David Downes has to be one of my favourite artists of 2010. I became familiar with his work after a surprise visit one afternoon during Art class, instantly feeling his paintings and his style of art was exactly the push of inspiration my art needed in order to express the raw emotion in a public space. It is this emotion which completely changes a grey public space into something private for the viewer.
Private places and public spaces can really be a variety of things. they could range from an object as simple as a Facebook space or a; “Best dad in the world” mug. Till now I have been focusing on bedrooms in particular although to truly get a public space I need to branch out to more open places. As soon as I saw Michael Craig Martins work I felt he really turned a public place into something more private by using vibrant block colour.
Michael Craig Martin. You may have seen his murals in various train station’s or several building exteriors for example the fan painting in Triton Square. One the finer public art peices i have seen in London.
michael uses really bright, vibrant colours to set his work apart from other. although his work is not only colourfull but it is to a large scale. he usually covers entire walls, walkways or even buildings.
There is a real sense of simplicity to the images he uses, its really just colourfull outlined shapes. like Richard Hamilton, Michael Craig also uses various objects in his paintings to connote the link between our homes and all the personal items we chose to call nesecities.
Richard Hamilton is a very good link between a public/private space artist. Like Van Gogh he also paints rooms although his style shows.
Here I decided to do a quick sketch of part of my room the only refuge in my house. Everything I own, hidden, stored in this room. It was drawn using pens and highlighters. There isnt much meaning to it, no back story, no tale of loneliness just the room of a college art student. Although your very free to read between the lines and let ur mind wonder as to what makes it special, for you.
Here is another reproduction of the previous image using cardboard, I have experimented with the different textures and things that could be done with the carboard. Im pleased with the outcome of this peice, maybe at a larger scale I could add more detail, more features.
Vinent Van Gogh’s bedroom in arles.
oil on canvas, painted in 1888.
72cm x 90cm
I have decided to begin with the renowned artist Vincent Van gogh’s peice on a design for what he wanted his room to look like and there is a very special reason why he wanted it to look like this.
It is well known that Van gogh was a tormented soul, it was his extreme bi-polarness that made daily life insufferable. As he often struggled to find the will to even get out of bed. Beause of this he allways had a guest over for company. This explains why he painted two chairs. one right next to the bed.
my point is that the knowledge behind an artists life can really influence what we think about a painting, without knowing that van gogh was a lonely man this would merely be a painting of a room. it will never be as meaningfull to us, as it was to him. Just a ”public space, but to him its more.”
the life of an artist
Intro
This blog will record each and every piece of art i produce in my a-level sketchbook daily, in the hope to document my progress and improvement as an artist and maybe even my progression into the architect i hope to one day become.
Our current project is called, ” Private places, public spaces.”
Meaning the pieces of work could range from a private object in a public space or our own viewpoints of a public space whether it’s your room, toilet, garden or a whole cityscape.
I guess what makes these viewpoint and public spaces private is the emotion behind it, so trying to capture the feeling in the picture as you paint it will be my personal goal throughout the project.
I will try to upload a new sketch, painting or experimentation every day to keep you guys up to date. i hope you enjoy.
