The following is my current position statement. Just a few things about where I am at now, how I would like to progress and what I would like for the future. Also I have been experimenting with screen prints (disfigurement and distortion)...some images work while others...not so well. The images will be posted shortly!!!

Position Statement

I began studying art and design from a young age and have continued with this subject until present. I used the basic mediums, for example chalk and charcoal, lino, pencil and paint. I enjoyed using chalk and charcoal because I had to learn to be controlled and disciplined when creating a piece. I have made quite a few paintings including murals, in and out of the classroom environment and have also drawn a variety of pieces.

My practice began to change at the start of university. Until then, I used the mediums that I knew, but was later introduced to wider range of other methods, which would enable me to have different results when processing the same piece of work. I began to experiment with collographs, photo etching and more with lino and the reduction method, using a variety of colours to enhance the piece. Some were more successful than others and as a result I also experimented and continued to use screen-printing and etching. After doing a series of drawings for a project which involved me observing people, I began to concentrate on my drawing skills using pen, focusing on the detail that lines can create and now this is what I tend to work with.

Currently I am focusing on two projects, one is based on disfigurement and distortion. I became interested in the idea of disfigurement and distortion and wanted to take it further, because sometimes many people do not see themselves as their peers do. Also I wanted to apply this theme to everyday people in newspapers and magazines because the majority of the time the images are air brushed, so this is a way of reversing things. The artist John Steezaker, who collages faces, and sometimes landscapes together has influenced me. In his work it begins to become an abstract form. I have chosen this particular topic because I do not see myself as superficial and would like to focus on something more than what is seen everyday.

The other project is to create children’s books. After doing a series of short projects involving making books, I realised that I enjoyed creating different types. For my final major project, I intend to create three books for children aged between 7- 11 years old, which include themes such as adventure and discovery. I usually work in black and white but would like to inject colour into this project.

This semester I aim to make three books, possibly four if time allows, and also develop my ideas further on the idea of disfigurement and distortion so that I will have a lot of material to work with. On graduation I would either like to be an Illustrator or Teacher. I believe that I will be able to achieve this if I continue have a set goal in mind and work towards it. Time management is very important and I will stick to the timetable that I have given myself. I will develop my image editing skills and begin to network more, not only to know more people but also to gain more influences. More contextual research needs to go into my work in order for it to be as successful as it can be.

I will evaluate my own practice by referring to my timetable and also seeing how my work has improved compared to the beginning. I can also do a peer assessment to get an idea of how others perceive my work.