I began by exploring how easily people can be convinced so easily by something that may turn out to be illogical or false. It lead me to the need we have for an answer, how we don’t feel comfortable leaving something as a mystery. I looked into the psychology behind beliefs and came up with a mind map of research to feed into a feeling I want to portray.
Summed up, this mind map realises that it is our natural instinct as a way of protecting ourselves to search for patterns, learn by imitation and infer intentions. Our subconscious tells us to constantly make observations and fixate on the negative or dangerous as they pose the threat that we could avoid or fix. The unknown is the most natural fear, so we turn towards it and dig to reduce the threat. I plan to reproduce that feeling through the work I make so came up with a (still growing) mind map to discover how to do so.
The word ‘Writhing’ particularly popped out, it motivated to think more visually about the movements of 2d work. I produced two drawings of what I feel that would look like.
These drawings reminded me of blood vessels/nerves/bodily tissues, something verging on grotesque. I plan to use these style of drawings further into the project. As well as I feel they represent the word writhing well, I don’t feel like I have any supporting imagery to branch off from; these images were more like doodles form my head rather than something of substance. I began to look fro imagery to work from.
Eels are one of my fears yet I find them oddly endearing and beautiful, so I thought it would help fuel the concept. I think the way they squirm over each other is mesmerising, it reminds me of how people can get tangled up in knots trying to make sense of something inexplicable. I began with drawings of the subject.
We received a workshop on stretching paper, priming and using wet materials eg. bleach, ink, paint. I used the eel imagery to carry further as a starting point.
I noticed that a lot of my work just feels like a background or pattern and not much thought has gone into composition, I’m struggling to find objects for focus. Playing with the wet materials helped me gain a feel for them however, I don’t particularly like any of the pieces, they seem incoherent and irrelevant to my theme. it was perhaps limited due the time it took to stretch the paper which made me precious about it. I started painting on cardboard instead.
i like the textures created by ink and bleach to replicate the patterns of eels. I was particularly by the last one, i used wet emulsion and scratched into it with different tools, it reminds me of looking through a microscope to subtly squirming organisms. Starting to like my work, I felt motivated to relax and produce a larger piece.
I like the subtlety of the oil bar being dragged to the right and strengthened by the red pencil. however the outline could be bolder. I feel it really represents the word writhing but it is a bit too gentle to look at, there is no question of what it is or reluctancy to look at it. the composition is a little confused, I can’t see any strong focal point. there is lots to work off but it has successfully fuelled me further.
Two pieces of stretched paper failed so i decided to use them for excess paint and material i had, to see what comes of it.
The composition of both are a mess however they could be useful as prepared textured surfaces or as a practice for techniques. i like the cracking on the left one, its seems to be in the process of revealing something, presenting a mystery.
We then learnt a new technique, using the printers various settings to alter the colours or print onto alternative surfaces. i ad a couple attempts at this but am yet to use it to full potential.
i attempted to combine techniques iv’e learnt throughout this week onto one piece. i carried on the idea of scratching/peeling away paint to reveal i picture printed on acetate.
the composition needs a bit of work, but i like the idea of the peeled away areas, as well as the texture of the oil bar.
Abigail yeats CAP 