VISUAL SUMMER JOURNAL
Developing
recording skills
To
‘record’ or ‘document’ is to represent the truth or reality of something. Traditional
drawing, painting and indeed photography can be used with good technical skill
to represent ‘real life’ objectively. However this procedure in terms of Art
can be very limiting. Instead, an artist can use their creative freedom to
record in a subjective manner using their pencil, paint or camera much more
expressively to explore the supposed ‘truth’ in the subject matter.
Your task is to create a
diary to document your summer holidays through a series of expressive visual
recordings.
You
are restricted to the following mediums drawing
and photography and all must be done
from direct observation in sketchbook (not from printed photos).
This
project is intended to develop your skills so we must see an improvement in
your progress using the mediums above. Use all three of the following topics as
areas of study.
OBJECT
Choose
an object with good form, (not 2D like a passport) which identifies your summer
holiday.
Begin
by using a sharp 4B pencil to record your object in a scientific manner using
your technical skills to display the object as it is plainly and realistically
seen- relish the form and detail!
Practice
this with as many drawings you need until you are satisfied with a
photorealistic outcome.
Next
LOOSEN UP! Create 5 images exploring expression. Use a sharp 8B pencil. How can
you present a mood or emotional context to the object using your pencil expressively?
Consider some visual elements before you attempt this… light/darkness and
contrast, viewing angle, weight of line and speed of stroke and gesture.
Explain
the kind of emotive context you are attempting to convey? How are you attempting
this? Can it be improved? If so- improve it!
ENVIRONMENT
Find
an environment that you can return to that you can record. This could be an
area of a room, a view from a window, balcony etc.
Use
the same process as above. Draw and sketch your chosen environment in a
realistic way until you are satisfied with your recording.
Then
use a very soft pencil to sketch your scene in a much more gestural way
conveying a sense of emotion through your strokes. Create 2x A3 gestural images
of this scene. Explain your drawings.
ACTIVITY
Use
a camera to document an activity you are witnessing or involved in during the
summer.
1st
Shoot- 20 photos printed off onto A4 paper and glued into your sketchbook with
explanations.
Document
the activity in a scientific manner, imagine you are creating good technical
photographs for a text book on the activity.
2nd
Shoot- 20 select photos
How
can you express the values of the activity? Is it exciting, relaxing,
competitive, fast….
Consider
your angle of shot (above, from the ground, close ups…)
Can
you use aperture or shutter speed creatively? Angle of light, shadow…
Can
you add to or alter the printed photos by hand or by digital software
afterwards?
ARTISTS to influence you-
Jeanette Barnes, Dryden Goodwyn, Benedict Carpenter, Kate Atkin, Charles Avery,
Cornelia Parker, William Kentridge
