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Double Page Spread Critique

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The brief for this work was to look at shape, form, and negative space to create tonal studies informed by the work of Frank Pudney. we were also told to focus on creating a focal point using the rule of thirds. Pudney’s work has an almost fluid quality to it, the different forms and areas of tone blending together to create an organic form. This was the main aspect of his work I wanted to replicate in these drawings. This was in part down to the way I positioned my weave piece, so I made sure to allow the different materials to form intriguing shapes with lots of shadow to create tone. I explored different compositions before concluding that a less compact shape allowed for a more interesting use of negative space. I made two smaller compositions before committing to my final, larger piece. These smaller pieces allowed me to explore different possibilities before arriving at a more developed and successful piece. The final piece was successful as the previous pieces allowed me to ...
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More Art School Research

I am currently considering applying to Duncan of Jordanstone college of art and design for their foundation course. I still don’t know what I want to specialise in, but I’m leaning towards design over fine art, possibly graphic design, illustration, or environmental design. I think the foundation course is a really good option for me because it would allow me another year to figure out which specialist area would suit me best, and to experiment with other courses. I think I would do well with the self motivated study format there, especially after doing this course for a year. Aside from that, Dundee is a really nice place and somewhere I think I would enjoy spending four years at uni. Central St Martins also offers a foundation course. This course gives the opportunity to explore four different subject areas (fashion and textiles, fine art, graphic communication design, and three dimensional design and architecture), or specialise in one of these right off the bat. The focus is on p...
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Initial Research

The main schools I looked into in relation to Communication/ Graphic Design were Glasgow School of Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, and Central St Martins in London. Each of these schools vary greatly in their approach to this course and prioritise different aspects of the subject area. First off, the Communication Design course at Glasgow is very open- the course covers graphic design, photography, and illustration, although students are expected to specialise in one of these fairly early on. This course model allows for more general briefs that are up to interpretation by the student. The GSA website has less information about specific modules etc in each year of the course, but overall, the course focuses on each student’s individual development. However, there is less focus on industry placement than other courses. There is also opportunity to study abroad at one of GSA’s international partners.  The graphic design course at Central St Martins als...
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Gallery Vists- 2/4

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Mandy Barker- Beyond Drifting Mandy Barker is a photographer who frequently discusses the issue of plastic pollution in our oceans. She works with scientists and organisations such as Greenpeace, travelling the world to conduct research and collect data. In ‘Beyond Drifting’ Mandy Barker conducts a semi fictional scientific study of plastics found in our ocean, drawing parallels to a study on plankton by John Vaughan Thompson, conducted in Cobh, Cork in the 1800s. Her images of different microplastics are presented as specimens in contrast to Thompson’s original work on plankton. This series draws parallels between plankton, the natural bottom of the food chain, and microplastics which are now being eaten by marine animals. Barker’s photos are specifically interesting due to the context she places them in. She gives each item a fake scientific name, and the exhibition includes an old looking science book that presents Barker’s findings with references to Thompson’s original study. ...
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Research Task 21/19/21

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Bauhaus The Bauhaus was a design school in Germany that opened in 1919 and closed in 1933 due to pressure from the Nazi party. During this time the Bauhaus was at the forefront of design in Germany, and after its closure its influence continued to spread. It was started by Walter Gropius due to his belief in breaking the barrier between artists and craftsmen and bringing art and design into the post-war age of machinery. The school also became a centre of forward thinking individuals in Germany. The core belief of the school was the union of art and craft, to create a ‘gesamtkunstwerk’ or a complete work of art. The aesthetic of many leading Bauhaus artists was simplistic, functional, and geometric, while including bright colours and interesting designs. they aimed to make beautiful pieces that found their beauty in minimalism and functionality. Josef Albers studied at the Bauhaus from 1920-23, and taught there in various roles from 1923 up until the schools closure in 1933. He then ...
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Presentation Notes (07/09/21)

John Fitzpatrick began his art career studying fine art printmaking at Glasgow School of Art. After graduating in 2000 he joined the Glasgow print studio and is now on the board there. One artist that has influenced his work is Richard Serra. Serra is a New York based Sculptor who creates large-scale, site-specific sculptures. The large sheets of metal form curves and angles that allow the viewer to walk inside and through the sculpture. This allows the viewer to become part of the work and experience it in a much more personal way. The interactive component of Serra’s work allows it to move and change as the viewer moves around the work, viewing it from new angles and perspectives. This idea of the viewer’s experience being integral to the artwork was also explored by Mark Rothko. He was an important figure in abstract expressionism and painted, among other work, very large black canvases designed to ‘eclipse and consume’ the viewer. Another important figure in abstract expression...
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Initial Thoughts

Currently it is early September, and I am at the start of my year at the UAL portfolio preparation course at Langside. I just finished up my last year of secondary. In my final year at school, I was doing different creative subjects- like advanced art, higher design and manufacture, and higher media- but already I know this course isn’t going to be like anything I’ve done before. So far it has met and exceeded my expectations, challenging the way I view art and look at my surroundings, and that’s only in the first couple of weeks. Mostly I’m looking forward to having the opportunity, the time, and the resources, to learn to think outside the box and explore different techniques and materials. This year I really want to step away from the kind of work I was making in school- for my advanced higher art- and even my previous personal work. I’m excited to learn from experienced artists, and expand my own practice, and the way I think about art. In terms of challenge, I think staying motiva...
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