About Me:

My name is Rebecca I’Anson, I am an enthusiastic, creative and ambitious person. I strive to succeed in everything I do. From a young age I have been interested in art and creating. I like experimenting with different techniques and media to create interesting pieces of artwork. I have participated in additional art workshops such as tiling, book binding, paper craft, ceramics, expressionism and life drawing.

The artist which I find most inspirational is Barbara Hepworth, I have visited her gallery in Wakefield and been to see many pieces of her work in the Tate galleries and Yorkshire sculpture park. Hopefully I am going to visit St Ives to see her studios. This would be a great opportunity for me as I will be able to see what truly inspired her. 

This is a portfolio of my most current work I have done this year. I arranged my work into the order in which it was design and made. The pieces at the top are my most recent:

Textured Photogram Sculptures

This image is a complication of machetes I have made for my A level coursework. My self assigned brief was to look at textures from natural forms. After capturing the textures by using different techniques such as rubbings, photographs and observational drawings.

The natural form that inspired these pieces was the outer shell of a concur. I created the base for my machetes from photograms, I exposed light sensitive paper on a 10 second exposure and developed them in the chemicals. The photograms where completely black which is what i was trying to create. I then left my prints soaking in water for a week. The prints where over soaked which made a chemical reaction. This made the textured patterns on the photograms. I was happy with the way the photograms had turned out because each print had a different style of texture. 

I then used different techniques to convey the concur shells undulated texture. I clustered sewing pins to emphasis on the spikiness, I burnt holes into the paper to create the uneven surface and the tonal aspect of the concur shell. I also cut into the photogram picking out the interesting shapes which then I stuck the pieces back on in other places which complimented the composition, this low level relief created more depth in the piece, I also then used a glue gun to magnify pieces of the textured pattern and pierced larger holes into the photogram to create a contrast from the raised glue dimples. This piercing was inspired by Barbara Hepworth’s sculptures. I think her style of work compliments these machete sculptures because piercing holes into the photograms creates more form and depth as it creates a new demotion. 

All four pieces together makes an interesting composition because each machete brings something new to the series. 

Material Bowls

These three bowls are a series which I had created inspired by Deirdre Burnet and Mary Rogers. I wanted to create a series of textured, tonal and inspired by nature bowls. Rogers and Burnett are similar artists, they both are ceramists and they both use clay. Their work is heavily dependent of shape, texture, tone and pattern. Rogers work is more delicate and refined where as Burnett’s work has a more heavy rustic feeling and atmosphere due to the depth and volume of texture. Both their work is influenced by nature but they are both on the opposite side, Rogers is a more simple and light creation where as Burnett’s has more stronger and deeper textured design.

I used a 100% cotton to make the shapes for the bowls, I used a natural material so the inks, paints and dyes would attract themselves to the material. 

The First bowl was design with Deirdre Burnet work as inspiration. I used a blue / green colour as through out Deirdre Burnet’s work she uses stronger colours. I used a technique called scumbling to soften and pick up the atmosphere of the natural effect and the highlights. I used acrylic paint as I wanted to use a thicker paint to make the bowl more opaque with paint. I sponged the inside of the bowl with a darker coloured paint to create more depth and form in the bowl. I used a lampshade shape bowl as i felt this captured Burnet’s work well. I like the texture created from the paint and the shape of the bowl.

The middle bowl is a more strongly design towards Rogers work as its more delicate and has a more refined texture. Her work often doesn't include much heavy colours just natural tones which is what I created in this bowl. With this bowl i wanted to create a clay like appearance I succeeded in doing. I created a shallow bowl which is creased to capture the clay like appearance that I was trying to create. This bowl was inspired by coral. I used acrylic paint to capture the colour texture of the material.

The third bowl is my own design from both artist, I wanted to capture the delicateness of Rogers work and colour form Burnets work. after creating the owl shape I added dribbled wax down the sides of the bowl to create some wax resist. I then used a sponge to dribble watered down ink down the sides of the bowl. I used different tones to create a more textured appearance. This bowl is inspired by bark, form the use of colour and texture created from dribbling the ink and wax.

I think these three bowls create an interesting series of natural bowls, which have natural tones and textures. 

Life Drawing

This piece is from my life drawing class. It is a close up of a section of the female models body. She was sat in a scrunched up position. I chose to draw this section of the body as it was the most interesting and detailed part because of the creasing and folding in her skin. I also like the angle in which I was stood, the angle of her arm and the negative space created between her arms and stomach. I chose a brown sugar paper as I felt the hint of colour would work well with her skin tone. I chose the media charcoal and chalk because with this media I could get the depths of tones I wanted convey. Also because of the strong high lights on her body I felt that the chalk would give that strong definition. 

This piece is my favorite Life drawing piece as I feel it is a piece that shows off my drawing ability and accuracy with observational drawing. 

Portraiture

These photographs from a home inspired shoot. After I had visited the Glamour of The Gods- Hollywood Portraits in London’s National Portrait Gallery, I as inspired by photographers such as Cecil Beaton, John Engstead and Fred Parrish to create a portrait using my Grandma, as she is quiet an interesting character and i felt her looks would suit this portrait series. I studied some of Cecil Beaton’s images and felt that one in particular suit my Grandma’s appearance. I think the texture of the fur coat works well within these shots because they create god highlights and shadow effects. I decided to make these images black and white as I wanted to keep them to a certain era around 1920/30’s. I positioned my grandma at interesting angles which captured flecks of her personality and age, such as her hands being a main focal point because of the veins being quiet prominent. I dressed her in dark coloured cloths to contrast the background and the nakedness of her shoulders create a venerability to the photograph. I used props such as glasses of wine, cigarette holders, jewelry and fur coats as they were popular in this era and tied in well with the scene I was creating. The four photographs work well in a series and really conveys the atmosphere I was trying to create.

Life Drawing

This drawing is from my life drawing class. I chose to draw it landscape as it fits more of the body’s curve in the frame. The position she is lay in is an interesting position as it is slightly scrunched and curled up. I chose the media of graphite and chalk as I wanted to capture the grainy texture from the sugar paper. Also with the curves and lines created from her body I wanted to capture the direction of the shade and graphite is a good media for showing this. There wasn’t much strong high light on her body as she wasn’t spot lit, but I did capture some slight high lights form the directional rubbing. I didn’t draw her head in the composition as I felt her body shape was strong enough without the distraction from her textured hair. 

Perfume Bottles

These photographs are all my best images so far into my project. My project is about Boundaries, I decided to go with the concept of vanity being a boundary of letting the world see who you really are. My project has developed from this starting point and is now still life objects to do with vanity, instead of portraiture.  I think they all work well as a composition as they all have a vintage vibe towards them. I think the patterned background all work very well to compliment the bottles and the series. The striped background gives a French atmosphere and feeling to the images and the floral print gives a feminine atmosphere. The top two images look very vintage and antique where as the bottom two images look more modern.

The first image I used quiet a loose framing, with a short depth of field as I felt the image looked well being the central focus. 

The second image I used a tight framing with a short depth of field, just to get the lettering in focus as I think the lettering added to the vintage vibe to this photograph. 

The third image I decided to go with a central approach again, but to add more of a shadowed and highlighted effect within the glass of the bottle. I think it worked well as the highlights where captured in complimentary places. The direct approach works well for this bottle as you get to see the curvaceousness of the bottle.

The forth photography works well because of the one third rule. The fact that the bottle is off centre works really well for this photograph. I decided to shoot the bottle form a slightly higher angle as it captured an interesting highlight and shadowed area on the bottle itself. The overall composition and framing work well within this shot. 

The fifth shot is a simple medium framing, long depth of field shot. The main focus of this shot is line as there are the horizontal lone from the material and the vertical lines of the bottle as there doesn't seem to be any liquid in the bottle. I decided to shoot the bottle in portrait format as I felt that with the bottle being longer then wider it works better and compliments the rectangular shape of the bottle.

The sixth shot is of a small bottle, I used a short depth of field and got the letters in focus as i felt the letters would make a good central point of view. I think this shot works well from the highlights from the lid of the bottle and the shape of the bottle. 

Tonal Boot Drawing

This drawing is an observational drawing of a pair of my boots. The inspiration to draw this came from looking at Jim Dine’s tonal drawings and after analysing the piece of artwork ‘a pair of shoes’ by Vincent Van Gogh. Jim Dine is known well for his extreme contrast in tone from light to dark. The media i used was ink (sponged and stick), graphite, pencil, black acrylic paint, biro and a rubber. 

I wanted to create a very three dimensional drawing so i used a wide range of tones and exaggerated the highlights and shadows. You can tell it is linked with Jim Dine from the use of media and application of media. I used A3 cartridge paper as i wanted just a plain background for the drawing so the main focus would be the boots themselves. 

This drawing turned out as well as I wanted and i captured all the tones I wanted to.

Cinderella Inspired Shoe

This shoe was inspired by the fairy tale story Cinderella. I used a real show in which I built a mock up of a shoe out of card. I then tore up small strips of the story book. I found images in the book which related to the key storyline, i felt that if the story was coming out the shoe it would capture a different approach to my original idea and design.

I stuck the torn book paper to the shoe mock up using watered down PVA glue to make sure it dried clear and without an obvious shine. I chose to compose the castle at the top of the heal to suggest her grave journey to the castle, and I placed the princess at the bottom the shoe so she appears to be leaning on the edge looking upset. I think the composition of my shoe works well and compliments itself. It really captures my initial idea of symbolizing the children’s fairy tale Cinderella. I used the artist Sue Blackwell for inspiration as she uses the same concept of telling a story from popping out of a book.

Life Drawing

These are two separate drawings of the same male model in a different position. I decided to leave these drawings as tonal line drawing as I felt they worked well. i positioned the drawings facing in as it attracts your eyes to and from each drawing. The week of these drawings we were practicing the art of foreshortening, that is why his body is in the position it is in. Both these drawings where a quick 10 minuet sketch. I chose to draw these observational drawings on two separate pieces of A3 cartridge paper. 

Peaceful Textured Canvas

This is a low level relief piece, which is inspired by nature. Originally I had made a series of three canvases, but after analysing them I felt that all three look more composed as one canvas. I used a mix of different assortments of paper such as card, dyed papers and tissue paper to create the leaves,flowers and background texture. I felt the dyed paper worked best for the leaves and the stem of the flower as the paper is already quiet textures and after scrunching it up it made the creases of the leaves stand out more. I used card which I had painted the Orchids on, and had sewn into using a sewing machine. I chose card as it is stronger then dyed paper and I wanted to create a smoother texture because the petals of the flower are soft. I used tissue paper on the background in a similar colour to make the background feel more textured and natural. I added string to the back ground in a light pink to tie in the colour of the flowers and background together. And I also added string to the leaves to create a rougher texture. I think this canvas is well composed and has a strong sense of texture from the string and types of paper. I used wire for the stem and wrapped with dyed paper as I wanted the low level to be a bit more three dimensional. 

I think it really conveys the message I wanted to create of a peaceful un cluttered and not an over powering piece.

Floral Textured Canvas

For this piece I was inspired by flowers and nature. I was struck by the textures of the surface of the flowers. I decided to create a textured canvas using embroidery. Before I went to sew into my canvas I made a series of designs, i chose the design I did because i felt the composition and framing of the flowers complimented each other well. I also prepared my canvas by painting a wash of ink over using the colour palate of pinks, pale blue, pale yellow and light green’s. I painted a thick layer of white emulsion over the ink after it had dried, this was so it would chip away as sewing into it and create more tone and depth. 

This piece was inspired by the artists Anna Zemankova and Cal Lane. Anna Zemankova was known for her sewing and pastel artwork. Zemankova’s work inspired me to create a tonal embroidered piece. 

Cal Lane inspired me to cut into the canvas as Lane is well known for carving patterns into huge metal objects such as petrol tanks. I decided to go for a delicate approach by cutting out a flower and some leaf shapes inspired by Anna Zemankova’s leaf shaped designs. 

I chose to machine embroidery an orchid as I wanted to create a delicate side to the rough texture. on the leaves of the orchid i added some tissue paper, this was to add more tone to the flower which gave it more form and added to the texture from the ripped edges. In contrast to the flower I decided to sew a dark green leaf as this would give a good balance to the top heavy canvas, I emphasized the veins in the leaf by directing the lines in an over lapping diagonal way in all directions, this created an interesting line effect inside the leaf shape. The strong line effect balanced out the canvas. 

At the back of the canvas i wanted to create a slightly less obvious over powering texture, i went with a cross stitch. This chipped away the paint more and created a good tonal value in the background. I think this made the colours of the flower and leaf stand out more. I left a thick white boarder as I felt it complimented my composition more.