Final Major Project | Week Four : Define & Develop
Theme of week four in the ‘comfort of creativity’ self-coaching program is ~ Analyse with compassion your ‘labels’, skills & experience.
It was good to have some work in progress (angel illustrations) to show at tutorial and explore the book idea some more ― the idea of ‘a hug in a book’ emerged strongly and has informed my practice in a positive way this week.
It also helped me find an entry point for my creative development this week ― as always I needed a straightforward project to ease my way past the challenge of the blank page. Recalling little ‘hug’ cards I had made during the pandemic when hugs were impossible, I developed last week’s theme into a hug mandala. I then used the mandala patterns as a gentle entry point to a therapeutic art exercise to explore the ‘masks’ I wear. I had printed out several template outlines of my face shape and features (sketched in procreate based on a selfie). It was hard to begin, but the mandala doodling broke the barrier and I had a strong mental image to portray motherhood and searched tiger inspiration on pinterest. As I worked I realised my hair is like a lion’s mane and added that. I knew I wanted to portray a blue-stocking aspect, and for me that has always been encapsulated by Ronald Searle’s St Trinian’s. I gave myself the distinctive nose (and for some reason no neck! Subconsciously strangled by the school tie I guess . . .) My home-maker self has my mother’s distinctive bun hair-style and draws on the maternal presence in The Tiger Who Came to Tea and The Snowman. Interesting how pale she has come out. And a confidence I thought was lost emerged as I drew my final mask-selfie as Creative Director. I wonder what Jung would have to say . . .?
On Thursday I knew I wanted to work in gouache, experiment with the paints. I began by looking at the whole self inspired by an art therapy exercise covered in a vlog by Participant, applying colour inspired by feelings and sensations in various parts of my body. I’ve also begun to collate writing I want to include in the book, and had a strong feeling of wanting to draw my ‘black dog’ to accompany the written description. Researching Churchill’s ‘black dog’ I came across his essay ‘Painting as a Pastime’ and his strong advocacy for the healing properties of art (his analogy with fighting a battle resonated less strongly!!). Initially I was looking for reference images of a black Labrador curled up sleeping, but this expressive photograph leapt out at me and felt immediately right. I began with a grey wash, thinking that the whole image would be monotone. Later it seemed right to add the yellow ― it’s only laying out my work here that I see it’s carried through from the earlier full-body self portrait. Working in the gouache with a large brush gives a quick energy to the final image that brings it to life. It needed a little extra definition, which I added with some fine lines quickly sketched over the photographed painting in Procreate.
I’m much happier with the experiments with gouache colour washes. Not intended as anything other than scrap work, I found images emerging that complement some of the written pieces and may well be something I want to include. I’ve dropped them in to the first draft for consideration next week.
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