Port Folio Prepping.

This post will be detailing my best bits produced from the course I'm currently on. I shall not be adding final pieces  more so studies and bits from my sketchbooks as without them, the final pieces have no meaning and it fairly worthless. I feel that the (good) grades I've received this far are reflected  in the critical analysis and practical skill displayed in my sketchbooks which make them better than the final pieces, to me at least.

The current project is 'Traces', exploring what this could mean to an individual. I chose to explore the traces of my gender, looking back on it from the hindsight in the future. What would be left behind from surgery, what was the process into changing into the correct person, what was the story behind this transformation. As my project expands, I'll keep you updated, its ever expanding as into a full blown instillation.

Study of mastectomy scars. Oil paint. The focus of this painting was to capture raw emotion featured in Francis Bacon's paintings by using exaggerated colours and marks. I feel that it has captured it somewhat as the model has blue and yellow pigmentation as if dead or scared or conversely as if cold, unconscious and has been prepped for the incision with iodine. The figure of the model is obviously meant to be a male which speaks through his broad shoulders, strong neckline and jaw, however his stance is awkward as if trying to adjust to his new gender and ribs jut out quite far (which is just part of the model's body as they have been broken from attacks), which pull in his waist quite far giving the impression of being incomplete and obviously at this point of gender reassignment, the patient may not have had the 'bottom' surgery, chest contouring and may not have even started testosterone yet.

Study of a hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus. Oil paint and fabric. This study is an effort trying to capture a realistic process that would almost compliment the expressive scars painting. However I feel the fabric is a little out of place, more mixed media studies in progress.

Study of internal female reproductive organs. Oil paint. I find that just from observation, it isn't completely obvious that the subject is of organs, more sort of symbolic shapes and patterns. The peeling of the paint, a fortunate mistake, adding an interesting texture on top of (kinda) smooth blending.