NT
How the natures elements co-exist in harmony, amongst the human population.
SPIRIT
WEEK 1 + 2
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I want to channel natures 4 basic elements - Fire, Water, Air and Earth, into this project and explore their relation to the human race and spirituality. To start I wanted to investigate each element separately in a mood board of different techniques, colour themes and stories. This will inspire me and help me decide which direction I want to take the project. I also constructed individual pieces for each page, all different to each other as a quick and more constructive way of exploring how the elements could be represented. I really liked the use of animals and portraiture combined with an element such as in Earths and Fires piece as it represents the relationship between nature and life. I think I would like to create 4 cohesive pieces rather than trying to include all 4 elements in one.
Once I decided I wanted to execute the 4 pieces as separate entities but in a cohesive manner. I also wanted to look at colour themes further with harsher paint application. I think my fire piece was successful as it is vibrant and contrasting to the background. I need to experiment further with Wind and Water as the colours and visuals are too similar here and do not stand out on their own, especially as they are such opposite elements. I will move forward from here by playing with colour more and using what I have learnt while incorporating them into the ideas I have regarding portraiture.
WEEK 3 + 4
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My first consistent series of paintings was developed from my initial fire piece. I created a silhouette that is consistent for all 4 pieces but each one is representative of earth, water, air or fire. These were painted using acrylic paint within an outline of masking tape, peeled away to reveal the figure. The only thing I decided these paintings lacked was a sense of movement that didn't do the power of each element justice. I animated each painting to recreate how each one would naturally move. I thought this provoked more emotion and interest than just the still paintings.
WEEK 4+ 5
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Developing from my initial 'Earth' piece, I wanted to create a finished series of paintings using creatures to represent the elements. Often people will refer to spirit animals as something they feel their soul is compatible with ,which is a concept I find fits well into my project. I chose to represent air with a bird, a fish for water, a beetle for earth and a dragon for fire. I painted these a bit looser than my typical style of painting to try and capture some motion into the painting and give them a more powerful impact.
WEEK 6 + 7
Out of the animal series and the silhouettes series, I preferred the one with more relation to people themselves. Portraiture is a more effective way, I feel, of capturing the spiritual relation between a human and the four elements. I want to experiment with this throughout my project in different ways in order to develop a clear understanding from the audience of what I am trying to perceive and thoroughly encompass this relationship to the best of my ability. I sketched out a high contrast, striking image of my sister and played around with media and composition.
Following these experiments I decided to digitally edit the photo. I overlaid the image with powerful photographs of each element, using layers to blend them together as if the girl was one with the force. I used added components such as smoke and changed the colouring to make the final image even more effective. When I exhibited some of my work in the Shaun project space I projected a slideshow of the images alongside my animations and the large scale of the projection made them even more powerful.
WEEK 6 + 7
Out of the animal series and the silhouettes series, I preferred the one with more relation to people themselves. Portraiture is a more effective way, I feel, of capturing the spiritual relation between a human and the four elements. I want to experiment with this throughout my project in different ways in order to develop a clear understanding from the audience of what I am trying to perceive and thoroughly encompass this relationship to the best of my ability. I sketched out a high contrast, striking image of my sister and played around with media and composition.
