Update "The journey to my class exhibition"
I am not sure how many of you are aware that I am studying Visual Arts Cert 1V at Tafe. I hope to continue on and work for my Diploma next year.
As part of the process at Tafe I am required to do a major work of three paintings to be assessed. The theme of the paintings is to be “The Figure In The Landscape”.
We have to do lots of experiments along the way. I have three rather large long canvases, that I thought would do the job. The struggle is going to be how to put the concept together using the material I have on hand.
My very first thought about the whole thing is I have to brush up on my drawing skills. I have loads of ideas floating around in my head, but any contributions would be most appreciated. I don’t want the three canvases to be one painting as then this would be classed as such. I need to make them seperate yet tie them together somehow.
The canvases are 24 inches by 72 inches, or two feet by six feet.
I will be uploading drawings and paintings for critique which will be most appreciated.
Thanks for all your support it is always much appreciated.
This is the first.
This is the second
developed as is of 050709
final image for 1st panel design worked out in photoshop will complete and update soon and will be called “Whispers from the dreaming”
Susan van Zyl
Tough one. What about you telling us about the ideas floating around in your head. I never had formal training up to now (following a art course) and would not know the first thing to help you out.
The figure in the landscape could mean so many things to so many people. What did you derive from the theme? A Figure of something in nature or a human/animal figure in the landscape? Sorry I ask so many questions. But this is so interesting and I would like to follow this through out to see what happens with this.
I am so excited for you as this could be a great masterpiece!
CateTownsend replied
Are you ready??? lol ok here goes. I was thinking about using the same colours that I used for “freaked out fish” it’s the first painting on my profile page. I am strongly influenced by Japanese art, and culture, Picasso and the art noveau movement Surrealism is a delicious thought as well. Maybe I can combine all these influences somehow. I’m pretty sure my work will be of an abstract nature.
Now for the subject matter…. I thought about doing a cultural piece of work with three different cultural groups that live in my community. Using the community as a landscape perhaps. So I was thinking about Indian, Aboriginal, and Sudanese. I thought that perhaps the colours and design could tie the work together.
I also thought about doing something on the stolen generation. A series perhaps of the child the adolecent and the woman.
Another thought that crossed my mind was the Phillipino Bride and how she relates to the Australian environment i.e. displacement, acceptance and such.
A painting that I have done based on a field trip to the Never Never river in Belingen has spirits by the river that is another concept that I could explore incorporating aspects of the dreamtime, but of course I would have to gain the necessary permission.
Well that’s a few of them. Thank you so much for taking an interest Susan I’m so happy for any support and help I can get with this, as for a great masterpiece hmmm we’ll see.
Duncan Waldron
Sounds like you’ve got a bit of work ahead of you! I’d be honoured to be a figure in the landscape, if that’s any help! We could go down to the beach at Sawtell; I’ll hunch over a tripod and do my stuff, while you do yours :)
CateTownsend replied
Hey there Duncan, yep lots of work. Thanks so much for your offer but I kinda want a female form. But as for going the beach at Sawtell sounds like a great Idea I can certainly use the practice of drawing trees, the ocean, rocks, the headland.
Susan van Zyl
I love the cultural idea. Lived outside my country for 10 years. Last 4 of them in Dubai (a VERY multicultural spot) and even though you have tried to fit in as well as you could, the cultural clashes were legion. Even if we had no cultural clashes we never ever merged in to be “one of them”
You certainly could use colours and design to make a statement either way. If I had to do this mine would portray my frustration. But then again not everybody do feel like a fish out of water in another country.
Ooops sorry I mixed two of your ideas! The cultural piece and the Phillipino bride! Maybe because the phillipino’s were/are looked down on by the Arabs n Dubai. Sad, very sad stories about that.
The stolen generation seems a good one too. Oh golly gosh, you will have to go and sit down and think this one trough. I can see why you threw it out here!
I like the way you think. It could only be a success!