I did a series of test prints on paper for the screenprints I used on the paintings from the previous post. Rather than waste the test prints I cut them up and mounted them onto small boards. Then I worked into them with acrylic paint. This is me playing around with colour and mark-making.
These paintings are quite different from my other recent work but I feel this is my natural and most enjoyable way of working. I apply the paint in an intuitive, reactive way, enjoying the properties of the paint and letting it do it’s own thing, rather than carefully planning out my composition and colour palette. This is the way I worked on the lonely house paintings from 2011 and 2012. However then I was working in oil and these new paintings were made with acrylics. It’s taken me a while to get to grips with using acrylics in this way. Initially I tried mixing them with various mediums. This produced some interesting effects but introducing another element into the acrylic painting before I really understood the properties of the acrylics alone just made things more complicated and confusing. It’s something I will probably try again in the future but at the moment I’m just working with acrylics and water. These paintings were made on canvas mounted on board.
I am well into my residency at Liverpool Hope University. I started at the beginning of November but missed a few weeks with the Christmas holidays and the big house move. However, I’m now back on track with only a couple of months left.
I began the residency by doing a formal lecture/presentation to introduce myself and explain my work. Out of the hundreds of students enrolled only about thirty turned up along with two academics. Maybe because it was held at lunch time. I didn’t feel nervous because I was well prepared so everything went swimmingly. Only one student asked a question at the end, about whether I use photography for my paintings. Overall, the students at Hope seem quite reserved in comparison to other students I have worked with.
I don’t have a dedicated studio space at Hope and find myself fitting into the first year studio where I can. This has made things difficult. I do feel like I’m encroaching on their space and find it impossible to relax and concentrate on my work. Also, as it is a multi-use studio I can’t leave work out to dry. Consequently, I’m working mostly in acrylic which is not my medium of choice. I’ve taken some of the smaller works home to finish in oil.
This is all quite negative but I have benefitted, so far, in lots of ways. Hope campus is beautiful and it’s a pleasure to walk through its gardens as I arrive and leave. I’ve met some lovely people amongst the teaching staff. In particular, I’ve spent some time with the technician, Dave, learning how to use the machines in the workshop and learning the best methods of making stretchers. I’ve also been able to make use of the excellent print room and Greg, the Graduate Assistant, has been helping me master screen printing. Because of the challenging working situation I’ve been pushed to use new methods and materials. Working in a different place and talking to new people has given me fresh ideas that I wouldn’t have had working at home alone. By the end of the residency I should have a decent body of work.
Here are some pictures of works in progress
Here are a few screenprints that I’ll be working into with paint.
As you can see, it’s all quite different from my usual work!
Jane Barwood Art 