Unit 3

Welcome to my digital portfolio. Here, you will find subtitles unit 1,2 and 3. Unit 1 was my first coursework sketchbook with set themes being 'structures' and 'organic forms'. It was in unit 1 where I was first introduced to different forms of art as I had only studied Textiles in high school. Unit 2 was the exam sketchbook where the set theme was 'relationships'. I chose to explore the relationship between 'fears, phobias and nightmares'. Unit 3 is my current coursework sketchbook that is unfinished. I chose the theme of exploitation as I feel so passionate towards all kinds of exploitation, particularly animal exploitation.

This is my title page for my unit 3 sketchbook. I chose the theme to be 'exploitation' as this is something I feel passionately about and felt that I could put out a message using my art. I started by looking at different kinds of exploitation and creating a mind map of words relating to exploitation.

For my unit 3 theme, I chose to explore 'exploitation'. This is a collection of studies I created using photographs I had taken at the local butchers. Using water-paint and acrylic, I created two studies of a piece of steak. I then went on to create a larger scale study of a pig carcass. I used water-colour and acrylic to do this. My main aim was to focus on colours used to create tone within the piece.

I recorded artist research from the artist Arti Chauhan. I recreated some of her wonderful pieces and also interviewed her via email. I enjoyed how she paints with an almost free hand technique with bright colours giving across a sense of freedom. I painted both of my recreations using water-colour in the technique she instructed me to in the interview.

This is research I recorded from an artist named Tracey Emin who uses fabric in an applique technique to create installations showcasing her life events. I liked her style of work and I felt that due to the fact that words are unavoidable to the viewer this would work well for my theme as I want to boldly get my message across that exploiting animals is wrong. I used her as inspiration to create my own piece using fabrics and thread to create words.

This is a page of experimental work. I researched which famous brands had used child labour. I then went on to paint them and stitch into the paper using a sewing machine in the style of Chiharu Shiota's installations (which are almost like webs of yarn). After this, I went on to experiment with mixed media using the pictures from the butchers for inspiration. I stitched into paper and painted over glue and masking tape to experiment with textures.

Here I began to experiment using faux fur. I trapped fur using wax and I also used the wax to trap fur in teabags. I splattered paint on the fur(almost as if protesting) and I also splattered red paint on the fur to look like blood. I then made barbed wire and stuck it over the top along with newspaper headlines of animal abuse. On the opposite page, I created the word trapped using black and white fabric and also created a wire cage to stick over the top emphasising the feeling of being 'trapped'.

This is a 3 page study I created further experimenting using fabrics and mixed media. Using inspiration from Tracey Emin, I created a collection of words spelling out 'exploited'. The nine letters used all have hidden messages such as the 'P' representing being trapped in a cage. I think this style of work is bold and quickly gets the message across to the viewer.

Unit 2

This is my title page for my unit 2 sketchbook. The given theme was 'relationships' and I chose to go into 'fears, phobias and nightmares'. I used acrylic paint mixed with water in spray bottles to create a galaxy theme background as this is the basis of all relationships. I then wrote on tracing paper to explore my ideas on relationships to help me decide what I wanted to explore. I also created small various mind maps within different areas regarding relationships.

This is a collection of pencil studies of characters from various horror films. I used different shading techniques to create these studies. For the scream mask, I used a soft nib pencil to create a dark crosshatch sketch. I then used a 6B pencil lightly to create depth on the face of the mask. For 'Twisty the clown', I used both a cross hatch technique and also used my fingers and a rubber to create shadow within the study. Likewise with the 'V for Vendetta' mask.

This is artist research. I researched Ben Tour as I enjoyed his style of painting. I recreated two of his pieces using ink and a paintbrush. He uses ink in a splatter method and paints freely. In some areas, I used water to dilute the ink to weaken the colour. I then took a photograph of my cousin and painted her in the style of Ben Tour letting the ink run.

This is one of the two recreational studies of Ben Tour's art work. Here I used black ink and a black biro pen. To use the ink I used a fine paintbrush and a stick to apply wispy lines. To create shadow and depth within the face I used a black biro pen. I used the cross hatch technique, which I had previously experimented with, within this piece to darken some areas.

This is developmental work. Here, I painted my friends face in the style of a clown and photographed her in a dark room. I then used the images to paint my friend in the style of Ben Tour. I also practiced painting her face with acrylic. Portraiture was something I had never tried before and so I felt I needed to practice.

This is my final piece from my Unit 2 exam sketchbook. I am really proud of this piece as portraiture was new to me. I think that the use of the dark background and the shadows really emphasise the theme. I used acrylic to create this A3 painting.

Unit 1



This is developmental work taken from my unit 1 sketchbook. Here I used pencil, fine-liner, acrylic and water-paint to create a collection of studies from primary observations of a variety and fruit and vegetables. The theme was 'organic forms'.

I realised I enjoyed mostly working with bold colours. I decided to explore different coloured bell peppers. Firstly, I used pencil to create a tonal sketch of a pepper. Next, I experimented with chalk to create another study. I then went on to use water-paint to create a painting of birds eye view of a cut pepper and a larger scale painting of a green bell pepper and the side of a yellow pepper. Using my finger and acrylic paint i created a painting of the inside of a bell pepper enabling me to explore different textures. After exploring fruit and vegetables, I decided to explore house plants and flowers.

I researched Karen Margulis who uses pastels to create landscapes and flowers. When I first saw her work, the brightly coloured backgrounds and vibrant colours she used instantly intrigued me. I re-created 'Cool Daisies' using a tutorial she had set up on her website. I then focused on the stem of one of her pieces again using oil pastels.

  This is developmental work for my final piece. I used oil pastel to create a study of an unnamed house plant using inspiration from an Artist named Karen Margulis who draws plants and landscapes using oil pastels. I also experimented with the sgraffito technique where I scratched into oil pastel to create the look of vines in a leaf. Using tissue paper and wire, I created 3D pieces similar to flowers I had photographed. I also used water-paint and pencil to create a collection of studies of flowers.

This is a close up of the acrylic painting of the onion and garlic clove from the primary observations page. I particularly like this painting as both of the vegetables look extremely realistic. The colours used create good textures within the painting.

I carried on to develop the bell pepper. This is a mono print. I placed a piece of paper on top of the oil based ink and used a pen on top to draw the pepper. When i peeled off the piece of paper this was the result. I am quite proud of this as I managed to capture the tone and shadow in the pepper by varying the pressure on the pen.

This is an acrylic painting of a shoot from a house plant. I enjoyed using a variety of green paints and blue hues to create cooler green tones. I think the use of the white paint works well to highlight and give the piece of 3-D effect.

This is a page of artist research. I researched a wire-work artist named Helaina Sharpley. To begin, she draws her design on a piece of paper and then creates it using wire. I made a continuous line drawing of a micro-environment box including buttons, cut up pieces of sponge, paperclips, nails and matches. I then created the drawing using wire and pliers in the style of Helaina.