Project Proposal

The context of my project is about weather and clouds. The question I will be answering is: How can I use minimalist shape and colour to show clouds and weather?

In my original plan, I would've mainly focused on photography as that's what I want to explore, but, as of my new idea, the photography side of things has become more of a primary research thing as opposed to being a proper part of my final. So, while my final won't include any photography, it will still play a big part in the research side of things so I'll still get to have that play a role in helping me with my final.

The project's deadline is on the 27th of May, but we have to actually hand in our finished outcomes on the 13th of May. My audience would be people who are interested in printmaking; woodcuts specifically. My final piece will be displayed at the end of year exhibition.

I've actually done a lot of primary research compared to the last two

projects. I've been going around taking pictures which, A: act as primary research, and B: help develop my photography skills, and I've been using those images as testers for the simplified look that I'm going for, and it's going pretty well. I've been looking into the artists Hans Landsaat and Frank Auerbach (graphic designer and painter respectively). Both Landsaat's graphics, and Auerbach's sketches have a barebones and minimal style which I can use to inspire primary drawings and sketches.

When it comes to secondary research, I've been mainly researching painters and woodcutters who have made weather themed landscapes, so that I can look at their work and be inspired by what they've done and try to do something similar, but with my own little flair to it.

In regards to ethics and sustainability, those two go hand in hand for my outcome. Specifically, the ethics of how the plywood I'm using was sourced and how it was made, as well as, "is it sustainable?", which it is, albeit based on whether or not the plywood uses a chemical-heavy glue as opposed to a more (but not entirely) eco friendly soy-based adhesive. The other thing to consider is the ink I'm using. Being an oil-based ink doesn't really vibe well with the whole eco-friendly-ness that I was going for but it's compromise I'll have to take since there really isn't that much of an alternative, other than water-based.

The purpose of my artwork is to try and find abstract ways of presenting clouds and weather through the use of shape and colour, and I've been generating initial ideas through experimenting with different methods of inking/painting, for example, I have been drawing simplified versions of my own photographs and then digitally colouring them in photoshop to achieve a more graphical feel to them. I have also made paintings where I cut acetate sheets into stencils of clouds and paint in the negative space with blue paint in one to create a simple morning sky, as well as creating a sunset using reds and oranges with the same method in another.

I'll be recording my reflective practice through the Evaluations and Reflections page on this website, sometimes weekly, sometimes daily, it really depends on how much in the day/week. I'll be talking about what I've been doing, why I've been doing it, and what I plan to do. By using my own reflections and feedback, I'll be able to to assist and improve my future work. I'll be evaluating my work over the whole project in my evaluation after I've completed and professionally presented my final outcome(s).