Research point

Ben Nicholson 1894 - 1982

Originally a cubist artist and abstract developer Ben Nicholson is a celebrated cornish artist heralded as developing new approaches to modern art in the UK across the 20th century, whilst generating income through painting more 'traditional images' superimposed by his own unique abstract outlines and approaches. Pragmatic in the need to satisfy audiences to sell work and yet continuing to develop his own style I have found myself a little unsettled in trying to consider his work.

I notice that I recognise his pieces and I understand how/why he was a friend of his contemporary Henry Moore and drawn to his 2nd wife Sheila Hepworth as all share an exploration of form and representation in different media. I personally love Henry Moore but am left 'wanting' by Nicholson's work. They leave me confused. I love the simple forms yet am frustrated by the inaccuracy often portrayed which appears more careless than 'artistic', which makes me not like them. I love the portrayal of simple forms on landscapes yet am frustrated by the lack of distinction in the landscapes which seem lazy. I love the principle of being different and pushing the boundaries yet am left puzzled by the question of which boundaries are being really pushed and what is trying to be said!

I'm moved to note all this because his work leaves me wondering and questioning what I think - I am a decisive confident person who normally knows what I like and I can't answer the question in my mind of whether I like Nicholson's work .... the fact that it leaves me questioning is quite powerful in its own way and has made me start to think about my final assignment, my own like of outlines, how powerful they are i there own simple way and an approach perhaps that I could incorporate in my own final piece. I don't know ... yet again I am left wondering.

Exercise: Drawing using oil pastel

I have used oil pastel previously in drawing but never have known really what I am doing with it - just applying it over and over again so was interested in tackling this exercise - despite it being wretched fruit or vegetables again!!

I noticed the instruction to leave some of the paper to 'come through' rather than simply covering the whole amount and paid attention to that. Indeed it has brought things more alive.

i like oil pastels - I like the immediacy of them and I like the vibrancy of colour. I would also like to be much better at using them - and I have no idea how to seal them and can't seem to find answers on the net about that.

In my drawing I think the pastels have represented the red onion well which was something of a surprise and the courgette isn't bad but the tomatoes are lacking. Some of the failure there is lack of confidence, difficulty capturing the colour tones well and not a great representation of from.

The overall drawing lacks much depth - I was drawing outside (it was a lovely day) and the sun kept moving so I had trouble with the shadows. And in truth I am now a bit bored with the whole fruit and veg thing and of course behind in getting my assignment in so a little less focused on the task in hand. I shall return to pastel in the future but definitely want to learn more about applicatin. Perhaps there is a book that could help .... and will be a question for my tutor!

Exercise: Using markers or dip pens

Delighted in buying new markers but groaned slightly at yet more fruit!!!!

Thoroughly enjoyed drawing the exercise however - I absolutely love the immediacy and the necessarily fearless approach to drawing with markers and pens. Completely illogical really as I always worry that I can't 'pull it off' but I think it probably appeals to the sense of immediate satisfaction of 'no going back' and having a product - even if it doesn't work!

I like the colour mixing effect on the paper of the markers and using different nib widths to create a heavier effect. I really feel like my drawing is developing and looking back over previous assignment I can see a noticeable difference, practice is definitely the key.

Project: Drawing fruit & veg' in colour

Exercise: Using hatching to create tone

I got a bit carried away with this exercise and ended up trying a variety of fruit with a range of media covering many pages in my sketch book! In fact it is only now having re-read the exercise instructions that I didn't need to do quite so much to fulfil the exercise but clearly I needed to in my head to fulfil my exploration!

I became really interested in the different impression that different media rendered and so repeated the same fruit with a 2b pencil, an ink marker and finally coloured pencils - sometimes using a mixture of 2 or more. I dug out the coloured pencils my mum bought me when I was 11 (they will be antiques now) but found them too hard so went and bought some more and some new felt tips at the same time!

The fact that lines and building up the lines can create a real impression of depth fascinates me and I'm a little embarrassed that I've never really discovered this before. It has challenged me to think more carefully about my painting course and need to consider how to apply this learning into those exercises.

I completed my final composition in coloured pencil and am satisfied that I have created the illusion of a 3 dimensional body. I do however need to continue to learn and be aware of the sensitivity of the line as I can frequently be too heavy handed - which is as much about impatience as it is skill. I am genuinely learning to trust my process of drawing and to trust that "it will come' at the stage in hatching when it just looks like an indiscriminate mess!

Check and log - Project Still Life

As noted in my previous postings I have had difficulties with the exercises within this project, yet perhaps not as much so with previous exercises.

My use of pastel as a medium in conveying deepness of tone, on reflection, was not wise as my lack of skill inhibited my ability to convey the deepness of tone I was seeking - however on the plus side I am at last becoming able to recognise tone!! In previous exercises I have really struggled with this and was unsure I ever would. I can feel myself genuinely improving yet remain frustrated that I cannot simply depict that which I can see. I have also discovered the value of getting the light right to develop an interesting picture - an area that requires far more practice. I will also continue to practice with pastels.

I feel the still group using line has been reasonably successful although I perhaps could have made the picture more interesting my adding more items - whilst also introducing items I have not previously tackled. The depiction of the stone in simple line however has not worked effectively - I feel it would have been better drawn in tone, with effective lighting helping to illuminate the gentle curves. I cannot be confident that a real sense of depth was conveyed by the simple line drawing either, whilst the tonal drawing was far more effective in this area.

I find myself really enjoying my drawing exercises and projects (even though the subject matter is not something that I would be naturally attracted to!) and am really appreciating how much it is impacting on my painting course as well. So, on with the next project - drawing fruit and vegetables!

Exercise: Still life group in tone

I completed this exercise using pastel pencil on a prepared board as I had them both available - although I am not very familiar with pastel, so it was a double whammy of learning!

I selected my blue enamel jug with some mugs and pastry and did as instructed - screwing up my eyes to see the dark tones. I definitely am learning to 'see' tone much better than at the beginning of my studies and remain surprised that a reasonable picture can emerge from focusing primarily on tone. I am also learning that lighting is really important to see the differences.

I used a mixture of shade, hatch and line in developing the picture but was frustrated in my lack of skill with the medium and attempts to capture the really dark tones eluded me - my board was an olive green which on reflection was a mistake and I would have done better to use a lighter tone.

Exercise:Still life group using line

I decided on the group for this drawing when I tackled pine cones in previous exercises as I principally wanted to test my former learning and to see if I could in fact replicate that which I had done before - my constant fear being (as previously noted) that If I walk away I won't be able to 'do it' again.

The group represents a collection of items taken from my recent holiday in Brittany and conjure strong, warm and joyful feelings - they being drawn in a fine drawing pen, a felt tip pen and a large marker. The fine marker was selected to represent the delicacy of the shells and the points on the chestnuts, whilst the heavier pens were for the heavier items. I chose pens as I welcome the immediacy and commitment that they demand.

On balance I don't think the mixture of the pens has worked particularly well as the chestnuts have become lost and the smooth stone is not well described - I would have liked to use more tone as the stone has so little texture. I perhaps should not have included this in the still life at all and would not do so if repeated. I do however continue to like the use of the pen itself as a variety of marks may be easily made.

Finally I absolutely recognise the value in using items that mean something to me - holding my interest and focus in a way that a non emotive piece would not.