Returning from Africa

When returning from Botswana it made me realise how important primary research was for my project since being in Africa has taken up so much of my FMP time. I met some amazing people there and it really showed me just how different their lives are and how they've adapted to their surroundings. I feel the women in Botswana have such more of a positive outlook on life compared to us back home, who have considerably more than what they have. It made me reflect on life back here in England as many people stereotype Africans to have un-happier lifestyles compared to us. Whereas what I experienced was rather the opposite. They may not have the riches we possess, but they are all very thankful for what they have. This gave me the idea for my final piece to represent the positive characteristics of the African women that I friended on my visit, rather than focusing on the poverty and unhappiness I encountered.

Working Into Backgrounds

Jim Dine

After looking at my work I decided I need to work more into the background of my pieces as they look  a bit bare and bland. I decided to research into Jim Dine as he creates interesting backgrounds in his pieces without distracting the viewer from the content of his work. I like the fragility and simple shading he uses when drawing the body juxtaposing to the harsh, hard strokes of charcoal he uses within the background

2D Drawings

I decided to try out some 2D drawings and leave sculpture behind as the experiments I had produced, I felt, weren't working very well and didn't feel up to standard. I produced these drawings below with ink and charcoal, drawn from photographs my tutor gave me when she, herself, visited Africa. We had a discussion of what to expect whilst out their and she gave me a bit of background information on how African women's life's are much different to ours. 

This piece above and below is my favourite. I like the range of brush strokes used in the piece and the emotion created in the woman's face.

Using coloured charcoals worked particaulrly well in this piece as it emphasises and highlights the shadows and tones of the woman's features.

This piece, above, works because of direction of light hitting the woman's face. One half of her face is completely in shadow whilst the other is completely exposed. This gives the drawing more of a 3D, life like feeling and compliments the different range of strokes created on the page.