Life Drawing

I figured that since I hadn't posted any drawing for a while, I might put these in. They were done during the last couple of weeks of semester. I've also got some more images of the artists book that I've finally completed that I have to track down and post for viewing as well.

Photography portraiture

Experimental Lighting: coloured gels and hand held torches were used to achieve the effects, combine with a long exposure time.

Lighting Ratio 1:3- This pic of Nath from Melbourne Blackbooks Art Crew uses traditional lighting techniques which include highlights with tone, open shadows with soft edges and a triangle of light on the cheek.

Hard Lighting- I used a spotlight which was directed through a small gap in a board placed above the models position. Got some really strong contrast with intense highlights and black shadows. Thanks Henrietta.

Soft Lighting- Using the Ring Light to create this low contrast and diffused self portrait.

I thought it was due time to post some of the photographic work from this semester. These images were for an assignment requiring the use of studio lighting. I found it an interesting exercise, although frustrating at times.

Artist's book project

These are some of the images that will be used for part of my artists book project. The photographs were taken by my father while he served in the army during the Vietnam war. At this point of the project I'm thinking of printing the war era images onto transparent paper, and then juxtaposing these images over images that I took myself when I holidayed in Vietnam in 2008.

Sustainable work practice project

Approx 40 cm x 60 cm, mixed media (mdf, acrylic paint, found objects). A fun project to work on, this one had me using materials and techniques that were new to me. Quite happy with the results.

Work in progress

Oil on stretched linen, approximately 20cm x 20cm. This is the first time I've ever painted on linen, and I'm finding it to be a fantastic support. Rabbitskin glue was used to primed the linen. No ground was put down as I want to try and utilise the colour of the linen as part of the tonal process. Also I kind of like a bit of the canvas texture showing through in parts. Painted from life, I'm pretty happy with how the metallic effect of the gold box is coming along.

Mixed Media work

This was an interesting project to work on, due to the different materials combined to create the work. The support is masonite sealed and primed with bondcrete. Then paper was pasted to the board, and finally painted over in sections with acrylic paints. The paper used came from wrapping paper.

New work

'Cheesekake', ink and acrylic on paper, selected for display at St Georges restaurant

Self Portrait

Hand coloured, digital photograph 2010

Nicholas Jones on Artscape

I caught the recent episode of Artscape on ABC. A segment of the program featured Nicholas Jones, an artist who does some amazing reimagining of abandoned and discarded books, giving them a new life as works of art in their own right. His segment was of interest as we have an assignment coming up later this semester, in which we will have to create our own "artist book". Thanks Nicholas for the inspiration!

Upcoming Exhibition

I have submitted a piece of work for an upcoming exhibition. The aim of the show is to showcase the skills of the student body here at NMIT. It would be great if readers were able to attend the show, and of course tell all your friends and family. Details as below:

What: SHOWCASE - an exhibition by emerging artists from NMIT
Where: Synergy Gallery, 253 High Street Northcote
When: 2 to 15 August (gallery open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am - 4pm)
Cost: Free

Vacant city building

These are a few images taken at a disused city building. The place had a creepy vibe, with signs of drug abuse and violence throughout.

End of semester update

Firstly a big thank you to everybody who has had a look and left comments, much appreciated, and I would love to get feedback from everybody who drops in. So don't be shy, let me know what you think, good or bad! I've uploaded a few pics of work in different mediums below, and have also added a few new website links over to the left. I highly recommend that you do yourself a favour and have a look at a few of them. Just a few days until the end of semester and then holidays. I hope to get some fresh work completed (non-school work) over the next few weeks and have some nice new images for when things recommence in July. Until then I'll be be continuing with the weekly posts and updates. Possibly...

An exercise in Perspective

What you see here is the final assignment for drawing in first semester. Total number of drawing hours approximately 15-20 hours. Just under A1 size cartridge paper, initially drawn up with light graphite, completed with fine liner, coloured pencil, permanent marker and charcoal. The brief was for a imaginary city or urban setting, so I decided to mix it up a little and use a range of influences from medieval to sci-fi.

Joiners Project

The end result of a class photography project. A number of photographs were taken to create a large overall image. I especially like the distorted perspective which occurs from the camera being in so many different focal points.

Zombie Land video clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmcD2PZN5Tg

This video was made with a group of friends in summer 2009. It was made as a present for a mate Jarrod, who is a massive fan of hip hop and dodgy horror movies. So we combined the two. That's actually Jarrod providing the rhymes over the beats in case anybody wants to give him a record deal. As for me, getting covered in blood and gore and wandering the streets as one of the undead masses, just another day at the office really.

Street Art exhibition in Fitzroy

After much wandering around the back streets of Fitzroy with Melb Blackbooks & Loo, we finally found the Ill-Logic exhibition/happening. Here are a few pics from the trusty phone, apologies for the low quality. There was also some video work being projected onto neighbouring buildings, and a horde of street rats knocking back the free ciders. The joys of street art openings.

I thought I would include some digital work from one of my TAFE classes. The image at the bottom was created from photographs and some quick sketches en plein air while at the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens. It is now being used as a CD cover. The two other images at the top were all sourced from scanned images and from found images on the internet. All work was then manipulated using good ol' Photoshop. Sorry for the layout, still on a learning curve with the blog. Comments welcome!

Apart from painting and drawing, I've also been having fun with photography and pinhole cameras. Check out this photograph done with pinhole camera, and let me know what you think.