WORK BRIEF EXAMPLE 1

My Design Process will be based on the subject matter and the study of crowds. The inspiration for this idea stemmed from my ongoing interest with crowds; how a crowd consists entirely of individuals, yet forms and is viewed as one. I want to explore through the Design Process the idea of identity and the connection as a whole and the individuality of those who form it.

At “Big Day Out 2004” my ongoing interest with crowds was only intensified. Whilst surrounded by incredible masses of people, I became aware and intrigued with the distinctiveness of each of the people around me. They were each incredibly different and yet when viewed on mass this multitude of people formed a single giant harmonious and consistent rhythmic form, which moved and interacted as one whole. At the same time the unique qualities of the individual were being absorbed within the crowd, thus being overlooked.

I intend to explore and develop throughout the Design Process a series of works associated with the difference and the connection between a mass of people and the individual. I will base my aims and ideas around this concept. Importantly, I want to investigate how within a crowd the individual loses his or her identity. I also would like to explore the qualities, which distinctly and subtly separate us from one another as individuals. I intend to develop the concepts of identity and individuality through the use of dolls and doll imagery. I want my work to communicate the notion of the unique. I will focus on the intriguing similarities in our physical appearance and biological structure and visually present the idea of human flaws and imperfections, those that undeniably confirm an individual in their own right.

To achieve this aim I also intend to experiment with the elements and principles of art. I will select and explore the elements and principles, which I feel, can visually depict both the emotions and the aesthetic qualities of a crowd, but can also reflect the individual. I will endeavour to explore the elements and principles of art not only for aesthetic purposes but also as symbols. Ultimately this will allow me to give meaning to the subject matter in an interesting and intelligent way.

The main elements and principles I wish to concentrate on are pattern and how this aesthetic quality connects with art principle – repetition. This involves the use of repetition, which will effectively portray uniformity of crowds through the recurring images and patterns. I hope to use colour both naturalistically and symbolically. I want to use colour to create drama and vibrancy in the work. I plan to echo the mood of the piece using and reflect the excitement and energy found in a young crowd of people. I wish to explore colour in a range of ways from monochromatic colour schemes, limited colour schemes to realistic/natural colour sequences.

Line will become an important art element throughout my Design Process. I wish to explore using fingerprints as a starting point. Fingerprints are obviously a method of identification but as a symbol may also create a distinctive links between the theme of my work. Just like a crowd, fingerprints when observed from afar appear identical to one another. At a distance individual differences seem unimportant and unnoticeable. However, on closer observation each fingerprint or person is distinctive and indicative of its owner. I feel line is a palpable option for developing this concept further. Because, a fingerprint is constructed of a series of lines, similarly a crowd is a series of rows of people, which form abstract patterns and lines. I intend to investigate the artform of printmaking – in particular linocuts and etching prints. I will also experiment with the use of line by using wire and simple line drawings.

My main sources of inspiration are:

Do Ho Suh: A Korean artist who bases his work on very similar concepts and ideas as to the ones I wish to explore. I think his site specific installations are amazing both for their aesthetic qualities but also for the intellectual way in which he approaches each of his works.

Hans Belmer: During the Second World War Belmer explored through his manipulation of dolls and photography the problems of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. I particularly enjoyed how the dolls in his work, despite being disturbingly deformed, are still beautiful through his use of shape and form.

Andy Warhol: Warhol’s use of repetition throughout his work is the key reason I am predominately interested in his work. I am principally intrigued in his manipulation of the image and his repeated use of one image. Although the faces are presented as a mass he has maintained the feeling of a series of individuals.

I also intend to take inspiration from the art that surrounds us in everyday life, this includes street art and graffiti, but predominately the use of stencils in street art. I believe that through the use of stencils I can develop a range of ‘identical’ images. Although identical, none of these images will be completely the same because of the lack of control, which is associated with the use of a spray can. I think the use of stencils will create a desirable effect, especially as I am attracted to the very subtle differences, which will inevitably occur in the process.

I’m also excited to research and explore the possibility of working in a slightly Pop Art style. I intend to experiment extensively with a range of approaches in developing works influenced by the Pop Art style. This will include methods such as printmaking, sculpture-involving a range of materials including clay, found objects, painting, casting and computer generated imagery.

Finally, I wish to develop a range of potential solutions, which effectively express the meaning behind my work in a unique and intelligent way. I intend to construct works that question the boundaries of identity. I will also endeavour throughout the Design Process to question the concept of observing and appreciating things ‘on mass’. Predominately this exploration will investigate the relationship between individuality, collectively and anonymity.

WORK BRIEF EXAMPLE 2

Focus and Subject Matter.

Throughout my Design Process I will focus on photography. Over the past two years I have become very passionate about photography and its ability to capture and connect with the emotions of young people. I want to use this medium because I feel that it is a very powerful way to represent my ideas. I wish to create a series of photographs that depict the inner and outer states of a human being. Many young people are concerned with extreme appearances and sometimes this can conflict with our inner world. My interest is in reflecting the true personality of people. I am influenced by contemporary society and how people today see themselves and others.

Throughout my Design Process my subject matter will explore the inner world of a person’s sub conscious experiences and how they perceive the world and the people in it. I am also particularly interested in exploring the outer image a person projects in contrast with the inner self.

Aims.

Throughout the Design Process I am to experiment with a range of photographic materials and techniques. I will complete a range of works in order to develop a series of potential solutions, which reflect my subject matter. My aim is to represent the inner thoughts of a person versus the external appearance and actions of that person.

I plan to experiment with the idea of photo mosaics. I would like to create a series of photo mosaics exploring images such as the face, eyes, and classical sculpture and various other symbols, which may connect, to the inner world of a human. This would include imagery from the natural world such as clouds, flowers and the landscape, perhaps to represent for example the inner child. With this series of works, I would like to incorporate text. During the Design Process I will experiment with various sized photographs and place them together in a grid like style to make my photo mosaics. I will need to explore the scale of the work throughout the design process. I anticipate that smaller, more intimate sized work will best represent the aim of exploring the inner world.

I also plan to experiment with the idea of creating a series of sculptural boxes once again using photography as the basis. Throughout the Design Process I will explore the idea of using Perspex boxes as a way to represent the contrast between the inner and outer self. I will explore different size boxes and a range of techniques. The boxes may include a range of images and text, which describe and represent the outside of a person. I may use the inside of a box to represent the inner self. I will explore the key elements of a person and their inner self and collect a range of images to use on the inside of the boxes. I like the idea of boxes because I think it clearly represents the contrast between the inner and outer self.

Aesthetic Qualities.

Throughout the Design Process the two main art elements I will explore tone and line. The main design principle I will experiment with is contrast.

In developing my compositions, I want to use a grid like style as main visual structure. By using a grid I will need to balance the shape, tone, line and contrast of each image to create an effective overall composition. I would like my photographs to create a dreamlike effect. Creating this soft look in my work will engender the feeling of the dreamlike quality of the inner world. To create this particular aesthetic quality, I will need to experiment in the dark room and explore different development processes.

Artistic Influences.

My first artistic influence has come from the work of Robert Silvers. Silvers has created, throughout his working life, many photo mosaics. I am really impressed with how he places together a range of images. His work is wonderful to look at and technically effective. Another artist who has influenced me is American photographer, Chuck Close. Close is a photographer and a painter. His paintings are executed in a grid like manner. I particularly like the way he splits and divides a photo and yet maintains a cohesive image, which is even more powerful.

Materials & Techniques.

Throughout my Design Process, I will need to develop a range of new techniques to explore my theme. Primarily I aim to use straight photography throughout my work. I would also like to explore digital photography and some of the manipulation processes available through Photoshop. The material I plan to explore will include a range of photographic papers and surfaces such as Perspex and/or glass. I will also need to experiment with the transfer of my images onto a range of surfaces. For the photo mosaics I will experiment with the use of overhead transparencies.

WORK BRIEF EXAMPLE THREEFrom being visually inspired by the beauty and diversity of Melbourne’s architecture and my contrasting European experience in Italy, I will be exploring the theme of urban cityscapes. Primarily, I am influenced by my overseas travels and through my keen interest in the City of Melbourne. I aim to create a body of work that captures the city in all its diversity and style. I am interested in the diverse architecture and lively city atmosphere of Melbourne and following my recent European trip I was inspired by the beauty and wonder of Italian architecture.

I am to compare the beauty and simplicity of Melbourne with a range of Italian cities. I am to use texture in my work in a variety of ways. Texture will add another dimension to my work. This idea has developed from my past works involving the use of fabric manipulation. In my previous works I added materials to a flat surface to create a more interesting composition.

I plan to work on large canvases, which reinforce the perception of the large scale of a city. Throughout the design process my style will evolve and I will find the best way to develop the aesthetic qualities. My use of the art elements and principles will reflect Melbourne the way I see it, which is full of light and colour, diversity of shape and building forms. In connection with Italy, my use of tone and colour will be subtler, similar to the work of Lourenco.

In my portrayal of the city I want to use simplified forms to represent each building. I will experiment with cropping images and focusing on certain areas, such as the dome of an Italian cathedral or a tall sky rise Melbourne building. I will rely on textural differences to highlight areas of each building.

When wondering the streets of Melbourne I become absorbed in the diverse range of buildings. I was interested in the variety of shapes, heights, widths, colours and individual histories. I observed the building surfaces and textures and the different architectural periods. The use of materials ranged from bricks, glass, concrete, stone and metalwork. I am interested in historical buildings and contemporary architecture. For example the Flinders St Station building and Federation Square in Melbourne. The Italian cityscape is very different, the streets are narrow and the city is very dense. There is minimal light in the narrow streets and you gain a feeling of being in a country town rather than in a city. Artists that have inspire me and given me ideas are Fauvist painter, Andre Derain, Spanish artist Didier Lourenco and Melbourne painter Howard Arkley. I am drawn to Andre Derain’s works because of his use of glowing brilliant colour. I like the way he applies his paint using bold energetic brushstrokes. I particularly like the ‘Pool of London 1906.’ It shows how the Fauvist painters worked in an environment of energy and great freedom. Lourenco paints his interpretation of Spain through the use of buildings. His work appeals to me visually, because of the forms represented and his use of texture. I am interested in the motif of suburbia explored by Howard Arkley. I am interested in his use of bright colours and his stylised representation of buildings.

I will undertake several trials using different mediums. I will experiment with pencils, aquarelle pencils, oil pastels, mungyo pastels, acrylic paint and gouache. To achieve my aim of using texture I will use impasto and/or a clear gel medium mixed with acrylic paint. I also want to explore a diverse range of media such as balsa wood, wire, mirror pieces, beads and wax that may be items I will attach to the surface of my work. This idea was triggered in my mind when I saw the work of Peter Booth. In his paintings he has used pieces of broken glass, which is noticeable when the light hits the work. Booth also uses thick layers of impasto paint, which create a rough texture. I may use this technique when I want to show contrast. I will also experiment with different textural effects such as rubbings, which create interesting patterns, which could be used in my work.

I will take a series of digital photographs, which I will use as a reference point throughout my design process. These photos will help me maintain the authenticity of each building. I will build on my collection of photos to solidify a firm knowledge of my chosen subject matter.

In conclusion, throughout my design process using my inspirational artists, I aim to create a series of works, which portray the City of Melbourne, and the cities of Italy. Form, texture and a variety of media will inform the basis of my work and I aim to give the viewer a sense of the enormity of cities. I want to create impact in my work and a sense that my subject matter is compelling and yet maintain a simple composition.