FIA3 – Art as Connection Trinity F 2021

FIA3 – Art as Connection Printmaking & Mixed Media Surrealism & Steampunk

Fabric lino prints

Carving knife used to manipulate the soft lino in jagged motions, evoking balance between the distribution of focal elements Carving knife used to manipulate negative space and enhance a focus on the elevated design.

Multiple colours used in previous prints, showing the conformity to the surrealism and steam punk colour scheme.

Original design

In this piece I successfully carved a steam punk design which embodies the elements of Peter Booth’s dark and jagged style. The complexity of carving this Lino limited my ability to produce a piece that I originally planned. The detail which I presented in the Lino was unsuccessful as the wide tipped carving tool could not cater for the fine lines that I planned. Despite this, I modified my design using my divergent thinking process to conform to the criteria and evoke meaning/ thinking to audiences.

By exploring art in mixed media inspired by Elizabeth Willing at RAHL, the class was instructed to construct a contemporary piece focusing on the relationship between art and food. These artworks were made using a variety of different foods and mixed media, where different techniques allowed the diversity, movement and contrast among each piece. I decided to apply elements and principles inspired by Peter Booth’s work because his unique exploration of stereotypically ‘ugly’ art sparked my interest. I took on board the idea that ‘not all art is beautiful’ and centered my pieces on darkness and the notion of death, whilst constantly referring to the steampunk and surrealism unit. Thus, Through the relationship between pattern, colour, shape, and repetition, harmony and rhythm were created in this piece. In the first piece, strokes were made using a feather, establishing movement and variety. Furthermore, the rim of multiple different circular objects were dipped in both paint and soy sauce.

In the second piece, the elements and principles of repetition and movement were integrated to evoke meaning and spark meaning.

Soy sauce Potato stamp Feather strokes Rim of circular objects Tape used to create negative space

The textural qualities which this piece possesses establishes a fluid tone, edged with ‘dark’ connotations. The contrast of black and red colour reinforces the grungy steampunk theme, whilst the whimsical and freestyle patterns created by erratic linework connects the piece to the surrealist genre.

Stencils used to show negative space Movement of the eye between focal points of the piece.

Double print

Variety of flat textural stencils and objects layered and covered in acrylic paint

Inspiration taken from Peter Booth, where colour schemes dominating his work were applied to the gel painting to emphasize his surrealist techniques through his dismissal of stereotypical beauty in art.

Layering of digital or drawn images and covered in ink. Placed in a monoprint press and printed one time

Symbols associated with steampunk and surrealism; the skull, spiders, snakes, clockwork

Disorientation of reality as a concept of the surrealist genre

Self made drawings

More symbols in the steampunk and surrealism genre

Demonstration of uniqueness inspired by Peter Booth. Challenges the traditional stereotype that ‘all art is beautiful’

Distortion of the human condition and figures linking to the surrealist genre. Provokes thinking in viewers.

Cyanotype process following the assemblage of random objects and materials to create a silhouette effect and depth of shape. The arrangement was put into the sun where the covered shapes made an image and negative space.

Negative space referring to the illusion of space. (shape).

Through the use of cogs, nuts and bolts, line work was emphasized in this piece. This helped in establishing variety in the piece where the eye was influenced to follow the path of the line work.

SELF task: attempt on replicating identity through the divergent process of shape integration.

Did not turn out to my personal preference. The experimental folio allowed me to broaden my range of media, and this piece was a personal failure for me.

Distortion of the face links back to the surrealism unit, where the juxtaposition of human condition is an underlying theme. The ‘dark’ tone is inspired

by Peter Booth, and the background provokes movement and variety in the piece.

Self Activity: - Dark colours contrasted with bright colours - Integration of shape- allowing movement and variety between aspects of the piece (the diverse background, and distorted face - Focus on distortion of figures Digital development using - Repetition and line work The dynamic background is reflective of my fun-loving personality, and the dark elements expresses the motif which I have integrated throughout this folio as an area of interest.

Microsoft Word and snipping tool

A variety of artistic elements and principles were applied in the development of these pieces, which allowed me to successfully establish individuality and self interest whilst conforming to the criteria. The focus on SELF allows the exploration of identity and relatability to the piece.

Digital manipulation of identity and the recognition of personality through art.

Me portrayed as a gazelle

Through my divergent thinking process, I have applied the components that surrealism and steam punk embody- such as symbols, colours, composition and media. The assemblage used to alternate reality and ‘traditional’ art was often experimental- meaning that some pieces were inadequate in conforming to personal aesthetic and investigative components.

• Insert Steampunk and Surrealism venn diagram/ comparison information here