Semester II: Cross stitch and embroidery research

02/10/2014

Sr 2, Blog entry 6:

As I have decided to explore how stitch can aid my practice, I need to understand how it has been used before and how I intend to use stitch to give the impression of tactile nature and expose visually the concept of the sense feel. As embroidery is considered by many a crag that is done by hand, I want to touch upon this link in my work in order to strengthen the connection between the human hand and stitch.


Karen Nicol:

Nicol creates a tactile feel though the use of stitch, which is extenuated through the subject matter of animals with fur (in these examples). In a few of these images paint has been used along side stitch to create contrast, for example (title) the monkey's face in paint creates a different texture between the exposed skin and the fur, which is in stitch.

Areas of the embroidery is delicate in order to gain accuracy of intricate areas, whereas other areas are more textural through the use of large areas of thread of fabric.


Cacye Zavaglia:

Zavaglia uses stitch in a similar way to paint, by using a large verity of different colours to create complex shading. In areas such as the flesh, the colour ranges from simplistic and primary to specific peaches and browns, this creates depth in the work. 

Images such as (title) are very textural, however retain their depth and suggestiveness of the human face through depth of colour.

These images make me consider how I can use aspects such as texture and colour to create contrast or depth in my own work.

Semester II: How to Visually Represent the Human Hand, a representation throughout history

01/10/2014

Sr 2, Blog entry 5:

Due to my need to grasp a firm idea of what it is I am trying to say about the Human Hand in my work, for both the purpose of my Concept and Dissertation modules, which are designed to run hand in hand so to speak, I have decided to conduct a visual survey of how the human hand has been represented throughout history. I need to find out exactly what was important about the human hand to different artists and eras in order to understand how the hand in art is and has been perceived and portrayed.

Leonardo Da Vinci, John The Baptist, (1513 - 1516)
Oil on Panel, Louvre, Paris

Returning to my research from last semester found that the gesture of pointing upward is found in many of Da Vinci's works, I found that this hand gesture could possibly depict the experience of the divine. The pose of the characters left hand however is just as interesting as that of the right as it is seemingly covering his modesty, an act which is often associated with women in art, could this hand posture suggest femininity?

Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus, (1486) tempera on canvas, Uffizi, Florence

Praxiteles, Capitoline Venus or Aphrodite of Knidos,
(4th Century B.C.) Marble Sculpture

Earlier than John the Baptist, the use of the hands to cover the female modesty is seen in Birth of Venus and earlier still, in the Capitoline Venus the hands are used as a "sheath" (Clarke, 1956: 5) to conceal their bodies. All of these images have one particular thing in common, which could lead to this covering posture of the hands: The characters in each visual are viewed as divine entities. Venus is a goddess and John the Baptist is a christian icon. Could the covering of their bodies actually suggest that we as mere mortals are not worthy to look upon divine bodies?

Leonardo Da Vinci, Lady with an Ermine, (1483 - 1490) Oil on Wood,
  Czartroyski Museum,  Cracow

The pose of the female subject's hand in this image is interesting due to its capability to portray femininity in a rather different way, although she is not covering herself like Venus, this subject's hand pose is of an etherial nature. Although Da Vinci was clearly skilled at painting the body with accuracy, so it can be assumed that this hand has been painted in such a way that it purposely looks like it could not hold the weight of the animal (presumably a ferret). The idea of the hand portraying femininity by not fully clutching or grasping anything yet still being able to manipulate the environment around a character is see again in Ray's photography (below).

Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp as Rrose S'elavy, (1923) Photography

Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp as Rrose S'elavy, (1923) Photography

Jones states that the hand gestures are feminine (jones, 1993: 21 – 31), this suggests that the hand in art can in fact portray such a complex notion as femininity. 

There is one issue which should be addressed to do with the perception of femininity, which is a constant throughout all of these visuals: All of the above were created by men, this might suggest that if the hand positions do in fact suggest femininity it is a male perception of such.

Throughout this blog I intend to look at other images of the hand to find out more about what it can represent.

Semester II: Handing over to a new semester

20/09/2014

Sr 2, Blog entry 4:

At the end of last semester I felt rather discouraged, however during the summer break, I was able to work on my own projects, and consider my shortcomings of last semester. I realised over time that although I worked hard, my project was not as focussed or effective as I originally thought.

issues and resolutions, from last semester to this semester:


Last semester, I decided that I work best when breaking my project down into manageable areas. I had a main Sketchbook, which acted as a space where I could create visual media and develop ideas, I had a samples book which allowed me to understand the materials (mainly paint) that I intended to use and explore the properties of each medium. This semester I realise that grouping idea development and and creating visual work felt too much and posed issues. Although I am still determined to break my project down into said manageable areas, this semester I have a more clear view of which areas should be separate, yet feed in to one another. To overcome this problem this semester, I have made the decision to have initial idea development in my Research book, which is designed to consider what it is I want to convey through my imagery of the human hand. My Main Sketchbook focuses on materials and their properties when creating visual work and questions how I intend to present my work.

Last semester I found that due to the new freedom I was experiencing, that I was unable to manage successfully to pinpoint how exactly I intend to present finalised work when considering context. Although I am an illustrator, I find that my work boarders between illustration and fine art as a painter. I found that last semester I was creating paintings without really considering the purpose they would serve. This semester I have decided to use my Main Sketchbook to consider my field in the art world. Currently I am grappling with wanting to create work for fine art purpose, to be exhibited and creating work for illustrative purpose, this is something I intend to focus closely upon in order to be at a better standpoint to undertake my Realisation project.