Percival Johnson Artist’s Statement
As a mature student I am keen to learn new processes and methods that could be adapted within my work. I usually work with acrylics and oil paint on canvas and, of late, I have started using cotton duck on board and also learnt the skill to make and prepare my own canvases. I am very adventurous, eager to learn new things and prepared to experiment with a range of materials including polystyrene, clay, wood, resin, plaster and metal. Having a background interest in large murals the scale of the work matters to me and I am currently researching different artists who have common interest in their practice. This is supplemented by theoretical research related to background reading of artist’s intentions, artist’s statements and essays. |
Kim Nash Artist’s Statement
My practice involves the use of mixed media and these have been applied to the investigation of sculpture, installation and more recently Photoshop and the use of a laser cutter. I like to work with paradoxical themes or no theme at all. Contrasts of areas of simplicity and detail blend with abstraction and emotional response. I do not have a specific style and prefer to start with a basic plan and see how the work evolves. The experimentation and exploration of materials interests me greatly and researching a topic often leads to a growing knowledge of contemporary art and new translations. |
Sarah Burns Artist’s Statement
I have a huge love for paint and the vast range of marks made by this medium. My current practice focuses on implements that are not primarily made for the use of paint application. The use of domestic objects, found within any given household, is used for the mark making process and include; cutlery, sponges, dustpan and brush etc. Most recently, I have been working with the use of heat and the effect this has on paint (mainly acrylic paint). Consistent with my interest in domestic implements my source of heat comes from everyday household appliances such as irons and hair straighteners. Additionally, I have been investigating the idea of censoring the focal points of photographs. My research in relationship to artist’s theoretical perspectives has included Gerhard Richter, John Baldessari and Rineke Dijkstra but I am most inspired by a female artist known as, Pia Fries. Fries works are created with a mixture of traditional and non-traditional painting tools, such as scissors. She creates spacious but complex interweaving paintings, concentrating on the use of paint, colour and texture. |
Vanessa Evans Artist’s Statement
My practice involves a close focus on natural textures and forms. Here I try to draw attention to the detail which is frequently missed in the world around us. I use photography to initially capture these textures and then, either by using rubbings (graphite) or drawings I manipulate basic forms and lines and enhance them by using digital tools. Moving from continuous line drawings I then use the ‘darning foot’ of a sewing machine to enable me to move freely in any direction. I create images that resemble journeys, but without any attempt to represent the original texture. Walks inspire the ideas and the colours used (pebble beige, browns and natural creams) are transformed into threads. |
Rachael Mackie Artist’s Statement
My studio practice is mainly based around identity, memory loss and decay over time. The destruction of an image through process and documentation plays a large part within my work. Often using found images of old and decayed buildings or even buildings which have an air of danger about them, the outcome is often process based paintings, using household materials to build up layers, trying to portray a story of what may have happened in the past. I have recently been working on a series of paintings from images which I found of Stallington Hall, which was once used as a “mental hospital”, again repeating the process of building up an image from using layers. |