Collage Landscapes

Term: 1 Year: 2018

My overall concept is Landscapes. I love the idea of breaking down the images in the landscape into shapes and colours within it to create an abstracted image. I love the earth and land and the beautiful scenes in the world (mountain tops, high trees, lakes, oceans, flat lands, the city and urban areas etc.) also the elements of fire, earth, air and water; and will like to combine the two, landscapes and the elements and adapt my landscape images to reflect the elements and how they are all integrated or opposites. The subject matter that I will use is things that come from the earth, so I will get images of landscapes of the ocean and the sharp rocky waters that surround it, the dense forest with thick trees, hill tops, flat lands, and waterfalls. So I will take photos of trees and waterfalls at Sherbrooke forest and flat farming lands also get images of the mountains surrounding Craig’s hut, and the Grampians, and the beach side of Phillip Island and the great ocean road. I will also get close up photos of my crystals, flowers, my herbs garden, rain droplets, and flames.

Ben Nicholson was a British painter of abstract compositions, landscapes and still-life. His artworks have been inspiring to me as they are of simple landscapes but the way he breaks down areas into shapes and colours makes a simple image into something more interesting and detailed. Nicholson’s painting ’11 November 1947 (mousehole)’ is of a quite harbor in mousehole, which is on the coast of Cornwall, England. The painting also includes flat shapes on the right-hand side, which forms the elements of a still-life also done by Nicholson. Like his other landscapes, the hills in the background are broken up into different shapes and shades of green, and I really like the effect of this in the artworks and wish to convey in my artworks.

Paul Bailey is also inspiring to me as he is inspired by the farming landscape surrounding his home. I like his use on non-traditional techniques in his semi- abstract paintings. Bailey’s artwork ‘into the forest’ in inspiring to me as he uses expressive colours like the bright yellow and orange, in contrast with the natural browns and greens in the trees. He applies his acrylic paint quite thick and uses that to create texture, but also includes the nature element with the trees and blue sky. I love the feeling of an open sky, and the feeling of freedom in a crowded space.

Art forms that will be explored are painting as I find that I can create an intense colour palette and printmaking where I can simplify shape patterns. Materials explored are paint on canvas – acrylic and watercolour/ gouache. Also tissue paper or tiles to create a collage- layering it on a piece of paper with glue and creating texture in the landscape and either creating each element of the landscape (trees, water, clouds etc.) with the tissue paper or, simplifying the image into colour blocks and creating something more abstract. May also use ink- instead of breaking down an image into colours and shapes, just do shapes and have a solid black landscape, and use the negative space to contrast the black ink and create new shapes still in the image. Bubbles- in primary school, you would fill a cup with soap and water and add food colouring to give it colour, the blow a straw into the cub and create bubbles, then quickly put a piece of paper over the cups to transfer the bubbles onto the page. This would show, like are and clouds in an easy way. Printmaking – linocut, cutting an image from a piece of lino, with a cutting tool, then put ink onto it then put it in the press with a piece of paper to transfer it.

Aesthetic qualities to be explored are shape by doing different shapes and patterns as this will enhance the feeling of the landscape while still keeping the image of the landscape. I will also use colour to portray the mood of a particular landscape, using cool monochromatic colours or harmonious warm colours to show the feeling in the landscape. Can also use contrasting colours to reflect a harsher environment and tone. Texture by using a different medium such as tissue paper, I am able to layer it up at different points to create a more textured, 3D piece. Having a more tactile artwork will make it more appealing to not only look at but also touch.

Alkira Secondary College, Cranbourne North