Jason Lun Kit Ng – Graphic Design Year 2 EGRD2010 - Independent Practice 2A Water Colour Painting Computer, Mouse, Digital Camera, Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator etc are the most important tools for Graphic Designer in 21st century design industry. We are now starting design and create art on blank document, file and web. We are lost almost totally in new technology that we have forgotten how to start draw a straight line on a blank sheet of paper. Art is personal taste, rather love it or hate it, nothing about right or wrong. I always in love with fine art, particularly in Romantic Period. Romantics believed in a world greater than what could be seen or measured by science. Their works were imaginative. They broke down barriers and tried new things, just because they could. They believed in truth and beauty and justice and all the other abstract aesthetic notions that can’t really be quantified. “Something is beautiful because you see it as beautiful” to the romantics. J. M. W. Turner was an English Romantic landscape painter. He is a fantastic artist full of imagination, express his beautiful art works throw colours; his world is bright, wonderful and full of character. He used his fingers to cooperate with his complex painting skills to present the simple moods of nature. We all can witness the power of sea, the unnoticeable sunlight and the only Dawn on Turner’s Canvas. I have done similar project before in my last independent project, but this time I am going to focus the method of landscape painting, practice how Turner’s used of colour and light with watercolour and document the moment of truth with watercolour painting rather then experience the skill of textile and use of material and texture, also I will stick with the themes of England landscape. Turner was the master of Romanticism watercolour painter, and he was travelling around in England. And of course I cannot afford travelling around in England but I can paint what’s happening around me in daily life. In this independent Practice I would like to criticise the story and meaning behind my artworks, and better understanding of the painting skill. I would go slightly different direction of Turner’s Romanticism. His world are almost too perfect to me, as we all know nothing is perfect in reality, so I may express the dark side of romanticism in my painting. I was travelling around in Plymouth, Exeter, Newcastle, Oxford and London in the past month and there were so many things happened, especially the breaking news Riot in London (August 2011). I will use this opportunity to express my feeling throw my painting and document the real side of England which I can see with my own eyes.
Romanticsim
Joseph Mallord William Turner, 23 April 1775 –19 December 1851. - Self portrait
Turner was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist and printmaker. He is one of the greatest masters of British watercolour landscape painting. also commonly known as “the painter of light”. Suitable vehicles for Turner’s imagination were to be found in the subjects of shipwrecks, fires (such as the burning of Parliament in 1834, an event which Turner rushed to witness first-hand, and which he transcribed in a series of watercolour sketches), natural catastrophes, and natural phenomena such as sunlight, storm, rain, and fog. He was fascinated by the violent power of the sea, as seen in Dawn after the Wreck (1840) and The Slave Ship (1840).
This is my re-creation of Incident at the London Parliament (1834) by J.M.W. Turner. Copying this painting help me to understand the use of light, colour and the blush. It is not easy to get the complete details of the fire and building with watercolor as the colour is not thick enough to stay and hold on paper. But I really love the mixture of colour result and the lose details in the painting.
Burning of Parliament
Incident at the London Parliament (1834)
The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons
The Burning of the Houses of Parliament (1834)
The Burning of the Houses of Parliament (1834)
The Burning of the Houses of Parliament (1834)
A mixture of old and newer buildings on the north bank of the River Thames. The fire of 1834 burned down most of the Palace of Westminster. The only part still remaining from 1097 is Westminster Hall. The buildings replacing the destroyed elements include Big Ben, with it’s four 23 feet clock faces, built in a rich late gothic style that now form the Houses of Commons and the House of Lords. These magnificent buildings are still the subject of many paintings, including my own Parliament, with the grand Westminster Abbey on their north.
The Use Of Light
My Re-Creation of The Burning of the Houses of Parliament (1834) by Turner.
I am loving so much the details and the presentation skill of this painting, although it’s done by watercolour but we can still clearly see the layers of burning houses such as windows and the body frame of the houses and those audience witnessed the fire just like Turner did. He was so clever in his way that show just enough to tell the story. I found it is very difficult to paint the losing details like he did when I first started it. I did not know which layer and where I should start first; I lose too much details in this painting compare to Turner’s also it’s not easy to paint the lighting of fire. Finally I have found a easy solution help me to re-create this painting and better understanding of watercolour. A. I have decided to level different layers of this painting First Layer – the top part of the painting – Sky and Smoke Second Layer – Burning Building and Fire Third Layer – Audiences. B. Paint it from light to dark Colour. First – Wash a very thin layer of Yellow to get the basic also background colour (from the 2nd layer left to right). Second – Added brown, red and orange colour in layer 2 and 3 to get the lay out of Audiences and fire Third – Use the dark colour to add the details Last – Once it dry then use white to get the final highlight and standout the fire and Audiences.
The Use Of Colour
My Re-Creation of Slavers throwing overboard the Dead and Dying (1840) by Turner.
I choose this Slavers throwing overboard the Dead and Dying (1840) by Turner to recreate into my own version the reason is, there are enough light and darkness colours combination such as golden light yellow, soft orange, pink, grey, blue, dark green and brown etc, also it has shown the details of objects and location clear enough. Mainly I am loving the colour and the light affect in this one. I found it is extremely different to use watercolour to get the right details and color, specially the smoothness of cloud and the sea movement, somehow I got confuse with bottom side of the painting, it seems like mixture of sea and ground to me; there is a ship on rough sea also might be some animals running on the windy field. I cannot get the right lighting of wave, sunlight and reflection on the green like Turner did, so I have decided I am going use this opportune to practice the use of colour and exaggerate the colour mixture rather than get trying to be Turner. I am please with this happy accident result; I like the messiness in my painting and the over powering Green and Blue that make the painting seems like a Modern Art painting. I can still see the sunlight and reflection, but not really sure about the landscape but it seems like a happy Colour accident.
Experience Watercolour Techniques
Wet Paper: When we using Wet paper for watercolor painting; the colour would easily mix in together also could lose the subject details. You can use the dry paint blush to pick up the wet colour and create a highlight function.
Dry Paper: We have more control painting on dry paper, also the colour will stay on quickly and the size of the paint blush could crate different shape or tone of line.
This is my quick paint practice task; I must finish each painting in 5 minutes time. In this study that I found out dry paper painting is much more easier, but in wet paper painting there is a benefit of lighting function. I prefer mix techniques have more benefit to me.
Watercolour Painting Process
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Theme The Fire
Traveling is one my personal interested. I am like any tourist would love to find my way around the new city and explore new environment with travel guidebook. I love to recorded during my travel with taking lots different photos. Same as Turner, he loves to sketch and making marks at various stages of his life during his travels. Sketchbook was small, light and easily carried around during his journey. He preferred the sketch in pencil on the spot and then, if necessary, add watercolour or other media later on. He would refer back to his sketches as he developed compositions in the studio, sometimes months or even years after the event. I was doing a little trip in past month where I have been Plymouth, Exeter, London, and North England. I have seen so many different beautiful places during my journey and touched the culture of England, but unfortunately something had happen after my traveling. In 4th August 2011, there was a peaceful protest turned into violence riot in Tottenham, England. I was working at The Saatchi Gallery in Sloane Square at the time when the riot was happening. I cannot believe it was happening in such a planet like England. The rioter did not just burn or break random store on the street it also broke my heart even. I was keep watching the breaking news that is non-stop playing at BBC live News. After awhile I have decided that I must pick up the paint blush again and express my emotional via painting this ugly moment of London while I still have the heart and soul in me of London.
The Riot of England
Google Map >
Saturday 6 Aug: Tottenham,
Tottenham Hale, Wood Green
Sunday 7 Aug: Chingford Mount, Enfield, Islington, Oxford Circus, Ponders End, Walthamstow Monday 8 Aug: Bethnal Green, Bromley, Camden, Clapham, Croydon, Ealing, East Ham, Hackney, Lewisham, Peckham, Stratford, Woolwich Tuesday 9 Aug: Birmingham, West Bromwich, Manchester, Salford, Leicester, Clahpam, Wolverhampton
Our Embarrassing news had publish all over the world from Asian till Europe, we also on the front page on The Portuguese Jornal De Noticlas, the Belglan De Standaard, Dutch newspaper `het Parool, the Argentinlan paper Clarin, Spanish newspaper El Pais and Austrian newspaper Voralberger Nachrichten.
< London Zone Map
I picked up the unbelievable image of the burning Carpet Right building that I got it from BBC online Website image. The reason I use this image (the Carpet Right) is because it is an iconic building in Tottenham also there was a first place set on fire in the first night riot.
I painted the burning Carpet Right building with watercolour, I want to represent the strong contrasting colour; I did exaggerate the smoke in the sky and the fire burning level, such as using blue and purple instead grey and brown colour so it can brings out more contrast and tone into the building. I have use lots red into the fire as red was an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aerialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; colour, the most commanding of the primaries and the colour of matter itself. That is why for the same reason I have used red a lots in the painting of the iconic London Red Bus. Usually we will wet the paper before we start watercolour painting that will create the losing details and the smoothest of the colour, also we could use dry blush to pick up the lighting bit easily, but in this case I did not wet the paper before I start painting, reason of this is that I can have more control of the amount of colour that I used. Also it will allowed me to paint the subject darker compare to the wet paper. I create a gap between the bus and fire, it can clearly show off the lighting of the fire also give the painting very strong contrast that will stand out the red bus and show the burning level of fire. In this study I have learned that how to use of colour, line, shape, areas of light and shade to create the fantastic image and experience the knowledge of watercolour. I particular used these two image not just because they allow me to show off what I have learn of the use of colour and light also it relate back to the theme the burning of the house of Parliament. Turner witnessed the first that burnt down most of the Palace of Westminster on 16 October 1834. He made a watercolour sketch at the time, which he then used as the basis of several larger paintings. For my own personal safety issue that I have to stay at home while it was happening, although I did not physically witness the fire in Tottenham and other place in London, but technically I was the fire burning the furniture building burning in Corydon, it happened around me and it was so closed to me. I can feel and see the after affect around me with my eyes as well. Riot is not something that people wish they would happen in anytime, but when it happened I am glad I was here to witness and made a sketch at the mental human power and the ugly nature of London.
The bright red double decker iconic bus had been an symbol of London for half a century.
Evaluation I was using the mind map help me to find out about this independent practice ideas and what subject really interested in me. Finally I have decided to study watercolour, as I love fine art and painting very much. In this project I am focusing to study the use of light and colour from J.M.W. Tuner whom is the master of ‘the Painter of Light’. Also study and experience the watercolour painting techniques, which are very useful and help me better understand watercolour. I did not study the science of light and colour like Turner did, which he can even makes his own watercolour as well. As I do not have science background so I must try hard to learn and understand of subject matter, line, composition, colour, light and tone of painting. That is why I found a quick way to learn how to use the watercolour techniques which is copying. In this project I have copied different painting of Turner’s, the reason of copying is help me to develop and better understand the basic watercolour painting. This can give me a chance to study and work from some of turner’s drawing; also each drawing shows a different style and technique. By copying his drawing I can explore the different way he approached his subject and the techniques he used for light, shade and perspective. Turner has used the shimmering colour in oil to create a pure light affection in his latest painting. But in this project I have use very light layer of white watercolour then wash on top of my painting after it was dry instead of using Shimmering colour. It helps lighten my painting also I get more control of the reflection of the sunlight and standout my painting subject. I still need to learn how to use colour and line economically, as I waste way too much of paint. That why is I have a thought about maybe I could make up my own watercolours like Turner did, but of course it will be something basic stuff like making colour out of vegetables such as carrot, beetroot and peas, etc. Because I believe Turner makes colour and Colour makes Turner, his legend DIY unique colour that also make his painting Unique. However, I am not good in watercolour painting, as I have not done much with it before. I have not just learn the watercolour technique from Turner throw coping his art works but have also I have studied about it via online tutorial clips. Watercolour painting is not about the colour itself, also it matter about the paper we used such as wet or dry paper, the metrical of paper and amount of water that we used. I love painting as always and start loving the use of watercolour; it can be done very beautifully and quickly. A part from copying subject, I will always love to express my feeling throw my artworks. Sometime I might confuse my audience as my artworks could be abstract, but in this project I have done a collection of the Riot in England 2011 Tribute. The artworks messages are direct and clear. It might remind the painful memory of my British but somehow we need to learn from the past also looking forward for the bright future. I am willing to attract more attention from designers and fine art artist who also care what is going on around the world, Especially in England. I think we designer need to care about our society, people and the world then try to affect our audience. I have published my Tribute Riot in England painting images onto my Social network. People loved it and it touched their soul as well, it makes them to realize how destructive we could be. I wish my collect of painting could be displayed in different exhibitions to remain we been humiliate by our people and this unbelievable embarrassing news of England.
Bibliography:
Images / Research / Article http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/ (Access 20th Aug. 2011) – Tate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._M._W._Turner (Access 20th Aug, 2011) - Wikipedia http://www.j-m-w-turner.co.uk/ (Access 18th Aug, 2011) – Online Article of Turner http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=j.m.w.+turner&oe=UTF-8&redir_ esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=824&bih=836 (Access 20th Aug, 2011) Internet Images http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ (Access 4th Aug, 2011) – BBC NEWS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024159/UK-RIOTS-2011-Keep-away-Britain-Governments-worldwarn-citizens.html (Access 21st Aug, 2011) - Online Article http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl (Access 20th Aug, 2011) – Google Map