Final Major Project | Week Three: Discover ii

I’ve been exploring colour this week ― from experimenting with gouache to taking ‘colour walks’ and eating a rainbow . . .

Theme of week three in the ‘comfort of creativity’ self-coaching program is ~ Notice what comes easily to you, what you enjoy, what is most effective.

It was helpful to have a tutorial discussion and seek feedback from the group about potential strengths and direction to take: illustration; one-to-one coaching; ‘the book of you’ . . . All got me thinking. And the idea of this as a ‘fine art’ project, releasing me from a purposeful outcome, or rather giving myself permission to keep pursuing ‘expressive art’ and capturing the process.

I wanted to continue to remove any pressure to create ‘good’ work; and began by gently exploring the effect of gouache, following the circular mandala patterns, simply mark making with dots of colours, experimenting with dilutions; and making a first sketch of a ‘tree of me’ exercise (unfinished).

I also did some wider reading around colour therapy ― discovering that it is a practice that has been dated back to the Ancient Egyptians who found a way to bathe rooms in a particular, singular light; each colour of light believed to have specific healing qualities. 

I created a very rough little sketchbook with quotes on the healing properties of each colour in my gouache set; and discovered that shapes (specifically for the placement of candles in a healing circle) can be used to enhance the properties of the colours.

I also continued to think about the FMP final outcome and what form it might take physically. Having learned that it’s very likely the exhibition will take a digital format, I am rethinking my original inspiration to create a 6-sheet poster and/or an installation of some kind (possibly a quilt/fabric hangings) exploring the effect of colour and personal narrative. Tutorial discussion feedback is bringing me back to familiar territory ― appropriate given this week’s theme of noticing what comes easily ― and leading me to focus on creating a book. I remembered vintage books from my childhood, inherited from my father ― The Wonder-books for Girls and Boys. I’m inspired to create a wonder-book of my own: a celebration of ‘looking up’ and noticing the world around us that can draw on, curate and bring together my past creative practice.

I recalled a sketched idea ‘I grew bingo wings and learned to fly’ and wanted to develop it further. I researched images of wings, and of women poised as though in flight ― specifically seeking body shapes closer to my own. At the same time I was researching inspiration from vintage book cover design; and the Wonder-Book got me thinking that my ‘bingo wings’ figure could work as an emblem for the Wonder-Book of Auriol B. I’ve been playing with backgrounds ― starting with a block of colour, and then bringing the design to life by swapping that out with dipped paint background; this is very much part of my visual language. I also experimented with borders, but think they are too busy and am more drawn to the cleaner design approach of the clouds on blue background. I am thinking to print A4, fold to A5, in signatures of 16 pages hand-stitched with a card cover, taking inspiration from Hook, Line and Singer. I hope next week to pull together a first dummy content and experiment with print and binding.

My ‘therapeutic’ exercise this week was to take ‘colour walks’: noticing a particular colour to inspire photographs. I also did some experimental painting in gouache, trying to capture the effect of light on water at the lido. I plan for the ‘wonder-book’ to include photographic elements alongside original artwork, with sections that will include colours, nature, water . . .