Student Artist
For my artistic process, I prioritise thorough research before diving into any topic. I often find inspiration from history and enjoy merging sustainable materials with traditional themes. By creating sketches and dedicating time to planning, I not only produce outcomes that inspire me but also enhance my understanding of my interests and improve my practice. This approach allows me to grow as an artist while staying true to my values.
My Process
Within my process of clay work i explore organic motion and movements. i tend to lean towards air drying clay, this comes with timing restrictions but creates a more simple process of setting artwork.
When working with clay i keep the mass of the product wet, frequently applying water to assist in smoothing and control. Maintaining a moist surface allows for more fluidity in movment.
After letting my clay work set, i will sand the edges lightly or dampen the surface to refine the shape. For painting i use acrylic paints but wait until the surface is dry to avoid issues with the paint.
Clay Work
Digital Art
With digital art i enjoy exploring a range of programs and devices for tasks. For more traditional digital art, such as drawing, i use my Ipad and the adobe fresco app.
For tasks more focused on manipulation and editing i use adobe apps such as photoshop and premier, with consistent use of these programs i have developed my skills.
More recently i have started drawing digitally but my favourite use of digital art is to alter and experiment with my 2D and 3D art. A feature which i often use is blending options to make collages.
Painting
Exploring acrylic, oils and watercolours, i have a preference for acrylic paints due to the desirable qualities when working alongside other materials such as cardboard and clay.
Using acrylic paint on clay allows me to build coverage and create strong saturated colours for pop art inspired palettes. Keeping the paint wet with water allows for a longer time to work.
The versatility of acrylic allow for the use of painting cardboard, having painting which does not compromise the structure of the cardboard with moisture is a driving factor for choosing it.
Beadwork
Working with beads, i often source them rom second hand retailers in person or online. Ebay and charity shops allow mw to purchase beads which can become utilised into artwork.
I switch between sewing beads and gluing them into designs. To secure the smooth surfaces whilst not damaging the surface of the beads i apply glue to the surface them place them.
For larger scale designs i find that separating beads into groups such as size and colour allow for a more organic pattern to form. Using tools such as tweezers also allows for more control.
Sourcing Research Material
Discovering art materials an engaging journey for me. I frequently explore local charity shops, where I often find unique items that inspire my creativity Additionally, I appreciate the convenience of online marketplaces, which a wide range of quality supplies at competitive prices.
For beads i most frequently purchase these from charity shops or second hand retailers. Having a mixed bag of beads allows the control to be out of my hands within what i get, this however lets me experiment more and develop ideas further.
When sourcing material, i often gravitate towards utilising household objects. Materials such as cardboard from packaging, wool and thread and broken items such as shoes, i have created art which allows me to become more sustainable in my practice. This method helps me to reduce waste and challenge myself to use different materials.
When a material is not sourced from my home i will use online shops (often independant) to source materials such as clay and paints. This gives me a baseline of materials to use and can build up incorporating different found objects.