Demonstration of Technical and Visual Skills (35%)
Materials:
In my final piece, I think I’ve explored the use of materials well. I didn’t limit myself, instead, incorporating a large amount of materials in the piece. Over time, I’ve learnt more about the use of different materials/mediums and what they are best for. For example, I know that charcoal sticks and pencils are good for quick work and developing tone. For bolder and larger pieces, I would perhaps opt for my pastels and/or pens. I wouldn’t say I favour a particular medium; I enjoy working with charcoal, pencil and fine liner, however, instead of creating a piece with the material I’m most comfortable with, I wanted to show what I’ve learnt with all the materials that I’ve used over the past year or so.
Techniques:
I’ve discovered what works best for me, and in my final piece, I’ve worked with my strengths. I would have liked to work with things that I’m not as comfortable with, to show my progression in those areas, but I already felt anxious approaching the piece and didn’t want to put myself too far out of my comfort zone. The techniques I’ve developed and learnt to love are displayed within this piece – mark making, working in line, working in tone, incorporating colour in different ways.
Observational Skills:
My observational skills have improved hugely over the duration of the course. Beforehand, I was very critical of my work and often didn’t take much time to observe all the individual aspects of it. Over time, and with help from my tutor, I have learnt how to critique my own work positively. I spoke in depth on my final piece about the areas that I would change, areas that I wasn’t happy, with, and areas that I am pleased with. I’ve learnt that it’s important to be able to assess your own work accurately, as it shows you where your strengths/weaknesses are and where improvement is needed. One thing that I’m aware of, is that I need to take my time. With all of it. The preliminary sketches, the final piece, all of it. I’ve definitely improved in this area over the course of the unit, but it still needs to be worked on. This is something I’ve made note of to take into my next unit.
Visual Awareness:
Over the unit, I’ve realised more and more how important visual awareness is. When drawing items in the past they’ve not looked quite right or there’s been things missing from them, and, on further inspection of the subject I’m drawing, things jump out at me or I notice aspects that I hadn’t before. This might be highlights where the light hits a tree branch, a small bodily feature, a mark upon an object such as a chip or a crack. Adding these small but important features can sometimes transform a piece. Recently, I have taken extra care in inspecting the subjects I am drawing carefully, zooming into small areas, and transferring as many of the details I am able to seek out onto paper. Instead of rushing through the drawing and taking time to sit and observe the subject for things I’ve missed, I’ve been able to strengthen my drawing skills and my visual awareness in all areas. As I worked with more colour this time, I found this a little more difficult, as I’m more used to working in black on white. When working in colour there are so many more things to consider, such as tones and the spectrum of a specific colour. For example, there isn’t just light green, mid green and dark green, there are hundreds of different shades, and this was something I hadn’t really considered until I was applying it to my work. It was interesting and something I will definitely be mindful of in the future.
Design:
I feel completely confident that my designs are creative, and that I’ve taken into consideration the areas of improvement and areas that I am strongest in, as discussed by myself and my tutor. Whilst I stayed within what I know and what I feel strongest with, I have also been bolder and more experimental in my choices, as I don’t want to restrain myself. I am a bold and ambitious person, and I wanted to display this through my work, which I think I have.
Compositional Skills:
I never approach my drawings with a set guide to how I will compose it. I just sort of see what comes to me. I’ve become very good at using light pencil or charcoal to map out my pieces, however. Beforehand, I would just draw the figure and if it was wrong I would do it again and again and again until it was right. Now, I will lightly map out the edges of my subject, and then build upon that, applying a more permanent line/tone as I go along. This isn’t how everyone would do it, but it’s what works best for me. I have experimented with grids and such before, but I find them frustrating and they don’t work for me. Of course, I will continue to experiment with composition techniques, but for now, I am happy with ‘mapping’. It feels safe and I feel confident with it.
Quality of Outcome (20%)
Content:
I feel confident that my content for my final piece is interesting and unusual. I’m happy that the outcome of my final piece links to what I discussed in my artist’s statement, and that I’ve accurately portrayed my message/meaning.
Application of Knowledge:
I’ve learnt many things through this course, and I think I have applied them well in this piece. I’ve tried my best to apply things that my tutor has flagged up to me as areas for improvement, and areas of strength. I made a point to reflect back to previous pieces to ensure I was incorporating previously learnt skills and techniques, and I can only hope my tutor agrees.
Presentation of Work in Coherent Manner:
I am very organised and like things to be kept in an orderly manner, which, I think, reflects in my learning log. It’s easily accessible, my work is well presented, and each exercise/task is chronologically displayed. One thing that I feel could be improved, is my preliminary work and discussion on how I reached a certain conclusion.
Discernment:
I think I have displayed a strong and healthy judgement of my work through my learning log. I’m able to discuss areas that I feel need improvement, areas I’m confident with, and reflect well on feedback given. I spoke with people regarding my final piece and gained a lot of feedback from friends and my partner on their thoughts on my work, which is something I’ve never felt confident to do before. I think it’s important to do this, as these are the people that will be most honest. I am realising the importance of self-critique more and more as the course proceeds.
Conceptualisation of Thoughts:
I am quite decisive in my decisions. When I read a brief, I get an idea in my head of what I want to do, and it’s rare that I shift from that decision. I may branch out a little with my concepts of that idea, but it’s not often I fully change my mind. When I read the brief for this piece, I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t quite sure how to approach it. I think I’ve done well at transferring my thoughts and ideas onto paper (or canvas in this case), and I think I’m getting better at discussing the decisions and thoughts I have. Perhaps, I could be a bit more experimental and allow myself to branch out a bit more, but, also, I don’t think I work that way.
Communication of Ideas:
As mentioned above, discussing my ideas and thoughts is something I am getting better at, however, I think it could improve. Even just making messy notes in my sketchbook of a thought process or idea could be useful. I don’t make many notes within my sketchbooks, I just leave it until I’m writing in my learning log, but, maybe it would be useful to have a place to scrawl in whilst I’m working.
Demonstration of Creativity (25%)
Imagination:
Without a doubt, this has been my most imaginative piece yet. I think the concept that I have displayed is a really interesting one. When I asked my tutor if I were able to incorporate two different aspects in this one piece, she advised me that she thought it would suit me to do that. I have also been repeatedly advised to experiment and try and show some of myself through my work. My tutor has also said to me before to remember that the briefing is just a guideline, and that I am free to go bigger and bolder and do with it what feels right. I have really tried to do that with this final piece, and I felt and feel so much more comfortable with it. It feels more ‘me’. I now feel way more confident in pushing boundaries and getting riskier with my work, and creating something bigger and bolder.
Experimentation:
I’ve said this before, but I think my experimentation could be better. I don’t have much time to be overly experimental, as I work full time and things seem to just get on top of me. I also feel, as mentioned above, that once I get an idea in my head I want to just get on with it and I don’t want to spend time experimenting on something I know I want to do. I think this is pretty narrow minded, and I’ve had to remind myself multiple times that it’s all part of the learning process, and when I have taken the time to experiment with things that my work often turns out better. Areas that I definitely do need to take time to experiment with and work on is the areas that I’m feeling less confident in.
Invention:
I think I’ve been far more inventive in part 5. I’m happy that my piece is bold and feels more like something I would create. Again, I think this is because I’m thinking outside the box and I felt that I was given more free rein. Slowly but surely, I can see originality and a more interesting quality creeping into my work.
Research:
I completed some research on artists that inspire me and artists that my tutor recommended and I found this both enjoyable and really helpful. I felt this would be really useful in the outcome of my final piece, as I was able to magpie certain techniques and features that I liked from other artist’s work and experiment with them in my own work.
Critical Thinking (Learning Logs):
My learning log is where I put all my thoughts. I find that it goes up and down in formality. Sometimes it’s as though I’m chatting with a friend, and sometimes its as though I’m writing an assignment. Either way, it’s really helpful and has supported me massively in my work. As mentioned above, I do think some things do get left out, which is why I think it would be useful to have something to jot my thoughts and ideas down so I don’t forget them. This will be useful in building up a more accurate representation of my progress and my working process.