October 2022

Cactus that sells on the shop. Markers, Fineliner Pen and Acrylic Paint Marker

Collage with doodling. Magazine, Fineliner Pen and Marker

Reflective Writing:

For my first assignment, I was initially struggling with what to draw, but then I realized I was overcomplicating things, so I started with the existing photos on my phone. I usually like to use my phone to record my life, so as a newcomer to London I naturally took many photos. I took a lot of photos of London, including street scenes, food and goods. Taking photos can capture the moment, but painting through photos can extract the most interesting parts and express them through personal preference. For example, in the case of the percy pig, instead of sketching the outline and then filling in the color like a normal painting, I made all the lines and color blocks round. I created some three-dimensionality by overlaying different shades of circles. At the same time, because of all the round lines, percy pig looks more round and lovely.

Since I had the first task as a warm-up, I tried some interesting ways of painting in the second task. For example, I added detergent to the watercolor, and then rolled up plastic paper as a straw and dip it into the mixture of watercolor to blow bubbles on the paper. In addition, I also used the straw as a brush and scraped it on the paper. The pattern formed by the bubble explosion was fantastic and interesting. To enrich the picture, I added two specimens of butterflies I saw at the horniman museum with crayons. The whole painting process was very relaxed, I didn’t think of what I wanted to draw in advance, but drew and matched randomly. However, I didn’t pay attention to the front and back of the straw during the drawing process, and put the side with detergent in my mouth by mistake.

Overall, my first assignment at UAL was a good “appetizer”. Because there was no specific theme and no specific way to make it, it was a good way to observe the different things surround me and pay attention to their different perspectives and details. At the same time, it also allowed me to experiment with different ways of painting. However, I think my overall painting is still a bit similar and monotonous. In the future, I will try some more daring and bold ways of drawing and also test different color combinations.

During both tasks groups, were sent out in London to collate inspired observation drawings of colour and pattern, whilst utilising a broad range of mediums and techniques. This was an exciting experience, due to the sheer amount of creative freedom it gave me, as well as a chance to explore mediums and art styles that I’m not accustomed too. For example, prior to this project my knowledge/ understanding of how to use watercolour paints were limited; however I was able to successfully create a watercolour piece of a Wisteria Sinesis flower, which I’m very proud of. On the contrary, I did have my challenges such as; applying other artists/ art styles to my own practices and creating detailed pieces. I also struggled during the ‘way of seeing and talking pattern’ task, as it pushed me out my comfort zone, which created resistance when forming patterns. However, I was able to engage well with others and my surroundings; creating over 20 inspired pieces of work conveying both themes. I noticed that my peers and I enjoyed the creative freedom of this project, which gave me a feeling of excitement and momentum to finish each task, as well as thoughts of how well executed this project is to break us into our studies. I can imagine this is how most artists perspectives see the world. Overall I really enjoyed this project, but next time I would research more styles to apply to my practices, to further my visual communication within my drawings.

Teary Trees

A recreation of a vision seen through my teary eyes of trees.

Inspired by mold on bread.

Still life of a stuff toy.

A friend working on her laptop

Graphite Pencils

Fabrics hanging in a store at Brick Lane.

An accident I witnessed at Kings Cross Road, London. The top view of a man hole.

An accident I witnessed at Kings Cross Road, London. Glass shattered on the road.

A construction site at Van Eyck Lie, Antwerpen, Belgium.

Microscopic bacteria.

An abstract view from my room.

The burning matchstick.

Pattern inspired by QR codes, markers,15x20cm

Wires creating a pattern in City and Hammersmith line, watercolor and acrylic, 15X20cm

Pattern created from tights on skin, watercolor and acrylic, 15x20cm

Pattern created by editing drawing of earing in Photoshop, acrylics, and Photoshop

For Task 1, I focused on doing observational drawings using as many different media and techniques as I could. To create the drawings, I visited many places around London but also drew inspiration from my bedroom, which was also a new environment for me considering I moved here recently. At the beginning of the task, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to create drawings from my surroundings, but as the Task went on, I started feeling more free and relaxed to experiment. Moving on to Task 2, I felt more comfortable trying new things and like I knew where to look to find patterns around me, since Task 1 had helped me become more observant of my surroundings. For my patterns, I focused on different aspects of everyday life and experiences I have had in London as well as specific objects I have gotten from here. I tried to develop the ideas I got for the patterns as much as I could but some of them might not be as clear as others, since I wasn’t always sure if the things, I was drawing could be considered patterns. As a result, some patterns I’ve made are clear cut and others more abstract. As a whole Tasks 1 and 2 were enjoyable and pleasant to do and made it easier for me to get acquainted both with the course and London itself. After completing them I felt like I had more creative freedom and was able to express myself better.

Reflection:

For the 'Talking Colours' task I took inspiration from my surroundings in London and my hometown Bedford. Being new to the city I enjoyed exploring the area and visited new places such as Brick Lane and Camden Passage. However, due to the amount of people and bustle in London I found it hard to complete a couple of my drawings at the place where I chose my subject so ended up taking a photo and finishing the piece at home. This process was limiting as I was less spontaneous with my marks and more focused on making the drawing look perfect (for example the yarn and the cafe observations.) Other times, I stayed at the scene and completed quick studies of the subject in front of me, (for example the house plants) these where a lot quicker and I found myself being more productive. By using a diverse range of mediums and even experimenting with digital for the first time, it broadened the results of my work. Watercolour was the most useful medium as it acted as a perfect base for any other mediums on top and I was able to be less precious about my marks. For future projects, I am hoping to push the diversity of my work styles to ensure that I am creating alternative interpretations instead of getting caught up in the details. I feel that I tried to do this in my ‘Ways of Seeing, Talking Patterns’ task as I looked at objects in more abstract ways using different mediums.

Task 1 : In this assignment, I painted the objects in my room, and added many flower elements and glass window painting elements in the room.The first and second prints are purple orchids and blue wind chimeras from the interview in front of the window. I really want to use the computer to modify the original prints, but I think the computer revision will destroy the original beauty of the prints.The third and fourth prints come from the petals scattered on my floor. I pressed my palm on the petals and took many photos with my mobile phone.The shape and texture of the palm are combined with the shape of the petals to create a new shape. Use the temperature of the palm to feel the smell of flowers and the earth.The next four printed patterns are a process of self-examination. I stay in the room and look at myself in the mirror. I combined the shape of eyes with geometric patterns. I chose watercolor printing because I thought the texture of watercolor was very soft.In the next creation of printing patterns, I will try to use different materials and painting techniques to create printing patterns. I think the printing pattern I painted this time is a little unqualified. I am not satisfied with this painting, but I will slowly improve my painting skills.

This original picture I took from the nature history museum. It is a bottle of parrots specimen. It gives me a feeling that these parrots are still living in the bottle.

These two pictures I took in an aquarium, I use colour pencil and water colour to draw because I want to show they are floating in water and show the movement.

This is a pattern from a kimono. I’m really obsessed with Japanese traditional  elements.

I took this picture when our group is visiting around London. We went to brick lane, and I took this picture from a vintage jewellery shop. 

This painting comes from the street of borough market, this painting is finished with acrylic paint directly on the paper, what I like most about it is texture.

I made two abstract collages using photos which I printed where I had gone to a exhibition of James Turell called color escape , I also added some mix of media onto my collages with paint and a black pen. on A3

Here i took inspiration of picassos painting which i captured a few months ago when i was in NYC moma called ”les mesmoilles d’avignon” i loved the colours in this painting so i decided to my version of it . with pencils and a black marker. a4