Proposal
My chosen memory is my mother. I chose this as I am immensely inspired by my mother and her struggles and memories which have made her the strong woman she is today. My idea for this project links to my mother’s personal life as she grew up, showing possible photos and memories she had growing up, I want to demonstrate how a person can change and how a person close to me can grow old and still remember many things; good or bad. I’ve generated ideas through sketching my mother from different angles using different techniques such as drawing with my non dominate hand, with my eyes closed and so on. I also produced ideas through my mind maps. Artists I’ve researched James Abott Mcneil Whistler and Jade Kim. Whistler has a very popular painting of his mother named ‘whistlers’ mother’ it’s a side profile paining which looks simple and monotone but to me it depicts the peace the mother can bring to life. Jade Kim is an artist who is heavily inspired by his partner as he draws her in a character like style.
I really like the style and colours used for his pieces so using Kim’s work for my research is useful as I can transcribe my mother in my own style.
Another research I’ve done is looking into Marie Curie and targeting my client appropriately. Materials I intend on using are water colour, oil pastels, paint, ink, and many more. Techniques I will use consist of dark room and print making, embroidery as well as taking inspiration from my artists. I intend to test and experiment my ideas through looking into more forms of art like photography, fashion and fine art. I will use different point of views to illustrate my mother too. Ideas I have for my outcome consist of a before and after drawing of my mum from her youth compared to now. Another idea could be a silhouette of my mother surrounded by memories.
Primary And Secondary Research
For my primary research I intended on adding old and new photos of my mother to display past and present beauty and memory of her. As i did a shoot of her jewellery I added those photos as well as it represents her and her belongings. For the secondary research I thought of memories that I shared with my mother or what reminds me of her. The movie posters link with films I watched when I was younger, being my mums favourite movies. Other memories I have is her doing my hair and buying me makeup.
Match Box Workshop
Match box art originated from the 1920s to the 1930s in Japan were they were miniature billboard in the palm of someone’s hand. Used for advertising to recycle older materials, linking well to sustainability involvement in my project. Doing this in fashion was useful, looking for ways to represent my mother in a small box using limited resources made me realise how i take materials for granted. Using shades of purple to paint an Orchid with acrylic paint. on the inside i used a old and new photo to demonstrate old and new memories, both photos included were taken on my mums birthday.
Jade Kim Research + Transcription
For my transcription of Jades Kim’s illustration, I wanted to change up the technique used previously for my work. Using an iPad, I experimented using procreate to draw an image that linked with my artist’s work. Using the outline of Kim’s specific drawing of a portrait, I added favourite colours of my mums being blue creating a modest version. Kim depicted him wife through his work as she is dear to him, this being the reason I wanted to transcribe and explore his images. I like how he draws inspiration from his wife, clearly showing he appreciates and views his wife as a muse. I went ahead and thought of drawing my mum as she’s, my inspiration. I enjoyed doing this as it was something new, I haven’t tried before. If I did this again, I would do different hijab styles with different colours! This would link well with my theme being memories.
James Abbot Mcweil Whistler Research + Transcription
To do this transcription I used oil pastels to mimic the smooth lines and elegance of James Abbott McNeill Whistler work. I picked Whistler’s work to transcribe as a piece linking with mother as he depicts women in a beautiful way in my eyes. Using neutral and soft colours such as pastel pinks, peaches, blues, yellows and whites. I really enjoy looking at his work and seeing how women are drawn. If I did this again, I’d try to include my mum through different stages of her life instead of just one. Something I like about this transcription is how well the colours complement each other.
Marie Curie
Marie curie is a registered charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which supplies care and support to people living with terminal illness and close to them, and campaigns for better support for dying people founded in 1948. knowing that my client is Marie curie hospice, I want to reach my target audience not only communicating with elders but also young kids.
Transcription
To create this transcription I used things associated with my mother. Her old hair tie, makeup and ink she used to paint with. Achieving different textures and lines was something I tried to do.
Dark Room
Development
PT.2
Light Drawing
Jewellery Photoshoot
I really enjoyed doing this and doing more photography work. I always like using cameras more and experiment with techniques. looking back at mothers jewellery was sentimental to me. She wore of these pieces through her youth so i was happy to display them. Focusing on the connection to memories, items such as jewels hold so many memories as the days you receive them can hold a place in your heart, either good or bad as not all memories are good.
Contact Sheet
Children’s Books
Children’s books were something i wanted to include as the art illustrated in them about mothers is good. When i asked my nieces to draw how they see their mum and my mum i was surprised as they used alot of good adjectives like in the books.
Alana Dee Haynes
Alana Dee Haynes is an American artist who lives and works in New York City. In a meditative process of repetitive mark-making, Haynes overlays complex patterns and latticework over the forms of found objects and image. I chose to research Haynes because I liked her use of lines. Line work is something i want to include in my final piece. The simplicity of this is shown however its effective and good to the eye.
Transcription
Doing this transcription was easy and fun it only took about 5 minutes trying to create a similar type of outline. I wanted to mimic henna designs I’ve done on my mum before. As symmetry is a staple in Haynes work, including that was a must. Overall i liked this transcription and id do it again.
Spatula Painting
Painting knives are certainly great tools for contemporary artists using impasto techniques. Some form of the painting knife has been in use for centuries. In painting frescos, artists used iron, wood, or bone trowels, as well as some form of a trimming knife or ivory stylus. The use of spatula knives in painting is so versatile so id like to include it in my final piece.
Tejinder Kanda
Tejinder Kanda is an artist using spatulas to paint. His work really caught my eye as the texture and beautiful colours co exist so well.
Experiment With Spatulas And Ink
Results of this experiment turned out well as i wanted to see how to build texture.
Final Piece Plan
Starting off with the first idea I have, I want to base my canvas around scraping and long lines with colours that represent my mother such as green, pink and blue. second Idea i have was to make a fabric that leads to a full scarf. I really like this idea of making something that can be worn and a representation of my project to my mum as a gift. Third option is a portrait of my mum and the last one is a display of flowers. Materials would vary from ink to pastels, acrylics and watercolour.
Some sketches inspired from my mum drawn with my right hand that i don’t normally use. My plan for final piece excludes my mums face because in Islam drawing faces is prohibited.
Final Piece
For my final pieces I went with the theme of peace within my theme of memory linking with my mother. Using colours pleasing to the eye, I set out to make two panel boards of flowers are scrape art to display different techniques and ability. For the portrait of my mother, I replicated the photograph of her when she came from the hospital holding me in her arms. When I discussed what i was going to do she mentioned this memory when i asked her favourite. Even when she was tired, she cherished this memory closely, making me want to bring it back to life. I liked the result as it displays a pure image. If i did this again id add more colour in the background.
Evaluation
I chose to cite my project on fine art. Specialist considerations I’ve taken into account are wanting to explore different art styles. Sustainability of the planet means a lot to me so I made sure to extract dried paint well, as well as re using cups and jars. I chose to explore the theme of my mother. My original plan was to paint my mother on a canvas using oil paints- making it into a realistic portrait. I did change my idea to 3 separate paintings, including a portrait of my mum as well as a scrape painting and flowers. Illustration is mainly my context in this. Throughout my project, I have made observations of how many artists work with mothers and dedicate their art to mothers which was eye opening. Experimenting with new materials was fun and interesting as it widened my understanding. I explored a lot of specialist practices in fine art through workshops such as photography, painting with light and at home tests. Fun thing I enjoyed doing was drawing with light as i got to produce good results as well as enjoy my time trying it out. Another skill was dark room. It was my first time using it so I wasn’t that good at it, but I learnt new thing that I’m sure will benefit me in the future. Good things about my work would be the final piece with scrape effect. I liked the outcome as it had great texture. bad parts would be me not doing enough research and detail. i selected my idea based on my mother because her memory to me is something that keeps me going. I care dearly for my mum, and I wanted to connect with the audience through an emotional connection as Marie Curie patients might have a loved one, they appreciate. I created my final piece adapting the ideas I went to link to my theme. I don’t think i was as effective as I would like to be. The aims and objectives that I was interested in developing when I started my final project were consisting of tightening my bond with my mother through talking to her about her interests and interviewing her for my work. asking her favourite colours, flower, memories and textures led to me finding answers to add to my final piece. I’ve been quite effective as I think i was i always went back to link.
Messy Nessy Chic. (2022). Collector’s Item du Jour: Japanese Matchbox Art of the 1920s. [online] Available at: https://www.messynessychic.com/2022/04/07/collectors-item-du-jour-japanese-matchbox-art-of-the-1920s/ [Accessed 8 Jun. 2023].