This is a reserved space for the documentation of a Visual Art Process Diary (VAPD). Here are some examples of my artwork and other images I find relevant to my art making.
(Image Above) Ann Arien and Lucy Lippard protesting in front of the Whitney Museum of Art, September 1970, demanding a 50% representation of women and nonwhite artists in the Whitney Annual. 1970. At the time of this protest 50% of practicing New York City artists were women, but only 18% were exhibited in galleries.
I really like the composition of this photograph. Colour photography was available at this time however black and white film, I think, is more effective. The greater contrasts in B&W images creates a mood of quiet tension. You don't have the distraction of the language of colour. Notice the contrast of the facing woman's profile and the light on her face against the dark background... this highlights and defines her features very effectively. Notice the interesting shadows around her feet... these details are seen more clearly because of the limited B&W spectrum.
I have used similar techniques in this pencil drawing "The Dream of the Recluse" (1993). Once again the black and white tones create quiet tension. Like the photograph the key points of interest are in the corners of the image rather then in the centre. The eye probably goes first to the Dog or the Moon and then by careful compositional decisions is led clockwise around the picture. Dog --> looks at man --> below the 'capturing tree roots' --> leeds up to the network of branches --> and then across to the 'grasping' limb and moon --> the downward moving marks of the water flow then returns your eye to the dog and so the cycles may begin again.
The Dream of the Recluse
This drawing s part of a series of illustrations for a work of fiction I wrote 1989 -1990 entitled "Guesswork". The recluse, shown sleeping, is at this point of the novel confined while hiding within his bathroom inside his home. His quiet life was invaded by a teenage squatter / petty thief who believed the house to be abandoned. The recluse falls asleep on cold tiles while considering his predicament and dreams this cold scene. In the drawing/dream he is presided over by a dream-dog inspired by the fairy-tale "The Tinderbox" which I have strong memories of borrowing from the school library as a child. The dog's stays as protective or malevolent in the fairy-tale book was ambiguous for me as a child and represents the invading squatter with whom the recluse eventually comes face-to-face.
"Temptation"
This was one of the first drawings I did at uni for my B.A V.A. in 1989 while at the (then called) Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education but which is now called Southern Cross University.
I was 19 years old. Drawing with pencil was my most 'comfortable' medium and I felt like I could effectively express any idea or feeling through drawing with a lead pencil. I regularly attempted to work through 'unresolved conflicts' through drawing and this is an example of the process. At this time of my life my boyfriend was deemed to be very traditionally attractive... but I wasn't attracted so much to the external, everyone knew I preferred geeky types (!) and were probably confused by our relationship. He had chosen me though and I went along with it for a while because he was also a good person. In the end it ended sadly as I think I knew it would. This drawing was done before the end and I feel was a bit of a prophecy... do you know or create your own reality/future?
"Young Man On Teal Couch" (detail)
This was also painted in 1988 when I was a first year Visual Art student. I minored in painting and this was part of an assessment series of paintings. It was one of the first attempts at using the oil paint medium as opposed to acrylic paint. I had painted/drawn several artworks depicting sleeping people and animals. I was interested in the slower sense of anticipation ('what will happen next") and of time passing compared to the depiction of awake and active figurative images. The slower sense of time passing and quietude is calming and today I usually have this painting on display in places where I need to calm my thoughts.
"Young Man On Teal Couch" (detail)
This was also painted in 1988 when I was a first year Visual Art student. I minored in painting and this was part of an assessment series of paintings. It was one of the first attempts at using the oil paint medium as opposed to acrylic paint. I had painted/drawn several artworks depicting sleeping people and animals. I was interested in the slower sense of anticipation ('what will happen next") and of time passing compared to the depiction of awake and active figurative images. The slower sense of time passing and quietude is calming and today I usually have this painting on display in places where I need to calm my thoughts.
