Odilia Bird FDA

Collage development with fine liners: To develop my collages a little bit more I decided to go over different sections of the works with a black fine liner, I think that this has helped to create even more depth and detail within the image and acts as an outline to point out some of the aspects of the piece that might have gone unnoticed or blended into the background before. 

Collage of seascapes: Collage: I used my seascape images as inspiration for three collages, I used found paper from around my house that had been painted and drawn on from previous projects and used scissors to cut it as well as tearing it with my hands. The first collage I did was the cliff face, I didn't do it in layers and just stuck each bit where I thought that I needed it. I started to find this technique quite difficult as I would then have to go over and redo a section that I have already done. However, even though I found this one the hardest I believe that It is the best out of the three. I really love the colours that I have used, I think that the brown is warm and inviting and there is a nice contrast with the lighter blue areas. I think that the lighter grey paper that I have used has done a really nice job at replicating light in the original image. For the second image I mostly used different shades of blue and aqua to create the sky and sea, while I used grey and bl...

Artist research: Romare Bearden: Romare Beardens collage 'Bayou Fever' features a jungle like scenery with a multitude of vibrant colours throughout the piece. When looking at this piece I am immediately struck with the vibrancy of this piece, the colours are bright and bold and they mix together to create a chaotic and busy composition. There is a pale pink Flamingo in the forefront of the image, it stands out when compared to the darker and bolder blue, green and brown tones in the background. I think that this creates a delicate aspect within the work, while the darker crocodile at the bottom of the image invokes a sense of underlying danger. I believe that the layers that have been created with the different materials add to the chaotic and messy atmosphere of the image. They overlap and intertwine to create a magical scene that feels like it's straight out of a story book.  Romare Beradnes collage 'The sea Nymph' depicts an underwater meter scene featuring two ...

 Artist research: Megan Coyle: Megan Coyles collage 'Autumn afternoons' features a forest landscape with a river flowing through the middle of the piece. I really love the texture and layers that are present within this work, I think that this allows there to be a real sense of depth within the image, as if you could step right into it. I believe that the material that has been used creates some interesting lines within the image, I think that this invokes a cartoonish and fun feeling within the work that allows the piece to feel welcoming and friendly. I think that there is a good amount of contrast throughout this work when it comes to the colours and tones that have been used and the blue really stands out and acts as a focal point that draws the eye.  Megan Coyles collage 'A tree in the park' features a large tree in the foreground of the image with a field and cluster of trees in the background. Again when looking at this image I really love the layering of materia...

 Seascape photography: I chose three images to then turn into collages and all three were from different perspectives of the same place. The first image is of a cliff face, I really love the colours and textures that are present in this photo. I think that the cliff looks imposing and intimidating, however, the light that catches and reflects off the rock face create a more alluring and inviting feeling to the image. I think that the light that has been captured in this photograph also creates a sense of depth and highlights level and details that are present on the cliff face.  This image is looking out to sea with some rocks coming up out of the water. This image feels calm and idillic, and I think that it invokes a serene feeling. I believe that the ripples and smaller waves create movement within the image and I really love the way the light seems to catch and bounce of the water. In terms of composition I think that there is a nice, even proportion of sea and sky and the ...

 Landscape cyanotypes: For these cyanotypes a used a variety of material, thin paper and a nylon fabric. While washing the material under some cold water I ran into a few problems, the paper that I used was so thin that it suck together and when I tried to peel it apart again it would just rip. Eventually, While peeling the paper incredibly slowly I was able to spread it out normally. However, there were tears and rips along the edges and some in the middle that could be seen. Instead of being too upset about this I thought that this could add to the fragile and vulnerable atmosphere of this cyanotype. The paper that I used was the information sheet from inside a medicine packet and  think that the partial landscape combined with these medical terms create in interesting and striking piece. The intricate leaves and fragile paper provide a stark contrast to these harsh and clinical medical terms.  For the cyanotypes that I created I had to be very careful while washing the...

Artist research: Jo Stephen: Jo Stephens cyanotype 'Starlings' features a whimsical landscape scene of a pond and multiple Starlings that are in mid flight. when looking at this image it looks like there are multiple scenes that have been layered on top of each other and I believe that this creates a slight chaos within the image and contributes to the way and whimsical aspect. I really love the blue and white tones that are present within the image and I think that the reflections on the water that have been captured, I think that they make the image seem almost disorientating like you don't know which way is up, or what's a reflection and what's real. I believe that the addition of the swallow creates an aspect of freedom throughout the work, they seem peaceful and unrestricted as they make their way across the image.  Jo Stephens cyanotype 'Starlings II' features a large tree in the centre of the image surrounded by a flock of starlings. When looking at t...

 Artist research: Andy Farrer: Andy Farrers cyanotype 'The Pinnacle' features a large and imposing cliff face at Old Harry Rocks. I think that the images blue and white tones create this aged, almost grey tint to the piece and the overall composition seems to be every so slightly blurry. I believe that these to aspects work well together and create a hazy, foggy atmosphere within the work. I think that this hazy aspect makes it seem as if the viewer is looking at a slowly fading memory. I believe that the is something authentic and comforting about this image, it reminds me of old family holidays to the coast and I believe that this invokes a feeling and peace throughout the image.  Andy Farrers cyanotype 'Swanage Pier' features a bench standing on a pier with two lamp posts on either side of it. When looking at this piece I think that the blue and white tones invoke a vintage feeling and when I look at the empty bench I believe that there is a melancholic atmosphere...

 Printing onto acetate: To develop my photography I decided to print the images onto acetate to then turn them into cyanotypes. I inverted the images, changed them to black and white and then used the 'Curves' option on  to adjust the highlights and shadows so that they were more prominent and more likely to show up on the acetate.  When looking at the results they looked good when placed onto a solid white background, the image was clear and sharp. However, when I held them up to the window I could see that the images were very faint and transparent and even the lines seemed slightly fuzzy and blurry. Because of this I was really worried that the cyanotypes that I would make would be too faint and not work properly.  When looking at these acetate images against the white background I think that they look almost haunting. They seem odd and unsettling, like looking into an alternate reality. I think that there is something ghostly about these images as well, like if y...

  Photography of pathways: To represent and show my own personal recovery I decided to take photographs of the pathways that I was walking. These are all desire paths, which means that they have been created from years of people choosing to walk this specific way, it was important to me that I captured these images as I was not able to walk them the last time I was here and this time I was able to choose to and carry through with my choice because of my recovery.  When looking at these images I believe that these paths look enticing and inviting, it feels as if the the viewer has stepped into a story book and is about to go on an adventure. In terms of composition I think that all of these images have a nice proportion of land and sky and there is a good sense of depth within the image, almost as if the viewer could step right into it. There is something lonely about these images and I believe that it is because of the lack of human subjects within the photographs, and I belie...

Cyanotypes with medicine packets: As a development for my project I want to to explore the themes of sickness and recovery more. To do this I decided to create cyanotypes of pill packets and use the cardboard outer packets as the base material. To begin with I was worried that it wouldn't work properly as some of the pill packets that I was using were opaque but not completely see though, and the ones that did have see through through sections were quite small so I was concerned that the uv light might not shine through properly. I used a UV light bed to expose the cyanotypes and the process took about 20 minuets.  I think that this is a successful experiment, the cyanotypes have worked better than I thought they would, the smaller pill packets have formed a clear image and the larger ones are not as clear but I think that they are still recognisable as pill packets. When looking at this image I am reminded or X ray images and I think that this ties in really well with the theme of...

  Photography: To start my final major project I decided to use photography to record my time in Devon. Since this project is about resilience and recovery I wanted to do all the things that I couldn't do last time I was in Devon due to my health at the time, this included walks, hikes, days out to local villages and trying different foods and meals.  I wanted this series of photos to feel almost like a journal so I made sure to record everything from packing the car the morning of going, meals and cleaning up the apartment the day of leaving.  One of my favourite photos out of all of these was actually a mistake I made while trying to focus the sense. The result is this fuzzy yet dreamy seascape image, despite the lack of focus I think that the light and reflections that have been captured in this image is intriguing and striking. I believe that the speckled dots of light around the middle of the photograph create a magical atmosphere within the image as if fairy dust ha...

 Artist research: Richard Long: Richard Longs piece 'A circle in the Andes' features a mountainous landscape scene with a stone circle in the foreground. This photograph is black and white which I believe allows there to be a stark and bold contrast between the white snow capped mountains and the dark grey tones of the rocky ground. I think that this also increases the depth and shadows of the image, the lines and details become more prominent and I think that this increases the sense of depth within the image. Long has placed a series of different sized rocks down to create a circle at the front of the image. When looking at this image as a whole I believe that it invokes a mysterious atmosphere, I think that the stone circle is reminiscent of fairy circle that are talked about within folk lore. It's whimsical but there is also a hint of uncertainty and and a slight unnerving feeling within the image. The stone circle is alone and there is not another person in sight, as i...

 Artist research: Andy Goldsworthy Goldworthys piece 'Nettle stalks' which multiple nesttle stalks arranged together to create a sculpture. When looking at this piece I am instantly reminded of a spiders webb, the stalks seemed to be arranged at the end of a tree trunk as if blocking the viewer from going any farther. I believe that this sculpture seems almost hypnotising and the way in which the burst out from the middle of the image make it seem like an explosion. I like the contrast between the darker tree trunk in the background and the lighter beige colour of the nettle stalks and I think that this helps the stalks to stand out even more.  Andy Goldsworthys piece split oak wood features two felled trees with smaller branches strewn around the area, the image is colourful and there there is a clear contrast between the bold green of the grass and leaves and the and grey tones of the mud and bark. When looking at this piece I believe that the shape that the two trees make i...

 Anrthur Java: Arthur Jafa began as an under the radar but sought after film maker. He was the cinematographer for films such as 'Daughters of the dusk' 1991 and 'Crooklyn' 1994, and in 2016 he was invited by the Hammer Museum to display a selection of items from his personal collection of historical and cultural images in a part of the museums 'Made in LA show'. As an artists Jafa uses a variety of media including 2D and 3D but his main form is filmic essays, using a vast cultural library of images and videos. Music is also something that is essential in gaffs work and he often references the historic music to convey his ideas about Blackness and Jafas race and culture play a huge role in his films and artwork. And he is always ready to talk about his relationships with race and the affect and portrayal of race within art.  What I took away from this interview is that as an artist it is important to be in tune and connected with who you are as a person and...

Professional practice: Richard Long Richard Long was born in 1945 and was raised in Clifton, Bristol. In 1967 Long decided to walk back and forth across a field and photograph the flattened line that he had made, this then launched his interest in land art and Long set the tone for British conceptual art and initiated the entirely new art form of land art. Long has stated the making art by walking has given him freedom and allowed him to go anywhere in the world, but even if he had been confined to a 10 mile radius of Bristol he still would have done everything he wanted to do as an artist. Long has stated that he believes that there is a spiritual aspect to his work and has declared himself open to the coincidences that occur between form and cultures, as his work often seems to be reminiscent of of ancient cultures.  One of the main things that I have taken away from this interview is that as an artist you need to be able to think alternatively and push ideas and boundaries,...

 Professional practice: Tracy Emin Tracey Emin states that she has been doing art her whole life, she has always been a creative person and when she was 15 she left school and moved to London. She describes art as a vocation not a job and Emin states that her art usually comes from the physical aspect of the paint. when it comes to the next generation of artists Emin advises that they get a job doing something that they like, she advises to avoid London as she believes that it is not a good creative place anymore and that it's virtually impossible;e to become an artist there without any money.  I believe that her advice about getting a job that you love is very important, when you are doing something that you enjoy it helps your creativity and as aspiring artists that's something that I feel is important. I also believe that living somewhere that is more cost friendly, that isn't overstated with other artists will help you to boost your career as there will be less c...

 Professional practice: Alexandra Ghimisi Ghimisi is a Romanian born artist and began her art career in 2016 when she moved to the UK to pursue he passion for art. Ghimisi has a BA degree and is currently a tutor with Inspire culture where she tutors painting to adult learner. She actively contributed to the Nottingham art scene as a member of the National acrylic painters association and and a fellow of the Nottingham society of artists. Ghimisi makes her living by not only selling her own artwork but by tutoring, workshops and holding exhibitions dating back to 2019. Ghimisi strives to inspire others by by showcasing the power of dedication and passion and uses vivid colours within her own work that excite the imagination and allow viewers to explore their own experiences.  One of the main things that I have taken away from research is the importance of having a stable income while being an artist. https://www.artiogallery.com/alexandra-ghimisi https://www.napa-uk.art/a...