As I planned in week 1 of project 4 I have kept my research on my lap top delving, sifting and adding to when ever the opportunity arose. I printed out 30 images and presented 20 images for my interim crit.

Starting week 5 I want to set aside and examine what I have revealed/discovered before the Thursday Crit.

I have chosen to assess the last 4 weeks chronologically which will allow me to revisit my research by using my diary or calendar.

Week 1-

Day 1- Project 4: Investigate Launch.

Presentation Link- https://moodle.rca.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/19316/mod_folder/content/0/Investigate%20Introduction%20Presentation.pptx?forcedownload=1

I have reread the brief again and have pinpointed areas of researched that I think are showing connections.

I need examine and explain how, why and what those connections are.

I want to connect;

Materiality, physicality and interest.

I seem to be drawn to surfaces investigation – digging, moulding layering and building colours and textures.

The images and subjects that keep surfacing:

-Gaps that the lights shine though- Hope?

-Obscured vision- makes me curious.

-Objects making patterns- books, tins, jars.

-Fleeting moments when one thing becomes another- becoming, I try and catch it.

-Objects/surfaces that raise curiosity.

Day 2 we visited the Tate.

Link -https://sarahchalkiecloonan.wordpress.com/2019/11/19/week-18-investigate-first-the-tate/

After we visited the Cy Twombly exhibition at Gagosian and the Howard Hodkin exhibition in The Mall.

Link to the exhibition blub-https://cristearoberts.com/artists/45-howard-hodgkin/

The cy twomby sculptures lead me to think about connecting present with a nod to the past.

This I thought may present way of elevating my bowl shapes from domestic found material concoctions to white unified objects.

https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2019/cy-twombly-sculpture/

Day 3 Gathering films photos and materials.

I started researching and exploring at home. It was quiet and I could rediscover my own spaces looking outward out rather than in.

I found all My test sheets and charts that I keep in my studio/ kitchen. Some date back to art school in the 1980s I still use them today.

I found Gesso boards, lacquer, Togidashi, paint finishes, paint charts, maquettes, gilding samples, preparing samples, repairing samples, printing, painting and drawing Samples, collage, glue solvents and pigment samples. Old equipment put away when the children where starting to walk – it was dangerous to leave them out.

I researched and gathered picture from artists who also look at surfaces as part of their practice. I visited the Mark Bradfords exhibition and explored his working practise which involves using materials that directly connect to his project as a starting point. He then layers and excavate revealing shapes, patterns and connections revealing his comments on his project. He zooms in and zooms out until he has a cohesive vision laid out/constructed before him.

I looked at Antonio Tapies- suggested by Claire. I had completely blanked him. I did a project with my daughters class about him after a gallery visit to see his work six years ago. We used sand, pva, black paint and paper cups -making, gluing, carving and mixing- digging in to the horizontal surfaces to reveal shapes exploring the materials and their qualities.

I remember really connecting with the possibility of these materials combined and it is something I have tried to explore further with out realising the inspiration, now I have this piece to the jigsaw I may find further direction. This will fit in with my current research and experiments. I feel confident that this direction will be fruitful.

I have discarded my other lines of research for the moment to concentrate on this path. I have ordered natural dye and paint ingredients which I want to combine with natural found materials and paint on paper, canvas or board.

Sadly I not able melt wax which I feel would be a good addition especially using the paper printouts I have from Fortnum and Maisons as the buisness was built on the sales of second hand candels.

Ill probably run some research at home.

I would like to have another session on the risso printer and move some more of the images I gathered in week in to print.