Project Update 1:

First Project Update:

-My ART280 Project is a continuation of my personal development. My previous project, I would write really negative things about myself, but over the past 6 months the way I feel about myself has totally changed. The main reason for this was my relationship with Alex, he taught me so many things about myself that I thought would never happen. I feel so much more positive about myself, which is what I wanted to focus on for this project. I also wanted to develop my drawing and painting style, instead of continuing the simple, graphic, lined drawings. I started to write and collect my thoughts and also gathered information from my boyfriend. Having some context where I could write up what I've written about myself, but also what Alex has written for me, means the writing I have behind the pieces are more personal. I've been heavily inspired by Egon Schiele, which is where I got the inspiration from to create bright, and lined pieces. I really like the way my work has come out so far, because I really like the graphic and unusual appearance to my portraits.

I have added images from my little black book that I have been collecting my thoughts in. It is just full of really random things that I think about myself, it has sketches, lists, and even a letter from Alex. I think this is going to be really helpful to give me context to my work, I think it will help show where my text is coming from, and that there is meaning to it. The images below is the first piece I made that was really graphic, and was inspired by my ART280 Module. I had been creating pieces that were really bright and colourful, so I thought I should start putting my writing into practice. The unusual drawing style is influenced by Egon Schiele, and the messiness to it was inspired by Ralph Steadman.

The strengths to my work so far has been I feel like I have collected a substantial amount of research for my writing, but also my drawings. I feel like the images have related well to the text behind it, which makes the link between them more noticeable. I also think the inspiration I have looked at has helped me push not only my ideas further but my creative practice.I feel like I know what I want to try more of, what I haven't tried enough off.

The weakness of my project so far has been the experimentation of my work. I feel like it has been very slow and limited, which is something I want to improve on quickly. Not only do I want to play around more with materials, I feel like I just want more exploration and freedom with it. I don't want to worry about whether or not it's good enough because that's slowing me down.

These are a few images from my black book where I have been collecting my thoughts and feelings. The book is A5 size and is hand written by myself. There is also text pieces in here by my boyfriend Alex, and little sketches that I have also done. What is important to note about this book is it's very personal to me. It's how I am but just written down, so some of the language is slightly too strong and there are parts where I am too relaxed. This could be a positive however, as it is showing people who I am and what I am like. What I plan to do with this in an exhibition space would be to have it on a plinth, and have people come up to it and hold it to read it. I like the idea of having people engage with it, and almost read my journal. The idea of not having to speak it but still get what I want across is interesting to me - if I decide to use it.

These images are of my graphic painting that I did. It is an A4 watercolour piece on watercolour paper. This piece has something irritating to me because I am just casually discussing how I feel fat and I'm not skinny like other girls. It came from such a negative place which is something that I am trying to change about myself. This project will hopefully see a change in the text, hopefully it will become more positive as each piece develops.