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The painting of the flowers was done with markers and the background colours were filled using Photoshop software. The inspiration came from a pot of rhododendrons that I have at home, but I exaggerated in my drawing and did not copy the plant itself. The positive red petals and dark green rhizomes are a vibrant contrast in colour.

A drawing of the object using markers with a large fill in the background using Photoshop. The inspiration came from a box of playdough my dad bought me when I was a kid, but the objects themselves were dramatically exaggerated. I think Play-Doh was a great best friend when I was a child and they brought me so much joy that I added eyes to the drawing. The irregular shapes express the malleability of Play-Doh shapes

The vegetables were drawn with oil pastels and the vegetables were then topped with marker pen scribbles to record the mood of the photo shoot. The inspiration came from a plate of rice that was not to my liking in Romania three years ago.

The flowers were painted using gouache paints and the background was chosen in a colour that could be contrasting green. The inspiration came from a bouquet of sunflowers with special meaning that I received in London in my first year.

Drawing with markers. Inspired by a box of cheese crackers. I thought the box of biscuits was unusual in that there was no prescribed consistent shape.

Persimmons painted with markers. Inspired by my favourite fruit. And in our country, many people consider persimmons to be a symbol of good luck and good fortune.

A coloured pepper painted with oil pastels and markers for the doodling design. A contrasting blue colour was chosen for the background. Inspired by a very favourite kitten I fed who loved coloured peppers.

用油画棒进行橘子临摹，马克笔进行涂鸦。灵感来源于在疫情刚开始的被困在家里时我妈买的一箱橘子。

Acrylic painted background. Used fine liner for the pattern. Collaged over it with an acrylic painted sheet. Inspired by a mandala blanket.

Watercolour Background with collaged flowers on top . Using black fine liner for detail. Inspired by a motif on one of my shopping bags.

Watercolour and marker used. Cut out and collaged to create the motif. Inspired by the texture of a fruit I saw at Borough Market.

Watercolour background with acrylic on top. Abstract representation of a bunch of limes I saw at Borough Market.

Wax crayons and pieces of magazines used. Inspired by a front cover of an magazine. Different colours giving the different tonal parts of the face.

Makers used for background and image. Abstract representation of a bunch of flora I saw at TKMAX, Oxford Circus.

Background has masking tape. Building is done in monochromatic style using green watercolour and markers. Flowers done in an abstract way using watercolor. Going into the drawing with fineliner. Inpired by a building I saw in London Bridge. Bricks done using watercolour, charcoal pencil and tipx.

Used only watercolour. Realistic representation of an image of limes. Inspired by image I took at an Borough market.

Watercolour leaves with multicolored maker background. Using thick bio to go around the leaves and stems. Inspired by an image of a plant I took at Borough market.

Evaluation:

For both task we were briefed with the idea to explore London and gather as much primary reserach as we can,to inform our work.Employing a broad range of medias and techniques.At the start it was hard for me to know which direction to go in and start.However, being in London flooded me with all these lines , shapes,tones and colours .It forced me to look at specific properties of what I was looking at , in much greater detail,engaging with my surroundings . “Talking Colour” forced me to think about how colour contributes to how an image comes out,as well as the media I used to portray it.In terms of, if I was to use watercolour,the image will look very textural because of the brushstrokes.As well as have an light and airy quality of the colours ,softening the image.Where as if I was to use acrylic ,the paint would add depth and intensity.Futhermore markers with its bold,bright colours adds an graphic,cartoonish look to to whatever artpiece you use it on.With “Ways of seeing and Talking Pattern”,this task enabled me to pick a part of an primary image and create a whole motif from it.From the smallest detail into an A3 sized design.I found that this task enabled me to be able to create multiple designs from one image.Overall I  thoroughly enjoyed both tasks because it allowed me creative freedom,giving me the feeling of enthusiasm and excitement.Causing me to have a driven force to keep creating work.However moving forward I think a few of my patterns from my “Way of seeing and Talking Patterns” are too simple and could be more complex with layers to create depth in the pattern.Also next I could create 3Dimensional designs to elevating my interpretation from just 2D.

Reflection:

For the task 1, I focused more on using colors and different medias to draw a specific object or buildings. I observed the color and texture of my daily meal and the street I always pass by in order to choose a suitable technique to draw. For example, in my line drawing of a soho store, I tried to use lines with different density to express the smoothness and roughness of the wall, and I describe the different kind of texture by changing the shape of line.

In the task 2, I paid more attention to use abstract way to describe what I saw, and tried to use the way of layering to create patterns. I got lots of inspiration from antique shops in the Notting Hill. The old mirrors, lamps and jewelry boxes in antique shops all have their own vivid and traditional patterns, most of which are composed of simple polygons. When I am in the colorful shop, I feel that I have strayed into the fairy tale world. So I learned from the antique pattern, and I used the polygonal and irregular shapes which in bright bold color to create my own pattern. I also tried to overlay the pattern on the watercolor mark making I made in order to make it have stronger visual effect. It’s not just painting with all kinds of materials, I also tried the technique of paper cutting and photoshop to create patterns in the task, which bring me lots of surprise when I finish it.

Over all,  as a newcomer to London, the task gave me a chance to explore the new city and let me more familiar with the use of various techniques.

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.