I realised after my tutorial that I don’t prepare adequately in advance. Although I find them very useful I think I may gain even more by taking the opportunity to talk about things I’ve found challenging or interesting along the way, these things are not particular problems that create a sticking point in a significant way, but I realise they do become apparent in my work. I also need to use my tutor more in between tutorials, with research and reflection in particular, or additional exercises which may help with a bit of work that I’m doing at the time.
Through our discussion I realised that in drawing something from life I do not have to literally represent something that I see i.e. to produce an exact copy, but that art is about re-presenting or imagining something. I can make amendments if it helps the composition. I struggle though with seeing my work objectively – almost become blind to what I am creating – but am reassured that this is a skill that will come in time.
We talked through my assignment piece and some of the exercises in part 2, tone and research were the 2 main subjects for me to look into with one particular exercises to do as well as tips for the future. I felt in this discussion that a light was being switched on, I felt that up til now I’ve been just practising and following the instructions but not really taking anything in whereas with the discussion I was starting to ‘get it’, hopefully this will continue but the tutorial has left me feeling more hopeful.
So a few exercises to do –
- Some re-working of my last assignment piece and more practice pieces to explore the competing textures/surfaces (hard door v soft gown)
- Some re-working of one of my exercises – bunch of garlic
- Tonal exercises
- Review research, explore more about the material qualities, colours, technique, composition, medium and how the piece makes me feel. Also advised to read Ways of seeing by John Berger.
Deborah McAulay 