Thistle

“Thistle” by Hundred Waters. A whimsical little stop-motion animation by Martin Allais

Bridget Collins

I seem to be on a role here with finding artists I like. It all seems to happen at once, here is another one. A lady called Bridget Collins. I love her photography. They look like snapshots or photos gone wrong. Something that wasn't quiet planned. They are a lot of fun really.
She describes her work as,
'Trying to stitch together sensual experiences with learned paradigms in a meandering attempt to feel closer with the world.'
The photos below are from a series titled, 'Oly Oly Oxen Free.'

Here is a link to her blog, http://caffeinatedheart.tumblr.com/

and her website, http://www.bridgetcollins.com/

 

Akino Kondoh

Born in Chiba, Japan, in 1980, Akino Kondoh is an artist and animator known for her striking, minimalist compositions, often executed with nothing more than graphite and watercolor. Kondoh graduated from Tama Art University with a BA in Graphic Design in 2003. Kondoh has exhibited internationally, earning fundings from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho), the Pola Art Foundation. She was also awarded a residency in New York and received the support and collaboration of jazz musician John Zorn, who has used her art on his album covers.
In 2010, the digest version of her animation“Ladybirds' Requiem” made to the top 25 list in the biennial showcase, “YouTube Play - A Biennial of Creative Video,” Guggenheim Museum, New York. In 2000, Kondoh won the second AX Manga Newcomer's Award; and in 2002, her animation“The Evening Traveling,” in which girls dance rhythmically on a music by Toshiaki Chiku, earned her the DIGISTA Awards' Animation Division Grand Prix.

'Ladybirds Requiem'

-Pencil, and pastel  on gesso mounted on canvas

'Ladybirds Requiem'

-Pencil, pastel and acrylic on gesso mounted on canvas

'Ladybirds Requiem'
 - Pencil and pastel on gesso mounted on canvas 380x260mm

 

 

Eiko Borcherding

I found this artist called Eiko Borcherding, unfortunately his web-site is in German, but thankfully there is google translate, which is a big help.
His work is very dark and interesting. The image below is my favorite.

Photo etching and drypoint, 27.7x19 cm 2007

Simplicity

 

The image on the left is only a small part of what I was working on over the weekend. I thought I'd just give a snippet rather than the whole thing. Hopefully I will transfer it onto a plate for an etching. When this is complete then I will show the whole sketch.
I find some artists do that now with instagram on their facebook pages,


it can be incredibly annoying, which is something the artist probably enjoys.
We had a talk today in class were we had to present artists we are interested in, everybody had somebody different.
I was amazed, (and slightly annoyed), at how may people were doing dream or memory.
 These are themes which I work with a lot, whether it is unconsciously or consciously. The majority seemed to be working with images, photos, est. It got me desperately thinking on what I can do to make myself more unique.
So I am thinking about going back to an idea which I have pondered on before.
Simplicity. A simple way of presenting a surreal image or idea. I will use text and only text. Writing a short narrative, whether it is typed or hand written and then eventually, maybe screened.
I am inspired by text, and during my first year print project that's what I worked with, so why not.
Part of me really wants to accompany the text with an image, but I feel this could be to much.
Maybe I can run two or three different projects together, different but similar. My drawings, photography and the text.
I also like the idea of forgetting, the absence of memory, or false memory, when you create a memory after seeing an old photo even though you really don't remember the event, or when you confuse a memory with a dream and the two become entangled.
This should be interesting. It is almost to simple that it could be boring, we shall have to see. I have a tutorial on Thursday, hopefully my tutor wont be to against it.
A lot of artists use text in there work, my favorite of course would be Tracey Emin. Kiki Smith and Louise Bourgeois also use text in a more subtle way.

 May Dodge, my Nan, 1963 -93, - Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin’s family and friends are celebrated in many of her works. They often feature in assemblages that combine objects and ephemera along with handwritten texts. These narratives speak directly about their subjects – her maternal grandmother, her father – and the relics displayed. The earliest of them formed a ‘Wall of Memorabilia’ in her first solo exhibition, My Major Retrospective, in 1993. In 2003, Emin returned to using memorabilia in her art. Her exhibition Menphis featured framed ephemera and text memorialising different moments in her life, from childhood to adulthood.

Mick Found, 1995-2003,
-Tracey Enim

Tracey Emin has said that writing is the backbone of everything she does. ‘I’m not known as a text-based artist, but I should be really,’ she points out. ‘It’s my words that actually make my art quite unique.’ Lettering and handwritten texts take centre stage in her blankets, neons and memorabilia works and act as voice overs in her graphic art, while spoken narratives are a feature of her films and videos. A published author and newspaper columnist, Emin makes direct and powerful statements and observations, tells stories, plays with language, and writes poems and love letters.

http://www.loveiswhatyouwant.com/exhibition/

'I had a flashback of something that never existed'
-Louise Bourgeois

'Hell and Back'
-Louise Bourgeois

 

 

Car Sticker

I added a new sticker to the rear end of my car. A little bit of cynical humor for the art college,

and its student's......

Blank

A new sketchbook.

How over whelming.

I want to be more relaxed about my work this year, I want to just draw and not worry to much about how 'realistic' it looks. I spend to much time on one drawing or on half ideas that end up going nowhere.

I've spent the last two days trying to over come the fear and loathing I have with blank pages and drawing, with no success.

Of course there are distractions everywhere, including on the chair right behind me!