My theme is Magical Art, which links to my dissertation. I decided to work small to suggest something precious, like a relic, artefact or the miniature figurine 'The Venus of Hohle Fels'. I looked for links between my themes and researched relevant artists.
I considered the meaning of shapes, flowers and patterns to help me select the most appropriate. After experimenting I chose the circular shape and roses and honeycomb patterns, for their symbolism.
I had a problem with transfers and learned how to correct this. I considered adding social comment to my work, something unexpected, and decided to incorporate the issue of women’s invisibility (past and present) into my work next semester.
I created, exhibited and sold artwork. I also took some online art lessons so I could observe how art was taught online and how the teachers structured their lessons, with a view to teaching online myself.
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Above: Front and Side Views of the Venus of Hohle Fels (Conard, 2009, p.248).
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I had done some preparatory work in the summer developing my encaustic and mixed media techniques.
Collection of three artworks by Kathy Rowan. 'Castlerigg stone circle at the Winter Solstice', 'Glastonbury Tor by Starlight', and 'Mists over Whitby Abbey'.
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I began by looking for links between my dissertation subject and studio work. This led to my decision to work small, suggesting small, precious mementos and making links with the miniature stature of the Venus figurine.
Above: My sketchbook and initial mind map for this project.
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I researched and was inspired by a contemporary artists that I admire; Jasper Johns, Donna Martin and Judy Chicago. I began with Jasper Johns' White Flag series and considered the skill and subtlety of this challenging body of work (which is relevant to my encaustic work).
'White Flag', (1955, Jasper Johns).
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I considered the work of Donna Martin who uses mixed media to build up layers and shrouds some or all of her work in wax to add an ethereal mist to her work.
'Seasons', (2018, Donna Martin).
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I thought about the symbolism in Judy Chicago's work, particularly the Primordial Goddess place setting at her installation 'The Dinner Party'. It's feminist and goddess themes link with my own.
The Dinner Party (Primordial Goddess place setting).(Brooklyn Museum, 2020).
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I considered the symbolism of different shapes to use for my substrate and different flowers and patterns to incorporate into my stencils.
Symbolism of shapes and flowers.
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I discovered transfers easily get damaged (see the top oval). In future I will leave them on to dry for longer to remedy this.
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I tried glossing the piece up with PVA and it was ‘prettier’ than using wax – but lost the meaning and the hidden qualities of wax. Therefore, I chose to continue with the wax.
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I considered my research and other possibilities.
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I considered including something unexpected and thought provoking amongst the stone circle images; ‘Is it a Social Comment OR a magical space?’
When I made this I didn't reverse the transfer because I didn't think it was necessary - however the number 3 on the bin reminded me to check for details like this in future.
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Decided to take this shape forward.
The artwork comprises layers of materials, referencing layers of time. I chose to use stencils of flowers and foliage that symbolise joy, friendship and fidelity. The roses and honeycomb link with my Goddess theme. Roses symbolize the Goddesses Venus and the bee Goddess Melissa is represented by the honeycomb pattern and use of wax. The wax gives an 'inner light' with spiritual connotations to the work and links to the mammoth ivory used to create the Venus of Hohle Fels which also has a translucent quality.
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The final results led me to decide I also chose the circle shape, rotunda because the symbolic meanings or this shape fits my theme best, referencing the wheel of the year, the circle of life, the monthly female cycle and cycle of the moon.
Also, my research showed that the Paleolithic people thought of time in a circular, not linear way.
I would like to further develop this concept in the next semester.
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I felt inspired by this image which was on the back of a photocopy.
Ideas to take forward -
Fading the same image away in stages to represent women’s invisibility in the past
Fading the same image back into view to show women becoming louder and more visible?
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I will be taking this idea forward next semester.
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My future professional plans include working as a freelance artist and community art teacher. I've been in a few exhibitions this semester, including a joint venture with my partner Mark at HIVE Cafe in Blackpool.
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I also made some Yule (pagan Xmas) cards using photoshop and one of my paintings.
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I sold all of my encaustic pieces from the exhibition, I also made this piece as a commission.
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I also took a variety of online art lessons, to observe the teaching and learn how to structure the lessons - with a view to teaching online myself as well as in person.
References:
Slide 2. Conard, N. (2009) 'A female figurine from the basal Aurignacian of Hohle Fels Cave in southwestern Germany', Nature, 589, pp.248-252.
Slide 5: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1955) [encaustic] Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org (Accessed: 6 January 2021).
Slide 6: fineartamerica (2018) [mixed media] Donna Martin Art. Available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-donna-martin (Accessed: 9 January 2021).
Slide 7: Brooklyn Museum (2020) Brooklyn Museum/Primordial Goddess. [installation] Available at: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/place_settings/primordial_goddess (Accessed 6 November 2020).
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