffe%27s+paintings&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=aVlmUcC8LIep4AP8uIHoBQ&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=976

O'Keeffe's style is beautiful with the way she uses form and lines in her painting. I especially love the use of pastel colours and the blending technique in her paintings. I must say what attracts me most about her artworks apart from her use of objects in nature is the realistic portrayal of the object and the scale in which she paints them. I like that she zooms in and captures magnified versions of the interior of flowers and her use of warm and cool colours make her artworks different from most.

Journal (Sketchbook)

This past week, the weather has been great!!
As I take the daily afternoon walk to fetch my son from school, I remember thinking that the sun shining down on me reminded me of home...except the temperature here is oh sooo cool...NICE!!

Here are ten of my observations in my daily life over the past week:
 (Some are sooo random...haha)

1) I can't sleep!
2) Saw 2 cars parked side by side that are exactly similar
3) I was so hungry I almost passed out
4) I watched the funniest video on Facebook of Justin Timberlake dancing to Beyonce's song, Single Ladies
5) The wind was so strong today that we were pushed forward on the way to the library
6) There was a rotting carcass of some bird or animal under a car
7) A rolling pin makes a really good massaging tool
8) Liniment oil makes my eyes water
9) It is still bright at 7:20pm
10) Olay moisturizing shower cream really moisturizes

Assignment (Still Life)

Observational Self-Portrait Still Life...

Being in Boston for only 6 months, this assignment got me scrambling for what objects/items best describe me. I didn't have my favourite childhood toy nor did I have a collection of things. However, what I had with me here were things that I needed for my day to day life or things that I handle almost everyday. I managed to also squeeze in a favourite game that my son and I love to play, UNO! Here is the charcoal rendition of my observational still life...

Critique:
I started out drawing the outlines lightly with pencil before going over with vine charcoal. One of the strengths of this artwork is that I managed to capture the both highlights and shadows present in the still life. Layout for the objects looks quite interesting and the dark sunglasses seem to really standout. Still life objects look quite proportionate and perspective captured successfully.

Areas that could be improved on is to not be afraid to use darker shades to create a more stark contrast. Some of the objects look slightly flat like the pencil sharpener behind the box of UNO cards. It has the same shade of grey. In my opinion, reflection on the lens of the sunglasses were not captured very well (it was challenging to identify the highlights and then using kneadable eraser to lift off the charcoal). Perhaps more can be done to show light reflecting on the lenses.

Discussion (Drawing)

I went online to look for websites on 'drawings' and the funniest thing happened. I was directed to companies that dealt with the with-'drawing' of money! hahahha
Nonetheless, here are the three websites on drawings that I really like:

1)http://dannygregory.com/

Danny Gregory is a skilled illustrator and his works really show good observation skills. He does not aim to draw perfect drawings but his sketches illustrate and captures the 'life' of that particular time, place or moment. Having gone through a rough patch where his wife became paralyzed, he turned to drawing as a form of release and expression to help him through that difficult time of his life. I love the way he tells his story through both sketches and type. His handwirtten type looks pretty cool too. 
Take a look at some of his artworks here too:
http://legerillustrations.blogspot.com/2012/06/danny-gregory.html

2) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/24/diego-fazio_n_2011207.html#slide=1682251

This Italian artist, Diego Fazio, is so talented that he is able to come up with photo-realistic drawings of people. I am most impressed with his shading skill and his ability to capture tones, shadows and highlights which are not very simple especially when dealing with other elements that distort the picture like fluids or water. Diego Fazio's works make me want to try harder and since it was stated that it takes him about 200 hours to finish a piece of artwork, I must say, patience is a virtue and he is only 24 years old! Amazing!!
Check out his page here too:
http://diegokoi.deviantart.com/

3) http://sherriemcgraw.com/artwork/drawings

Sherrie Mcgraw is known for her Abstract Realism paintings. However, what drew me to her website was her figure drawings done in charcoal and conte. I have always had a weakness for artworks that use conte.  Neutral or warm tones from the conte makes the artpieces into timeless beauties. It gives off that old, slightly vintage feel. More like sepia tones in a photograph. Mcgraw doesn't just draw the typical nude figures, she includes some animals too. Most of her drawings look half complete where the drawings and lines just trail off into the paper. Her works stand out further with the addition of white conte to capture highlights (which I really like) and she also adds cross-hatching to show shadows. Her lines are fluid and the colours added to it show an ethereal quality to it.