Process Evidence.

The hand made touches.

Since visiting the Ashmolean Museum, in Oxford the other week and seeing Francis Bacons work in particular, I realised that I care too much about having a finished look to my work. In some of Bacons paintings it was obvious that at moments the paint had fallen and dripped onto places it wasn't meant to. Where he had then just wiped it and left it, not painting over it as if it never happened. I hadn't realised this until seeing some of his iconic pieces in the flesh (pictures on the internet never do justice).

With this final piece of work I wanted to change that. When priming my squares I did not care if it dripped, the marks from measuring were left and the excess canvas wasn't removed from the bottom. I also decided to leave a few of the squares knee-less (empty). It was difficult to decide at what point it was finished to look unfinished... If that makes sense (I know what I mean). I thought I would find it difficult to leave it how it ended, however, I guess it helped that it is able to still be 'completed' if I so wished. I can cut it up, fill in the gaps and finish my original plan sometime in the future. Although, I have grown to like it how it is. It is possible that I may continue to work on my issues with leaving things unfinished...

Seenk Making.

The making of my 'final piece'.

I would like to point out that before coming to this stage, I had planned to make canvases and have that as another new thing I have achieved in doing this warm up project. However, after being sneaky and taking wood up to the studios to recycle it. Measuring how many frames I could make. Taking it back downstairs to the workshop. Waiting and asking for it to be chamfered. Leaving it to be done because we had a lecture. Then returning to find it had not been done because the cutting blade needed to be replaced. It wasn't going to be ready in time for me to complete my work for our little exhibition, so I had to change my plan or do something else... It was a draining time, I felt like the day had been wasted.

After the weekend and having had a chance to think about what to do, I armed myself with a metre of canvas and a plan. I measured out squares and primed them with a couple of layers of gesso mix. Once that had dried, I filled them with oil painted knees. They were a combination of left and right, back and front, upside down and right way up knees. That is where the title came from, "Seenk up, seenk down, seenk all around". Unbeknownst until now, it made me happy to be working in my studio space, with it actually looking like an artists work space.

Started Life Drawing.

(15 minute drawing of a feature)

I've decided to take up Life Drawing.

Now honestly, I'm being very hopeful of myself. It's on a Monday from 5-7pm (this to me is late), but I'm determined to see it through and maybe my drawing will get better. There's also another Life Drawing workshop on a Wednesday, which apparently a little different, so I shall be attending them as well. Dedicated or what?!

I was nervous to begin with, it wasn't at the thought of there being a naked model (turns out there's two), that doesn't bother me at all, rather the fact that I was going to meet new people. It was fine after a while and getting into the swing of things. I felt like I was being picked on slightly and being told I should be doing this and that to my drawing, however, I guess that's just how I'll learn though. I definitely achieved slight improvements as we went on. The very last one I did is my favourite, I might have to stick with drawing feet.

(1 minute each figure)

(1 minute each figure)

(5 minute each figure)

(15 minute drawing)

(20 minute drawing)

(25 minute drawing)